Do you call it stuffing or dressing? Do you know the difference? If not, here’s a hint: Stuffing goes inside the turkey; dressing is baked separately. If you already knew that, did you know this: food safety wise, it’s better to make dressing? If you put stuffing inside the bird, it needs to get to … [Read more...] about Is it stuffing or dressing?
Green Beans: More than just a side dish
Most of us think of vegetables as just an accompaniment to meat loaf, a broiled steak, grilled fish or roast chicken. But green beans – cheap and bountiful this time of year in both supermarkets and at farmer’s markets – can be the star of the meal.Green beans, also called string beans or snap … [Read more...] about Green Beans: More than just a side dish
Expert advice on teaching kids about money
Do you remember your dad asking: “Do you think money grows on trees?” or “Do you think I’m made of money?” Well, yes, as a matter of fact, we kind of did. If anything, that attitude is multiplied many times by today’s kids.The time to teach our children about money is when they’re young, so when … [Read more...] about Expert advice on teaching kids about money
Expert advice on digging your way out of debt
When Miranda Marquit started writing about personal finance six years ago, she “was maxed out on my credit cards,” she admits. No more. And the publisher of Planting Money Seeds has a few words of hard-earned advice for anyone who has dug themselves into a debt hole so big they think they’ll never … [Read more...] about Expert advice on digging your way out of debt
7 tax return tips from a tax pro
April 15 –tax day – isn’t all that far away, and a lot of taxpayers are not sure how the recent action (or inaction) by Congress affects this year’s tax return. Not to worry, says master tax advisor Mary VanDersarl, who has been doing taxes for H&R Block for 25 years. But there are some changes … [Read more...] about 7 tax return tips from a tax pro
12 cheap, easy Christmas DIY decor projects
Ho-ho-homemade is the key to cheap, but pretty, holiday decorations. I mean, have you seen the prices on real Christmas wreaths? Here are some ideas we gleaned from various sources to help you put some sparkle into your holidays without busting the budget.Bonus: Most of these ideas are … [Read more...] about 12 cheap, easy Christmas DIY decor projects
Save money with healthy summer salads
They don’t call them “salad days” for nothing. Summertime is the best time to turn the bounty from your garden, farmer’s market or supermarket into a salad supper that will be light on your budget as well as your diet.Think about fresh baby lettuce, young green zucchini or yellow summer squash, … [Read more...] about Save money with healthy summer salads
Make your own flavored oils
Lots of recipes these days call for flavored oils. They add a punch of flavor for not a lot of extra ingredients. But the commercial ones can be expensive, and you may only use a little bit, so the rest might go to waste. We at “On the Cheap” are all about not wasting things -- especially … [Read more...] about Make your own flavored oils
Save water and money by fixing leaks around the house
Earth may be known as the "water planet" but even though about 70 percent of its surface is covered by water, less than one percent is available for human use according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Water supplies are finite, and we can all help protect this critical and precious … [Read more...] about Save water and money by fixing leaks around the house
Here’s a sweet deal: Make your own cocoa mix
On a cold winter’s eve, what tastes better than a cup of hot cocoa? Hot cocoa mix (especially the gourmet brands, like Ghirardelli) might be a luxury item on your grocery list, and it can be really pricey if you buy a cup at Starbucks or other coffee hut. So why not make your own at home? It's easy, … [Read more...] about Here’s a sweet deal: Make your own cocoa mix
5 best free things to do in Colorado Springs
If Colorado Springs is in the picture for your next corporate meeting or family vacation, here are five fabulous free things to do while you’re there. Since the area boasts 300 days of sunshine a year, chances are you’ll get to do most of these on a single visit.Remember, this scenic city at the … [Read more...] about 5 best free things to do in Colorado Springs
How to cut the cost of prom and still be cool
Time was, going to the prom meant you got a new dress (or a sister’s hand-me-down). Your date, who wore a suit and brought a corsage, picked you up in his own (or his parents’) car. You went to the dance and then he took you home. Any teenager today would laugh at such an idea.When my own kids … [Read more...] about How to cut the cost of prom and still be cool
Save money and give your kid a lunch he’ll eat
School days are here again, which means it's time for the annual conundrum: hot lunch or sack lunch? The problem with hot lunches is that a lot of kids don’t like them. School lunches often don’t cater to special needs, for example, if a child is a vegetarian or can’t tolerate gluten or … [Read more...] about Save money and give your kid a lunch he’ll eat
7 places to find cheap books
I’m a hands-on person when it comes to books. I like to touch them, hold them, read a page or two before I buy. I don’t like ordering them online (though I have, from time to time), so I have to find ways to feed my reading habit that involve going to actual brick and mortar stores.Here are … [Read more...] about 7 places to find cheap books
Make your own sauerkraut and other German dishes for Oktoberfest
Celebrate Oktoberfest with seasonal — also called "cheap" — produce, such as cabbage, which makes hearty, filling, tasty meals on a budget.The first thing that comes to my mind (if not yours) is sauerkraut. Cabbage is dirt cheap this time of year, and you can make your own sauerkraut that will … [Read more...] about Make your own sauerkraut and other German dishes for Oktoberfest