As we pass by the first day of fall, it has me thinking of how I am going to keep our house warm and toasty this fall and winter without going broke in the process. Our home has a furnace that is run by propane and it typically costs us close to $400 to fill … Read more5 Frugal Ways to Lower Your Heating Bills This Winter
If you missed last week’s post on Edible Landscaping for Beginners, make sure you go back and read it. It’s very informative! Thanks again, Marci, for sharing your knowledge with us! I’m in the middle of a 4 year plan to put in edible landscaping around my house after the yard was torn up for … Read moreEdible Landscaping Part 2: Landscaping the Frugal Way
Why plant just any plant in your landscaping when you can plant something edible and accomplish the same goal, whether it be shade, privacy, color, focus, erosion control, or design. There is an edible plant that will fit every situation! The trick is in learning which plants will work for you, and in your area. … Read moreEdible Landscaping Plan for Beginners: Part One
I cannot stress how much I hate cleaning the oven. But I cleaned my oven anyway. I’ll confess, I’m not the best at keeping on top of that unpleasant task. And of course, living in a rental, we have a basic oven. Not self cleaning. Bummer. Still, I needed to clean the oven before we … Read moreNon-Toxic Homemade Oven Cleaner Recipe: Baking Soda and Water
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act provides assistance to those facing foreclosure. Last week President Bush signed into law The Housing and Economic Recovery Act. Most people know that the act is designed to help Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as help homeowners who are facing foreclosure. But the new law reaches much … Read moreThe Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008: What Does it Mean for You?
Veggies from my square-foot garden. It started on a whim last March. Liz and Jim were out of town, and after reading a post at Frugal Dad, I decided to build my first square foot garden. Sam and I worked on our garden box all day on a Saturday. We assembled the box, filled it … Read moreMy Square-Foot Garden Overfloweth
Being frugal means being a good steward of your resources. What better way to be a good steward than to make sure your stuff doesn’t end up in the county landfill when you’re through with it? Besides being a good use of resources, recycling can save you money. In Oregon we get 5 cents back … Read moreRecycling Saves Money and the Environment
I’ve never been very good at gardening. I’ve pretty much killed every plant I’ve tried to grow, except for the little Christmas Cactus that’s sitting in my window. Still, the frugal part of me has always wanted to grow a vegetable garden. Vegetable gardening appeals to me, because I can grow my own organic vegetables … Read moreHow to Build a Square Foot Garden Box