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Reader Ideas on Packing Food for Road Trips
Cheap and easy ideas to help you pack food for your vacation or road trip.
Cooking Terms
Dictionary of Cooking Terms Au gratin – covered with a sauce, sprinkled with breadcrumbs, dotted with butter or fat, and browned under a grill – Cheese may be mixed with the sauce or the crumbs Baste – keep the surface moist by spooning liquid or melted fat over it frequently Beat – with an …
Muffin Tips – Tips for Making Great Muffins
Tips for Making Great Muffins Muffins are great to make during these cold winter months. They are so simple to mix that they make a great “first time cooking” food for kids to learn to cook. When you are teaching an older child how to cook, look for facts or tips about the things you …
How to Have a Garage Sale
A garage sale can be a great way to declutter and make a little money.
Ask Tawra and Jill – How do I?
Here are some “Short Answers” to some of the questions readers have submitted to Tawra and Jill: Jill from Michigan asks: “Tawra – I read your information of cloth diapering and I’m wondering how much vinegar you wash them with and do you use special laundry soap?” I put in about 1/2 – 1 cup …
Limiting Kids’ Activities
Many people are overwhelmed with the stress and cost of extra kids activities. Here's how to save money and reduce stress by keeping activities reasonable!
Healthy Eating
Sandra writes: I really hope you can help me. I am going crazy and, at the same time, I am hurting my 4 year old. My daughter turned 4 last month but here is the catch — She weighs 68 lbs. I know she is way over weight. That is what everybody keeps telling me, …
Daughters’ Financial Emergencies Cause Financial Strain
Susan from Texas asks: “As a single mother of two grown daughters, scratching and clawing my way out of substantial credit card and other debt, please give me some ideas about dealing with daughters’ emergencies, specifically health issues, not life-threatening but urgent never the less.” Tawra Wrote: I was going to work on your …
Teens Don’t Have to Cost More Than Babies!
Whenever my daughter Tawra talks about how to live frugally, she can always count on one type of feedback — from people who say, “You don’t understand what it’s like. You have young children and not teenagers. Teenagers cost more!” Most of the advice and tips that Tawra shares come from me. I have raised …
Teaching Kids about Money
So many people ask how to teach their kids about money, hoping we can give them a 1-2-3 formula to use that will help their child become a wise caretaker of his money and maybe even a future Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey. Many parents ask this question because they are terrified that their children …
Wouldn’t Tithing Less Leave More Room In Your Budget?
Wouldn’t Tithing Less Leave More Room In Your Budget? Abdeli asks: I noticed that you give a sizeable amount in tithes. I am a Christian myself and give regularly but I can’t help but worry that perhaps giving less to the church might make your budget more lenient, say for emergencies and the such. I …
Get The Most Money Selling Your House
Get The Most Money Selling Your House By Tawra Kellam A clean neat house can add an additional $5,000- $10,000 to your asking price. Using this method we sold our house in 10 days. As soon as you find out that you are moving, start getting rid of things you don’t need or use any …
How Can I Get Out From Under A Lease Agreement?
Lou from north Carolina asks: Hi. I am recently living on my own with my two children, 15 & 12. I was married for 23 years and totally blown away when my husband asked for a separation. It was initiated by money problems. I made a big mistake by agreeing to file bankruptcy so my …
Pay Off My Car or Put the Money in Savings?
Mike from Manitoba, Canada asks: “I have been trying to live more simply, and would like to become debt free so that I will be more free to make changes that reflect my new goals in my life. Last year I bought a new car. At the time I was already thinking about maybe giving …
When to Buy New or Name Brand Goods
When to Buy New or Name Brand Goods In all my years living frugally, I have found that some things are worth buying new. Even though I often recommend shopping at garage sales and thrift stores, there are times when you don’t really save anything buying an item used or cutting back on something. I …
Always Weigh The Cost
It is important to carefully weigh the cost of something you're considering buying to see if it's really worth it. Here's how hidden costs can get you!
When Saving Money, Make It Work For You
When Saving Money, Make It Work For You Christy M. writes: The next time (if there is one) that you can stand to do an article on cleaning, kid chores or when to spend a bit more – here are my comments, take them or leave them :) My son has disabilities that include attention …
Saving On Presents
How Can I Spend Less on Presents Without Looking Cheap? Katie from Rolla, Missouri writes: Everyone else in our family makes a lot of money and buys expensive Christmas gifts for us. I’m getting ready to become a stay at home mom, which will stretch us even more. I’m wondering how to buy presents for …
Paying Cash For A Car?
Paying Cash For A Car? Elaine From Massachusetts asks: “Given the fact that more people are traveling further for better paying jobs — How does your concept of purchasing a car cash apply? I travel a total of 100 miles a day round trip for work. Travel time is about 1 hour 15 minutes peak …
When Should You Buy A Newer Car?
Michael from Wilmington, NC asks: When should you get rid of an old car that is paid for and buy a newer one that would hopefully have less maintenance cost. I am assuming the new car would be paid for outright without credit expenses. Michael Answers: That is a good question. We recommend buying …
13 Tips To Save Money On Your Electric Bill
Save money using these easy tips to cut your electric bill. You may be surprised how easy it is to reduce your utility costs!
Should We Sell Our House?
Rebejay from Vancouver, Washington asks: Is it better to sell the fancy house, pay off all debt and rent until we can purchase a more affordable modest home? We may have enough equity to accomplish it all and not rent. We are tired of the rat race and want to send our kids to a …
Frugal Living – Is It Too Time Consuming?
Is Frugal Living Too Time Consuming? When people ask me about getting out of debt, they often ask “Doesn’t frugal living take quite a bit more time than not living frugally?” Of course, doing work yourself does mean you spend more time doing certain things, but frugal living also means that you will spend a …