Browse by Tags
-
Posted
Aug 06 2008, 12:52 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Want to get a roll of paper towels for 39 cents? Hit the auto supply store. Shocked at how expensive canned fruit has gotten? The drugstore might have an alternative. In the market for deeply discounted coffee, trash bags or toilet paper? Visit an office supply place.
These are some examples of the deals you can get if you stop thinking that foodstuffs and sundries can be purchased only in supermarkets. With the costs of basic foods continuing to rise, it really can pay to break out of the grocery gulag.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jul 30 2008, 05:36 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Did you know that salt mixed with hot water can remove unsightly perspiration stains on your shirts? We sure didn't. We thought those stains were immutable. In fact, we found lots of useful tips at a Web site recommended to us by Abby Freedman. Gomestic covers many domestic topics with a sense of humor and flair. The salt post is actually titled "10 top (legal) things to do if you find yourself holding a jar of salt." There are also posts featuring 10 top and legal uses for toothpicks, baby oil and Vaseline. (The last two deal with eliminating squeaks in door hinges and water spots on floors, cleaning greasy hands after changing the oil, and the like; get your mind out of the gutter.)
Read More...
-
Posted
Jul 21 2008, 09:49 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Can one person get enough to eat by spending only $100 a month on groceries? "Tight Fisted Miser" says he can. The topic came up at his blog when he posted about his experience with food stamps. He argued that people who can't make food stamps stretch through the month are probably making poor choices when they buy food.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jul 16 2008, 10:27 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This post comes from Myscha Theriault at partner blog Wise Bread. In these days of planetary consciousness and squeezing every nickel, any new idea helps. Here's an "extreme green" list of ways to put previously discarded items to new use. Empty Chianti bottles. In addition to great long-term candleholders, they are also great for olive oil dispensers, particularly if you buy yours in a large bulk can. You can either add a pourable spout, or stick with the cork from the original bottle. It's a much easier size to manage on your counter or back of the stove.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jun 04 2008, 09:35 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Last week's Safeway ad had a coupon for a dozen eggs for $1, a swell deal these days. I consider eggs a fridge staple because they make a quick and cheap light supper. Besides, finals are coming up, and I always fortify myself with bacon, eggs and toast on exam mornings.
However, the coupon's fine print -- there's always fine print -- said shoppers needed to spend at least $10 to use the dollar-a-dozen coupon. The thing was, I didn't need $10 worth of stuff. Just eggs. But I wasn't about to let a teeny-tiny disclaimer keep me from getting cheap protein. I have a frugal hack for just such an occasion.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jun 02 2008, 08:53 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
When I bought flour tortillas this weekend, I noticed that the price had gone up by 20 cents. That didn't surprise me, since the price of bread and other flour-based products has skyrocketed lately. But I'm still ahead of the game because I shop at a bakery outlet. Even with the cost increase, I paid just 79 cents for a 20-ounce bag of tortillas.
Something else I noticed: The outlet seemed busier than usual. A cashier told me that business is booming, and that some new customers are surprised to find "that it isn't old bread" on the outlet shelves.
Read More...
-
Posted
May 30 2008, 02:52 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Going away and afraid that your plants will dry up, particularly now that you've become a container gardener? Or maybe you're just too forgetful to keep them watered. Michael Nolan's Frugal Mania presents the cheap way to make your own self-watering device. It doesn't get much cheaper than this. All you need is a plastic water or soft-drink bottle and a piece of old pantyhose.
Read More...
-
Posted
May 19 2008, 08:26 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
The temperature hit 88 degrees on Saturday, which is warm for Seattle, or anywhere else. My apartment has tall south- and west-facing windows and no air conditioning.
So I cranked the blinds inside out to reflect the sun, dragged the pedestal fan ($4, rummage sale) out of storage and made a big pitcher of iced tea. Sweet relief, the Smart Spending way.
Read More...
-
Posted
May 12 2008, 03:40 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
We're quite sure it never occurred to you to cut up cereal liner bags and use the pieces between hamburger patties when you're stacking and freezing them. Empty tissue boxes? Fill them with those flimsy plastic shopping bags so you can easily pull out one when you need it. And those bags? Line the garbage pail or the paint tray (or our own personal favorite -- pick up doggie deposits). You'll find the complete list of these clever tips at TipNut.com, a site we immediately bookmarked after it was recommended to us by Abby Freedman.
Read More...
-
Posted
May 07 2008, 02:04 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Little is wasted in the home of reader "smartlane," and much money is saved. Why? Because she controls portions of everything from snacks to condiments to shampoo. She writes: I plan meals ahead, leave out snacks in portioned amounts for the kids, and fix plates for everyone to balance portions, and discourage overeating. I leave ketchup, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper off table, and butter rolls and potatoes ahead of serving. I put out small bowls of condiments for individual family members. I also put measuring cups in cereal containers to discourage half-eaten bowls from being thrown out. (Smaller bowls have helped here too).
Read More...
More Posts Next page »
|
