Basement Floor Savings (And Garage Floor, Too)

As you might now know, I am blogging over at the Home Blog (as well as here at the Frugal Blog and there at the Computing Blog), and I am sharing my family’s adventure as we clean out our garage. Now that the garage floor is nice and clean, my husband has mentioned painting it. Not only will it look much better painted, but it will help improve our home. Having the garage floor painted will also help it serve another function, as an impromptu place for gathering with friends and family during parties, when we need to expand our … Continue reading →

Make A Designer Table from Paper Bags!

Yes, it can be done. You can make your own designer table that has a really interesting leather look for pennies, and all by using ordinary paper bags. What is more, is that you can use this same technique to create other pieces of furniture and even a durable and unique floor. It is a DIY (Do It Yourself) project like no other. When I heard about this idea, I thought immediately of my friend, Elaine. She is always coming up with unique ideas for making her own household items. Well, I think I have her beat on this one. … Continue reading →

Appliance Repair for Less

Just recently, I wrote about how sometimes it makes sense to pay for an extended warranty when buying products on appliances. But what if you don’t have a warranty on your machine? Major and minor appliances can be costly to repair. When something such as a dishwasher breaks down, it can cost hundreds of dollars just to have someone look at the appliance, let alone fix it. This goes for other things around your home, too. One time, a plumber tried to charge us $300 just to tell us that we needed a new sink. He did nothing more than … Continue reading →

Saving Money on Yardwork

Yes, it’s another post that stems from our preparing our house to sell. This time, we are looking at the back yard. I’ve always been one to save money on anything I can, but with yards, you have to keep them looking good, for fear of the complaining neighbors or zoning issues. However, the time when the yard needs to look its very best, is of course, when the house is for sale. I thought I would share with you over the course of the next several days, the easy ways we have been saving money on our yard in … Continue reading →

Frugal Shopping: When to Start Home Improvement Projects and Save the Most

Home improvement projects, can really spruce up the place. In addition, they add value to your home, and make it easier to sell. Even if you are not selling or looking to spruce up the place, you might have a home improvement project you would like to get started anyway. Because of all the different items needed for home improvement projects, I contacted the store manager of a well-known home improvement supply company. He allowed me to get the insider’s scoop on the best times of year to purchase many of their supplies. Apparently this is the same, no matter … Continue reading →

Frugal Spring Cleaning: Washing Windows

Want to make your house sparkle inside and out? Spring cleaning doesn’t require expensive products. with the following advice, you can wash your windows the frugal way! Our new home is in some serious need of spring cleaning. As my sister-in-law said, there was probably about 20 years worth of dirt layered on everything from the previous owners. One thing that made a big difference right away was cleaning the windows. It was amazing how much light started streaming in and how much better the view was. We have great views of our wooded property, so it was a shame … Continue reading →

Save Water with A Faucet Aerator

Here is another little secret to saving water. Use a faucet aerator, and you will cut down on your water usage without noticing any changes in water pressure. A faucet aerator is a small device that attaches to individual faucets throughout your house. You can put a faucet aerator on one faucet or on all of your faucets. It all depends on your needs, although obviously, you will get the most savings if you install the most faucet aerators. The way a faucet aerator works is by reducing the water flow that comes out of the faucet by essentially mixing … Continue reading →

How to Repair A Garden Hose

Garden hoses are expensive! Learning how to repair your hose can save you lots of cash. Remember that one of the principals of frugal living is to reduce your waste, so why buy a new hose when you can still use the old one? Do you have a hose that is generally good shape but is in need of a repair? You can easily repair most damage, from a pin hole leak to a tear in the hose. There are two main ways to patch a garden hose. The first and easiest is by using a hose repair kit. These … Continue reading →

Home Heating Costs: Have You Done the Snow Test?

As I sit here in my little office in Pennsylvania, I can see the snow falling yet again. It has been snowing on and off for the past few days. Sometimes it sticks and sometimes it doesn’t. One thing that is consistent about the weather is that it has been cold. Brrrrrr. We are all walking around the house with double socks and pullover or zip-up jackets. The furnace seems to be constantly running, and I have been keeping the little ones in their footie pajamas. One of the benefits of the snow, believe it or not is an improved … Continue reading →

Frugal Home Improvement: Make Your Doorknobs Glow

Did you know that there is one easy-to-use tool that can quickly and easily make all of the hardware in your house glow with that holiday shine? Chances are you probably have this tool in your home somewhere. Shining up your doorknobs, outdoor locks, house numbers and other types of household hardware is such an easy project, but the results make such a difference in your home. I’ve lived in our present home for more than six years now, and my husband has been here for almost nine years. In living here and keeping up with the day to day, … Continue reading →