Marla Walters's blog

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.

Christmas Gifts for Teachers: 10 Great Possibilities

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.

Homebrewed Beer: The Results

Home-brewing can lead to better tasting and cheaper beer. What's not to like?

Homebrewed Beer: Make Your Own and Save Money?

Can you save money by making your own beer? Is it worth the effort?

5 Fun Ways to Eat Hot Dogs

After a “buy one, get one package free” hot dog sale recently at Safeway, I went through my cookbooks, searching for unusual hot-dog recipes. Here are some really wacky hot dog dis

The Online Doctor : A Good Use of Your Health Care Dollar?

Like the majority of Americans, I try to make the most of my health-care dollar. If you are also comfortable with a keyboard, consulting an on-line doctor may be a great option.

To Buy or Not to Buy? Criteria for Thrift-Store Clothes Shopping

Do you enjoy thrift-store shopping? Here are tips for what to buy, and what NOT to.

8 Swanky Sauces to Glamorize Dinner

Are you tired of buying boring, budget cuts of meat or poultry? Dress them up!

A Box of Wine, a Loaf of Bread, and Thou: 6 Box Wine Comparisons

Boxed wines are economical, easy to store and good for the environment. But how do they taste? Would they satisfy wine snobs? I took the plunge and tried 6 popular boxed wines. Fin

20 Signs That You Were Raised By TRUE Money-Savers

Rising prices, as well as the current unemployment rate, and devaluation of the dollar, all seem to support the wisdom of previous generations’ more frugal ways.

Start Stockpiling Now: Four Cheap Christmas Gifts to Make

I love receiving homemade Christmas gifts, and also enjoy making my own. However, a homemade gift can be really expensive if you pay full price for the ingredients. Fortunately, a

Network Marketing Parties: Opportunity or Emotional Blackmail?

The crux of network party-marketing: feelings. Should your emotions enter into your shopping experience? At these parties, I have experienced the feeling of largesse because I coul