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•Gardening Fun and Frugal
by: Cyndi Roberts
Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb gardener or just like to have a pretty yard, these frugal tips may help you save a little money!
1. Stale coffee and coffee grounds make great organic fertilizer. They provide many trace minerals and low, gentle levels of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous.
2. Remember that a good soaking of water less often is better than a light sprinkling every day -- for veggies and for your lawn.
3. If your neighbor...
•Your Frugal Fridge
by: Cyndi Roberts
Now that it's summer, most of us start thinking about keeping our electric bill in bounds!
One way to do that is to keep your refrigerator and freezer, if you have one, running efficiently.
Be sure to vacuum the condenser coils on your refrigerator at least once a year. You may have to pull your appliance out from the wall to do this, but when the coils are dusty, it keeps the fridge from cooling efficiently.
If you have an older fridge, check the door...
•Easy Frugal Breakfasts
by: Cyndi Roberts
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And that children that eat breakfast do better in school than those who don't.
However, we also all know that it isn't always easy to find time to prepare that all-important meal or to convince our children to eat it!
One way to create a positive attitude toward breakfast in your children is by showing them that you enjoy breakfast!
Eating breakfast as a family is a great opportunity to spend some quality...
•Perfect Picnics Frugal Food Safety Tips
by: Cyndi Roberts
Summer is finally here and for a lot of us that means heading out to the lake or to the park for a picnic with friends or family.
Unfortunately, if we're not careful when we plan, transport and serve that picnic, our outing might not end up happily.
Here are some tips to remember when planning an outdoor meal:
1. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Bacteria multiply quickly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. Foods that have been kept at unsafe temperatures...
•Frugal and Easy Thanksgiving Recipes
by: Cyndi Roberts
Here it is - that time of year when everyone's thoughts turn to food! I'm thankful that at our house, we have plenty of food, but sometimes I am not so grateful that I am the one who usually gets to cook it!
So I am always on the lookout for simple, tasty recipes that are also easy on the budget. Here are a few of my family's favorites:
Corn-Rice Casserole
1 1/2 cups minute rice (uncooked)
2 cans cream-style corn
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium green...
•School Lunches the Frugal Way
by: Cyndi Roberts
It seems that school starts earlier every year. So it's time to start thinking about what to put in those school lunches every morning.
My children always wanted to bring their own lunches because they didn't really like what was offered in the school lunchroom. But it was sometimes a little difficult to make their lunches nutritious and tasty and also to put a little variety in their lunchboxes without spending a small fortune.
If we let ourselves, we can spend a...
•Let s Go Shopping at Yard Sales
by Cyndi RobertsIn some areas they are mostly called garage sales, or rummage sales. Sometimes they are called yardsales. In Britain, I believe they have what they callcar-boot sales.Whatever the name, it is a fun part of a frugallifestyle. Here are some of the ways I have found tosave money by shopping yard sales.Expecting your first child? Yard sales can be a greatplace to stock up on necessities. Everything from cribsto rocking chairs to bumper pads, blankets and clothing can be bought at...
•Frugal Outdoor Cooking
by: Cyndi Roberts
Firing up the grill is a great way to cook in the summer! Here are a few grilling tips and a couple of recipes, too.
For great grilled burgers, form the patty gently. Smashing the meat forces out moisture.
Sear both sides of the burger on both sides, then move the burger and cook with indirect heat till done.
Use a meat thermometer to gauge when the meat is done. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
When grilling chicken,...
•Frugal and Nutritious Summer Snacks
by Cyndi RobertsLately, there has been a lot in the news concerning obesity in America. And not just in adults--our children are over-weight, also.It's not surprising, considering the advertising dollars that are spent each year aimed at persuading children that potato chips, candy bars and other junk food are good for them.While we may not be able to change the world, we can change what is available to our children in our own homes.Here are a few healthy alternatives to those fat and sugar...
•Never Pay Full Price for a Book
by: Cyndi Roberts
Are you an avid reader? Are you trying to instill a love of reading in your children?
My whole family loves to read! Right before bedtime every night, every one of us can be found with our nose in a book!
It would be very easy for us to spend a fortune every month on books. But, since we don't have a fortune to spend every month, over the years I've found several ways to get good books and never pay full price!
1. Garage and yard sales are a prime source for both...
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