Frugal Village

photos by twelve paws

DEAR SARA: I just found out that I’m pregnant, and I want to be prepared for baby expenses. I don’t see the need to spend a lot of money, but it’s difficult to pinpoint where frugality stops and excess begins. It’s such an exciting time. Can you offer a few frugal baby tips? — Rachel, e-mail continue reading » »

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 date whipped out a restaurant coupon for our meal, that would be a deal breaker. Now, when my husband has a coupon for a meal, I’m happy to save money. A few of my favorite cheap dates are going to the beach with lunch in the cooler, nature hikes and cruising flea markets.
The following are a few reader-submitted tips for inexpensive dates. continue reading » »

photo by osbock

My husband and I grocery shopped together for years. We weren’t the happy, hand-holding-while-shopping couple. No. We were more likely to be the couple circling the parking lot forever to find a close spot and having the great debate in Aisle 4 over which cereal to buy. Sometimes he even went as far as to replace items I’d put in the cart with items he thought were better. I’d get home and swear I had bought Italian bread only to find a loaf of fat-free wheat bread. I refer to this as one of the “what is this?” post-shopping moments.
continue reading » »

photo by ppdigital

During my frugal journey, I learned that simplifying and decluttering were the keys to being better organized. It’s easier to keep a home neat and tidy when there’s not a lot of stuff in it. Being the perfectionist that I am, I became a minimalist. I used to pride myself on having a spotless and near-sterile home. I once read the wisdom of older women claiming that they would rather have a messy home and spend time with family than spend their time cleaning. I rolled my eyes thinking that it didn’t take long to keep things orderly. What did they know? continue reading » »

photo by togood2b4gotton

Backyard grilling is a great break from using the oven, which heats up the kitchen during the warmer months. My husband is the grillmaster, so I get to simply watch and supervise, or, as I like to call it, help. One of my favorite grilled meals is chicken kabobs. They cook quickly and pack a lot of flavor into each bite. Kabobs are versatile, too. I can quickly add family favorites to the skewers, such as mushrooms, pineapple, bell peppers, tomatoes or potatoes. Add a sweet and tangy salad, and dinner is done in no time at all. continue reading » »