photo by lindspetrol

Gelatin is a tasty ingredient to add to desserts. It’s cheap and comes in a wide variety of flavors and colors that make it festive for any occasion. Everyone should have at least one gelatin recipe that’s a hit with family and friends.

Gelatin Milkshake

1 cup milk
1 package (4-serving size) gelatin, any flavor
1 pint softened vanilla ice cream

Pour 1 cup milk into blender, and add gelatin. Cover and blend 30 seconds. Add softened ice cream and blend 1 minute longer. Can add fruit if desired. — Ellise, South Carolina

Strawberry Pretzel Gelatin

2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
1-1/4 cups sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
1 9-ounce tub whipped topping
2 3-ounce packages strawberry gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 16-ounce package frozen sweetened strawberries

Crust: Combine pretzels, butter and 1/4 cup sugar. Press into 9-by-13-inch baking dish and bake in preheated 350 F oven for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
White Layer: Cream together cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over pretzel crust.
Red Layer: Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in frozen strawberries. Chill until partially set, about 1 hour, and spread over white layer. Chill until set and serve. — Michelle S., Massachusetts

Strawberry Chocolate Pie

1 package (4-serving size) strawberry gelatin
1-1/4 cups boiling water
1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
1 package chocolate crumb crust
3 tablespoons margarine
2 squares Baker’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate
whipped topping, thawed (optional)
fresh strawberries (optional)

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Spoon in ice cream. Stir until melted and smooth. Chill until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour into crust. Chill until firm, about 2 hours. Melt margarine with chocolate; cool. Spread over pie. With knife, lightly score pie into serving-size pieces. Chill until chocolate mixture hardens. Serve with whipped topping and berries. — Lori, Illinois

Creamy Gelatin

4 cups boiling water
1 3-ounce package cherry gelatin
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, sliced into fourths
1 3-ounce package lemon gelatin
1 3-ounce package lime gelatin
1 3-ounce package orange gelatin

Add 1 cup boiling water to package of cherry gelatin and stir. Add 1/4 of the vanilla ice cream and use a whisk to whip with the gelatin. Pour into a clear 9-by-13-inch pan for 15 minutes or until set. Then add 1 cup of boiling water to package of lemon gelatin. Add 1/4 of the vanilla ice cream and use a whisk to whip with the gelatin. Pour on top of the cherry layer for 15 minutes or until set. Repeat for last two layers. — Brenda, Missouri

Creamsicle Fluff

1 small box orange gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping
1 can mandarin oranges, drained well

Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Add 3 ice cubes to a measuring cup and fill with cold water to make 1 cup. Add to gelatin and hot water. Stir well until dissolved. Let set for 5 minutes to cool. With electric mixer, stir the dry instant pudding into gelatin. Mix well. Let stand for 15 minutes. Fold in thawed whipped topping and then the oranges. Refrigerate. — Debra, Nebraska

photo by suavehouse113

DEAR SARA: I had to buy fresh parsley for a sauce I recently made. I have a bunch left over. Can I chop it and freeze it? — Lisa, Georgia

DEAR LISA: Yes, you can freeze parsley. Chop the parsley and place it into an ice cube tray. Top each ice cube tray cubbie with water. You want to use about 1/4 cup water for every cup of parsley. You can process this in a food processor, too. Once frozen, transfer herb cubes to storage bags.

DEAR SARA: I inherited a 31-pound bucket of Bavarian creme. I don’t particularly care for Bavarian creme, especially in donuts. Since we’re gluten-free, I can’t willingly give it to my son. I don’t even know what you can make with this stuff. What are some good ideas on what to make with Bavarian creme? — Tisha, Canada

DEAR TISHA: You might enjoy it in a trifle, as a cake filling or topped with fresh fruit. You can freeze it and share it with others, too.

DEAR SARA: I need help organizing toothbrushes that we are using day in and day out. We can’t attach things to the wall and have limited counter space. Traditional toothbrush holders don’t work, as the toothbrush handles on the kids’ toothbrushes are too thick to fit in the holes. We tried the cup method, but someone always seems to want to drink out of it, and that seemed unsanitary. We tried the kitchen-utensil holder — basically, a big cup that was made out of wire originally made to hold kitchen utensils. It rusted very fast. Any ideas? — J. Moffitt, forums

DEAR J. MOFFITT: There are toothbrush holders that cover the bristles and attach to the mirror by suction cup. 3M also makes a hook that adheres to the wall but won’t damage it. There’s a $2 coupon to try it on their Web site, www.commandstrips.com. There are magnetic toothbrush holders that can be hung on a medicine cabinet or a rectangle plastic storage container that can hold them all. There is a holder that is similar to your cup idea, but it would not be mistaken or used as a cup because it’s a container with a lid. Or when you replace the toothbrushes, buy some with smaller handles so they can fit into standard organizers. You can use over-the-door organizers and store toothbrushes in a pocket, or try a bathroom space-saving organizer such as an over-the-toilet etagere.

DEAR SARA: I used to go to a site where you input your recipes and then click the recipes you wanted to make that week, and a grocery list was created based on the calendar. Do you know of a Web site like this? — Janelle, Massachusetts

DEAR JANELLE: There are quite a few recipe Web sites that have these features. I like having the option to have my shopping list e-mailed to me or stored so I can update it and not completely re-create a list when I go shopping. Try www.tastyplanner.com or www.mealsmatter.org. They’re two great Web sites for meal planning.

It’s easy to use too much of items that are in squeeze bottles. One way to combat over-usage is to put liquids such as shampoo, dish liquid, hand soap or condiments into pump dispensers. This will distribute a pre-measured amount each time you use it. The first reader tip shares a way to make shampoo and soap pour slowly, so you’re less likely to pour more than you need.

SLOW POUR: My daughter uses WAY too much soap, shampoo, etc., in the tub. Instead of taking the whole seal from under the screw cap off of the bottle when I buy it, I just punch a hole in it so that it pours a lot slower. — Andrea, West Virginia

FIRESTARTER: Did you know that you can use steel wool and a 9V battery to start a fire? I was watching TV the other night and it showed how to pull apart the steel wool and touch the “plug” ends of the 9V battery to it, and it just lights up. You can then add paper, kindling, whatever to keep the fire going. It’s called the Joule effect. I thought that was pretty cool! — Heather, New York

HOW TO UNCLOG A TOILET: It’s easy. After a day of plunging and even trying to fish with a wire hanger, I found an easy way to unclog the toilet. You will need: 1/4 cup dish-washing soap, 4 cups hot water and a plunger. Put the soap and water in the toilet and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Plunge a few times (you may make bubbles) and flush. I couldn’t believe it worked! I hate using chemicals, so I will keep a bottle of Dollar Tree dish soap handy just for this purpose. — Jenelle, Massachusetts

CAUTION: If you buy a pressure canner at a thrift store, you should have it checked for safety. The county extension office can do that for you. — Kellie, Arkansas

MOCK GRAPE NUTS: I have made this once, and it is pretty good. Be careful not to crumble too finely. I did not measure the amount, but it was a gallon Ziploc bag completely full. Keep in mind, these aren’t flakes, they are crumbs, so it was quite a bit in there. It is also shelf stable. The last batch I made was a few months ago, and this morning it was still tasty. I have used this in lieu of graham cracker crumbs in crusts and was pleased with the outcome.

7 cups whole-wheat flour
3 cups brown sugar
4 cups sour milk or buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup margarine, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 250 F. Mix all ingredients together and spread in shallow baking pan. Bake for 1-1/5 to 2 hours. When cool, crumble and toast in a 250 F oven for 30 minutes or until dry. Store in plastic bags when cool. — Joseph, North Carolina

VERSATILE COOKER: You can cook meals, including raw meat, in the rice cooker. Borrow “The Ultimate Rice Cookbook” by Beth Hensperger from the library. It is an awesome resource on rice and rice-cooker cooking. I make oatmeal, grits and tapioca pudding in my cooker. So wonderful to not have to worry about boil overs or scorched pots. — Saule, Illinois

This year can be your year. Change can start today. If you buckle down now, you’ll see progress by year’s end. Don’t simply have the best of intentions. It takes effort to reach your goals, so get moving and work little-by-little because nothing changes if nothing changes.

There’s always room for improvement when living a frugal lifestyle. What are you doing this year to improve your household finances?
Here are a few areas to refocus on.

SAVE TIME AND MONEY: What is zapping your energy and taking up your precious time? Identify time wasters and eliminate them. Maybe you need to purge clutter or pare down on activities or routines that have worn out their purpose. Donna from Canada shares: “I don’t plan to buy much from the thrift shop this year; instead, I’m using what I have already, and doing lots of my own sewing alterations. I don’t plan to buy many seeds or plants for my tiny backyard garden area; the shade trees never let me have much of a yield, so I’ll just save myself the time, money and hard work and buy from the store. Mostly, I want to detach from many of my activities, and spend some time rejuvenating my spirit, soul, body and mind. Mother Nature has what I need in order to do that. Just today, when I took out the trash — even though it is -40 F, I stopped to take in the sunset. My tensions and stresses just melted away.”

PANTRY PLANNING: Anticipate your food and nonperishable needs. If you know what you consume regularly by keeping track, you can better stock your pantry at the best prices. For example, even if you use primarily fresh and frozen vegetables, it’s wise to stock up on a few canned vegetables in case you have an unexpected expense. It’s one fewer necessity you have to worry about. But think about your options, too. One reader, Karen from Kansas, says: “We have used up or donated to the Food Bank, much of the canned foods from the store we used to use, and now use frozen, dehydrated or freeze-dried food from #10 cans. Less waste, higher nutrition. We converted to inexpensive and convenient tomato powder and no longer purchase cans of tomato sauce, tomato paste, pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, BBQ sauce, etc., making everything from tomato powder. And I practice strict portion control. Overeating anything is wasted money.” Disorganized at meal time? Take the time to create a weekly or monthly meal plan. Be creative with what you have.

SINKING FUND: Create a savings account for your short-term planned expenses. This is in addition to establishing an emergency fund. Include a category for handmade gifts for upcoming holidays, too.

MONITOR SHOPPING: It’s easy to add extras when you’re shopping. These little add-ons can break your budget. Check unit prices in the grocery store, shop sales and work hard on wasting less food. Produce is one area where many people tend to overbuy and let it rot in the refrigerator. Get into the habit of chopping or preparing and in some cases freezing some vegetables when you bring them home for your own convenience. Invest in tools that can help you reach your goals, too. Another reader, Anna from Illinois, says: “I can’t believe how much we waste in food that goes bad. My goal is to find a way to use it before it goes bad. I’ve been putting my dehydrator to good use lately. For example, I use it for the celery that never seems to get eaten before it goes bad. Then when I have a recipe that calls for celery, I just pull out my dried celery and I’m good to go.”

Dining out is costly. It tends to be the weak area in a family budget. Curbing over-processed or fast food and eating out at restaurants has become easier for a lot of people, but for some people, nothing seems to work. If you continue to eat out frequently and tend to make poor choices or overspend, you can start a food-rule game to help you wean off of it all. Basically, you create boundaries and rules for when you dine out. These rules become a personal challenge, and you’ll soon discover your options lean toward eating at home more often. At the very least, you will make healthier choices.
How do you save money on eating out?
Here are some rules to help curb your restaurant food budget.

DRINK WATER: When eating out, pass on the soda pop or alcohol and opt for ice water instead. Ask for a slice of lemon to give it flavor.

FIND YOUR TRIBE: You’ll find a group of like-minded people on my community forums (www.frugalvillage.com/forums). Look under the Food Challenges section and you’ll see folks with a goal of not eating out at all. Participate in the challenge and you’ll be held accountable by keeping a tally of the number of times you do eat out. You’ll learn strategies such as learning to replicate some of your favorite restaurant foods at home (hamburger patties, meatballs and pizza dough can easily be shaped and frozen ahead) and learn ways to combat the urge to eat out.

MAKE IT YOURSELF: Learn to avoid ordering restaurant foods that not only taste better but are cheaper made at home. For example, don’t order costly pasta dishes when it’s so cheap to enjoy them at home.

FOOD LIMITS: Let’s face it: Even if the risk of poor food handling is low, most everyone has something they tend to avoid when eating out. Maybe you don’t dine at buffets or eat anything with mayonnaise, or entrees such as meatloaf or chicken on the bone. A good rule of thumb is to not bother ordering dishes that a restaurant doesn’t specialize in. Having these limits will help you to avoid wasting money, too.

PLAN AHEAD: Establish a backup plan for days that might be hectic or when you’re sick. Have a list of quick and easy meals, and don’t forget to recruit family for help. It will cut down on the amount of work you do and can be fun family time spent together.

COMPROMISE: If you’re too busy or tired to prepare a full meal, order a to-go item and make the sides at home.

DESSERT OPTION: Either dine out only for dessert or pass on dessert entirely if you’re out for a meal. You can split dessert or pick up a cheaper dessert at your local grocery store on the way home, too.

LOOK FOR DISCOUNTS: Decide to eat out only if you have a coupon or order the special of the day. Or opt to eat out for breakfast or lunch rather than dinner. Check www.restaurant.com for deals, or splurge on an entertainment book (www.entertainment.com). You can type in your zip code and see the deals for your area and decide whether it’s worth buying. Visit your favorite restaurant’s Web site and sign up for their newsletters to receive upcoming promotions, special coupons or discounts. Don’t forget to dine at restaurants that offer discounts for being a AAA member, a student, senior, celebrating a birthday, etc.

No-bake recipes are quick and easy. Their simplicity makes them ideal for kids to create (very little wait time) or on days you’re in a hurry or don’t feel like turning on the oven. Best of all, there’s minimal cleanup.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups quick-cooking oats

Add the first 4 ingredients to a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil and let boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until smooth, then stir in the oats. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto wax paper-lined baking sheets. Let cool until set. — Ellise, South Carolina

Granola Bars

2-1/2 cups crisp rice cereal
2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Cook’s note: You can use Honey Nut Cheerios instead of rice cereal.

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside. Bring brown sugar and syrup to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until blended. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until coated; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in chocolate morsels. Press mixture firmly into a 13-by-9-inch pan; cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. — Cheriede, Indiana

Pink Fluff

2 3-ounce boxes strawberry gelatin
3 cups water
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
8 ounces whipped topping
1 pint strawberries

Make the gelatin using only 3 cups of water total. Place in a large mixing bowl. Set in fridge to set. When set, place 1-1/2 cups of the graham cracker crumbs into a 9-by-13-inch pan. Mix the gelatin with electric mixer to when it looks like chunky applesauce. Add the whipped topping and mix in until thoroughly mixed. Fold in the strawberries. Dump this mixture on top of the graham crackers. Top with remaining graham crackers. Refrigerate for a couple of hours. — Debra, Nebraska

Peanut Butter Pie

1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1-1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 (16-ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker or chocolate cookie crusts
chocolate syrup
Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or crushed Oreos, for topping

Beat together cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon into two 9-inch graham cracker pie shells. Drizzle with chocolate syrup, cover and freeze until firm. Top with Reese’s pieces, crumbled Reese’s peanut butter cups or crushed Oreo. — Brenda, Kansas

Chocolate Cream Cake

2 (3.5-ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 cups milk
1 (16-ounce) package graham cracker squares
1 (16-ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting

In a medium bowl, mix the pudding mix, whipped topping and milk. Arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares in the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan. Evenly spread half of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Top with another layer of crackers and the remaining pudding mixture. Top with a final layer of graham crackers. Spread the frosting over the whole cake up to the edges of the pan. Cover and chill at least 4 hours before serving. — Niko, Florida

DEAR SARA: We used to have a hot-air popcorn maker back in the day, and its long since been history. Now I’m looking around for hot-air popcorn makers, and they’re kind of overpriced, around $50. I’m trying to make popcorn without the oils/butter, etc. Some of the reviews I’ve read have said the units are too hot to touch after you’ve popped the corn or it shoots scalding hot kernels out of the machine at you. Just wondered how you pop your popcorn, not the microwave bag kind, and if you could recommend a popcorn maker. — Libby, Canada

DEAR LIBBY: Popcorn poppers are very easy to find secondhand. Look in garage sales, thrift stores or online on Freecycle, Kijiji.com or eBay.com. If you’re looking to buy new, I’d continue to watch sales. Most air poppers are going to shoot a kernel or two. West Bend makes great air poppers. Their older model, Poppery II (found secondhand), can double as a coffee-bean roaster, too. You can read more about it at www.frugalvillage.com/2007/12/27/gourmet-coffee-on-the-cheap. But if you want a recommendation, I’d buy a Whirly Pop stovetop popper. It does use a little oil to prevent sticking, but is cheap to buy ($20 or so new). You’ll love the taste (like movie theater popcorn), every kernel pops, it’s long-lasting and the experience is just more fun.

DEAR SARA: What’s the best place to order new checks? I need new checks, and I know I can find them cheaper than through my bank. Any suggestions for specific companies? There’s about a million and a half of them online. I would like to find one that has a debit register too, the little register that fits with your debit card. Thanks. — Akolb, Louisiana

DEAR AKOLB: I’d call your bank and see if they offer any discounts or if there’s any way to get free checks. You can also buy them through Wal-Mart (www.walmartchecks.com) or Costco at a discount. You’re right: There are a ton of online sources. Places such as checksunlimited.com, 4checks.com and bestvaluechecks.com all offer discount checks. You can also print your own checks using software such as Checksoft Personal Deluxe, which you can find at stores such as Staples. I write very few checks and get them through my credit union. Be sure to verify your checks for accuracy.

DEAR SARA: I made a two-layer cake tonight and do not have a cake dome or any container big enough to fit it in. It’s frosted with store-bought frosting. How should I go about storing it? Foil? — Rhayne, New Jersey

DEAR RHAYNE: I’d place a large bowl or pan over the top or insert toothpicks into it and cover loosely with plastic wrap. You can check a local bakery or grocery store bakery and see if they’ll sell you a cake box or container. If your store-bought frosting isn’t extremely perishable (no dairy or uncooked eggs), then your cake can set out on the counter. Wrap like I mentioned above or at least use a loose-foiled tent. Now might be a good time to invest in a cake keeper, too.

Frozen bananas are a tasty treat. Dip a whole frozen banana on a stick or frozen chopped banana into melted chocolate, then roll it into toppings such as sprinkles, crushed cookies or nuts or shredded coconut. You can use frozen bananas in smoothies, added to a bowl and topped with yogurt and granola or muesli, or combined with peanut butter and a bit of milk to make a delicious dessert. The first tip shares another way to enjoy frozen bananas. It’s a great way to use up ripe bananas, too.

MOCK ICE CREAM: I just made this for the first time and am amazed at how great this tastes. It’s exactly like banana ice cream! It comes out like soft serve. I am not sure I will ever bother with the fat and calories of regular ice cream again. This does not taste like a low-fat product; it is very rich and creamy. You’ll need some bananas and milk. Freeze a banana. Peel banana, chop into chunks, and put into your food processor. Blend with a splash of milk until creamy. Then eat. Next time I am adding chocolate syrup and nuts to make a sundae. — Joseph, North Carolina

WALLPAPER REMOVER: While removing wallpaper, I used DIF wallpaper stripper. My daughter gave me some and it worked great. I went to buy another spray bottle and it was $7.49! I bought it because I had a $5 coupon. Then, while I was complaining about the price, my husband said he heard fabric softener works. It is great and works even better than the DIF. It doesn’t have to be an expensive kind. Just put it in a spray bottle. — Dortrust, Midwest

PRINTER CARTRIDGES: They dry out when left in the printers and will go bad faster. Take them out after each use and keep them in a zipper baggie until needed. It’s a pain in the rear for sure, but it’s supposed to be worth it in the end. Or if you happen to have the little plastic covering that came on the cartridge when you first got it, you can put that back over the cartridge instead of in a baggie. Also, another tip: My cats love plastic Easter eggs. I put a treat in them to make noise. Occasionally they hit them so hard against something they break open, and they have a surprise inside. — Jan S., Indiana

QUICK CLEANING: My daughter and I were watching TV one night when a commercial came on. The announcer says, “Just use Febreze during your regular tidy-up time and….” We looked at each other and said. “We’re supposed to have a tidy-up time? Maybe that’s the problem!” Then we had a good laugh. So now we have a tidy-up time. It’s always the last thing at night right before bed, and then you won’t have a mess to get up to in the morning! You can have it any time during the day or as often as you want. I have it when I make the bed and tidy the bedroom. Or when I take a shower, I tidy the bathroom. If the house is always or mostly tidy, then cleaning doesn’t fall far behind because you don’t have to pick up everything before you CAN clean! It’s the same sort of thing as cleaning 15 minutes to a timer. — Rachel, North Carolina

When you’re living lean, it seems like you can’t cut any more corners. Often, there are things you simply don’t want to give up. You get used to modern conveniences and want to enjoy life. But if you think about, there’s quite a bit you could cut back on if you had to, and some things you might not even miss if you got rid of them completely. What would you give up to reach a financial goal?
Here are a few ideas.

CABLE: You know the saying that there are hundreds of channels and nothing to watch? Usually, one person in the family could gladly give up cable television, but the rest of the household doesn’t want to. With so many options such as Netflix, Hulu, Redbox, borrowing DVDs from the library or simply replacing TV time with other options, cutting cable or satellite or downgrading your service package is easier than ever.

GYM MEMBERSHIP: You don’t want to sacrifice fitness, but you can get a good workout at home. Many times you might have good intentions of using your membership but end up not going. You can climb stairs, walk, jump rope, use dumbbells or exercise to fitness DVDs. Look for secondhand equipment on Freecycle.org or Kijiji.com. You can share the cost of exercise items with family and friends, too.

JUNK FOOD: Do a pantry audit. Your kitchen could be loaded with extras you can do without. A common excuse is that the rest of the family can’t live without snacks and soda. Even one person cutting back can make a difference. Identify healthier choices and slowly wean your family off of the garbage foods and excess calories.

MEAT: Not everyone wants to be vegetarian, but incorporating a meatless meal each week can save you money. You don’t need red meat daily. Replace some meat with fish, poultry, nuts (in moderation), tofu, beans or eggs. At the very least, monitor your portion sizes and decrease the amount of processed meats you eat.

VEHICLE: If you’re a two-car household, you might be able to drop down to one car. It’s horrifying for some people to even consider getting rid of a spare car, but do you absolutely have to have it? Consider public transportation, biking, walking, carpooling or carsharing in larger cities from places such as www.zipcar.com . If you can’t let go of the extra gas guzzler, call your insurance company and see if you qualify for any discounts for insuring multiple cars and being a longtime customer with the same company. You can call around and compare prices, too. Make changes to your driving habits. Avoid repeat trips or leisure driving. Read the book “How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life” by Chris Balish (Ten Speed Press, September 1, 2006) for a convincing guide to living a car-free life. If nothing else, you’ll learn how to be less dependent on your cars.

During your quest for frugality, you can overdo it. Extreme frugal living that negatively impacts someone else is one way. But another way is when you get so consumed by saving that you actually waste money in the process. Have you ever had a frugal flop or had good intentions to save, but it ended up costing you?
Here are a few ways people think they’re saving, but actually aren’t.

SHOPPING SALES: You go through the sales fliers and see a grocery item is on sale. The store is in another city, and you drive without considering the time or gas it takes. It might end up costing you more than if you had passed on it or simply waited for a local sale. Do the math. If it’s worth it, remember that your savings will increase if you buy more than one item and add it to your stockpile. You’re not saving money if the ads or coupons entice you to buy items you wouldn’t normally buy or if you overbuy and can’t consume a product before it goes bad. One reader, D.D. from Missouri, adds: “Pay attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff in the flyer (paid placement) or with a big sign like it’s a sale item but then sell it at regular price, or it’s for a different size than you’re used to buying. Sometimes they put stuff on sale for a couple of cents off the regular price, which is no bargain.”

DELAYING MEDICAL CARE: You don’t seek medical attention because you don’t want to shell out money for the bill. Maybe you don’t have medical insurance, don’t want to miss time from work or it’s a bad week financially. Home remedies such as a warm compress, drinking cranberry juice or eating garlic cloves isn’t the way to go. Delaying medical attention can make health matters worse and cost you more money.

DIY FLOPS: Know your do-it-yourself limitations. Don’t invest in tools and supplies to fix anything that is far beyond the realm of your skill set, or on items that are truly past their usable life, or on projects that might not ever get done or won’t be done well enough. There comes a time when an item isn’t worth repairing or should be handled by a professional.

SUPPLIES: You might want to cook more at home, so you have new recipes to try. But maybe you don’t have everything you need on hand. Aim to cook meals that don’t include fancy ingredients, or learn to make do with modifications and substitutions. If you don’t have time for projects such as home canning or dehydrating, don’t get suckered into buying supplies that will collect dust. If you do have time, do your homework. Another reader, Polly from Pennsylvania, adds a tip: “We’ve been guilty of purchasing cheap appliances/goods because they were cheap, thinking we were saving money, only to have that item break or need repairs, and dying way before its time. We’ve learned to buy the very best we can afford and to research a product before purchasing. After we decide what model/product is the best for our price range and the price range just above it, we start bargain hunting for sales, price matching and looking for things like free delivery and installation. Often, we can get such a good deal that we can buy from the price range above because of sales promotions.”