I remembered learning how to make a rubber band-powered boat out of a Styrofoam plate when I was young, and just knew it would make for some thrifty fun at home. This project was a hit at my house. Kids making their own toys -- what's not to love? It's frugal and it keeps the kids busy when you most … [Read more...] about Kids’ crafts: Make a rubber band-powered boat
DIY
Quick and easy ways to take better photos
You spend lots of money taking your family on vacation miles from home. You want your photos to be perfect. Nothing is more disappointing than vacation photos that miss the mark. Why not spend a few minutes learning techniques that can make your photos winners?Ed Szczepanski, a St. Louis, … [Read more...] about Quick and easy ways to take better photos
How to get started with drying and dehydrating foods
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Drying is one of the simplest ways to preserve fresh foods for longer storage. This beginner's guide to dehydrating food will cover what kinds of foods you can dry, temperatures and techniques you can use to dehydrate at home, how to prepare food for drying, and some tips for success, along with … [Read more...] about How to get started with drying and dehydrating foods
6 homemade DIY cleaners that will save you money
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A clean home is a happy home, but getting it that way can cost you serious money. You don't need to schedule a pricey cleaning service or stock up on a cupboard full of expensive cleaning products to create a sparkling clean space. A few easy-to-make homemade cleaners can serve you better than an … [Read more...] about 6 homemade DIY cleaners that will save you money
How to make your own simple face mask
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised wearing cloth face coverings when you go out in public, to help slow the spread of COVID-19. With face masks hard to find, we suggest you just make your own. If you sew, there are many patterns out there. But we found a pattern so simple, … [Read more...] about How to make your own simple face mask
Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes
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This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste.Do you want to can food at home, but are put off by the cost? For around $15, you pull together most of the essential equipment by using equipment you probably already own. Below we list … [Read more...] about Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes
Cheap, quick and easy homemade valentines
There’s something nostalgic about trading store-bought Valentines with cute pictures and candy-heart messages. They’re also cheap, and if that’s the way you want to go, we’re OK with that.But if you can’t find the “just-right” box of cards or you want to add a little personalization to your … [Read more...] about Cheap, quick and easy homemade valentines
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
3 cheap, eco-friendly cleaning products for everything
You don’t need to buy a cupboard full of expensive cleaning products. Just three ingredients clean almost everything in your house. Using vinegar, baking soda and Borax, you can make your own all-purpose spray cleaner, cleanser, drain cleaner and disinfectant.Here’s our handy list … [Read more...] about 3 cheap, eco-friendly cleaning products for everything
Auto Zone’s Loan-A-Tool service offers free tool rentals
Tools can be very expensive. Unless it's part of your trade, it's often not cost-effective for "do-it-yourself-ers" to buy tools for quick repair jobs around the house or on a car. Thanks to Auto Zone's Loan-A-Tool, there's no more need to pay for tools you need temporarily. Using the FREE service … [Read more...] about Auto Zone’s Loan-A-Tool service offers free tool rentals
7 DIY projects to decorate baby’s nursery on a dime
Your baby’s nursery should be a calming retreat where you can bond and lull your little one to sleep, but that doesn’t mean it needs to cost a fortune. Save the money for items you’ll really need like diapers and wipes (although, the cloth options would help save there, too!).Once you decide on … [Read more...] about 7 DIY projects to decorate baby’s nursery on a dime
How to learn a foreign language for FREE
Studying foreign languages is my hobby. Notice I didn’t say learning foreign languages. In the years that I’ve been merrily racking up classes in Japanese, French, Turkish, Italian, Latin, Arabic, Persian, German – even ‘olelo Hawai’i (the Hawaiian language) – I’ve never risen to the level of real … [Read more...] about How to learn a foreign language for FREE
Save money with your own home security system
If you have reviewed your household budget lately, you might have been amazed by how many recurring monthly charges have added up over the years. One that jumped out at me recently was the amount we spend for my home security system's alarm monitoring.ADT service starts at about $30 a month. … [Read more...] about Save money with your own home security system
New book shares easy DIY home decor projects
Kelly McCants, a Virginia-based author, entrepreneur, blogger, seamstress and mother of two teenagers, has a new book out. It’s called At Home with Modern June: 27 Sewing Projects for Your Handmade Lifestyle. Modern June, in case you’re wondering, is McCants herself, who also wrote Sewing with … [Read more...] about New book shares easy DIY home decor projects
How to consign your old clothes
Buying new clothes usually means spending money, no matter where you shop.One thing I learned not long ago was how to consign clothes for sale in order to better afford new ones. This is also a great way to make sure that your closet, drawers and other places you store clothes are more … [Read more...] about How to consign your old clothes
