photo courtesy of Mom Smackley at Flickr

I tend to hold on to clothes until they're falling apart – stains on the cuff, rips at the seam, and faded. In that condition, I don't feel right donating them to a charity shop. But I also don't feel right just tossing old clothes in the trash and adding to our ever-growing landfills. So I end up with bags of unwanted clothes taking up space in my closet.

Recently I stumbled across the bags while I was spring cleaning. Instead of just tossing them back in the closet and forgetting for another year, I decided to do find a way to re-purpose the clothes. Turns out, old clothes have plenty of new uses, and I've saved a bunch of money reusing something to boot. Read More …

With spring and summer right around the corner, most families are starting to plan their annual vacations. A majority of these plans will include a trip to a major amusement park, especially if children will be in tow. Visiting an amusement park doesn't have to break the bank. Use some of these tips and you will have a much better time knowing that you are not paying a bundle for a fun filled adventure with your friends and family.

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Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Once again I'm gonna share with you some of my secrets. Firstly, you can start with the tips from last year here. Follow up with my sure fire anniversary tips here. Then hit the jump for a recent discovery my wife clued me in on that will let you save up to 1/2 off you restaurant tab and make you look better, not worse in your date's eyes. Read More …

Valentine's Day is exactly a week away, and you know what that means…

….Red and pink decorations have overtaken the stores for weeks now, and you've been eyeing those boxes of chocolate strategically placed next to the check-out counter at Vons. I haven't been able to turn on the TV lately, without catching a trailer for the newest rom-com. Holidays are being promoted earlier, as stores spotlight their sales, and I can't be alone in thinking that the past few months have seemed like an endless holiday, as Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years have melted into one ongoing event.

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Does anyone else think it's ridiculous that after all these years, Microsoft still charges a small fortune for its Office suite?

I'm referring to Office 2010 Home and Business, which has a list price of $199.99. That nets you a license for one PC; if you want to run it on a second system, tack on another $80.

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If you're like me, you have your smartphone on hand all the time and you're constantly checking it. So, when you start thinking about travel plans – maybe it's a weekend on an island to escape the cold or a trip to hit the slopes – why would you pull out your laptop, when apps for all your travel needs are available for your phone? Many apps are free, though there are some that go up in price from a few cents to a yearly fee. The savings, however, far outweigh the convenience offered when with the touch of a screen you can book your flight, choose your seat, make a hotel reservation or even send a video postcard once you've reached your destination.

 

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How often have you lamented that your bedroom is drab or outdated?  Have you complained that your bedroom doesn't feel peaceful?  Do you wish you had an unlimited budget so you could give your bedroom a dream makeover?  If any of these sound familiar, you're in luck.  You can change the look of your bedroom without spending a fortune. There are some little things you can do that will make a huge difference! Read More …

They say nothing is sure in life but death and taxes, and one of those is right around the corner! At our house, we wait until the last minute to file. We hate taking the time to do them, but it has to be done or Uncle Sam will come knocking. Fortunately, you don't have to worry about paying for your Federal return! Read More …

I bought my house approximately eight million years ago (or, five, depending upon who you ask). We moved in, stupidly juggling dueling mortgages and a four-year old child, and were amazed by all the space. Nothing like a tiny three bedroom condo to make a full-sized house look a little intimidating. Read More …

Providing fresh all-natural food for your pet dogs will help them be more happy and healthy. Unfortunately, it can also be quite expensive, especially if you have huge dogs like German Shepherds or St. Bernards. Whether you are thinking about starting your dogs on an entirely homemade diet or are just thinking of supplementing your dog's current diet with fresh food, here are some ideas on how to cut costs. If you are frugal, these tips are for you.

Include grains in the dog's diet.
A lot of people who give homemade food to their dogs, particularly the ones who give them raw food, do not incorporate grains. Most of them are right in doing so, since unfortunately, grains have been known to bring about seizures, weight gain, and inflammation in certain canines. Take note, however, that this does not apply to all dogs. In fact, grains may even be a source of cheap calories for your pet. Read More …

I'm married now, but I was a bachelor up until very recently. In fact there was a time when my roommate and I were both working lousy jobs--plus he was going to college full time and our combined earnings were barely paying the rent and keeping the lights on. The numbers escape me, but I'm pretty sure we were living on $5-10 a day for all three meals. Needless to say, we weren't eating like kings, unless you are talking about the old Henny Youngman joke: "Here King, here King..." Read More …