photo by Fort Greene Clinton Hill
DEAR SARA: I have three or four rose hips. How many rose hips would it take to make a pot of tea? — Juju, Virginia
DEAR JUJU: You could get a decent cup with four rose hips. Cut the rose hips in half, and remove the seeds or strain after boiling. Boil water in a nonreactive pan, add the rose hips, and steep until desired strength. …

photo by visual dichotomy
If you have an iPhone, you’ve looked over the iTunes.com app store. There are a lot of free and low-cost apps available — for the iPhone and other smart phones — to help you to save time and money.
What are your favorite apps that help you stay frugal?
Here are a few suggested applications that can help you with your frugality.
REDBOX: This app lets you search and …

photo by jenigma
Pancakes are a frugal breakfast. They can be made ahead and frozen for the upcoming week. Instead of making them on a griddle, you can use baking pans. Previously, I shared a recipe for making them in a muffin tin. Check out www.frugalvillage.com/2008/05/08/muffin-pans-save-the-day. The first reader tip shares how to make a “pan cake.”
CAKE FOR BREAKFAST: Make your pancake batter and put about 2 cups of batter into …

photo by wheany
We all have bad days. Murphy comes to visit and stays for a while. One bad financial setback happens and you might handle it fine, but then, by the second or third problem, you get upset and stressed by the amount of money that needs to be spent. You start to feel like a victim, and it can be a hard feeling to shake off. While bad things …

photo by crabchick
Beans are a frugal pantry staple. Dried beans are usually cheaper than canned, and you can season them yourself. For greater savings when using dried beans, cook them using a slow cooker or thermos. Because most people buy canned beans for convenience, I’m sharing four tasty recipes that include canned beans. But for those who prefer using dried beans, you can substitute them in all but the calico-bean …