How to Wash a Cashmere SweaterFor years I dry-cleaned my wool and cashmere sweaters, paying $3.50 each time. I saw a TV segment that convinced me to try it at home. Not only is it cheaper, but there are no chemicals in your sweater, and it comes out so much softer. This will work for merino, cashmere, and all fine sweaters.
Sprouting BeansEveryone can do this. You only need a container with a cover. You may use many kinds of beans. I used lentils this time.
Make a Bottle of Fabric Softener Last for 8 YearsI got this tip from the Mary Hunt website. Get a spray bottle and fill 1/3 with fabric softener. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Spray a few times on both sides of an old washcloth, and throw it in the dryer. Turn the bottle gently before each use to mix up the contents well. I don't shake the bottle.
Magic Eraser to Clean Glass CookwareDon't scrub your glass cookware to clean off baked on food. The Magic Eraser (or knockoff) will remove it in seconds.
Why Doing Things Yourself is More than FrugalMost people I know have someone else to clean their homes and wash their cars. They bring in food a lot and go out to eat often. They tell me that since I work full-time, I am wasting my precious free time. They also think I'm cheap.
French Onion MeatballsThis is a wildly popular recipe in a neighborhood food group I belong to. I used ground turkey, fresh parsley from my garden instead of the thyme, chopped onions I had frozen previously, and Swiss cheese instead of the pricey Gruyere.
Gratitude Not AttitudeGratitude, not attitude. Last week Lowes was giving away gift cards in denominations from $5 to $1500. As to be expected, most cards were $5, which is what I got. I saw some posts from people saying they "only" got $5. I felt it was $5 that I did not have before.
Replacing Your Watch BatteryI always took my watches to the jeweler to have them replace the battery, at a cost of $8-$15. I saw watch batteries for the first time at Dollar Tree, and decided that I would try to replace them myself. Dollar Tree sold them 4 to a pack, which ends up being 25 cents to fix a watch.
Cranberry Apple Oat and Quinoa Breakfast BakeThis is a very filling dish. The cranberries and apples complement each other nicely. Quinoa is on sale at my supermarket, so this was economical as well. I did not use nuts and substituted powdered ginger for the crystallized ginger.
No-Car DayThis summer, I decided to do an experiment. I decided to see what would happen if I didn't use my car one day a week. I have discovered that this is a really good idea for many reasons.
Freezing Corn in a PillowcaseDo not hesitate to stock up on corn when there is a sale. Corn can be frozen, in the husks, in a pillowcase. Load up the pillowcase, fold the top over so it is closed, and place in the freezer. It will stay as fresh as the day it was picked.
Hemming Jeans Like a ProThere is a way to hem jeans that preserves the original stitching. In my area it is called a "special hem", and costs a lot extra if the store or a seamstress does it. Not only is the original stitching saved, but you do not cut any excess fabric away.
