Dinner leftovers comprise the majority of the lunches in my household. By eating them, we save money and avoid wasting food. Sometimes we really enjoy leftovers, but other times we merely tolerate them. Let’s be honest: Some foods just aren’t as good the second time around! In an attempt to avoid mushy, monochromatic remnants, we’re … [Read more...] about Jazzing Up Leftovers
frugal living
Frugal TIPbits: Give Haircuts at Home
Couples typically encounter a surprise or two when they create a budget for the first time after getting married. The biggest surprise for me was how much money my husband spent on haircuts. He prefers to keep his hair short, so this requires a monthly trim. At approximately $20 per cut, he was spending $240 each year for … [Read more...] about Frugal TIPbits: Give Haircuts at Home
Christmas in July: Ways to Save Money on Christmas Travel
Welcome to the final installment of Christmas in July 2013. You can read about the purpose of Christmas in July here. Links to the previous posts in the series are located at the bottom of this post. My husband and I spent some time this last weekend trying to iron out our travel plans for the Christmas holiday. Travel can be so … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Ways to Save Money on Christmas Travel
Modern Lessons from Wartime Rationing
From 1941 to 1945, while the U.S. was involved in World War II, Americans experienced shortages of raw materials and consumer goods. To avert a potential economic crisis, the U.S. government instituted a rationing system. The government distributed impressive propaganda materials to garner compliance with the rationing and to bolster … [Read more...] about Modern Lessons from Wartime Rationing
Frugal TIPbits: Ways to Salvage Bruised Fruit
Sometimes it’s a rogue apple that rolls off the counter onto the tile floor. Sometimes it’s a carefully selected peach that is carelessly bagged by a supermarket cashier. Sometimes it’s a forgotten plum that becomes squashed in the back of the produce drawer. Whatever the cause, bruised pieces of fruit are unsightly and, in many cases, … [Read more...] about Frugal TIPbits: Ways to Salvage Bruised Fruit
Frugal TIPbits: How to Use Fewer Paper Towels
I’m constantly searching for ways to save money. Given how frugally my husband and I already live, this is kind of like the proverbial trying to get blood from a turnip. Nonetheless, I’m driven to continue experimenting with new strategies because every penny counts. I think we can cut back on our paper towel use in my house. This … [Read more...] about Frugal TIPbits: How to Use Fewer Paper Towels
The Significance of Standby Power
I’ve read that minimizing the use of standby power (sometimes termed vampire or phantom power) can decrease energy bills. I’m always looking for ways to save a few dollars, so I turned to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to see what the fuss is all about. What is standby power? Many pieces of electronic equipment continue to use … [Read more...] about The Significance of Standby Power
Popcorn: A Healthy and Affordable Snack
Popcorn is often overlooked as a relatively healthy snack option. This may be because it is often prepared or served in unhealthy manners, such as butter-drenched “movie theater” varieties or those popped in pre-sealed microwave popcorn bags that generally contain high amounts of unhealthy fats, numerous chemicals and artificial flavors, and … [Read more...] about Popcorn: A Healthy and Affordable Snack
