Most people intuitively associate vacation and travel with huge expenses. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right kind of planning plus a few clever tricks and tips, it’s possible to enjoy travel without ripping a hole in the budget. Face it: The most expensive and challenging part of a family trip…

The only difference between gardeners and cheapskate gardeners is the amount of money they spend to achieve the same results. The truth is, like no other hobby, gardening is actually more productive when the cheapest—even free!—supplies are used. Control Weeds Newspaper. It’s cheap, and it works beautifully. Cover the area with 10 layers of newspaper,…

A previous column on fabric softener products struck a chord with thousands of readers. I know because you send me messages and letters, which I love—even some of you who are not 100 percent satisfied making the switch from problematic laundry softeners to what I find are amazing wool dryer balls. But first, let’s review…

I gave my son and daughter-in-law lots of gifts when their son, Elijah, was born. But none has come back to bless me more than the gift of Friday. Since he was 6 weeks old, I’ve closed the door to work on Fridays to care for and learn from my grandson, Eli. In these two…

Some people are born frugal. They come into the world with a bent to use it up, wear it out, and do without. Not me. I arrived with an overly developed spendthrift gene. Frugality is a learned behavior and way of life I have chosen. And I learn something new nearly every day. Take melted…

There’s nothing like spring and the promise of warmer summer days right around the corner to awaken one’s inner gardener. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, given these inflationary times, you may need more time to fork out money on gardening supplies and tools. Well, take heart! There are a number of places…

It’s mailbag day, when I reach into my virtual mailbag and pull out a few questions from my dear readers, attempting to respond with specific help and resources. Dear Cheapskate: How can I find a good financial counselor? We are not covering our monthly obligations and falling further and further behind. I am a nervous…

I’m anything but a master of the soil, but I sure love to putter in my vegetable and flower gardens. And this year, with food prices continuing to soar, I am more motivated than ever to grow as much of our food as humanly possible. Over the years, I’ve discovered quite a few handy tips…

Dear Mary: Our mortgage was due on the first. As I write it is the 21st. We have the money to pay it, however my husband thinks it would be better to pay our credit card bills and get 30 days behind on our mortgage. What do you think should be paid first?—Lisa P., Florida…

If you were to take a peek inside my refrigerator, you’d have to stand on your head to read labels. Food seems to last longer when stored upside-down in a container with a tightly fitting lid. It’s something about the food sealing itself. All I know is it works. I can’t remember the last time…