Archive for Archive for January, 2009
Recipes for homemade cleaners: What’s your favorite?
I finally made some homemade laundry soap, and I’ve even tried the baking soda/vinegar substitute for shampoo. Now I want more! What is your favorite homemade cleaner? Is it cheaper, safer, or more effective? All of the above? DISHES: I’d like to find a less expensive replacement for dishsoap – the kind for hand-washing dishes. [...]
Chicken, Tuna, Spam and Measuring Costs
We’ve been discussing food slumming and how people mistakenly assume expensive foods like Velveeta are actually frugal choices over on my regular blog. In one recent discussion on meat prices, somebody said that canned tuna was one far from a good bargain, as at .75 for five ounces, that made the tuna 2.40 a pound, [...]
Is Frugality A Fad Or A Trend That Will Last?
As the economy continues to slide and prospects for many look bleak, there has been a surge in frugal practices. Spending less and saving more has become the latest fashion, and everywhere you look, there are articles about it or people trying to be more frugal. Is this a lasting trend towards doing more with [...]
From the mailbag: Coupon Sources
Marlene is looking for coupons for household goods, groceries, superstores, etc. Anyone can do a google search, but which one is the best? What is your favorite source for coupons?
Your repair kit: what’s in it?
Don’t forget to enter the drawing for the new Frugal Forum: be among the first 50 members to post 25 times or more, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for $100 cash! Post about the drawing on your blog to be entered in a separate drawing for $25 cash. Details are here. I emptied [...]
Cheerful Frugality Finds A Forum
Have you visited the Frugal Hacks forums yet? Brought back fond memories for me. I learned about bulk cooking from my 1st frugal forum…just a new bride and her creaky dial-up connection. I got my start at Frugalmoms.com (now defunct) and moved to Hillbilly Housewife then Prairie Homemaker. What I enjoyed most about frugal forums is the sense [...]
What’s In Your Hand Winter Salads
These recipes are very much based on what you have in hand, mix ‘n match as needed- Take two cups of raw or steamed veggies: cauliflower, broccoli, peas, green beans, steamed rutabagas- you choose the combo based on what you have. Mix with one or two cups of cooked beans: garbanzos (also called chickpeas), lentils, [...]
Earth Box: is it worth the investment?
I want to have a garden. I don’t especially look forward to the work – in fact, I have to admit that I really kinda hate gardening. But I love, love, love garden fresh produce and it’s worth the work. I think we as a family would learn a lot, and I suspect that my [...]
Monthly challenge for February
cwaltz suggested a monthly challenge for frugal hackers. In the interest of becoming more self-sufficient, I hope to try something new every month this year. Some of our goals include cloth diapers, composting, chickens, and gardening. What would be on your list? Or, to put a finer point on the matter, what change do you [...]
10 Frugal Sites That Inspire You
cwaltz asked this question over on the Frugal Hacks Forum. If you had to name 10 sites that you couldn’t live (besides frugal hacks) without which sites would they be? How did they or have they inspired you? I love this subject! What would you say?
Cheerful Frugality Goes To The Museum
We’ll be celebrating the 3-day weekend with a trip to the museum. It’s a great way to feel like a tourist when you don’t have the money to travel. Here are a few ways we maximize our dollars at museums: Join ‘em: 2 family admission fees are often enough to buy a membership. What’s your break-even point? Spread [...]
Good discussions on the forum
There are now 10 people qualified for the $100 cash drawing – 10 forum users who have posted at least 25 times. That means that anyone who is interested still has an excellent chance at winning! Some of my favorite discussions right now: Bottoms Up – cloth diapering: what do you love, hate or recommend? [...]
Creating A Price Book – Putting it into Use
So you gathered up your receipts for the past month or two, and you’ve created the beginning of a price book from them to help with comparison shopping for groceries. Now what? I use my price book every week to make sure I am paying the lowest price possible for every item I buy. I [...]
Fast food dollar menus
There’s a fast food thread over on the forum, and I think it’s confession time. We know it’s bad for us but nearly everyone indulges in fast food now and then, right? So let’s swap notes. Which chains have a dollar menu? Which ones have the best deals, and which have the best (cheap) fast [...]
Stores that give credit for bringing your own bags
A2JC4life asked on the Frugal Forum, Can we maybe work on a list of what stores give credit for bringing your own bags? So far, I’ve only seen one that does this (Ukrop’s, in Virginia). I’d love to know where to be checking, or if I’m overlooking something that my cashiers never thought to tell [...]
