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Many people, me (in the past) included, simply fill up the cap on their liquid laundry detergent when doing a load of laundry.  But that isn’t always the amount of detergent suggested to use by the manufacturer. If you read the back of the detergent bottle, it may have instructions involving lines on the inside of the cap.  Many caps have several lines depending on the size of your laundry load. You may be using up to twice as much detergent as you need to for each load - and when buying detergent for the best price per load, that isn’t the frugal way to go.  So check the…

Financial Wellness Project plays host to Festival of Frugality #152 with the affected by recession edition.  Here are their picks from the wealth of Festival entries: Wenchypoo presents Why We Skip the Holidays All Together posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo’s Mental Wastebasket. Randall presents “It’s Hip to Be Spare” - How Frugality Has Become the New Fashion posted at Credit Withdrawal - Helping You Kick the Credit Habit. Heather Levin presents How To Set Up A Community Lending Library posted at The Greenest Dollar. pfincome presents Turn Frugal Behaviors into a Game posted at…

Buying in bulk, whether it be from a large chain discount store, or to take advantage of a great sale, can be a very frugal thing.  If you pay less for what you would buy anyway, it is an instant return on your money.  But sometimes bulk buying can get a little out of hand.  Be aware of these three things when taking the plunge into buying in bulk. Buy only what you can store safely and efficiently.  Storing 50 boxes of your favorite cereal in your garage isn’t frugal if the garage is prone to mice.  Buying 20 lbs of meat on sale that you can’t freeze isn’t frugal…

Festival of Frugality #151, the Veterans Day edition, is up at On A Quest To Be Debt Free! Visit the festival to check out all the entries, including these highlights I chose: Early Retirement Extreme:  How To Live Out of a Suitcase Trees Full Of Money:  How To Stop Cold Drafts In Your Home Living Almost Large:  Is Backpacking Frugal? Next week the festival travels to Financial Wellness Project so get your entries in!

Donating items we no longer use so that others can enjoy them is a frugal thing to do.   But make sure when you donate something, that if possible you get documentation about your donation.  That way, you may be able to reduce your taxes by claiming donations when you itemize your deductions.  The tax software I use to do my taxes every year even values items for me so I know what the fair market value to claim is. Now, some of us don’t itemize deductions (last year is the first year we had enough deductions to do so) so then documenting donations doesn’t really help reduce…

Yesterday I finished the coffee table I had been refinishing, and this morning we moved it into our living room.  I posted a picture of it already, but it looks even better inside than it did out in the driveway: I’m thrilled with how it turned out.  I love that it started as a dark, dingy, scratched piece of thrift store furniture that I got for $15, and turned out to be such a great addition to our living room.  We have a small end table between our two couches, and it’s just made of particle board with a fake wood veneer on it (you know the sort, where the strips…

Last week, I came across a unique coffee table in our neighborhood thrift store.  It was solid - I can’t pick it up by myself - and really cool looking, but in need of some love.  It was obviously homemade, and constructed all from 2×4s, with industrial-looking bolts holding it together.  I love simple, solid wooded furniture, and this table jumped out at me.  We don’t have a coffee table in our living room.  We have an ottoman, but my husband has had it since he was in college, and there are some stains that I just can’t get out.  One of…

Last Saturday, I spend the afternoon with one of my friends.  We went to lunch at a very tasty and inexpensive Mexican restaurant that we both love, and then she mentioned that she wanted to get a jump start on her Christmas shopping.  I’ve pretty much got all my holiday gift giving sorted out (without buying anything), but I’m always up for wandering around a store chatting with a girlfriend, so off we went. We went to a shopping center that had a Ross, Marshalls, and Michaels all in a row.  My friend found four gifts, and I ended up with a packet of velcro from Michaels (so…

I’ve had BlogHer ads on my site for quite a while now, but I forgot that one of the rules they have is that we can’t get freebies worth more than $40 for review on our sites.  When I got a giftcard to JC Penny from Box Tops for Education, it was for $50.  I wrote about it last week, but I’ve had to move the post to a new page that doesn’t have BlogHer ads on it.  I highly recommend going through Box Tops for Education if you’re doing your shopping online.  In case you missed my post last week, you can check it out here at its new home.

It’s Monday morning and I’m just getting to my Sunday round up.  I think that makes it a Monday round up.  We had a good productive weekend, but I barely touched the computer since Friday, other than to play music while I did house work.  so I’m catching up now, and wanted to share some good stuff from the Frugal Blog Network and beyond… Almost Frugal has a post about looking great on a budget.  I especially like the part about only buying clothes that are machine washable.  I’ve extended that to just about everything - rugs, curtains, placemats… I…

The pieces should all be cut into 1 or less to feed the most people. Serves 6: 4 Chicken breasts - diced into small cubes. 4 Carrots - sliced 2

Make an 16 oz spray container of rug/fabric cleaner with simple home ingredients. Fill a 16 oz container with: 3 oz of ammonia 3 oz vinegar 2 TBSP

Ellen Roseman has posted a good article about how to go or be frugal that won't cause you to much pain. Thought it worth flagging up as it's always good to get other views and perspectives. enjoy

If you like me have a weakness for gadgets and then discover them in a drawer not being used or perhaps you are one of those people who like to upgrade every year. Either way you could be getting some money back for those unwanted gadgets as well as doing your bit for the planet. See if Gazelle will give you cash for your gadgets.

frugal recipe for hamburger and macaroni. Brown lean ground beef in oil, add a cut up onion. garlic, greenpepper and /or celery may be added. While this browning have a pot of macaroni pasta

This is a guest post from Emma, of Baby-Log. If you enjoy it, why not subscribe to her feed? There comes a point in any mom’s life when she knows – the house must be childproofed. But how do you get it right and keep the costs to the minimum? Looking back, I can say – if I had to do it over again, here is what I’d do: Think first The best tip I can give you – think first, buy locks second. The most common mistake people make is that they go to the shops to see what kind of locks are available and end up buying a stack of inconvenient, awful looking, irritating devices that make life…

I had originally planned to show you how to make wire people, but I’ve never managed to get an entire one finished. I had first learned about this in Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects by Salley Mavor and I’ve been trying to recreate these whimsical creatures for, oh let’s see, about four years now. Do yourself a favor and look at the pictures in the book. I promise you that you too will be enchanted by them and soon your living room can be full of embroidery thread, wooden beads and pipe cleaners. Which make excellent cat toys, by the way. On to some bloggers who really…

Great questions! Thanks for asking. Now it’s my turn, and I’ll do my best to answer. Emily asked “Kelly, what is your favorite uber-frugal recipe?” I’m glad she asked because I just posted about it on Almost Frugal Food! My favorite frugal meal is beans and rice, specifically black beans and rice. I love it for a whole slew of reasons, not the least of which is that it’s even more delicious than it is frugal. Frank asked “Do you find the home technology in France more reliable than in the USA?” I don’t think there is a difference.

I had a guest post on raising children bilingually, on one of my favorite fellow Thesis user’s blogs: Gidget Loves Languages. ‘Gidget’ aka Nicole is a former Spanish teacher raising her daughter bilingually, and sharing her experiences (and some Spanish vocabulary) along the way. She also has another blog, Gidget Goes Home, on which she is hosting the fifth theme in the Holidays *by hand* series: Quilting. Here are some favorite reads from around the blogosphere: Lifestyles of the Organized shares 8 ways to save time doing the dishes. Spend Money on What’s Important is…

This is a guest post from Nicole of Breaking Even, Inc. If you enjoy this post, please subscribe to her feed! My quest for weight loss started in the usual fashion. I realized that I only fit into a fraction of the clothes I owned. I hadn’t worn some of my clothes in a couple of years and apparently had some weight sneak up on me. Alcohol, desserts, lack of exercise and age can catch up to us all. It seems like it happens all of a sudden but really it’s creeping on for months or years on end. Like many Americans, it is time for me to lose weight. Now I’m not (at least I…

On Monday, I returned to my truck after a long day of social work to find it had been broken into and someone had attempted to steal it. My things were not missing, but the steering column, ignition, and dash were damaged and the truck was not drivable. Fortunately, a friend wouldn’t let me wait alone for the tow truck and ended up driving me home. After a misadventure in towing, GEICO estimates the damage–so far–at over $1300. In addition, the truck is likely down until at least the day after Thanksgiving (anyone want to lay bets that the truck won’t be ready that…

It’s often said that money won’t buy happiness, which I agree with 100%. Let’s look at that a bit more. It’s nice to have nice stuff, and many of us have goals that are very much around having such things. For instance, I would love to get a new 24 inch iMac. But will that make me happy? It might make me more productive, it might reduce my frustration, it might even let me do some things that were difficult or just not possible before, but I seriously doubt it would actually make me happy to get something like that. Just as getting a new bicycle wouldn’t make me…

We’ve discussed Internet coupon sites here in the past (and of course, we’ve had the fabulous Kyle of Rather-Be-Shopping.com do a bunch of guest posts!), so they’re not new to us. But there are other sites out there and other ways to spend less or get rebates, and I’m wondering which do you like? For instance, DealMac.com and its affiliates like DealRam.com and DealCam.com are ones I use to either hear about new discounts or compare prices. But there’s also Shopper.com and Google Products for price comparison as well. A lot of times I’ll see if a retailer…

As we discussed yesterday, it’s simple to improve your personal financial situation, but it’s not easy. The concepts are not difficult–we discussed some yesterday, in particular keep in mind the usual “spend less than you earn”–but the practice is what is. To change the example a bit, a budget–or a savings plan, or an asset allocation, or all of these–is the easy part of dealing with your finances. Having the discipline to follow the plan is the difficult part. Going back to the comparison to losing weight–it’s easy to have a meal…

As we approach the holiday season, I’d like to thank and recognize the Carnivals and Festivals we’ve been involved with, this week namely the Money Hacks Carnival (brought to you this week by Taking Charge) and the Carnival of Personal Finance, hosted this time around by The Digerati Life. Welcome and thanks for visiting!

In the United States today there are millions of people without health insurance. As the insurance companies want to make a higher and higher profit it keeps the majority of uninsured people from getting health insurance due to the costs. Many businesses have had to either drop the health insurance or make the deductibles in the range of $1000, $5,000 or even as high as $10,000 and place more of the cost on the employee.If you can place pre-tax money into a health savings account to help pay for your medical care this can help alleviate some of the strain of medical care. Many people do not…

This couple while short on compost materials after making a move, hatched a perfect plan to acquire masses of good organic matter, and have fun while doing it.They morphed their house warming party into a compost warming, and boy was it fun. Invitations were sent and word was spread they wanted rotting matter, and lots of it.They offered prizes for the most useful, the most unusual, and the largest quantity of materials. I think it's a great idea and wonderful way to get a good compost pile going right after moving into a new location. Visit the blog, the website, or the forum, but first sign…

Couldn't resist posting this special that Nature's Sunshine is offering for 50% off.It's a very potent antioxidant. If you take antioxidants, the key is to get the highest ORAC value you can since it determines the amount of protection against free radicals that you get.ORAC = Oxygen Radical Absorbance CapacitySuper ORAC combines eight powerful ingredients known to quench free radicals — decaffeinated green tea leaves, mangosteen pericarp extract, turmeric root, quercetin, resveratrol, apple extract, açaí berry extract and selenium.For more product information and to purchase: Super…

Renee Rivard submitted this question on The Frugal Life Forum:I was wondering what some of your frugal tips are that you use in your everyday life. I use coupons, keep my receipts and when something goes on sale I take my receipt to get the sale price, keep all lights off when not in the room. Go on-line to get free items that I use and keep them when I go on vacation (personal items). Put all my change in a change jar, take my lunch to work. Use only half a cap of laundry detergent, use cold water to wash, etc,. I know these are just general frugal tips and have many more, but I was…

FIRESTARTERSYou only need 4 things:cardboard egg cartons (use just the bottom part)wood shavings/curlsold waxold cookie sheet or something to set the egg cartons onPut the egg carton bottoms on the cookie sheet ... any extra wax will then go onto the cookie sheet and not on the counter. Stuff about 1/4 cup of wood shavings into each "egg." Melt the wax and pour it over the wood shavings. Let dry over night and the next day cut the egg cartons into individual "eggs." When you want to start a fire, just put one of the eggs at the bottom, add kindling and a couple of pieces of wood and start the…

With Thanksgiving coming up next week, you may be thinking about holiday travel. If you are going by car, the way that you pack it up can affect how much you pay in gasoline. Factors in saving money when traveling by car include not only how much you bring but also where you place it.

You've been watching every penny, but now the furnace needs a repair. How do you come up with the extra money when there is nothing in the bank to cover it? Or maybe your daughter needs a winter coat. Check out some of the following ideas.

The lipstick effect can be a help or a hinderance to your commitment to frugal living. Find out what the lipstick effect is and how to deal with it. What is the lipstick effect? The term came about because of our most recent world war.

Some food costs more than others. Here is how to make the best selections for your budget and still be true to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. On Thanksgiving, we tend to go a bit overboard. I know this because the number of leftovers seems to grow exponentially over the years.

How do you feed 14 kids and 12 adults cheaply without being stingy? Here is how I made the most of the resources on hand to serve all of these people for very little money with a combination of store bought and homemade food (and I had a nice amount of leftovers).

Last week I had the opportunity to be in downtown Atlanta during mid-day rush. I stopped along a bustling business district to grab a cup of coffee and kill some time. Watching the business crowd hustling along the streets from my warm coffee shop window seat I noticed nearly every passerby had one thing in common. I was reminded of the scene in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness where Will Smith’s character is watching stock brokers move about the streets of San Francisco and he says with a touch of envy, “They all looked so damn happy.”  Except in this case, they all…

It is nearing that time of year when we sit down to plan out next year’s resolutions. Two of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions are to lose weight and to save money. Why wait? You can start a savings plan today in just a few easy steps. Identify your savings goals. Have you ever heard that expression, “If you aim at nothing you’ll hit it every time?” I know it is a bit cliche, but when it comes to savings plans, it’s true. Those who find the most success saving money do so because they are committed to a plan–they have a goal in mind. It could be…

I was in Atlanta much of the day yesterday, and on the road the rest of the time, but I did get a chance to peruse a few of my favorite sites.  The last time I was in Atlanta the temperature was in the high 90’s.  Yesterday it was in the 40’s and windy!  The Fab Five The Low-Gift Christmas. I love the idea of a low-gift Christmas, and the idea of a no-gift Christmas would be even better!  This year we are keeping expenses down and buying for our kids–that’s it. NCUA Insurance Is As Good As FDIC InsuranceLots in the news lately about FDIC insurance, but…

One of my shortcomings here at Frugal Dad is that I do not provide much investing advice, and when I do, it is fairly generic and focuses more on providing broad strategies rather than specific recommendations. I intentionally avoid the subject of in-depth investment advice for two reasons.  One, I confess to not being that smart on all the various investment types, and there are others out there with stronger backgrounds on the subject.  And two, I like to keep things simple. Targeted Retirement Funds Following that theme of keeping things simple, I have been able to assemble a very modest…

To get in the holiday spirit, I’m giving away a $100 The Home Depot gift card to one lucky reader. The Home Depot gift cards are a great idea for the do-it-herself-ers and handymen on your gift list.  Or, you may decide to keep the gift card for yourself and invest in household items that help reduce utility bills all year long such as programmable thermostats, CFL bulbs, or low-flow shower heads. This year, The Home Depot has 17 holiday gift card styles to choose from including a scratch-n-sniff gingerbread man that can be decorated with stickers, and a card that looks and feels like…

Buying second-hand gifts is a great way to keep those holiday costs down, but how do you feel about it? Is it acceptable? Is it unacceptable? Is it just plain...

Need a few wallet-friendly gift ideas to kick start your holiday shopping? Have 90 of them: Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas Photo © Erin Huffstetler...

This time last year, the news was awash with stories of Wal-Mart and other retail giants who were doing away with their layaway programs. This year? It's all about who's...

Angel Food Ministries – some say it's the key to an affordable grocery bill, others say it's an all-round bad deal? What do you say? Share your experiences with Angel...

There weren't many stand out bargains in this week's Sunday paper, but here's one to report: Target is offering their reusable shopping totes (standard or compact size) 2 for $1...

I love our house we moved into a few months ago. I decided to keep the same kitchen theme which is Mary Engelbreit. If you've never seen any of her stuff, you have to google her name and peruse. I would describe her art as a mixture of cute with a dash of whimsy. Anywho, I wanted a centerpiece for our table, but as usual money is tight. LOL I made one for $5 by shopping a sale and using what

I know y'all have to be like me and clean out the medicine cabinet every once in a while. Usually I wind up chunking medications that have just sit there and expired because I hated to throw that half full bottle away. Well, I have just found out there is hope for some of it! If you have any medication that you feel might be useful such as antibiotics, etc., call your local church and

So I've recruited another PIC and 3 of us went out scavaging last night. Here is what we found: -K(Mart): Lots of Halloween costumes and items. Just grabbed a bunch of stuff and left leaving some behind. I guess we'll sell or donate them. I'm not sure yet. -B(ig) L(ots): Expired baby cereal, and a couple of bags of the suckiest tasting generic cheetos I've ever had. Also, a plastic

If you want to find an inexpensive way to do something but can't figure out how, let me know. I'd love to help! I'll at least give it a try so just let me know. Anything from decor to shopping, I'll try to find a frugal way about it. Just click on the envelope under the "Contact Me" section to send me your question. Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon! :)

I am by no means a store dumpster diving expert. But I don't mind sharing my tips and techniques. I'll break it down with who, what, when, and where. Who: The who stands for you and where you live. You've got to check the laws in your local area. They are different everywhere. Here, in Statesboro, Ga, it is not against the law to dumpster dive unless there is a sign on the dumpster telling you

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One clear result of the economic downturn, as made evident by declining retail sales, is that consumers are keeping their wallets shut. As the holiday season approaches, consumers will be faced with the hard choice of scaling back or finding creative ways to pay for gifts. Here are five easy ways for people to earn [...]

By Deborah Taylor-Hough Approximately 40% of winter home energy bills involves heating. Here are some simple tips for cutting back on your home energy costs this winter: Heating: –Change furnace air filters regularly (once a month or according to manufacturer’s recommendations). –Schedule a cleaning/maintenance call each year for your furnace. –Install a programmable thermostat. –Turn down the heat one [...]

Get Paid to Review Products Get Paid to Review Products… $5 to $75 Per Review Keep the Products You Review Free Membership! Get started here. One of THE most fun things I like to do is to get freebies. And even though I absolutely love getting just about any kind of free product sample, from snacks to household [...]

“89 Quick and Easy Money Saving Tips for Saving Money In Today’s Economy” If you’re tired of running out of money before the end of the month, if you’re wanting to stretch your dollar more, if you want to just save some of your hard earned money, then get our ebook with 89 money saving tips [...]

My husband, two kids and I go to my parents' house every Thanksgiving for a wonderful home cooked dinner by my mom. One of my favorite dishes my mom used to make is Sweet Potato Casserole. The reason I say used to is because each year I ask my mom what dish I can bring and she now has me bring this and another dish, a salad. My mom is a teacher's assistant at an elementary school and the Sweet Potato Casserole was one of the dishes brought to a potluck by another staff member. My mom loved it so much she got the recipe and we've been having it every Thanksgiving since. It's more like a…

It's the time of abundance, but if you're on a budget, stick to it and avoid some stress and guilt. It's the emotionally intelligent thing to do! Know your portions: It's tempting to have a big, beautiful bird, but it's more sensible to buy only as much as you'll need for your family. The formula is 1 lb. per person. If you want leftovers, 1.5-2.0 lbs. per person.

Originally this was going to be a list for my two teenagers but some of these ideas are better suited to adults with a valid driver's license and a bit of know-how. Some of these take a bit of planning and organizing, but most of them could be done on a fairly spur of the moment case by case basis. The great thing about a lot of these ideas is that you're spreading holiday cheer by helping to make someone else's otherwise stressful and overwhelming to-do list a little bit easier. Who wouldn't pay to have someone come do a few of these things for you? Mostly, what's important is that you…

Weather is the one thing you can't control. But you can control how you are prepared for emergencies and bad weather situations. And you can do it frugally. From flooding and hurricanes to mudslides and blizzards, we all need to be prepared for disasters. You don't have to spend hundreds or thousands to become prepared.

Jelly Making is the preservation of fruits. It shows how the fruit can be kept for long periods of time by sterilization, or the aid of preservatives, like pectin. Today we are talking about some of the basics and the equipment to be used when making jelly.

I wrote about this on Suxottica.com, but wanted to call it out over here at GlassyEyes. I wonder how much thought they're putting into the online competition. LensCrafters is dead to me -- and increasingly so to pretty much everyone I come across who wears glasses. Seems they expect things to get better in six months or so. I think this "economic downturn" has potential to be a boon for the online eyeglasses retailer. They need to continue to deliver, quality, value and please, oh please, some new (but not so gosh darn trendy) frame designs.. NOTE TO RETAILERS: I'm open to discuss this with…

We improvise, that's what we do. I was at dinner tonight with my sons and dad and I noticed two women having drinks at the table immediately next to ours.  I wasn't "checking them out" (Angela). From where I was sitting, my choices were; dudes basejumping on ESPN, my youngest making fart noises, or these two stylish women and their eyeglasses.As the meal was winding down, I knew this was a perfect chance to "drop some knowledge" on them. I opened my wallet looking for a couple of my kick-ass GlassyEyes cards -- and was greeted by a distinct lack of the exact thing I was looking for. No…

It's been two years (and a day) since I launched GlassyEyes on the afternoon of that first eyeglasses-related blog post. I never imagined it would build to this.I planned on a new site design and a couple of new features to mark the occasion, but I've had contract gig in an actual office environment for the past five weeks. It's really put a dent in my time for the extra stuff. Look for an updated version of this site in early 2009.Thanks for being here, telling your friends and for coming back.Here's to two more, and remember "Eyeglasses storesare still for suckers!"Related Posts and…

This is drawing an enormous amount of interest to EyeBuyDirect today (smart move guys!).There are still a couple of hours left in this event. If you're in need of a pair or two of glasses, now is one of those special times when the price is right -- even better than right. With EyeBuyDirect's satisfaction policy, you're in good shape.This deal is good on frames $14.95 and up. Single-vision only. Time is running out!

Ever since I left the comfort of the steady paycheck to forge my way trying to build a company with an old friend, I started giving blood regularly. Every eight weeks I head to the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Bloomington, Minnesota and open up a vein. I've learned a lot in the process about humanity -- and even more about effective tracking processes.Each and every one of the people running these online eyeglasses establishments ought to go give blood -- today, like put down whatever you're doing and dial 411 for the nearest location. I think they might notice a few ways to make a big…

A big thank you to Heather for helping us with our Freebie Friday list this week. This week on Freebies 4 Mom, you can print out this week's coupons for your grocery needs and find out how Heather scored a free sweater from Victoria Secret. Now that is a smart shopper! Happy Freebie Friday, everyone! Health & Beauty Dove Shine Therapy

Experiment: Can I make a restaurant-worthy Chicken Parmesan? Experiment Taken From: Notebook Entry 09.25.08 Materials Needed: Please see Divine Domesticity for the full instructions. I followed the instructions exactly. Results: Every time we go out to an Italian place for dinner, my husband always orders Chicken Parmesan. I have been wanting to make it from home, but wasn't motivated until I

I just love this uniquely different handprint turkey (@ Bella Dia) This aromatic garland would really make a statement (@ Skip to My Lou) I bet my children would love Cheerios marshmallow treats (@ Let's Explore) These baby mocs are the cutest things ever (@ The Purl Bee) These acorn magnets are really wonderful for fall (@ Make & Takes) I am trying to work on conquering my clutter (@

I am such a fan of you, Alli, why did you decide to start blogging over at Mrs. Fussypants Guide to Life? Thank you, Amy. And I, of you. I discovered blogs about a year and a half ago when I researching homeschool resources. I fell in love with blogs instantly. I wanted a site that would reflect me and be a collection of little bits of my personality. What I didn't know is how blogging would

Two contests are ending tonight and I don't want you to miss them! Enter to win a free quarterly membership to ListPlanIt.com along with a free holiday e-planner. This would be a great contest to enter if you are needing help with getting your family organized this year or even to get your small business paperwork in order. Be sure to head over to The MotherLoot and get your entry in. This

Feeling insecure on the job? Join the crowd. After watching friends, strangers and associates receive layoff notices, it's easy to feel nervous about the future. Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Ways to Stay Employed, by a Careerbuilder.com writer, provides excellent insights.Writer Stephen Viscusi asserts that in this atmosphere, "You must understand that your job is your most valuable asset -- and your primary objective is to protect it."--Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Ways to Stay EmployedHere are the four tips:Stay visible. Work long hours, dress well, pay attention to details and volunteer for…

Here are "simple, environmentally safe" ideas for winterizing your home from Myles of Style co-star Anthony Gilardi.1. Windows: "The most common place for homes to lose heat in the winter. Make sure you fill all gaps around your windows to prevent cold air drafts and warm air escaping. Glass is an excellent conductor by which hot and cold air move quickly in and out of homes, meaning your heating and cooling units have to work much harder to keep you comfortable. To help keep that air where you want it, consider using energy efficient blinds on your windows.2. Icy slick driveways and exterior…

My recent column on vampire energy -- also known as standby power -- generated well-deserved heat. Standby power is the energy wasted when electronic products are turned off, but plugged into an outlet.Readers sharply disagreed with estimates that the average household wastes about $1,000 a year in standby power, or $4 billion annually. And they were right. Numbers from a news release were misleading.The Department of Energy estimates that the average home in the United States ''spends $100 per year to power devices while they are off (or in standby mode),'' according to Christina Kielich, a…

Here are the posts that caught my eye this week:From the Frugal Blog Network:Finding Affordable Health Insurance from Tight Fisted MiserOur Holiday Gift Giving Plans from Frugal BabeHow to Deal with Financial Stress in Your Life from Not Made Of MoneyHow to Look Fabulous, Frugally: Part Three from Almost FrugalConspicuous consumption is no longer cool from Frugal ZeitgeistFrom other personal finance bloggers:Finding money thanks to MissingMoney.com from Experiments in FinanceThe Ups And Downs Of Office Food from Frugal FreedomChristmas Shopping Tips to Keep Your Holiday Spending Under Control…

Why haven't I purchased my $2.6 million dream home? (See answers below). My dream home is a central theme in my Frugal Duchess book and in the spotlight at Blogher, the latest host of the online book tour. At Blogher, Paula Gregorowicz offers a Frugal Duchess book review. Here's a snippet of the review:In the book, Sharon weaves her tips through the tale of her own journeys by using her Dream House as the main character of the book. There is a Mediterranean mansion in her neighborhood that she covets. She first fell in love with it in the mid-1990's when the asking price was $425,000. As of…

My wife has wanted to move into town for quite some time so that she can be a little closer to friends and to our other activities.  I’ve been reluctant to move for a few reasons.  First, I think if we bought now, it would be like trying to catch a falling knife.  Second, it would be a longer drive to work for me.  Third, I don’t like change.  (None of these are her fault. ) And just as much as I feel pressured when my wife tells me about a good house that’s come up for sale, she probably feels frustrated by my reluctance to take any serious action…

I’m really excited for my wife.  She showed some of her quilt patterns to the owner of a local quilt store, and the owner has decided to give a trial run to ten of her patterns!  She loves designing quilts so this is a big deal.  She’s also gearing up for a craft show.  A few of her patterns are here, and she blogs about quilting as well. Here are some posts I pieced together from the great blogs in my reader: Mrs. Micah talks about anchoring as it applies to credit card minimum payments. Get Rich Slowly shares almost three dozen make-it-yourself gift ideas…

Being in debt simply means that at one point you borrowed money to fund some purchase, and are now paying it back over time.  (For the purpose of this post, I’m not going to lump in “profitable” or “good” debt that is used to make money reliably for the borrower through some other vehicle.)  The debt can be, for example, a student loan, a mortgage, a car loan, a title loan, a pawn ticket, or a credit card balance.  There are many reasons why people go into debt, and they’re all not bad reasons.  Funding a college education can be a good…

At the beginning of this week DallasNews.com, the website of the Dallas Morning News newspaper, began the Dollar Wise Blog as a “conversation about the best and most creative ways to save a buck in tough times.” The posts so far are quick reads, with a good mix of general-interest posts, such as the merits of $3 wine, and Texas-specific posts, like scoring cheap gas in McKinney, a city 30 miles north of Dallas.  Overall it looks like the writers have a breezy tone, which is great.  They’re helping their readers through the slump with tips on getting back to the basics of…

Here’s another decent coupon from Restaurant.com:  70% off their dining certificates and Dinner of the Month Club.  This translates to only $3 for a $25 Dining Certificate (normally they are $10).  Just use coupon code DESSERT through Monday, November 17th.  Dining certificates are good on qualifying food and drinks at thousands of restaurants. Restaurant.com has added new “inventory” and I recently found out that Bailey’s Pub and Grill in Fredericksburg was on the list.  Love their Scorchers. I just activated our Dinner of the Month club and…

Photo: _nur You know all these cans of vegetable broth lined up on the supermarket shelves? — a quick way to start a soup, or make a sauce, or juice up a simple casserole, sure enough. But while the convenience factor is tempting, I’ve never actually broken down and bought a can. Why? Because some things are thrifty, and some things are easy, but to go out and buy something in a can makes no sense to me (or my wallet) when you can get the same thing cheaper and just as easily, right in your own kitchen. Bonus, no extra packaging waste to burden poor Mother Nature! Here’s the…

One battered old-faithful dictionary on my shelves, published circa 1975, defines a geek as “a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken. ” You may be deeply relieved to know that I’ve upgraded to a squeaky-new Canadian Oxford, although I can’t claim it’s a whole lot more flattering: geek noun esp. N. Amer. informal 1. An uninteresting, ineffectual, socially inept person; a nerd. 2. A person thoroughly devoted to one usu. technical interest, study, etc., often at the expense of social…

In hono(u)r of American Thanksgiving, coming up next week, let’s all enjoy a classic episode from West Wing, in which President Bartlet gets on the phone to the Butterball Hotline: If they ever bring West Wing back on the air, which you know isn’t going to happen — but I’m just saying, IF… it’ll need a bit of an update. According to Mary Clingman, director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, the virtual turkey guru is spreading its greasy little wings to help even more poultry-challenged holiday cooks: This holiday season, the advice Americans have trusted…

Only a soul that’s devoid of joy can fail to love a good sock monkey, or to smile at that goofy knitted-primate face and gangling limbs. More fun yet, when the sock monkey gets celebrity status! This little guy, from the Sock Monkey Jungle of Lancashire, UK, channels Elton John at his most groovy, complete with over-sized sunglasses and a star-spangled red-striped outfit you wouldn’t have been caught dead in even in the depth of Disco Days. (The slouchy newsboy cap? Maybe.) A self-described “sock monkey addict,” crafter Blue Saphire makes a wide range of unique sock…

So, you want your kid to have a bedroom that’s decorated to match his dreams — but you don’t want to spend much money? Sensible! Especially if the kiddy’s wished-for bedroom decor is based on the latest from Disney or Pixar or whatever video game is hot in the school yard this week… What to do? Well, here’s one incredibly frugal solution to that decorating dilemma… Block Posters lets you send any image from your computer (up to 1 MB size file), slice it up, print it out, and turn it into a giant wall poster — free! Check the gallery of other…

photo by D’arcy Norman DEAR SARA: How do you keep your butter soft and spreadable? We’ve switched from margarine to butter. — Carol, e-mail DEAR CAROL: I simply take it out of the refrigerator before I need it so it has a chance to soften. I’m not very picky. I’ll scrape thin layers for bread in a pinch if I have to. You can also buy a butter bell crock. Or whip your butter by adding a bit of milk (about 1/4 cup milk to 1/2 pound butter) and beat it with an electric mixer until it’s fluffy. You can also add 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon liquid lecithin…

photo by erix! Homemade gifts are a popular topic this year. While do-it-yourself baked goods and gift baskets are great, I really like the first three creative tips from readers. They would be well received by most anyone. They’re fairly cheap, too. PHOTO GIFT IDEAS: Grab your camera and look for letters of the alphabet in nature or around your neighborhood: a tree branch shaped like a Y, a letter from a stop sign, etc. Then spell out the names of the people you want to give a gift to and frame it. — Ann, Florida Take pictures of scenery or people in the family, or scan older…

photo by 427 The holidays are approaching quickly, and the tension is building. Readers are sharing their seasonal planning tips. Some people have it broken down to weekly tasks. They’re cleaning and organizing and buying ingredients, and holiday cards are ready to be mailed. But even with the best plans in place, the holidays can get frenetic. There never seems to be enough time. Add in the pressure of finances, and you can really stress yourself out. But keep in mind that you set the tone in your home. Every year, I used to have all types of grand plans. We had to go looking at…

photo by chotda The holidays are almost here. Many people could kick themselves for not setting aside money. Again. Not to mention the long list of people to which they “need” to give gifts. More people are making homemade gifts this year. Many of my frugal readers share their anxiety over whether their homemade gifts will be well received. Here are a few ideas for gifts you can make that will be appreciated, and they can be made ahead. Spiced Nuts 3/4 cup sugar 3 tablespoons water 1 egg white, lightly beaten 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4…

photo by framboise Affordable pasta is a staple in any frugal pantry. With so many types and recipes available, you could eat it throughout the year and not grow tired of it. Pasta is versatile and can be made elegant even on a budget. Ever serve pasta that didn’t seem quite right for your recipe? Shaped and heavier pastas are best with heavy or chunky sauces, and thinner pastas are best paired with lighter sauces. Next time you want pasta, try something new. Pasta Medley 1 pound pasta (linguine, tagliatelle, penne, etc) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 cup onion,…

Free is an excellent price for a magazine subscription, wouldn’t you say? I recently got word of this great new digital magazine service from Zinio. Right now they’re offering free subscriptions (no strings attached that I can see) to an online magazine of your choice. Thus, I’m spreading this around today at various blogs today. (Heads up in case you see this at another of my blogs and think, huh?) Perks for trees and money savings: Read online, which saves some trees! Get back copies of various magazines for just 99 cents. Much better than buying an entire subscription. Get…

I haven’t been out to shop much because I am trying to get to a whole boatload of chores. I got a new used car for $60. (swapped my old one for my mom’s car because hers was in much better shape and she was going to do a push, pull, tow trade in.) After that incredible deal, groceries for $40 sounds downright spendy, doesn’t it? Money Saving Mom, who inspired me to take on the $40 a week grocery challenge, has a wonderful series of posts on budget Thanksgiving. Be sure to check it out if you are looking for ideas to have a nice Thanksgiving without breaking the bank. So, on…

Billshrink.com offers free personalized information that can save you money on two specific services; credit cards and cell phone plans. What it feels like to me is the Geico of cell phone plans and credit. Billshrink compares services for you (you fill out a form) and then they tell you which deals are best for your situation. According to Billshrink they follow all the cell phone and credit card markets in order to provide you with up-to-date info. I tried it out to see what I think:  I looked up cell phone plans. The first part was easy - I entered my basic usage facts and zip code. Then…

Having so many blogs, I’m always posting stuff at one blog, while thinking, “Hey, the folks at so and so blog might like this too.” In this case I recently posted two items at Tree Hugging Family that may interest thrifty folks…. First up you can save money with, Homemade Eco Gifts You Can Make for the Holidays! Many cool goodies you can make on the cheap. Plus, these actually are great gifts, not silly stuff no one would want. Also I’ve got the 2008 “10 Worst Toys” List - a great list for parents, because a dangerous toy is neither safe (obviously) or a good…

I read once that on average, the typical person gathers about $400 in change each year. That’s if the person spends only cash and then puts all their coins into a jar. With the prevalent use of debt and check cards, cash seems to be out of style. However, what you can do with this information is use it to your advantage. IF the average person can save up $400 in change, and you consider yourself an average indiviual, than you can afford to put $400 away each year into something. Each year use $400 to…. Pay off some credit. Add to a college fund. Add to your retirement. Fix up your…

Finding a way to decorate frugally for a Thanksgiving dinner can be a challenge, especially after buying the turkey and "all the trimmings." But like the saying goes... the best things in life are free. You can decorate your home practically for free. Did you rake up all your leaves yet? I hope not! If you don't have any, put some plastic bags in your pocket and take a stroll through a wooded

The economy seems to be in the news and on everyone's mind for good reason. There have been income losses for many and I know it's frightening to find yourself without enough money to live the way you've always done. I've been appalled, though, at what seems to be the prevailing attitude: Get a handout. Go to the government and get help. Become a welfare recipient without bothering to think

Now that the excitement of Halloween and the elections are over, the rest of the winter holidays looms ahead of us. Thanksgiving comes first, and that's where we should put our frugal thinking to work first. To begin with, turkeys usually go on sale just before Thanksgiving. If you like turkey, why not buy one or two (or more) more? There's more about turkeys here: Best Time of Year to Buy

All you have to do is help us make 100,000 posts before December 31. Well, you have to write a good, informative and intelligent post, too. And if you're not the winner of a hundred dollars, you have more chances of winning twenty five dollars. And even more of winning a Dollar Stretcher Tote Bag. Just a couple of rules: You have to be a member of Dollar Stretcher Community Forums and you

I don't know about you, but I was surprised - no, the word is shocked - when I read that without credit (aka debt), many, many businesses would fail. That many small businesses depended on getting regular loans to meet their payroll. Is this the way America does business? I guess so... in my apparently way out of touch, feeble old mind, if you can't afford to pay your help, you don't hire them.

Welcome to the fifth day of the Frugal Thanksgiving Mini Series! So far we have shared some of our best frugal Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Desserts, Craft/Decorating ideas, and Family Traditions. (don't worry, if you are coming late to the party, you can still link your side dish, dessert, craft/decorating idea, or tradition to the Mr. Linkys on those days).Most of us tend to be. . . well. . . shall we say. . . . a little exuberant when it comes to cooking our Thanksgiving dinner. We want to make sure no one goes hungry, so there is plenty to eat the day of, and the next day, and the next.So…

Welcome to the fourth day of the Frugal Thanksgiving Mini Series! So far we have shared some of our best frugal Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Desserts and Craft/Decorating ideas. (don't worry, if you are coming late to the party, you can still link your side dish, dessert or craft/decorating idea to the Mr. Linkys on those days).One of the things I really enjoy doing as a family is participating in traditions. Traditions can be very frugal-they are usually about the experience and being together, not about spending money. They don't have to be elaborate-many of the best traditions start and are…

Lisa from Berry Patch!!!Congratulations-please email me your address so I can send it on it's way!btw-I choose my winners by using the random number generator-just to keep it fair for all.

Apparently the site that hosts the Mr. Linky application is having issues. Sometimes I see all your lovely links, sometimes I don't. I am hoping that the problem is resolved soon-please have patience!

This recipe was sent to me by Mandy to be included in the Frugal Thanksgiving Mini Series-Desserts.******************Cafe's Pecan Pumkin PieThis recipe has become a tradition every year for Thanksgiving. It is DELICIOUS!! It is from Taste of Home Magazine.1 can (30 oz) pumpkin pie mix1 cup sugar1 can (5 oz) evaporated milk3 eggs2 teaspoons ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon salt1 package (18 1/4 oz) yellow cake mix1 cup butter or margarine, melted1 1/2 cups chopped pecansCARAMEL SAUCE:1 cup butter or margarine2 cups packed brown sugar1 cup whipping creamTOPPING:2 cups whipping cream3 tablespoons…

The Wall Street Journal article: Surprise Drop in Power Use Delivers Jolt to Utilities reports that the message of energy conservation may finally be hitting the utilities pockets. To be sure,... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

Another Friday, another sale! My pick this week? The towels. The reviews are a bit mixed, but all seem to agree that they are soft. For this price they may be worth a gamble. Find your own bargain... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

Amazon.com is giving away a free MP3 download of Holiday songs. Just in time to stress me out that the holidays really will be here before I know it! Free Amazon Holiday Sampler The free music... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

The New York Times article: Failing Home Economics points out that consumers who are trying to save by spending less, are sometimes pinching pennies here only to throw away dollars there. All around... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

NPR has posted more episodes of The Real Economy Project where listeners are interviewed about how the current economy is impacting them. These ordinary stories remind you that many are worried and... [Head on over to Boston Gal's Open Wallet to read the rest!]

The Food Value section on my sidebar has a new link: SOS Cuisine, a service that helps you plan one week's shopping and cooking for weeknight dinners. When I lived in Canada I used to spend an hour or so each week going to the websites of our local grocery chains to see what was on special, scrolling through multi page pdf documents and thinking that some central website should be doing this for

A broken yolk, edges browned to a crisp, covered with grease and sludge from the wok - in what universe would this be the correct way to cook an egg? But it's one of the best things I've ever tasted on top of a bowl of tomato egg noodles or added to an order of bedspread noodles. Chengdu's famous tomato egg noodle house on downtown Huaxi street will reportedly soon be lost to redevelopment.

A search for congee recipes yielded many versions, from single ingredient to head-scratching combinations like watermelon rind and dried shrimp to sweet and savoury versions of the famous Eight Treasure (ba bao) congee. (Though 'Eight Treasure' anything on a Chinese menu is often whatever eight things happen to be lying around the kitchen.) I noticed that dried seafood, dried fruit, and dried

I've been going a little crazy making this lately; you can get nan gua (pumpkin) all year here but it feels so appropriate to eat it as the fall weather comes and south China is one of the most amazing places in the world to eat mushrooms. Shiitake, 'chicken leg' mushrooms, and the big ones with caps like inside-out umbrellas (shown) are readily available and very inexpensive here. I love them

In the mornings street vendors stand with huge pots full of different kinds of congee. You grab a cup (that doubles as a hand warmer) equipped with a big straw for your morning commute, and it is the perfect thing on a cool day. Nan gua is usually translated into English as 'pumpkin' but they are enormous, sweet, orange fleshed squash (they look most like big Hubbard squash to me) with a

Stocking Stuffers -Thoughtful and Thrifty!Do you do stockings at your house for Christmas? For many of us, this is the best part of Christmas, but as any stocking stuffer Santa knows, the cost of all those little gifts can really add up.First, make lists and buy a few things each week. The following list should give you some good ideas to start with, AND we hope you'll share your suggestions too!The size of stocking stuffers. For this list, I considered a stocking present to be no more than the size of my fist, or anything that can reasonably be packed down to that size, such a t-shirt. I've…

Good Buys at the Dollar StoreNever been in a Dollar Store? You may be in for a surprise! If you think that these stores carry just cheap, throw-away junk, think again! Good buys on quality products make these stores a must-shop, especially during the coming holiday season.Not all Dollar Stores are the same to put it gently. First off, some of these places have now become $1.50 Stores while others have always had offerings well over a dollar. Some specialize in just one type of merchandise such as cards, paper products and party decorations.My favorite among the dollar stores in our area is…

The Ultimate 5-Minute Quick-Fix for Serious ChocolaholicsPlus, Freezing SalsaEvery once in a while I come across a recipe that sounds strange, delicious but decidedly strange. Such a recipe, called The 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake, crossed my desk last week, sent by a long-time-but-never-met-friend. It's a recipe that just begged to be tried, and I'm telling you... this mug cake is a great idea! Definitely kid-doing easy, and perfect for drop-in company, or for dieters who absolutely MUST have some chocolate cake, but don't want a whole cake in the house tempting them.You mix the ingredients,…

A Bounty of Fresh, Local Produce Available NOWBlueberries, peaches and cukes, oh my! Local gardens, farmstands and farmer's markets are bursting with fresh produce from apples to zucchini, so take advantage. Home Depot recently reported a surge in freezer sales this past quarter so folks are certainly thinking ahead to the coming winter. But don't overlook fresh treats too. The following recipes are adapted from my Frugal Family Kitchen Book.Fresh Taste Blueberry-Peach PieAn unbaked pie with a glace topping, this combines two of our best Maine fruits for just-picked flavor.4 c blueberries1 or…

Inexpensive, quick to put together, colorful to serve, nutritious to eat, this puttanesca has it all. When my daughter first gave me this recipe it actually looked...well, kinda' boring. In its orginal form, it's delicious, with the extras I added, downright delectable.A puttanesca is an olive-oil-based pasta sauce. The very name has a colorful history (look it up!), and there are many, many variations on the basics. Some recipes call for anchovies, others suggest adding a variety of veggies. Let me give you the original simple recipe, then my additions, and THEN, you add what you'd…

Flor de Crasto Douro 2006 - $9.95Style: R2Portugal When they're not turning their grapes into Port, Douro vintners are offering up some splendid, flavourful table wines. The deep black cherry colour here suggests an ample wine. The nose regails with rich beetroot, crush berries and cherry, plus traces of tobacco and cedar. Rather tangy, with subtle cherry flavour and moderate tannins, it's quite juicy and has very good body and length. And it's a classed wine for under ten bucks! A good partner for lamb or beef, or a Tuesday night pizza. (LCBO 89870)

Mezzomondo Pinot Grigio Classico 2007 - $9.95Style: W3 Sicilia Here's another Sicilian treat! Medium lemon-straw colour. The nose presents subtle aromas of vanilla, lemon zest and musk. The palate is middle of the road, but crisp and tasty with ripe apple, vanilla and hints of citrus and pear, good body and very good length and development. A solid performance. My choice would be anything with mushrooms, soft cheeses or sushi. (LCBO 79301)

Danzanti Merlot 2006 - $11.95Style: R3Sicilia I'm generally skeptical of Merlot from Italy but this off-shore offering is quite good. With a full black-cherry colour, it shows delicate aromas of rose, violet and green pepper with nuances of oak and cherry. Quite round and tangy with firm tannins, dark chocolate and cherry flavour; very good body and length. It's rather mainstream but very well made and would go nicely with any style of beef, baba ganough or mushroom sauces. (LCBO 73833)

Caliterra Unoaked Chardonnay 2007 - $10.95Style: W1Chile While I'm generally hesitant about alternative packaging, it needn't be a bad thing for young style of wine. This PET bottle serves up subtle ripe apple and baked lemon with just a hint of butter. Somewhat understated on the palate but quite full and tasty, showing ripe apple and melon flavours and a firm acidity, with good body and length. You may find the sulfur a bit high so let it blow off and then pair it with seafoods or tempura. (LCBO 89540)

Cline Zinfandel 2006 - $13.10Style: R2USA: California We haven’t seen many “big reds” in this price range for awhile. This one packs a lot of juicy fruit aromas on the nose, with dark plum, black berry, and traces of sweet oak and vanilla. Big, round and nippy, with sour cherry flavour, soft tannins and sweet oak at the close. Quite big with very good length: a fruit bomb -- at 14% alcohol. Try with beef stroganoff, pepper steak or old hard cheeses. (LCBO 489278

This article is part of a series called How to Write a Resume. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. I’m guilty. I’ve done a few big no-nos over the years with my resume. Some of my resume writing sins were stupid, some were silly, but most were made ’cause I didn’t know any better (so back to stupidity). Either way, I’ve learned there are rules when writing a resume. There are the resume do’s, but there are the big sinful resume don’ts as well. Resume Writing Series: What is a Killer Resume? 10 Resume Do’s 10 Resume…

I got into a major argument with my “better half” last week on tipping. While in the city, we treated ourselves (and friends) and got 4 takeout meals at our favorite little restaurant. The total bill was about 50 bucks. My generous “better half” (never to miss a tipping opportunity) went and tipped the fellow who rung in our sale a whopping 8 bucks. Doing the math, that’s a 16 percent tip for 3 minutes of work. Not a bad return for a guy who only handed us our food. Needless to say, I was livid. I am a firm believer in tipping for good service, but 8 bucks for…

This article is part of a series called How to Write a Resume. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. Going through piles of resumes is tedious, mind numbing, and finger shredding work. I get grumpy just thinking about it. But after hours of sifting through endless wads of wasted resume copy, I have noticed a pattern to what gets my attention. There are tricks you can employ in your resume writing to get employed. You don’t need to be a professional resume writer to get noticed and land an interview. Promise. Resume Writing Series: What is a Killer Resume? 10…

This article is part of a series called How to Write a Resume. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. Most of us, at some point in our careers, have applied to some job with some piece of flimsy paper called a resume. Sure, you may have poured your heart into it. You may have really wanted the job. But how do you know your resume got read? How do you know what kind of impression you made on the hiring team? The sad truth is all employers skim resumes. If your resume doesn’t grab them by the “seat of their pants” (I wanted to write…

This article is the introduction to a multiple part series on How to Write a Resume (that gets job interviews). If you’re anything like my best friends, your resume probably sucks. Yes, I’m sure your skills, experiences, and qualifications don’t suck. But to be honest, very few job searchers know how to write a professional resume that consistently lands them a job interview. I’ve been on both ends of the resume game. I’ve reviewed hundreds of resumes as part of a hiring team. I’ve also applied to numerous jobs in various fields using countless resume…

Just a reminder: Don't forget to listen to Between You and Me with Heidi Holtan this Saturday from 10 a.m. to Noon (CST) on KAXE Northern Community Radio. This week's topic is Holiday Gift-Giving and I'll be joining Heidi to talk about ways to save money on gifts this season. We'd love to hear your ideas, so be sure to call in to the show!  And remember... you can listen to us live online!

Pull out the hot-glue gun and felt! It's time to make some homemade gifts for the holidays! Now, for the record, I will be the first to admit: I am not craft or creative. But I can find my way around the internet, and I know there are lots of other folks who are crafty AND creative and can help me come up with frugal gift ideas. Here are a few basic frugal gift ideas that I have done in the past: Photo gifts such as calendars, scrapbooks, t-shirts, and collages. Gifts-in-a-jar. I've made all kinds of soups and cookies. Art bag for kids. I planned this during back-to-school sales and stocked…

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Northern Cheapskate! I am amazed at how far this blog has come since it's very first post. I started this blog with only my