crafts

Getting by without a job, part 4--get free stuff

Posted December 6, 2008 - 05:41 by Philip Brewer

Food and Drink, DIY, Green Living, General Tips

Farmer with dog

There are all kinds of ways to get stuff without money. You can grow it in a garden, gather it from the wild, make it yourself, get it as a gift, scavenge it from trash, or get it free from someone who hopes to sell you something else. All of these generally involve spending time instead of spending money--but someone who's getting by without a job probably has some time to spend.

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Getting by without a job, part 2--boost income

Posted November 29, 2008 - 14:38 by Philip Brewer

Career and Income, DIY

Handy man whitewashing a house

If there's one fundamental rule for financial success, it's "spend less than you earn." That rule applies whether you have a job or not. But, if you're used to having a job, the adjustments to getting by without one are going to be huge. It can be done, though. I suggest a three-pronged strategy, the first prong being to boost your income.

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Make a crafty airbrush out of old junk

Posted February 10, 2008 - 16:25 by Paul Michael

Life Hacks, DIY, Art and Leisure

Artsy

Sometimes the ingenuity of people knocks me out. As I was surfing today to find new and exciting ways to save money, I came across a video on Metacafe. It has almost no sound, but it doesn't need it. In just a few minutes, Marek (from Poland I think) shows you how to make a cool airbrush out of old bits and pieces.

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Instructables for the Extreme Cheap Lifestyle

Posted February 1, 2008 - 17:20 by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Food and Drink, DIY, Art and Leisure, Lifestyle, Freebies

Are you a super cheapskate with an affinity for making everything yourself? Here are some Instructables that will tickle your fancy! Learn to furnish your home, gather food, and finally protect your possessions with alarms and weapons all for less than $10.

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8 Fun and Frugal Things to Do with Origami

Posted January 28, 2008 - 16:52 by Xin Lu

Frugal Living, DIY, Art and Leisure, Health and Beauty

Origami is a Japanese word that means "fold paper", and it is a very popular pastime around the world. I enjoy origami because it is a very cheap hobby that requires only your hands and paper. I like to reuse magazine paper and left over wrapping paper to make my projects, but origami techniques can be applied to anything that is foldable to create amazing results. Here are some fun and frugal ideas for using origami in your life that goes beyond folding a simple crane!

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New Ideas for the Chopstick

Posted January 18, 2008 - 22:34 by Linsey Knerl

Frugal Living, Food and Drink, Art and Leisure, Green Living

In China alone, an estimated 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks are used and thrown away every year. This equals the wood from 25 million fully grown trees every year! If you’re not sure you’re going to use that chopstick again, give it a wash, and put it to use with these handy tips!

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Three Kids' DIY Projects In Your Pantry

Posted January 17, 2008 - 11:54 by Thursday Bram

DIY

It’s turning into quite the snow day here in Maryland, so I pulled out all of my “keep kids amused and out of trouble” recipes, to share with parents who are facing cooped up kiddos. I’ve stuck to those recipes with simple ingredient lists. We're talking cheap, easy fun, that doesn't involve having to listen to fights over the TV remote all day long, and a chance to introduce kids to a little DIY fun. The ingredients lists are all fairly basic and rely on pantry staples.

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You're a Chump if you Pay Full Price for That

Posted December 29, 2007 - 11:56 by Catherine Shaffer

Frugal Living, Shopping, Deals, Coupons

Couponing and bargain shopping are not for everyone. It takes some time to clip the coupons, organize them, and keep track of sales at all of your favorite stores. But since I've gotten into it, I realized I was missing out on some very simple deals. A number of retailers and manufacturers run perpetual sales or coupon deals on products such that you would be a chump to pay full price for them.

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Reusing Your Christmas Cards

Posted December 28, 2007 - 15:37 by Catherine Shaffer

DIY, Green Living

A home made Christmas Card

What if there was a way to honor the beauty and intentions behind your received Christmas cards, while at the same time allowing you to get rid of the darned things without guilt? By cannibalizing the cards your friends and family send you, you can save your conscience, save the earth, and save a buck.

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6 Uses for Those Old Whitewalls

Posted 2 years ago by Linsey Knerl

Filed Under: Green Living

No, they don’t have to be whitewalls, but I know that sometime in the near future you will have an old tire to get rid of. I’m not the most eco-friendly gal in the bunch, but I do hate waste (and that nasty tire disposal fee they charge when you buy a new one.) So without further ado, here are the best ways I’ve found for putting those old rubber rings to good use:

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