photo by vox_efx Invite friends over, and have a football party. It’s a frugal, fun night you can spend at home. Food and football go hand in hand. Finger foods work well, but a hot mug of chili will satisfy energetic sports fans. You can set it up in a slow cooker and plug it [...]
photo by kamstrup Pears make a beautiful natural display when placed in a fruit bowl as they ripen. They’re a great source of fiber and are delicious eaten out of hand or blended into smoothies. Fresh pears don’t freeze well until cooked or processed. So if you have more than a few, they can be [...]
photo by twoshortplanks Packing school lunches can be hard work. It’s too easy to rely on pre-packaged snacks. Take a break from chips and preservative-laden store-bought cookies. Make these kid-friendly oatmeal treats. They’re great as after-school snacks, too. Remember advice from Cookie Monster: These are a sometimes food. Banana Oat Muffins 1-1/2 cups flour 1 [...]
photo by g~ DEAR SARA: Help! What can I do with a lot of apricots? I was expecting a bumper crop of apricots from my tree. We picked them, and we have about 25 pounds in varying degrees of ripeness. Except for jam, what else can I make with them? By the way, I don’t [...]
photo by trialsanderrors Parents who work outside of the home have to be creative. After a full day’s work, you have little time to juggle the rest of the evening of tasks and still make room for family. You probably have your own routine, but maybe I can share a new tip that can help [...]
Photo by Jennifer McHenry Fixing school lunches can be a challenge. You want to avoid packing snacks that end up traded or in the cafeteria trash. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but you don’t always have to rely on prepackaged snacks. Here are a few homemade snack recipes for when you start [...]
photo by cooper kids It’s back-to-school time for the kids and for many parents it means back to looking for lunch box ideas. Some parents pack simple lunches such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, yogurt, and a drink and their children are happy throughout the school year. I’ve never been that fortunate. My [...]
photo by ms.Tea If you don’t have to be frugal, you probably let some of your penny-pinching strategies slide. But eventually you’ll notice that your budget is taking a hit because you’ve been slacking. You might even start wondering where your money is going. Don’t wait until you absolutely have to buckle down, because when [...]
photo by galant Low-budget meals are in high demand. They have the reputation of being high in fat or lacking nutrition, but you have to consider the ingredients you’re using. If you’re cooking a fatty cut of meat, then avoid pairing it with high-fat side dishes. Be creative and willing to compromise. Here are a [...]
photo by cogdogblog Preparation is smart. Emergencies can be man-made or natural and happen when you least expect them. Maybe you’ve had a nagging feeling that you should be doing something. But what? There are a few basic ways to plan ahead so you can have peace of mind. First, consider some of the top [...]
photo by rkimpeljr DEAR SARA: In your opinion, what are some of the least useful baby items you received? — Jilly, New Jersey DEAR JILLY: Parents are different in what they think are practical. I didn’t have much use for a changing table, Diaper Genie, newborn shoes, stuffed animals and toys, baby lotion and powder, [...]
photo by henry bloomfield Souvenirs can be expensive. I suggest bringing home pieces of the scenery, such as rocks, sand or shells, to display in mason jars or in your garden. Or press flowers and leaves. Of course, check that there aren’t any rules against taking these items. You can take plenty of photos, and [...]