Marla Walters's blog

Screwdrivers to Saws: Stocking Your First Toolbox

A trip to the home improvement store can overwhelm when you're trying to buy your first set of tools. Before you shop, read this guide.

The Cheap Girl’s Guide to Lowering Cholesterol Without Suffering

You can cheaply and easily lower your cholesterol — and even lose weight and save money in the process.

Feelin’ Flakey: 7 Delicious Corn Flake Ideas

There's a lot more to do with corn flakes than just toss 'em in a bowl with some milk. Discover surprising uses for this cheap ingredient.

From Clammy to Clean: 9 Ways to Fight Mildew

If you live in an area that is damp, foggy, or humid, battling mildew gets pretty tiresome. Follow these tips to easily and cheaply fight this scourge.

10 Gardening Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Finally, my black thumb has turned green, and I can pick fresh vegetables for our dinner several nights a week. Learn from my trial and error.

Dealing With and Understanding Migraine Headaches

Migraines can be completely debilitating. Learn about common triggers (and how to avoid them) and home remedies for easing pain.

Fresh vs. Frozen: 5 Dinner Comparisons

When you consider cost, taste, and time, is fresh always better? Find out as frozen dinners go head-to-head with their freshly made counterparts.

Kilowatts a Killer? Tips for Air-Drying Clothes

With electricity rates and propane prices rising, we learned in a big hurry how to dry our clothes with minimal dryer use.

10 Weird and Wonderful Ways to Use Rice

Did you know that there are over 140,000 varieties of cultivated rice? Besides being a delicious and versatile cooking grain, it has some other very unusual uses.

Top 10 Red Flags That Trigger IRS Audits

Are you making one of these common mistakes that can trigger an audit?

16 Great Tax Deductions You May Have Overlooked

Many people miss out on these big tax deductions, adjustments, and credits. Are you one of them?

January: The Perfect Maintenance Month

Recently I learned several annual money-saving maintenance tips. All it took was a little snooping around my husband.

My 5 Favorite Funny Christmas Gifts

Let me help you get a jump on shopping for Christmas 2011: Here are some of my favorite frugal and funny gifts from this year.

10 Great Gifts for Teachers

No more apples, mugs, or other unwanted gifts. This year, consider one of these 10 frugal winners, all suggested by teachers.

The Food Strainer: My New, Old-Fashioned Gadget

Learn how I made my best marinara sauce ever and easily processed 20 pounds of fruit with the same electricity-free tool.

Save Money by Making Your Own Mustard?

Welcome to my third and final installment about making your own condiments. I have now experimented with mayonnaise, ketchup, and finally, mustard.

10 Favorite Mail-Order Websites

Here are my 10 mail-order websites that I love for their great customer service and quality products.

Make Your Own Ketchup

Zingy and filled with tomato goodness, this easy-to-make ketchup can provide better flavor than the store-bought stuff.

Cut-Rate Condiments: Homemade Mayo

When the price of my beloved Best Foods (also known as Hellman’s, for you folks east of the Rockies) rose to over $6 (30 oz.) here, we switched to a store brand. It was sl

Yogurt: Should You Try Making Your Own?

Yogurt is already conveniently packaged, widely available, and comes in a big variety of flavors. That said, there are great reasons to make your own.