frugal

9 ways Star Wars can inspire you to save money.

Ok, so I admit it; I’m a Star Wars geek (although I’m certainly not alone). I was watching my favorite of the original trilogy last night, The Empire Strikes Back, when I had an ep

Instructables for the Extreme Cheap Lifestyle

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

8 Fun and Frugal Things to Do with Origami

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

Eating Cheap While Abroad

I've been on the go a lot this last year: I lived in Dublin for four months, accompanied my family to Israel, and made it to plenty of other points on the globe. But no matter

New Ideas for the Chopstick

In China alone, an estimated 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks are used and thrown away every year. This equals the wood from 25 millio

The line between frugal and crazy

You don't have to go very far down the path of being frugal to reach the point where people start questioning your sanity. (You bicycle to work? Even though you have a perfec

As the Wood Burns: The Top 3 BioMass Heating Sources Revealed

CNN predicted a 22% increase in the cost

How to wrap gifts with leftovers.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m no fan of the greeting card and gift wrapping industries. Not only are their products way over-priced, they’re also less than original in most cases.

Frugality Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: 5 Ways to Spend Less and Love More

Hot dates are often stereotyped as being expensive; Fine wines, fancy dinners, high-priced hotels, and posh resorts top the list of ways we traditionally thi

5 Foods I Grew Tired of Buying, and How I Quit

Everyone who cares about frugality understands that it often involves becoming more self-reliant. The following is a list of kitchen staples that I quit buying, and how I’ve made i

Revive Old Toys for Extra Christmas Savings (and Sanity)

It has officially begun. My four-year-old has tuned out the real world in favor of loud Saturday morning commercials advertising the best of mu

Put it in a Pie for Fast, Frugal Food

Are you running out of fresh ideas for supper? Are you also running out of meat and fresh veggies? Pie shells are the best trick

Save $100 on Your Next Spa Visit by Buying Cold Medicine

We’ve been hearing a lot about how you can save money by shopping at Walgreens lately. Walgreens is again offering a unique and potentially ver

Super-Cheap Building Supplies and a Way to Help Your Community!

I’ll admit that my family is the “cobbling” kind of people. Our depression-era farm house was slapped together in a sturdy, but irregular fashi

Finally, Frugal Rules

You can come out of the shadows, my fellow cheapos, skinflints and non-pathological hoarders. Thanks to the rise of eco-hip, frugal is becoming cool. Sorta.

Get More from Pumpkin Carving by Baking the Seeds

Even if you don’t celebrate Halloween, the pumpkin is a staple food for fall recipes and decorating schemes. The bright orange squash variety i

What's your frugal obsession?

Even the biggest spendthrifts have a frugal obsession or two. Wise Bread readers must have their own obsessions or habits that save money, and more importantly, offer a sense of sa

DIY Baby Care for Your Cheap Bum

A dear friend of mine had six children. She once told me that one secret to their financial stability came in the form of making their own toiletries and bathroom items, specifica

When Frugal is Stupid

I’m a huge fan of “reduce, reuse, and recycle,” when it is both practical and useful. [more]

Gourmet Pizza for Less than a Buck

 I’m a pizza fanatic. I will never turn it down. Ever. While living in Omaha, I looked forward to lunches with m