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
Home & Garden
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
How to save money with a rain garden
Most of the rain that falls on your property is collected by rain gutters or flows from driveways and patios into the street. All of this runoff is diverted into the storm drain system that ultimately empties into the nearest body of water.As urban and suburban areas grow, storm water runoff … [Read more...] about How to save money with a rain garden
How to create and organize the perfect gift closet
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Doesn’t it always seem to happen that you find the perfect gift for someone in July, but their birthday isn’t until November? You decide not to buy that perfect gift, then come November, you have no clue what to get that person. If you had a gift closet, you could go ahead and purchase that item in … [Read more...] about How to create and organize the perfect gift closet
15 non-food uses for Glad Press’n Seal
When Glad Press’n Seal first appeared on the market, I saw it as an expensive version of plastic wrap and couldn’t see how it would be worth the extra money. After seeing it in action at a friend’s house and finally purchasing my own box, it’s definitely something I plan to keep in stock.It … [Read more...] about 15 non-food uses for Glad Press’n Seal
How to avoid HOA battles that cost time, money and energy
If you buy a condominium, townhouse or single-family home in a newer development, you’re likely to become a member of a community association.More than 50 percent of American homeowners live in a community governed by a condo association, homeowners association or co-op board, according to … [Read more...] about How to avoid HOA battles that cost time, money and energy
How to negotiate the best deal when buying a house
The old saying is that in real estate, everything is negotiable. But is it really? When you go to buy a house, you’re certainly hoping to get the best price and terms. To do that, you need to know when to start negotiating and when to stop. That begins with being familiar with the market, down to … [Read more...] about How to negotiate the best deal when buying a house
Free or low-cost home security strategies
You want to keep your home safe from thieves, but you don't want to spend a fortune doing so because, frankly, you don't have a fortune worth stealing. Technology has significantly brought down the cost of home security systems and home surveillance cameras, many of which you can install … [Read more...] about Free or low-cost home security strategies
9 ways to rack up savings on magazines
You browse through the piles of beauty magazines at the hair salon and wish the dentist's office had better (and newer) choices of magazines. So where can you get a good deal on magazine subscriptions for yourself? Living on a budget does not mean you have to do without glossies and other 'zines. … [Read more...] about 9 ways to rack up savings on magazines
10 things to do before a hurricane comes
Hurricane season is officially under way, and if you live anywhere near the coast, that means it's time to stock up on bottled water, batteries and non-perishable food. But those aren't the only things you need to do before a hurricane approaches. The beginning of the season is a good time to review … [Read more...] about 10 things to do before a hurricane comes
