Even though we can buy just about anything with the click of a mouse, garage and yard sales are bigger than ever. Sellers want to declutter their homes and are tempted by an easy path to making extra money. Shoppers are eager to score great deals at other people’s sales, rather than paying top … [Read more...] about How to make and save money at garage and yard sales
Home & Garden
Giant backyard games you can build yourself
Game time is fun, but for bigger fun, you need bigger games. You may have seen those giant outdoor games made from ordinary board games. These are perfect for the kids to play with all summer or for pulling out for a summer party. But buying them can cost hundreds. Fortunately, you can … [Read more...] about Giant backyard games you can build yourself
How to make your own laundry detergent and save
When you find you need to cut back on expenses, or you simply would like to live simply, there are surprising ways to pinch a few pennies. DIY laundry detergent is easy to make and works as well as the store-bought products. Make and store in recycled containers to add to the … [Read more...] about How to make your own laundry detergent and save
Grow your own live Easter basket
Delight family and friends with a "live" Easter basket this year. Eye-catching plant baskets containing tasty, “bunny-worthy” ingredients like lettuce, parsley, edible flowers and carrots make great decorator pieces and save you money. Living Easter baskets provide you with good-for-you goodies long … [Read more...] about Grow your own live Easter basket
12 tips for buying your first house
For first-time homebuyers, the whole homebuying process may look a bit daunting. You’re going into what could be the biggest purchase of your life with no experience to fall back on. The good news is a little preparation can go a long way and help you approach this major decision with … [Read more...] about 12 tips for buying your first house
Make felted wool dryer balls, a cheapskate’s fabric softener
Here's a project that will help you save on electricity from your dryer and eliminate the need for fabric softener, which has harmful chemicals and perfumes. Fabric softener can be expensive, isn’t recommended for certain articles (towels, cloth diapers) because it reduces absorbency, and it can … [Read more...] about Make felted wool dryer balls, a cheapskate’s fabric softener
Organize a home office on the cheap
If you are among the millions of Americans who work from home at least part of the time, you've probably noticed that you've needed to establish a few guidelines for you and for those who live with you. Your needs will vary depending on the work you need to do, but a home office or official work … [Read more...] about Organize a home office on the cheap
Should you pay off your mortgage?
One of the more hotly debated issues in personal finance is whether you should pay off your mortgage early. As with most things, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are a few questions to guide you:1. Are you receiving a tax deduction? Although everyone assumes that they are getting a … [Read more...] about Should you pay off your mortgage?
Make your own easy holiday wreath
As a traditional part of decorating for the holidays, we adorn our walls and doors with pine wreaths and garlands. The stores are full of wreaths with sensors that start music for passersby, simple plastic-pine wreaths embellished with bells and bows, and natural pine garland wreaths that fill the … [Read more...] about Make your own easy holiday wreath
Save money with a freezer-meal party
When you’re trying to balance work, school and other obligations, coming up with dinner ideas can seem like a thankless task that renews itself each night. And chances are, many of your overscheduled friends feel the same way. Share the dinner burden by hosting a freezer-meal party. You’ll stock up … [Read more...] about Save money with a freezer-meal party
10 cheap date night ideas
A date night is a way to reconnect as a couple. But you don't have to have the typical dinner and drinks to make the experience romantic. With a little bit of planning and imagination, your date nights can be memorable and cheap.Become the chef Instead of going out to dinner, find your … [Read more...] about 10 cheap date night ideas
Tasty recipes for cheap and abundant zucchini
The zucchini are here! The zucchini are here! The world’s cheapest ingredient has arrived in gardens, farmers’ markets and grocery stores, and it’s cheap, cheap, cheap. So what do you do with all this bounty? Well, you can pan-fry it as a side vegetable, cube it and put it on kabobs, slice it … [Read more...] about Tasty recipes for cheap and abundant zucchini
How to prep for hurricanes and other disasters on a budget
With a regular torrent of severe weather events, ranging from hurricanes to fires, regularly hitting all parts of the United States, you may be interested in the best ways to prepare to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.You shouldn't sit around worried all day about an unpredictable … [Read more...] about How to prep for hurricanes and other disasters on a budget
6 real lessons from HGTV’s ‘House Hunters’
The revelation that would-be home buyers on HGTV's popular "House Hunters" program may be looking at homes that aren't even for sale has caused a stir. But even if "House Hunters" is, in part, fake, there are some real lessons home buyers should take from the show. We're not saying that the … [Read more...] about 6 real lessons from HGTV’s ‘House Hunters’
What you need to do before buying a trampoline
As sure as spring turns into summer, or wish lists for Santa are being made, many parents across the nation will soon give into their children's pleas and buy a backyard trampoline.As you might guess, a trampoline is one item that you don't want to buy second-hand, second-rate or, … [Read more...] about What you need to do before buying a trampoline