photo by Robert Brook

In my house, my husband is the master jar and bottle opener. Sometimes, I don’t even have a chance to try to open one. If he sees a jar on the counter that I’m about to use, he’ll just open it for me. I like the first tip for those times he’s not around to be my jar- and bottle-opening hero.
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photo by chocolate monster mel

You can’t always get what you want. Sometimes you have to make do and be flexible. If you’re cooking and suddenly realize that you’re out of an ingredient, it might be more practical to go without it or to substitute something you have on hand. Why make a special trip to the store when gas prices are through the roof or you’re pressed for time? Or maybe you want to adjust your diet. Here’s a handy reference of common food substitutions. If you’ve made any successful …

DEAR SARA: I’m wondering how much of a stockpile you have on hand. For how long do you think you could feed your family? — Sherri, West Virginia
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photo by span

The first frugal tip I’m sharing is a new one for me. I usually let my frozen fruit thaw in the bag, or I use it frozen. I hope there’s a new one today for you, too.
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photo by lrargerich

Last week, my daughter needed new summer shoes. Sometimes I’ll buy name brands, and other times, I won’t. I care about how they fit, and whether they’re reasonably priced and of high quality, and I allow for a small amount of input from her because she has to wear them. We went to the store, and she picked shoes she wanted within two minutes. Zoom. She’s a girl who knows exactly what she wants. She picked a pair of comfortable shoes. They had a bit of princess flair …