Surprisingly simple, and totally affordable, this roundup of quick and easy recipes, tips, and hacks are sure to inspire.  Create your own self-tanning lotion, never waste rice again, give during tough times, and more!

1.     DIY Self-Tanning Lotion (from Niki Leigh Spa) This one blew my mind.  Two ingredients, one fabulous tan.  (You may need to adjust for your skin tone, and remember that this is NOT waterproof.)  Perfect for a natural bronze look, and it smells yummy, too!

Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon white unscented lotion
• 1 tablespoon pure cocoa powder

“Mix the lotion and cocoa powder together until very smooth and creamy, and apply with a sponge or makeup wedge.  Your tan will last until your next shower.” 

2.     Clever Uses for Milk Jugs

With 4 kids in the house, we go through A LOT of milk jugs.  I feel bad just throwing them away (since they are essentially around forever) and we don’t have a recycling program that will take them.  I was thrilled to find this list of 35+ uses for plastic milk jugs .  My favorites?  The fridge organizer and the “poor man’s blender.”  (And for extra fabulous uses for empty containers, see Myscha’s Garbage into Gold article.)

"Organize Your Fridge -  Cut the tops off several plastic milk jugs and use the bases to conveniently store grapes, kiwis, pear tomatoes, cheese, lunch meats and other small items in the fridge. Make shorter containers for the storage drawers and trays."

"Poor Man's Blender - Add yogurt, soy milk, fruit juice, nutritional powders, crushed berries or jam to a 1/2 to 1-gallon plastic milk. Replace the lid and shake like crazy. Store extra in the fridge."

3.     Save that Extra Rice

Is it just me, or is it impossible to make the perfect amount of rice?  I’m always stuck with just enough for one more serving, but the toppings always run out!  This tip taken from a reader over at Mary’ Hunt’s Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter is the perfect solution (and might help keep my husband fed on those days when I’m not around to cook.)

“I freeze the rice in margarine tubs, which are perfect for one serving. When I want to defrost it, I heat the rice in the microwave for 3 minutes. The rice tastes like I just made it that day, and it saves me time on busy nights. – Jeanne “

 4.     Wake Up To Your Own Beat

If you’re like me, you may be living in an area of the country where your radio listening options are a bit limited.  Relying heavily on internet radio stations and websites like Pandora , my clock radio has been unused for many years.  Kim Komando found out the best way to use your PC as a radio alarm – waking you up to your favorite streaming audio at any time you choose.  Check out the full details at Kim’s website!

5.     Learn to Barter

Those who find themselves strapped for cash or too far from a convenient service provider may consider bartering, or a trade of services.  If you’re not sure what you could offer in exchange for that car repair, plumbing job, or use of storage space, just ask!  Good barters I’ve seen lately include:

• Use of pasture land for a new fence
• Painting a house in exchange for a complete wedding photography session and prints
• One hour of auto mechanic work in exchange for firewood

If you have something you can give, there is something you can get. ( I use Craigslist and local newspapers for my bartering.)  Just look under the “Wanted” ads.

6.     Share and Share Some More...

Tough times call for tough measures, and sometimes that means giving less.  I know that when the non-profits start ringing my house, I don’t have to lie in the least when I tell them, “Sorry, I can’t give to your charity right now.  Times are too tight.”  But that doesn’t mean that I can’t, or don’t, give.  I’m just more selective and use a better system for reasoning how much to give.

For a no-nonsense, deeply inspiring look at how much room we really do have to “give” (even those of use who are feeling the pinch of the economy), read Cheaper By the Half Dozen’s $14 Multiplied By…

“What if instead of heading to McDonald's, we drove past it and went to the grocery store and bought a bag of rice and a bag of beans? Remember, this is a once-a-month sacrifice meal. Try to remember that many families eat this way for most every meal. You can do it for one, right? My entire family can eat a meal of rice and beans (ham hocks included for flavor) for $5 to $6. Wow.”

She then takes that $14 saved and considers how many less-fortunate children or families can be helped by that money.  Money that they won’t even think about in two days.  What if everyone did this?  What if they did it more than once a month?  What if?