photo by World resources institute
Cool weather brings cravings for comfort-food favorites. One of my favorite autumn flavors is pumpkin. Pureed pumpkin is versatile and can be mixed into a variety of foods, such as chili, mashed potatoes, spaghetti sauce, oatmeal and applesauce. Add small amounts, from a tablespoon to 1 cup or more, until it suits your taste.
To make your own pumpkin puree, cut small sugar-pie pumpkins in half, scrape out the membrane strands and seeds, and place halves in a baking pan with 1 cup of water. Cover …

DEAR SARA: I went into a local salon this evening to donate 12 inches of my hair. When I was talking to my mom, she told me that when my sister donated her hair, they didn’t charge her for the haircut. I’m mad that I was charged. Is this normal? I’d do it again in a heartbeat, but I’m curious to know if you’re supposed to pay. — Regina, forums
DEAR REGINA: Some salons don’t charge, some charge full price, and some offer discounts for hair donations.
If you’re planning on donating …

photos by mar mar
There have been times when I’ve wanted to make stuffed shells or lasagna but didn’t have ricotta or cottage cheese. I’d nix the idea and make something else, or, if desperate, I’d make a special trip to the store. Then I discovered I could make my own Ricotta cheese. It ended up being my way of using up leftover buttermilk. While it takes a few hours to make, it’s rewarding. I was thrilled to see the first tip because the recipe doesn’t rely on buttermilk.
HOMEMADE RICOTTA: You …

My frugal living forums play host to a bragging section, where you can post your latest great deals. Sometimes the same bargains can be found in other states, so members will often take advantage of the same deals. Some of the great buys are from garage sales, dollar stores and thrift stores. From an outside perspective, it seems as if tons of people are saving money. But are they?

photo by troismarteaux
People sometimes question my frugality. Some expect me to be in guerrilla frugality mode 24/7. It’s clear that I’m not the cheapest woman. But I’m not exempt from tough times and watching what I spend. Recently, our family income was cut in half for a few months. If I’ve learned one thing from this experience, it’s that not much in my lifestyle changed with a lower income. I simply kicked my frugality up a notch. For example, I had lapsed in my frugal ways in regards to boxed …