tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54601317132248697652012-01-20T10:58:32.016-07:00Living frugally is a daily, hands-on affair.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.comBlogger4151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-33541288075760120392011-06-16T07:04:00.001-06:002011-06-16T07:04:00.674-06:00

A reverse mortgage is a mortgage loan taken out with your own property used as security and the amount loaned not having to be repaid until your death or if the house is to be sold before that time. The mortgage provider will hand the money over at the beginning of the loan which will attract compound interest from that day on although no repayments will be required while you remain alive or if

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-33167619429660166302011-06-14T12:37:00.000-06:002011-06-14T12:37:01.624-06:00

'Way back when I first wanted to write on the internet, I applied to About.com, then called "The Mining Company." I wanted to write about 19th century American history, but was turned down. As I pondered what to write about, I remembered the old adage, "write what you know about." Well... what did I know? Oh, yes. I knew how to save money. I could be extremely frugal at times, so... I

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-72503302964761323662011-06-14T09:34:00.006-06:002011-11-14T17:41:47.200-07:00

This is a story of progressive frugality. One learns as one goes along. I have always used teabags twice when possible to save money; that's nothing new. One day as I was about to toss a twice-used teabag into the garbage, I happened to think that the string might be useful for something. Granted, it was a short piece of string, but I thought several could be tied together to use... well, to tie

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-75554995697946430452011-06-12T09:00:00.000-06:002011-06-12T09:00:05.408-06:00

Do you knit? This week (June 12 - 18) is the worldwide "Knitting in Public" week. Take your yarn and needles with you to the bus stop, the doctor's office, a concert, a picnic... wherever you happen to be in public. Let them know that knitting is not a dying art! Some people make it a demonstration, knitting on the library lawn or in front of a yarn shop, in a shopping mall and so on. Get some

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-65419267870235496222011-06-08T07:47:00.005-06:002011-06-08T07:47:00.714-06:00

By Bailey Harris. Bailey writes for www.insurancequotes.org. If you are worried about your family eating fresh and healthy foods on a budget, you may want to consider growing and canning your own garden produce. At first, the thought of canning your own foods may seem a little overwhelming, but the process is actually very straightforward and easy. Supplies Needed for Canning Produce Before

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-34295323804077033872011-06-01T10:30:00.000-06:002011-06-01T10:30:59.757-06:00

Or nickels or dimes or dollars. Or even tens of dollars and occasionally hundreds of dollars. I'm talking about the rewards programs and the "get paid to" programs on the internet. The chances are that you can make at a minimum enough to pay for your internet connection. Some pay cash, some pay in gift certificates to various sites and stores and still others pay in "prizes," where you choose

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-89316430025959092282011-05-29T00:52:00.001-06:002011-05-29T00:52:36.781-06:00

One of the best things we can do for ourselves and our budgets is to cook more and more from scratch. When I say "make my own" any more, I truly mean make my own, as in salad dressings, bread, powdered sugar and popcorn salt. Powdered sugar is quick and easy if you have a blender. Just put table sugar in it and blend until it's a powder. It won't be as light as commercial powdered sugar unless

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-63704920709976238652011-05-20T15:51:00.000-06:002011-05-20T15:51:24.808-06:00

How many times have I tried to make crackers that were crispy just like the kind you buy? Answer: Lots! I lost count of how many times I've tried, but finally I took a recipe and made it my way and it worked. The recipe called for a cup of butter, milk, vinegar and baking soda, then salt. As I was putting it together, I realized that plain buttermilk would substitute for all the ingredients

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-2071413167813442902011-05-12T12:20:00.000-06:002011-05-13T14:21:21.916-06:00

That's for those of you who are threatened with floods or just sick and tired of all the rain. Not so here. We've had a more or less steady rain for two days now and I'm loving it. The "poor man's fertilizer" in liquid form suits me just fine. It makes good sleeping weather and I won't have to water the lawn or garden for days and days. We've needed a good soaking rain for a long time, so this

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-87995598105194486062011-05-04T18:29:00.000-06:002011-05-04T18:29:11.503-06:00

Reading is one of my passions, but being frugal, I don't like to spend money on books, magazines or even a newspaper. I can catch the news on the computer and read plenty of articles and magazine-like content online, but nothing is quite like stretching out on the couch with a good book, or tucking one in my purse to read while in the doctor's waiting room. One way I've found to get good, free

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-1001786407740668692011-04-29T05:26:00.000-06:002011-04-29T05:26:14.502-06:00

I've been out of commission lately due to surgery so I apologize for not updating this blog personally. I am grateful for guest posts that allowed it to continue somewhat. Some of these guest writers are pretty good! But everything else aside, it seems to be a time of disaster or potential disaster. For everyone affected by the severe weather in the south, my heart is with you. It's so

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-36836171495840320932011-04-28T03:39:00.001-06:002011-04-28T03:39:00.165-06:00

If you're looking for great Mother's Day gift deals because you don't want to spend a fortune, the good news is – you don't have to. Following a few savvy shopping tips can help you land the best gifts at the best price. Here are five of those savvy shopping tips to help you get started. 1. Shop Clearance Sections Clearance sections can be treasure troves of discounted items. Retailers will

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-51664062042045751952011-04-15T08:37:00.001-06:002011-04-15T08:37:00.524-06:00

Due to the prohibitive prices of cars and gasoline, people all over the world are looking for cheaper ways to get around. Let's take a look at some practical (and not so practical) inexpensive modes of transportation. Goat Cart If the economy gets worse, expect to see more goat carts throughout the nation! Perhaps not, but the Country Squire Cart includes heavy pneumatic tires and a fully

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-80959372862521110632011-04-11T10:25:00.000-06:002011-04-11T10:25:47.865-06:00

I was cleaning out a file the other day and came across some interesting tips that I'd forgotten about. I could have used them, too. It doesn't do much good to have a lot of tips and good ideas if you forget about them when you need them, so these are going in a more current file so I can find them. I'll pass them on and if you don't have them, you can figure out how to keep them handy, too. ;)

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-71448228152904473802011-04-01T12:31:00.000-06:002011-04-01T12:31:51.560-06:00

Beyond the extremists and the survivalists, beyond those wanting to sell emergency food supplies and beyond those who blame the government for everything, there is a vaguef feeling of unease about food that has the potential to grow as the situation becomes more onimous. At the end of this list is another list of links to articles around the internet. I've tried to omit the doomsdayers and find

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-38239892983221679032011-03-27T18:42:00.000-06:002011-03-27T18:42:58.264-06:00

Are you tired of passive solar ideas yet? Just one more... A good magnifying glass is worth every penny. When you need to start a fire in a fire pit or campsite, use the magnifying glass to concentrate the sun's rays onto a piece of paper or dry leaves. It won't be long until a flame appears then you can add other fuel carefully. If you have a fireplace or woodstove, you can even start a fire

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-54047605710852150702011-03-21T05:57:00.000-06:002011-03-21T05:57:16.899-06:00

If you're into saving money, using as many solar powered ideas as you can find makes sense. It can be fun to find different ways to get the sun to do for us what we now pay to have done. If you haven't tried these, they're worth thinking about. Passive solar powered oven It took me a long time to decide to spring for a solar oven, but I'm glad I did, not only for the money it's saved, but for

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-53350374752482664852011-03-18T14:25:00.000-06:002011-03-18T14:25:20.932-06:00

And the most frugal is the latter. Okay, I'll explain. Passive solar power is usually used to produce heat for various applications, and indeed, heat can do a lot of things besides just heat your house. Unfortunately, most passive solar "systems" are expensive to obtain and install and it takes someone very handy to build their own system. But of course, there's another way. It may not

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-90673474887691203702011-03-16T08:41:00.000-06:002011-03-16T08:41:55.754-06:00

The situation in Japan should be seen as a warning. Emergencies often strike quickly, giving little to no time to prepare. We've seen the stories of runs on grocery stores when a hurricane or blizzard is forecast, but those are tame compared to fears of nuclear disaster in the aftermath of a huge earthquake and a monster tsunami. Was it a once in a thousand years event? We don't know. Could it

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-14506329515177506512011-03-14T09:06:00.000-06:002011-03-14T09:06:13.665-06:00

I started doing a major paint job in the kitchen over the weekend. It's going to take all week to finish it (and maybe longer!), but it will be nice when it's done. The cabinets are made of press board and this is the first time they've been painted inside, so they take three coats of paint and a fourth touch up coat. That doesn't sound too bad, except that my kitchen is small so there isn't much

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-59117261081022174952011-03-10T00:11:00.000-07:002011-03-10T00:11:22.834-07:00

Food prices, I mean. And gas prices. And clothing prices. It may be time to start putting some of that extreme frugality into practice. Things are not going to get better in the near future, so don't put off finding ways to get through this. The longer you wait, the more it's going to hurt. Be diligent in watching out for sales and cooking from scratch. Stock up on basics when you see them

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-24989817565239891122011-03-07T12:05:00.002-07:002011-03-07T12:13:29.338-07:00

I shop online quite a bit. Although the cost of shipping can sometimes cancel the savings, there are still ways that make online shopping very frugal and I try to take advantage of every one. First, use a shopping bot like Bizrate or Pricegrabber. These shopbots search the web for the lowest price in the stores that are in their database. You can usually find a good price through them, but

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-241505915076433252011-03-04T10:52:00.002-07:002011-03-04T19:00:50.336-07:00

Another question I get here at Frugal Living is "Should I save money, or pay off bills first?" If you ask that question in a room with ten frugal living and personal finance experts, you'll get fifteen answers. I'll throw mine into the ring: It's never a good idea to put all of your money into one pot. If you're in debt, you need to get out as soon as possible, but if you have no savings, you

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-33698865675906420082011-03-02T10:41:00.001-07:002011-03-02T10:41:00.291-07:00

I like to say that I was born frugal. For some of us, it really is an attitude that we come by naturally, but for some of us, it has to be cultivated. No matter which camp you're in, frugal living can make a big difference in what you get out of life. Do you know what you want? For sure? Tell me. I don't want some vague, "I want to buy a house". What do you want? Do you want a cottage on the sea

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-86232120385399192432011-02-28T10:19:00.001-07:002011-02-28T10:19:00.719-07:00

In the last Frugal Living post, I talked about tracking your expenses and cutting 75% from your weekly expenditures. I know that saying, "do it" without giving you a clue as to how to go about it can leave you wandering around in the dark, so this time, I'm going to tackle how to cut some of those small expenses. Frugal living doesn't mean that you have to go without things, but it does mean

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-30631208222090185212011-02-26T10:16:00.001-07:002011-02-26T10:17:26.079-07:00

I get questions about frugal living and many of them are the same, so I'm going to try to answer a few of them in the next few posts. The most frequently asked question about frugal living is simply, "Where do I start?" You start where you are. Overly simplistic? Maybe, but let me explain. Some people ask their question in the form of a wish list. "I want to get out of debt and buy a house.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-69599081854204140092011-02-22T20:20:00.000-07:002011-02-22T20:20:11.674-07:00

I'm beginning to wonder if the title of this blog is a misnomer. I do enjoy frugal living and writing about it, but since I'm semi retired (again!), former interests have taken a larger part in my life. It's been fun, being able to bake a loaf of bread when I want to, planning a garden more thoroughly, knitting bed socks and blankets and rummaging through thrift stores for favorite treasures.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-65243592858271888932011-02-17T08:30:00.001-07:002011-02-17T08:30:02.826-07:00

Should College Students Have Credit Cards? Brian Jenkins, a member of the BrainTrack writing team, contributes feature articles that offer great advice for college students. For more information, check out BrainTrack's Facebook page. Many college students see a credit card as a piece of plastic that let's them buy whatever they want. They don't think about the debt they're piling up. College

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-76624549716917484332011-02-15T05:50:00.000-07:002011-02-15T05:50:15.366-07:00

Did you ever have to stand on your tippy toes to reach your favorite brand on the top shelf? There's a reason for that. Grocery stores (and other stores; I won't just pick on grocery stores) display the most expensive items, and the ones with the most impulse appeal, at what is eye level for most people. Surprising? It shouldn't be. We need to be aware that all stores do everything they can to

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-77790344286201805172011-02-11T13:33:00.000-07:002011-02-11T13:33:00.177-07:00

Don't stop by the hamburger joint or the pizza place... this is better: Healthy and Fast Food

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-63847134198126210682011-02-09T13:00:00.003-07:002011-02-09T13:35:41.170-07:00

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes about insurance and other topics for the Home Insurance Blog. If you are concerned about the health of your family, the environment and your budget, why not make your own kitchen cleaners? We all have a cupboard full of dangerous toxins and wasted money. It only takes a few simple non-toxic items and a couple of empty spray bottles to make your own

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-74625859194938281522011-02-05T13:26:00.000-07:002011-02-05T13:26:54.955-07:00

Why can't we manufacture cars that almost everyone could afford to buy new and many could buy without having to finance them? India does. Check out the Tata Nano and the Bajaj Auto. Both of these are under $3,000 in cost. Why? Why not? Maybe we have too many government controls, too much union power and too much greed. Possible answers? I think so. I'm sure some of you will disagree. Some of

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-48959447679140613882011-01-29T13:12:00.000-07:002011-01-29T13:12:14.610-07:00

Ok, I'm worried. Or beginning to worry. Food prices are still going up and there are many reasons for them to continue to rise. One is the weather. You don't have to look very far to see extreme weather. Snow measured in feet instead of inches, droughts that hang on and on, floods, tornadoes in places that don't get tornadoes. And then there is the threat of diseases. Blights, fungi and

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-80899730635516003272011-01-24T16:00:00.000-07:002011-01-24T16:00:11.610-07:00

I try to make it happen more often than not: A meal grown from my own garden or gotten by means other than go-to-the-store-and-buy-it. This time it was pinto beans grown in last year's garden. I put in a little turkey ham (cheaper than pork ham and considering that I can't eat pork...), and a little ham/smoke flavoring bought at the local salvage grocery for almost nothing. With the beans, I had

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-41056159730700847752011-01-17T09:39:00.000-07:002011-01-17T09:39:06.248-07:00

So. It's mid January, the seed catalogs are piled high, the grow light is... oops, forgot to turn it on this morning. There, now. The grow light is encouraging a few onions and lettuce for now. Next year, I'm going to use it for herbs when it gets too cold outside. The other grow light - the one that's supposed to hang on something when I don't have anything to hang it on, will be used for

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-71092652043918308572011-01-07T09:54:00.001-07:002011-01-08T07:53:45.176-07:00

You’ve probably noticed a huge surge in commercials for travel credit cards over the last few months. It seems as if every airline and hotel chain out there is trying to get you to apply for their credit card. Although these promotions are tempting, the cold hard truth is that travel rewards credit cards won't save money for most people. Let me explain… Almost all of them have annual fees First

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-62949137292609679242010-12-31T05:27:00.002-07:002010-12-31T05:29:01.917-07:00

Here's a good deed you can do with a click of your mouse if you have a Facebook account. CouponMountain is donating money to Toys for Tots, and the amount will be determined by the number of Facebook fans they have on Dec. 31. They’re going to give $1 for every fan (up to $50,000). There's just one day (today!) to meet the goal of 50,000 fans, so if you have a Facebook account, skip on over

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-77899437420189901482010-12-27T16:51:00.000-07:002010-12-27T16:51:40.132-07:00

I said I wouldn't post again until after Christmas, then I did, didn't I? That's because I had scheduled that post and forgot about it. Old age and all that.... Anyway, here we are. Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is right ahead. I always have the urge to clean house this time of year. I mean, really clean. As in throwing out things and giving away things. It's become a tradition

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-62463264425833722392010-12-21T11:46:00.001-07:002010-12-21T11:46:00.374-07:00

On and after Christmas Day, give yourself permission... to not pick up the Christmas wrapping right away. It will wait until the coffee has been sipped, the gifts admired again, the comments and questions and laughter has been savored. to take a nap on Christmas afternoon. to do something just to please someone else whether you want to or not. Remember that it's a choice you can make. to

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-3304171683343791082010-12-17T10:54:00.001-07:002010-12-17T10:56:14.798-07:00

You know I love Christmas. I've written so many things about it over the years because I love the history and the spirit and brightness and the feeling of it all, but it's so hard to put it all in words! Instead of trying yet again, I'm going to direct you to a page that has almost all of my Christmas articles. It's simply called "Christmas" (how's that for creative?) Some of my favorites from

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-61876301418563510032010-12-16T08:17:00.001-07:002010-12-16T08:17:00.114-07:00

The holidays can make us forget that we are trying to be frugal. But the truth is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to see your loved ones smile. With some time and a few dollars, you can craft a homemade gift that will be just as nice--if not better--than anything you can buy from a store. Homemade gifts are considered more thoughtful and are almost always more appreciated. The

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-20671178667638719192010-12-10T13:43:00.000-07:002010-12-10T13:43:03.766-07:00

Since I'm online (!) and I love Christmas, it's a natural inclination to surf web sites about Christmas. (It makes sense to me, anyway. ) I have a few favorites where I go when I have a few moments, and not just this time of year, either! The Best Christmas Web Sites These are what I consider the best, but you may have your own favorites. Let us know, so we can all spend more time than we

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-11262425406911466462010-12-06T11:20:00.001-07:002010-12-06T11:22:22.403-07:00

So I wrote this article "Ten Extreme But Practical Frugal Tips" but not everyone agreed to what I wrote, especially the bit about cloth toilet "paper." I know plenty of people use it and no one has reported any health issues with it. There is an "ewww" factor, I know and I don't advocate family cloth for everyone and all the time. Anyway, what do you think? Did I go overboard on this extreme tip

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-78929637736953369482010-12-01T15:45:00.001-07:002010-12-01T15:45:00.671-07:00

I enjoy reading Gary D Halbert's weekly enewsletter because he always has something to think about. Part of what he was talking about this week caught my attention. At least I know I'm in good company: ""Let’s face it, how can inflation be only 1.2% over the last year when we’ve seen the prices of many commodities rise sharply?  On average, our basic food costs have increased by almost 50% over

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-60250063988456074122010-11-29T16:06:00.000-07:002010-11-29T16:06:39.675-07:00

Winter comes and it doesn't seem so important, does it? At least that's the way I've thought of it before, but I've been thinking about this. Sure, the water bill drops when we quit watering our lawns or gardens and quit playing in the water on hot days, but we can make it drop even more. When the weather got cold, I quit putting a container under the kitchen faucet to catch water that would

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-71909070309976296892010-11-23T12:01:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:01:00.106-07:00

I just can't hold off any longer. Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, whatever - the holidays are rushing in upon us. Department stores have been displaying ornaments and artificial trees for weeks, the weather is turning steadily cooler, the leaves are almost all gone, and it's almost winter. We're in that limbo between the first, glorious fall colors and the icy beauty of winter holidays

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-15906317755447497482010-11-19T11:41:00.001-07:002010-11-19T11:41:31.735-07:00

That's the name of my new blog on the Dollar Stretcher Community site. Check it out: The Dollar Stretcher Review It only has one post as of today, but you gotta start somewhere, right? :) I'll be adding to it as we go. Let me know what you think.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-83953604199926431512010-11-17T07:10:00.001-07:002010-11-17T07:10:00.987-07:00

My favorite things this time of year: Leaves swirling in the wind and crunching under my feet Skies the color of baby blue and white cotton Brown earth, wet and smelling like it should A certain rush of energy as the cold air sweeps in Checking the garden and seeing that everything is properly at rest for the winter. The smell of wood smoke, caught now and then from the neighbor's fireplace.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-32357241233959980712010-11-15T08:18:00.002-07:002010-11-16T08:37:51.392-07:00

Guest post by Olivia Coleman, author of articles concerning online colleges and universities. She welcomes your comments at olivia.coleman33@gmail.com Your home office should be a quiet and efficient place. After all, the home office is where many of us handle our family's finances. We pay bills from the home office. We evaluate our investment decisions. We worry about our budget. Because many

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-1880598151100336052010-11-12T09:41:00.000-07:002010-11-12T09:41:00.386-07:00

I've been surfing the internet today, looking for some really good Thanksgiving ideas. Wow, there are some awesome sites especially for Thanksgiving! I found coloring pages for the kids, turkey recipes, history, stories, trivia (which president proclaimed it to be a national holiday?) and a lot more. Here are the top Thanksgiving sites I've found, but please add your own favorites so we can all

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-20221102220894196902010-11-10T09:14:00.001-07:002010-11-10T09:14:00.233-07:00

Want a free, cool way to decorate your Christmas table for breakfast or lunch? Make paper placemats. Start right now to save newspaper ads that are predominantly red or green or the colors of your choice, or save flyers or the kids' construction paper projects. Catalog pages will do, too and you can mix and match any of these materials if you wish. The more brightly colored, the better. There's

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-15418348304771531832010-11-08T11:35:00.003-07:002010-11-09T07:45:31.517-07:00

Guest post by Elysabeth Teeko - twitter.com/elysateek It's hard to find a new car unappealing, especially when you're driving around in a vehicle that is a few years old, has a stain on the floorboard, and may be in need of maintenance. When the new car bug bites, you need a solid plan to buy the car you want at a price you can afford. Here are a few tips to help you get the best deal. Do Your

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-92168772061758841362010-11-05T20:25:00.001-06:002010-11-05T20:25:00.750-06:00

And here's what I've been working on: This Christian Life It's sort of resurrected from a site I used to have. Some of the content is from then, some is fresh. You won't know the difference unless you happen to remember it from a few years ago. It just feels like the right time to get it back online. What do you think of it?

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-29823910874145683882010-11-03T10:37:00.001-06:002010-11-03T10:37:00.167-06:00

AKA, draft stoppers, draft snakes or draft guards, these soft log-like forms are great for stopping cold air, insects and dust from entering your home under a door or a window. As frugal luck would have it, they're easy to make and chances are that you have something already on hand to make them from. I say "something" because they can be made from a lot of different things. If you're in a big

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-53196461717290231432010-11-01T04:00:00.008-06:002010-11-01T12:01:37.931-06:00

This is an interesting day - the day after Halloween, the day before Election Day, the first day of the work week and the first day of the month! For some, this is the kickoff to the holiday season. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only a little over three weeks away. The last few years in this area, the stores have offered turkey up to 15 pounds at a set rate, then turkeys over that

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-59003058617272790912010-10-30T17:32:00.000-06:002010-10-30T17:32:10.449-06:00

Just do it. I don't care (well, I DO care, but that's another story) who you vote for, but please do vote. It's a privilege, but it's a responsibility. If we don't run this country, no one else will. WE are the nation. It's not right that the entire country does what a third of the people want it to do. That's how many usually vote; hopefully this year there is enough interest that we will all

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-60484791558503564432010-10-26T18:28:00.000-06:002010-10-26T18:28:00.345-06:00

It seems like just a few days ago that we were anticipating the first freeze and the first snow of the year. That time has come again already! How fast time flies any more It will soon be Thanksgiving, and the day after that is Christmas - or so it seems. And then we will start over again... and around and around it goes. Are you meeting your goals with each cycle of the year? Are you ready to

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-47943859927468542812010-10-22T09:55:00.002-06:002011-05-04T14:28:02.144-06:00

My daughter and I went to the locally famous Pumpkin Patch a few days ago. You can see what we bought on the hay bale in the foreground. It was hard to stop there... but what do you do with so many pumpkins after they've decorated the house and yard?? As if I ever had a problem with them! I love pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie and pumpkin muffins and pumpkin bread and pumpkin soup and pumpkin...

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-68509433169206236102010-10-16T11:47:00.001-06:002010-10-16T11:48:19.065-06:00

Are you ready for cold weather? I think I am... well, I mean I am, mentally. Physically, there are still some things to do. The house is in pretty good condition and today we'll do some clean up in the garden and yard. We won't get it all done because things are still growing, but we can get a good start on it. One of the things I usually put off until the last minute is getting the car ready

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-49616451501257085562010-10-12T10:59:00.001-06:002010-10-12T11:01:44.384-06:00

Frost warning tonight! In a way, it's a relief, but in a way... it's sad. I went out and dug up a little rutgers tomato that hadn't had a chance to produce much. I put it in a container that had held peppers just days ago and put it on the shelf behind the couch. We shall see... The rest of the tomatoes were picked and I will put them in a newspaper lined box under the bed to ripen slowly and

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-23663354886724807662010-10-06T11:15:00.001-06:002010-10-06T11:20:11.419-06:00

With the garden winding down, it's time to pick squash! I love this time of year in the garden. The heat of the summer is just a memory and the hardest work is done. Tomatoes are ripening so slowly that I don't have to worry about keeping up with them, cucumbers can be pulled up without guilt now and the lettuce and radishes are crisp and waiting. The vines on the winter squash are drooping and

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-8092612197895494152010-10-03T09:13:00.002-06:002010-10-03T16:09:40.695-06:00

It's interesting to skim through the list of titles under "Finances, Money Perspectives". One of my favorites is "Poor in Money and Rich in Time"  and the other is the exact opposite, "Is Money Evil?" Both ends of the rainbow offer satisfactory wealth for different persons. The question quickly becomes very personal. Just where on the scale do you want to land? Do you want to be rich in

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-73471913294160715252010-10-01T12:47:00.000-06:002010-10-01T12:47:27.430-06:00

I've handed the forums at Dollar Stretcher over to Brandy, who has been with us since the beginning so she understands how things work and what is required. I have faith that she will keep things rolling, but you can slip over there and let me know how she's doing now and then! Me? I'm slowing down. Ha! How many times have I said that? Anyway, I'll still be kicking around in the background of

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-86889027169694843812010-09-26T18:38:00.003-06:002010-09-26T18:54:20.556-06:00

We saw a devastating picture of human need when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans a few years ago. People who depended on the government and other organizations lost their entire support. They didn't know what to do or how to help themselves so they waited, some with patience, some without. Frustration grew and violence broke out while they waited for someone - anyone - to come and rescue them.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-2581551091459430492010-09-21T08:54:00.000-06:002010-09-21T08:54:40.977-06:00

If your home is plagued by mice, you may feel that you will never get rid of them. Food, drawers, cupboards and walls may be under attack. Mice will eat just about anything, but sweets and seeds are their favorites. Seeds include everything from grass seed to salted sunflower seeds and everything in between. The tiniest crumb or seed will beckon to mice, but a sack of grass seed or an

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-35028012976040858102010-09-20T10:13:00.000-06:002010-09-20T10:13:55.638-06:00

The taste of fast food is what draws people in, right? Or is it the smell? We make a lot of decisions on what something smells like. Want to increase your family's appetite? Make something that smells "good" and they'll eat it. Fast food restaurants cook onions on a grill to get the smell out there... why not you? Or... you could just make plain old good "fast food" that they'll eat! I was sent

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-88003741253238564272010-09-16T10:45:00.001-06:002010-09-16T11:14:45.529-06:00

Cold weather is just around the corner for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. Every fall, I start thinking of frugal ways to keep warm without spending everything I have on a heating bill. There are lots of ways, but some of them only return small savings and some of them require a lot of effort, so here are three of the easiest, most frugal ways I've found to save prepare for cold

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-15915378943748026212010-09-13T09:19:00.000-06:002010-09-13T09:19:00.682-06:00

I don't know about you, but I'm eager for cooler weather! It's begun to cool down at night now and the days are shorter so even a hot hour or two doesn't really seem bad. This is a perfect, frugal time of the year because the air conditioner isn't sucking electricity and the furnace isn't sucking gas so my utility bills are reasonable. It won't be long, though, until it's cool enough to need a

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-87496756332044437952010-09-06T09:35:00.001-06:002010-09-07T09:39:26.423-06:00

Guest post by Tim Handorf Although traditional brick and mortar colleges are still a very popular option, more and more students are realizing that online schools offer several advantages, one of the most important being a cheaper overall bill for school. From tuition and textbooks to commuting and job opportunities, you will often find that you can get more education for your money simply by

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-20457995924661582522010-09-01T10:33:00.001-06:002010-09-01T12:14:21.768-06:00

It's almost ready! My one lonely apple... not bad for a first harvest, though. My other little apple tree died so my daughter got me another one for Mother's Day this year. It was already blooming and formed five little apples which fell off, one by one, until this one was left. My apple harvest I've been watching it all summer. How good it will taste! Shall I invite my daughter to share it?

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-22865522628910425382010-08-30T15:42:00.000-06:002010-08-30T15:42:42.973-06:00

Emergencies like hurricanes and other natural disasters, and more unnatural disasters, like food and money shortages, should be enough to encourage us all to keep food safely stored for the possibilities. It's expensive to go to the grocery store and stock up on food, though! And it may be too late to start a big stock up, if you're worried about a hurricane or you've lost your job. Don't worry

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-66815570575991663342010-08-18T11:55:00.000-06:002010-08-18T11:55:28.900-06:00

What a strange garden I have this year! The tomatoes I thought were late, never did get started. I may have a couple of dozen tomatoes from three plants. The peas did great earlier this year... but they quit blooming after the second week. I've got fewer cucumbers from two plants this year than I did from one plant the last time. I planted zucchini and yellow squash on new ground because

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-72934524154925346622010-08-06T08:01:00.000-06:002010-08-06T08:01:45.912-06:00

I found this on the USPS site: http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2010/pr10_064.htm "A new Forever Stamp image will be available as part of a pricing package that would add less than 13 cents a month to the average American household budget. The U.S. Postal Service Governors recommended increasing the price of a First-Class stamp 2 cents to 46 cents and authorized the production of a

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-73989360756391786342010-07-31T10:47:00.000-06:002010-07-31T10:47:11.695-06:00

When we think about frugal ideas, we often focus on things like reusing plastic bags and not throwing out leftovers. They do save money, but things like auto insurance premiums can often stand a little adjustment that will save you quite a bit more. How? Go through your auto insurance with a fine toothed comb. Check each item that you're charged for. Is it necessary? Are you paying more than

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-62998004475123344952010-07-26T11:58:00.001-06:002010-07-26T11:59:17.876-06:00

With back to school sales and end of season sales, now's the time to dig out that stash of cash you put back for sales. (Didn't you??) Don't just think "school" when you see pens and pencils, jackets and shoes and backpacks on sale. First, check the price to be sure it's a real sale price, then you can shop for what you need, and not just what the kids need. It may be time to buy a few extra

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-37140774312584142652010-07-21T12:31:00.000-06:002010-07-21T12:31:59.751-06:00

By request: It's so easy to make iced tea that I can't see spending money on another appliance just to do that, or even worse, buying it already made. People have made iced tea for years (probably centuries) without the aid of a plug in contraption that eats electricity and counter space. Anyway, here's how, and it's a lot easier and faster to do than it is to tell about it. First, if you

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-74944232288333613082010-07-19T15:24:00.000-06:002010-07-19T15:24:20.531-06:00

Summer is not my favorite season, although I enjoy the fresh vegetables and fruits that it offers. That means it's time to can and dehydrate and freeze and put up what we can for those cold days ahead. I bought a LOT of canning jars from my sister and brother in law last year at a very frugal price, so I won't worry about that. There are canning lids and rings left from last year and the little

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-48621669659687752532010-07-14T21:10:00.000-06:002010-07-14T21:10:29.998-06:00

Have you thought about Christmas yet? It's coming, you know. (And as fast as time is going, it will be here day after tomorrow!) Christmas is usually a big expense, so it's wise to prepare for it ahead of time. Either save money each month or payday so you have enough to spend on gifts, or start buying gifts now, as you can find deals for them. On the Dollar Stretcher forum, there's a thread

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-17098193024243500892010-07-09T18:20:00.000-06:002010-07-09T18:20:41.866-06:00

I once salvaged a bowl of liquid left after we'd eaten the asparagus at a holiday dinner. My daughter-in-law gave me one of those looks, but I kept it anyway. It makes a rich, delicious and frugal cream soup as does the liquid from other things like potatoes and broccoli. Another example: I made "half-baked" potatoes - a family "recipe" in which baking potatoes are sliced in two lengthwise, the

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-35011345826089854742010-07-05T09:48:00.000-06:002010-07-05T09:48:01.211-06:00

So call me nuts. I listen to Christmas music at odd times all year long. When it gets hot outside, I turn on the air conditioner and make Christmas ornaments. When the garden is doing well and summer produce is abundant... I think of Christmas! As in soup mixes (for gifts, of course!) It's very inexpensive to dehydrate a variety of summer vegetables if you grow them yourself or can buy them

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-13081515136668371412010-06-30T09:31:00.002-06:002010-06-30T09:39:49.182-06:00

This is proving to be an interesting year! Already, some of the "weeds" in my back yard are going to seed. Lambsquarter and amaranth will start over if I allow the seeds to fall (IF we don't have an early fall), and purslane is edible even after it's gone to seed, but it's still disturbing. Do they know something we don't? The dandelions are doing very well this year under the plum tree. I

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-75235674289881487352010-06-30T05:17:00.000-06:002010-06-30T05:17:28.415-06:00

Factoidz just published an article I wrote: Natural Ways to Have Beautiful Hair You don't have to spend a lot of money to have beautiful and healthy hair. These tips and tricks will do it.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-4259498836740801442010-06-26T10:52:00.003-06:002010-06-26T23:42:44.764-06:00

The Frugal Duchess writes a column for McClatchy Newspapers in which she comes up with some pretty frugal ideas. This time - New uses for grocery containers - was a little disappointing. Using an empty Styrofoam tray to hold pens and pencils doesn't seem very efficient to me. Or maybe it's just my desk drawers, but it seems like they'd roll out when I jerked the drawer open... anyway, I don't put

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-70624756709152670652010-06-23T12:07:00.002-06:002011-03-09T06:23:16.396-07:00

Guest post by Jack Reed The need for being innovative and coming up with new ideas to save your hard earned cash has hit an all time high today. With a large number of Americans resorting to debt settlement to settle their debt woes, many are realizing the importance of frugal living and taking advantage of the money-saving opportunities in life. Spending less than you earn helps you to meet

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-76779874260418041012010-06-20T21:21:00.000-06:002010-06-20T21:21:10.866-06:00

But maybe they don't. To get the most juice from a lemon, heat it first, then roll it on the counter with a little pressure from the palm of your hand. Cut it over a bowl because juice will squirt as soon as you make the first cut. Make gravy from pan drippings to keep from wasting them. Add thickener in the form of flour, corn starch or arrowroot, then add liquid in the form of milk, water

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-87620607337164989832010-06-15T12:39:00.000-06:002010-06-15T12:39:35.678-06:00

How's your weather? Getting hot? It's heading that way here! I hate to run the air conditioner, so I find ways to avoid it as long as possible. Unless we're having a really hot spell, I can wait until afternoon to turn it on. That's because the back of the house has high windows that don't let in direct sunshine in the summer and because there is a very large evergreen tree at the southeast

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-50522737724234738502010-06-07T13:19:00.001-06:002010-06-07T23:30:43.132-06:00

If you do, have you ever negotiated for a lower price? Chris Thorman, who blogs about rental property software asked me to link to his (very interesting) article titled How To Negotiate Your Rent in 2010 | A 10-Step Guide - well he asked me to link to the poll on that page because he wants to get a lot of responses to it! Whether you have or haven't, take the time to click an answer on the

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-28160294697804299662010-05-23T17:43:00.002-06:002010-06-15T11:04:38.156-06:00

I've been hearing this for the last few years. Is there really a shortage of canned pumpkin? That question was brought about by a tip in the Dollar Stretcher Tips, a weekly newsletter from Dollar Stretcher. (If you don't subscribe, you're missing some cool ideas - go here: http://www.stretcher.com/subscribe/subscribeIF.cfm and scroll down to find it.) Anyway, the woman who wrote in said that

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-13506050227800449462010-05-20T10:02:00.000-06:002010-05-20T10:02:25.257-06:00

My sister in law once bought me a "rag mop" head made of strings. I guess she thought I couldn't afford to buy one, since I was using real rags, which lasted much longer and didn't come apart all over the floor. Mom once bought me a package of paper napkins, since I was using cloth ones. There are other examples, but I'm curious: do other people think you're too poor to buy wasteful products?

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-5904564670843427322010-05-12T18:27:00.001-06:002010-05-12T18:29:15.692-06:00

And what to do with them? I don't drink much of that stuff any more, but like all good hoarders, I stuck a few back... just in case. I have used them over time. One way was to cut the top off and use it for a funnel. It fits perfectly into the tops of gallon milk jugs. I used the bottom half to hold silverware. I wash dishes by hand so I use it to drain them. You could cut it a little shorter

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-91938904708057549672010-05-06T14:31:00.001-06:002010-05-06T14:31:00.109-06:00

They just don't make them like they used to. Unless you want to pay an outrageous price, that is! What started this rant? I pin my hair back, sometimes into a sort of bun, with bobby pins. I had the same ones for years, but eventually, they had to be replaced. No problem; I just grabbed some when I went to the grocery store. Done deal, right? Nope. Well it was, kind of. I found and bought the

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-48225985303072146892010-05-03T11:20:00.001-06:002010-05-04T17:37:08.228-06:00

Need I say more? A real, vintage, Maytag wringer washer. And it works great! I could hardly wait to try it out so I washed a load of rags I'd been saving just for that purpose. A half hour later, they were on the clothesline in the sun. The basement in this house has a set of old granite laundry sinks. I don't know how much they hold, but it's probably around 40 gallons each. It's a perfect

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-86487829099366401072010-04-29T09:00:00.001-06:002010-04-29T09:00:02.122-06:00

Ready to go to the thrift store or a garage sale? Put on your creative thinking cap first. Sometimes second hand shopping is a lost cause when you can't find what you want or think you want. Those times, just a change of viewpoint can make things look altogether different. Cast in point: Some time back I went looking for a new vase. I needed one for the table. Nothing fancy but nothing ugly,

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-22627938693964604332010-04-26T16:51:00.001-06:002010-04-26T16:52:39.245-06:00

My mood is sort of rambling today, so that's the way I'll post. :) I like this thread in the Dollar Stretcher forums: 2010 Challenge -100 New Ways to Save Money I've been keeping an eye on it for a few months now and it's still going. I've even found a few new ways to save from it. It's been rainy here for almost a week now and cool - too cool to do much serious gardening, although I set

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-32945014972750235062010-04-19T08:00:00.001-06:002010-04-19T08:00:03.319-06:00

Turn it off! Unplug it! Join the crowd... well, the movement, anyway. April 19 through the 25 is Turnoff Week, targeting computers and TVs. Here's a link to a post on the forum at Center for Screen Time Awareness which will explain what I'm talking about. Are you addicted? I never thought that I was until I took a few days off earlier this year and found myself slipping back in to check up on

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-80627423313186039112010-04-13T11:01:00.000-06:002010-04-13T11:01:10.944-06:00

Still got a few chocolate Easter eggs around, or a fluffy marshmallow chick? Don't toss them or give them away, use them for other things. Those cute little peeps are sugar covered marshmallows, so you can use them wherever you'd use marshmallows. Hot chocolate comes to mind! Use them in any recipe that calls for marshmallows. Chocolate is chocolate, no matter how it's formed. Chop up a

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-29488347055909446782010-04-11T01:16:00.000-06:002010-04-11T01:16:17.922-06:00

Frugally, I mean... as in, not spending much money. That's a question on the Dollar Stretcher forums. I've never set one up and have only participated in one scavenger hunt in my life, so I have no advice. (That's not really a first, no matter what it seems like!) ;) Anyway, check out the question if you have a moment and if you have any ideas, they sure would be appreciated.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-14772332811991548782010-03-30T09:47:00.000-06:002010-03-30T09:47:56.566-06:00

When was the last time you got a special price for your internet or phone service? Or when did you get a discount on dinner out? It was probably the last time you spoke up and asked for it. In this world of competition bordering on cut throat tactics, consumers often have the edge - if we just take it. Businesses want your business, so if you tell them you're looking for a great deal, they will

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-51502118282871001162010-03-27T11:02:00.000-06:002010-03-27T11:02:14.186-06:00

Tonight, March 27, 2010, is "turn off the lights" night. For one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 your local time, turn off the lights. Sit in the dark or use candles, kerosene lamps or solar lighting and think about how much electricity the world is saving... and how much money you're saving. More about this in the post I made last year: Electric Traditions Join us?

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460131713224869765.post-88978860688846701162010-03-16T17:39:00.005-06:002010-03-16T17:57:52.867-06:00

Wow. Some headlines leave me underwhelmed, if you know what I mean. How about this one: Average Size Of Single Family Homes In The U.S. Down To 2,343 Square Foot. Oh, my. That's less than a thousand square foot per person - average. I am sincere. Did you know that the average home in 1950 was 1100 to 1200 square feet AND the average household population was 3.37 and in 2003, the last year I could

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067noreply@blogger.com24