Frugal Village

photo by donut

The mismatch amount of hot dogs to a package of buns often leaves you with leftovers. If you overplan a party, you’ll have extra, too. Don’t waste them. I like to call the following “reucipes” (ri-yoos-uh-pees), which are tips for reusing food and common household items. My readers share their tasty ways to [...]

photo by crystl

I’ve always been a cheap date. No, not the “check out my poster collection” type of cheap date, but the kind that enjoys a picnic in the park or splitting the bill. But there’s a fine line between being creatively frugal and fun and being downright tacky. On a first date, if my [...]

photo by bcmom

I’ll admit, I haven’t tried reusing dryer lint, so the first tip is on my must-try list. I hope there’s a new frugal tip for you, too.
DRYER-LINT FIRE STARTER: I stuff my dryer lint into an empty toilet-paper cardboard tube. I melt my leftover candle wax and pour it into both ends [...]

photo by Abri Beluga

Frugal living can be a way to reach a financial goal, but it’s also a way to make it through a rough patch. It offers you a way to prepare, conserve resources and survive. The following reader tips can help you plan for tough times.

photo by jspatchwork

I’ve read, shared and used a lot of frugal tips through the years. Sometimes I read a new frugal tip from a reader and wonder why I didn’t think of it — like the tip below for sewing a simple picnic blanket. I can’t wait to make it. A special thanks to readers [...]