Make Your Own - Chocolate Syrup instead of buying Hershey's

Homemade Chocolate Syrup
Yummeroo - this tastes better than the store bought variety AND...it's cheap to make! Use it over top ice cream for delicious ice cream sundaes, or stir it into regular milk to make it rich chocolate milk.

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking cocoa
2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:In a 1-qt microwave-safe dish, combine the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and water until smooth.Cover and microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes or until the mixture boils, stirring twice. Stir in butter and vanilla until blendedThis recipe for Homemade Chocolate Syrup makes 1 cup

Need Storage Containers - Re-use the Food Containers You Already Have

It seems that in our hectic and cluttered lives we need storage containers all the time. A storage container for office supplies, or crafting supplies - or whatever other goodies seem to get gathered in huge piles around our homes!

Instead of necessarily buying new containers, check out the food containers you already have. Old jam jars, for instance, washed out and dried, are perfect little clear glass containers to hold office supplies such as rows of staples or extra paper clips. Or, how about large plastic jars? They can be used to store laundry detergent, or pet food.

Look through your kitchen cupboards and you might be surprised...once the food is gone, the container left behind might be very useful to you!

Frugal Home Repairs and Money Saving Tips - Save Money every time you flush

Save money every time you flush the toilet - or in other words: "Don't flush your money away!" How? Fill a medium sized soda or juice bottle with water, and place it inside your toilet tank (not the toilet bowl - just imagine how icky THAT would be!) Place the lid back on the toilet tank.

Each time you flush, the tank will not need to fill completely up with water, as the filled bottle will be displacing some of that water. Over time, this can save you a whole lot of money. And, when shopping for a new toilet, be sure to purchase one of the new water-saving varieties that use less water to begin with.

Frugal Food & Coupons - How to Take Coupons to the Supermarket

I used to have a HUGE photo album with pockets that I took to the supermarket with me while I shopped, getting a few stares along the way! :) People must've thought I loved to look at old photos while looking for canned goods. Anyway, I've found an easier way to carry coupons...just use an envelope.

On the front of the envelope, you can write down your list. Inside, tuck all of the coupons you plan to use. And you can carry an additional small assortment of coupons in your purse - the high value coupons that might come in handy when you see a good sale at any given time. But, for the most part, I find that the envelope coupon method works great...and you don't feel quite as goofy as carrying around a huge box or album full of coupons!

How do YOU sort and carry your coupons? If you have an idea to share, please send it in to me at christina@happyslob.com

Getting out of Debt - Step One - Figuring out WHAT You Owe

Now, this may be a very scary step to many who are deep in debt - figuring out exactly what you owe. Most of us in debt do anything we can to AVOID those harsh, cold numbers of our debt - we'll do anything to ignore it and pretend it just isn't there.

But, if you're serious about getting your debt under control, you need to face these scary numbers once and for all. :) ANd remember, it's the first step of a plan that will help you eliminate that debt, so you should actually feel empowered by doing this. (But, feeling a little overwhelmed is okay too! In fact, it just makes you human.)

So, sit down with your bills (which may have remained unopened because you were too scared to look at what you owe!) and get out your handy calculator. Getting a brand new notebook for your Debt Reduction Plan is a great idea - or you can use your computer to create a file for that.

Write down everything you owe, so that you have the hard facts right in front of you. This is the very first step to getting in control of your debt - acknowledging and viewing the real numbers. This is one of the hardest things you may ever do, so just hunker down and do it - don't procrastinate! Just keep reminding yourself that this is the first step in getting back in charge of your financial life...and that the discomfort now will be worth it later on.

I'm proud of you! Now you know the real situation you're in financially, and next we'll learn how to take that information and start working on a plan that will work for YOU and YOUR FAMILY.

Make Money Tips - Find a Need and Then Fill It

When you're trying to get your debt under control - or just trying to save more money - you might often also think of ways to EARN extra money. But, where can you start?

1. Do your research! Find a need in your community, and then fill it. It could be something like a petsitting service, or a service to visit lonely seniors.
2. Online, it IS possible to make money. But, don't get caught up in get rich quick schemes, which will only leave your wallet emptier than ever before. Selling on eBay is one possibility to earn some extra cash by getting rid of clutter around your home. Read some stories of REAL people who are earning a living on eBay - these stories, by the way, are FREE. Their tips are inspiring and can help you make a go of an eBay career.
3. Ask around - when you come up with an idea, ask your family and friends if it's something they think might work.

Finding a real work at home job is possible, but only if you're willing to take some time and thoroughly research your options. Have fun!

Frugal Cleaning/Home/Life - Using Coffee Filters in All Sorts of Amazing Ways

Coffee filters are for more than JUST brewing a great cup of Java! On my Happy Slob's Housecleaning Blog I came up with some great cleaning uses for coffee filters.

But, beyond cleaning, coffee filters are a great way to:

• Portion out snacks for yourself or for your kids. They're easier and cheaper than using paper plates for things like a hot dog. Great way to portion control snack sizes too, especially if you're trying to cut back a bit and lose some weight.
• Store individual servings of things you eat often, but don't always want to measure out - like your morning oatmeal! Just put out some coffee filters and measure out 1 serving size of oatmeal into each one, then all you need to do for your morning bowl of oatmeal is grab one coffee filter full of oats, pour it into a microwave safe bowl, add some water and pop in the microwave.

Have more ideas on how to use coffee filters? Please email them to me - christina@happyslob.com and I'll be sure to add them.

Frugal Food and Recipes - Make Powdered Milk Taste Better

Trying to save on your milk costs, but hate the taste of powdered milk? :) No need to fear, frugalites! Just add a bit of good natural vanilla to the milk to improve the taste a whole lot, and make sure to mix up the milk the night before you're going to use it. Give it a good shake or stir before using. The vanilla adds a nicer taste than the powdered milk alone.

I have two ways to make your own good vanilla extract, posted at: http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/vanilla.html Enjoy! (This idea is also great for gifts!)

Cheap Homemade Air Freshener Recipe - Just Lemon Juice, Baking Soda and water

Freshen up your bathroom (or other smelly areas in your home, like where the kitty litter box is) with a simple recipe that adds a fresh lemony scent AND naturally neutralizes odor, instead of masking it.

2 tablespoons baking soda
2 teaspoons lemon juice
About 1 cup of water

Mix together in a clean spray bottle with a fine mist setting. Shake very gently, and spray away nasty scent and odor!

(PS. Got the inspiration for this simple recipe from the show: "How Clean is your House?" I love those two ladies!)

For us frugalites, the best news of all is this - this homemade air freshening formula is literally only about 10 cents or so per bottle! If you have access to a lemon tree, it'll be even less! And you can get a fabulous little spray bottle for this to keep in the bathroom for a buck at a dollar store.

Fun Frugal Activities for Families - Take it Outside

Try saying THAT ten times in a row: fun, frugal families. :) But that's exactly what you're all trying to be - you're trying to take responsibility with your money, and likely pay off excess debt.

That doesn't mean that you can't have any fun! In fact, if you want to stick to your frugality goals, you'll need to come up with a list of family activities that ARE fun, but that also won't break the bank.

One of the greatest ideas is to get outdoors - go for a hike, a walk, a stroll around a lake. Go sledding when the snow starts to fall, or get outside to make a big snowman. Take the dog for a walk, but take one of your kids with you too, so you get a chance to really talk to them. Make a bonfire with friends, and roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Or, go for a drive in the country and take snacks or a picnic to enjoy when you arrive at your destination.

Get your family's ideas written down too, and create a Frugal Family Fun binder with ideas, recipes - whatever you need to come up with meaningful family activities when everyone wants to spend some time together. This way you'll be less likely to overspend. :) Enjoy!

Fun Frugal Activities for Families - Take it Outside

Try saying THAT ten times in a row: fun, frugal families. :) But that's exactly what you're all trying to be - you're trying to take responsibility with your money, and likely pay off excess debt.

That doesn't mean that you can't have any fun! In fact, if you want to stick to your frugality goals, you'll need to come up with a list of family activities that ARE fun, but that also won't break the bank.

One of the greatest ideas is to get outdoors - go for a hike, a walk, a stroll around a lake. Go sledding when the snow starts to fall, or get outside to make a big snowman. Take the dog for a walk, but take one of your kids with you too, so you get a chance to really talk to them. Make a bonfire with friends, and roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Or, go for a drive in the country and take snacks or a picnic to enjoy when you arrive at your destination.

Get your family's ideas written down too, and create a Frugal Family Fun binder with ideas, recipes - whatever you need to come up with meaningful family activities when everyone wants to spend some time together. This way you'll be less likely to overspend. :) Enjoy!

Yay - It worked! I got my credit card Interest Rate Lowered

Hey frugalites,

:) The last post I made was about how I called my credit card company and simply asked for a lowered rate. Well, it was a bit more complicated then that - I just mentioned that I had received a better credit card offer in the mail, and that if they couldn't lower my rate than I would have to switch credit cards.

Lo and behold, yesterday my interest rate was lowered by 6% AND they told me it should be lowered even more.

So, I highly recommend that you try this - just call your credit card company and get them to lower your interest rate. You could save hundreds or thousands of dollars just by making a brief 5 minute phone call.

Reduce Debt Tips - Ask for a Lower Credit Card Rate

I've learned that one of the easiest ways to get a lower credit card rate is...simply to ask for it! Just call your credit card provider (major ones like Visa or Mastercard) and say something along these lines:

Hi, I'm calling today because I've recently received a lower interest rate credit card offer from _________________ (name of Company.) I would like to stay with you, but I need my interest rate to be lowered, or else I'll have to take this other offer.

It's really that easy! Last week I tried this method firsthand and was told that I would definitely receive a lower rate. Now, this is taking into account that the credit card is in good standing, and some other factors such as not just paying the minimum amount due on the card every month.

It's worth it to give this method a try -- post a comment if you try and DO get a lower credit cards interest rate!

Frugal Fun and Frugal Shopping: Use Canvas Reusable Shopping Bags

Here's a simple tip that is convenient for you and healthy for our environment. Try investing in a few good-quality canvas bags or sacks and then keep one tightly bunched up in your purse or car. It's an easy way to have a bag always at hand for groceries or other shopping, or just when you happen to find a great bargain at a garage sale and need an easy way to tote it!

For more ideas on homemade frugal crafts, visit http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/crafts.html

Frugal food: Make Your Own Hamburger Buns Recipe

HOW TO MAKE HAMBUGER BUNS
Submitted by Pat

1 3/4 cup. warm water,1/4 cup honey. 1/2 cup cooking oil. 3 pkgs yeast. 1 1/2 teasp. salt5 cups flour (all purpose). 2 eggs beaten.

combine water, honey,oil,and yeast. let sit 10 - 15 minutes. or untilbubbly.. stir in salt, flour. and eggs.Sshape intothe size of a hamburger buns you desire. Place on greased cookie sheetslet rise for 10 or so---- minutes. bake at 425 'for 10minutes. Let cool and split with knife..** Much better than store bought..!

Gradually Building Your Well-Stocked Pantry

I'm generally NOT one to have a lot of groceries around, but I'm going to change. :) I first of all don't have a whole lot of extra space for 'a well stocked pantry' but I've decided to gradually build up my pantry. Here's my plan:

- Each week, during my regular grocery shopping trip, I'm going to buy 4-5 extra things (non perishable) to stock my pantry.

I think this is a far easier way to stock a pantry, and then over time I'll see it grow!

Another Frugality Resource: SavingAdvice.com

In my online frugal findings, I have come across an amazing new resource at http://www.savingadvice.com. This terrific website is excellent for those of us who want to stretch our dollars.

I especially love the frugal forums - you can get money advice, tips on how to live a more frugal life, and much more. A friendly, and frugal place that all frugalites will love!

Try Freecycle - Free Furniture and More

Freecycle - at http://www.freecycle.org - is a worldwide network of frugally minded people! Visit to find items in your local area that you can get for free - you usually just need to arrange to pick it up.

In return, you can give away items you don't need. :) A much better alternative than having more junk end up in landfills! Definitely a Frugalite Thumbs-Up option.

Make Your Own Bread: Frugal Baking & Food Tips

Whether you use a handy bread machine to do the hard work for you, or prefer old-fashioned, by hand breadmaking techniques, you will save OODLES of your hard earned cash by baking your own bread.

Buy flour in large quantities, and any other specialty ingredients - such as flax seeds, or other whole grains - in the bulk section at your local supermarket. It is usually far cheaper to do so.

Experiment with different bread recipes and find a handful that you and your family will love. When you get used to home baked bread, you'll never want to eat the commercial variety again!

Make Your Own: Hershey's Chocolate Syrup Copycat Recipe

1/2 Cup Cocoa (Hershey's obviously)
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup water
1 tsp. Vanilla
dash of salt

Combine cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Add water, and mix until
smooth. Bring this mixture to a boil. Allow it to boil for one minute,
be careful this does not over boil. Remove from heat, when this cools
add the vanilla.

Make Your Own: Italian Dressing Mix

Good Season's Italian Dressing

1 TB Garlic salt
1 TB Onion powder
1 TB Sugar
2 TB Oregano
1 ts Pepper
1/4 ts Thyme
1 ts Basil
1 TB Parsley
1/4 ts Celery salt
2 TB Salt

For Dressing Mix:

1/4 Cup Cider Vinegar
2/3 Cup Oil
2 TB Water
2 TB Dry Mix
Shake well.

One More Frugal Use for Old Socks: Dusting Devices

No, it's not weird or gross to use old socks to clean with. :) Just give them a final cleaning in the wash. They're easy to slip onto your hands (sort of like those new popular Swiffer cleaning gloves) and are great dusters!

This is a fun cleaning tip for kids - give them an old (clean) sock on each hand and let them have fun dusting!

Frugal Cleaning: Don't Throw Out Those Old Socks!

Old cotton socks may not look great (with holes, etc) but they can be fabulous additions to your cleaning kit! Old socks can be torn apart and used as small cleaning cloths, or if they're just worn out but don't have any holes - put some detergent inside and use as a scrubby cleaner for any area of your house!

Have any more cleaning tips using old socks? Send them to me (Christina) at christina @ happyslob.com

PS. If you'd like tips on creating a frugal cleaning kit, visit: Cleaning Kit Advice & Tips

Make Money Tips: Sell Crafts at Craft Shows

Some very helpful tips from an experienced craft show pro can help you make some extra money selling your crafts. I've posted the tips on what to sell, how to present it and more at: Craft Show Money Making Tips from Pros who Know

Easy Ways to Rejuvenate an Old Scratched CD (Frugal Tips; Cleaning a CD)

1. GENTLY wash CD with weak detergent, from edge to middle (NEVER CIRCULAR!) with soft kitchen or paper towel.
2. Dry from edge to middle with towel.
3. Here's the science bit --- Put a TINY spot of non-fluoride toothpaste (yes really!) on to towel and gently rub from edge to middle again.
4. Using a clean piece of towel buff in same direction.

Make Your Own Vanilla Extract - Homemade Gifts

This article teaches you 2 different ways to make homemade Vanilla Extract. All you'll need is to find some good quality vanilla beans. It's worth the effort though - with vanilla extract getting more and more expensive, you'll save a LOT of money by making your own!

The great thing is - once you have a bottle of homemade extract, you'll never go back to using store bought. The taste is amazing!

Frugal Cleaning Tips: The 2 Items You Need

Frugalites, you do NOT have to spend a small fortune to stock a cleaning kit or cleaning cabinet to keep your home clean. :) In reality, there are very few products you really need. Today, I'll tell you about my two absolute FAVORITE multi-purpose cleaning products that I'll bet you already have in your home:

• Baking Soda
• Vinegar

Baking soda is a cleaning powerhouse! Use it to:

• Replace harsh commercial powdered cleansers
• Reduce odors (simply place in a small open container and it will help to neutralize and remove odors naturally)
• Reduce odors in kitty litter boxes - simply sprinkle into fresh litter every time you've changed the cat litter

Vinegar is another must-have for frugal cleaners. It can:

• Replace all-purpose cleaners! Just pour 1 part plain white vinegar into a clean plastic spray bottle. Add 4-5 parts tap water and shake well. For a little extra cleaning power you can add 1 or 2 drops of natural liquid dishwashing soap.
• Get your sink's taps and faucets shining - use it straight for extra power

These are just a few ways that you can use baking soda and vinegar to clean your home. For dozens of extra (free) uses, visit:

Dozens of Vinegar Uses

Dozens of Baking Soda Uses

Interesting Statistic to Motivate You to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Do you realize that if you owe $2,000 on a credit card with a 21% interest rate, and you only make the minimum payment each month that you will owe on this account for approximately 19 years and pay a total of $6725.64 in principle and interest?

To help pay off credit card debt more quickly, be determined to STOP USING the credit card. (Except for real emergencies.)

Frugal Food and Recipes: Copycat Boston Market Bread Pudding

Cracker Barrel's Bread Pudding

Sugared Pecans: In small skillet combine 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil, med-low heat, with 2-oz pecan pieces. Stir only till heated and barely bubbly. Sprinkle with 4 tablespoons sugar.Stir briskly only till sugar dissolves, on low heat AS THESE BURN QUICKLY! Work fast. Dump them into paper towel lined plate. Spread out to cool while you prepare the rest.

Plumped Raisins: In small saucepan combine 1/3 cup raisins and 1 cup boiling water. Cover pan with lid 20 minutes. Drain and discard water. Add 1/2 cup packaged shredded coconut to raisins. Set aside.

Dumplings: In dutch oven combine 6 cups water and 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to boil. While you wait for that to boil, combine in medium bowl, 3 cups Bisquick, 1 cup milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, stirring with fork to moisten thick dough. When water come to boil, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfulinto boiling water, making about 14 dumplings. Cover pan with lid. Simmer dumplings very gently 20 minutes. Uncover and let cook another 10 minutes gently. Baste often in the liquid, which is now becoming thickened and creamy looking. Remove pan from heat. With slotted spoon remove HALF of dumplings to greased 8" square baking dish. Sprinkle with pecans andraisins/coconut. Arrange rest of dumplings over that. Set aside. Make sauce next.

Caramel Sauce: Strain remaining liquid into heavy 2 1/2-quart saucepan. Bring to boil. Stir constantly. Add 1 cup packed light brown sugar, stirring vigorously, med-heat till it boils briskly 2 or 3 minutes or till sugar is completely dissolved and sauce drops from spoon in large drops rather than like water. It should be the consistancy of smooth gravy. Spoon sauce over dumplings filling dish right to the rim. Cool 15 minutes.Cover; refrigerate to serve within few days. Micro warm servings oruse cold with a scoop of ice cream on top of each. Serves 6 to 8.

Frugal Food and Recipes: Copycat Chips Ahoy Recipe

Chips Ahoy Copycat Recipe
4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp Baking soda (level)
2 tsp Salt (level)
1 cup Light Brown Sugar (packed)
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 cup Vegetable Shortening (Crisco)
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 large Egg White
2-4 tbsp Water (warm)
12 oz Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Bring all ingredients to room temperature. Preheat oven to 325 °F. Mixthe flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside. Use an electric mixer to mix the two sugars and shortening. When creamy add the vanilla, salt,and egg white. Add the flour 1/2 cup at a time adding a tablespoon of warmwater as necessary to mix the flour - don't exceed 4 tablespoons of water- this will make a firm dough. Mix in chocolate chips. As the dough gets thicker you may want to mix by hand and abandon the electric mixer.Roll into 2 inch balls and press down with the palm of the hand to make flat. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Frugal Food and Recipes: Award Winning Buttermilk Brownies

This Buttermilk Brownies Recipe not only won awards, but is also a frugal minded baker's friend. The ingredients are common and inexpensive - enjoy with a big cup of fragrant coffee.

Debt Reduction Techniques: Pay off Credit Cards Faster

Every single one of us Frugalites wants to pay off our credit card bills faster. Here is a simple technique that works to do just that!

Let's say you have three credit cards:

• Credit Card A - Balance $4200.00 (Interest rate 9%)
• Credit Card B - Balance $560.00 (Interest rate 18%)
• Credit Card C - Balance $1500.00 (Interest rate 4%)

While Credit Card A is the one that worries you the most, don't work to pay it off entirely first. I know you might be scratching your head right now -- but you need to use the SNOWBALL EFFECT for paying off debt. It works like this:

• Continue to pay the minimum amounts on all of your debts/credit cards. On the credit card with the smallest amount owing, pay as large a payment as you can afford each month, until the balance is at 0.
• Let's say that after 4 months of paying $140 on Credit Card B (the one with the highest interest rate AND the lowest amount owing) you've eliminated that credit card payment. Congratulations! Now...use that extra $140.00 a month on your next lowest amount owing - which is Credit Card C. (Some people choose to pay off the highest interest accounts first. This is entirely up to you. I prefer to stick with the easy way of getting rid of the smallest amounts first.)
• So, now you're paying an additional $140 per month on Credit Card C - that is, on top of the minimum monthly payment you were already paying. Continue like this until this credit card payment is also eliminated.

See how this works? :) After a while, you'll not only have a great sense of accomplishment - by ELMINATING some of your debt - but you'll also be working towards your eventual goal of ELIMINATING ALL OF YOUR DEBT!

This is an original article written by the owner of this blog. If you would like to re-publish it in whole or in part on your blog or website, please simply link back to this blog: http://frugalites.blogspot.com

Set a new Savings Goal - Frugality Tips

Today, sit down and set a new savings goal. Frugality is not only about making wise choices about how to SPEND your money, it's also about putting some aside.

Even if you think you can't possibly save any money - you're wrong. Set a reasonable goal of even 5% of every check you earn. You'll be surprised by how quickly it can all add up.

And, to help those savings grow more quickly, check out the new high interest savings accounts at nearly every bank or financial institution. Compared to the miniscule interest rates of the past, these high interest accounts make every little bit of money add up quicker than ever before!

Copycat Chi Chi's Salsa Recipe - Frugal Food and Recipes

Chi Chi's Salsa

2 green onions diced
2 ripe tomatoes diced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
dash of tabasco sauce
14oz. can stewed tomatoes

Dice the stewed tomatoes and combine in sauce pan with onions, fresh
tomatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to just a boil. Boil hard 1 minute
and remove from heat. Put half of the mixture through a blender,
just to mince fine but not puree. Return to remaining half of mixture.
Add tabasco to taste.
Cool and refrigerate in tightly covered container.
Use within a few weeks and it freezes up to 6 months.

Create Your Own Gift Cupboard - Frugal tips and Hints

A few weeks ago, one customer in the kitchenwares shop where I worked told me about her 'Gift Cupboard' - a storage cupboard she uses to stash her frugal finds for gifts whenever they're needed.

I thought this was a fantastic idea. When you see something at an outrageous bargain, but can't think of anyone who you could give it to right away - put it away in your own little Gift Cupboard. Then, when a gift is needed, you not only spare yourself the stress of shopping for it last minute BUT you also save a lot of your hard earned cash.

One More Frugal Coffee Treat - Black Forest Coffee Recipe

Black Forest Coffee Recipe - Another delicious frugal coffee shop style treat - this one made extra special with bursts of cherry and chocolate flavorings. And a big dollop of whipped cream - because why WOULDN'T you add that? ;)

Make Your Own Gourmet Coffee Drinks This Summer

Why pay an arm and a leg for pricey gourmet coffee beverages at places like Starbucks, when you can easily use your own coffee at home to whip up a treat. Try some of these recipes to get started:

Coffee Soda Recipe
Coffee Shop Recipes - Including Starbucks Copycat Recipes

Enjoy, all you fellow coffee lovers!

Make Your Own Boboli Pizza Crust (Copycat Recipe; Frugal Recipes)

Boboli Pizza Crust

1 pk Dry Yeast
1/4 cup Water
2 1/4 cups Warm water
6 tb Olive oil,+ extra for pans
6 cups Flour
1 ts Salt

Dissolve yeast in warm water (105F is perfect). Let it sit for two minutes.Add the rest of the ingedients and mix well. Turn out onto board and kneadfor ten minutes. Place back in bowl covered with a damp towel and let rise 30 to 40 minutes. Divide dough into 3 parts and place in 3 olive-oiled pie pans.Dimple dough with fingers. Place on top the following mixture: Coarse sea (or Kosher) salt, fresh ground pepper, chopped rosemary and thyme. If herbs are dried, soak them in water for 10 minutes and then pat dry on paper towels. Let rise 50 to 60 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.May dip in olive oil.

Delicious Pie Recipes: A Frugal Dessert Anytime

Pie is not only delicious (and one of my all-time FAVORITE desserts to chow down on) but it's also inexpensive! For tons of delicious pie recipes, visit the Pie Recipes Blog . If you have a favorite to share, please send it to me at christina@happyslob.com

Rainbow Jello for Kids

Rainbow Jello
Here's a fun recipe to try with your kids! :) It also happens to be a frugal treat to make...


2 (3 ounce) packages lemon Jell-O gelatin
2 (3 ounce) packages lime Jell-O gelatin
2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry Jell-O gelatin
2 (3 ounce) packages orange Jell-O gelatin
24 ounces evaporated milk (3/4 cup for each flavor of jello used)

1. You can use any variety of jello you want and as many as you want.

2. Use 1 box of lemon jello with 3/4 cup boiling water and 3/4 cup cold water.

3. Mix well and pour into a 9x13 Tuperware container.

4. Let set a little while.

5. The next layer consists of the other box of lemon jello, but this time combine 3/4 cup boiling water and let that sit for awhile and when a little cool, add 3/4 cup evaporated milk and mix together. Pour onto the 1st layer in Tuperwarepan (that gives it a slightly different color and taste).

6. Continue with the other colors of jello you want.

7. Kids love it. :)

Make Your Own Soap Recipes

Making your own soap is a true craft, and it's also a lot of fun! You can find recipes on my Bath Stuff Blog and on my website at Soap Recipes . Be sure to try the Lemon Loofah soap - it's my fave!

More info on Google Adsense

is available on their official site at https://www.google.com/adsense/

Make Money - Google Adsense for Websites

If you have any sort of website at all, you can make anywhere from a few dollars to a few THOUSAND dollars or more every month by utilizing one simple program - Google Adsense! Adsense code basically allows you to pop an ad on your website that is of interest to your readers. For instance, if your website is about cooking, then Adsense will show ads of interest to cooks!

I've had great success with Adsense and highly recommend it as an extra income. If you have a website already, you might as well monetize it with Adsense! Do any of you already use it? What have YOUR experiences been?

Hair Conditioner is GREAT for Shaving Legs

A handy bath/beauty tip for you - I've been using hair conditioner for years as a shaving cream. Just moisten legs, apply a generous amount and shave. You'll be surprised by how smooth it makes your legs feel when you're done!

More Bath Recipes

More bath recipes are available at http://bathstuff.blogspot.com - and more are added every day! :) Enjoy frugalites...

Make Your Own Bath and Beauty Products - Fun Crafts

:) On my main website, I have TONS of homemade bath and beauty ideas - easy products you can make yourself at home. Of course we Frugalites love this, because it saves a lot of money. And, it's fun! Great for you to make with the kids...Check it out at: Bath & Beauty Product Recipes to Make Yourself

Baking Soda is a Frugalite's Best Friend!

Baking soda is a WONDER to keep around the house for cleaning, deodorizing, health and beauty and so much more. :) Check out all the ways we know how to use this marvelous stuff at:
http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/bakingsoda.html

Homemade Pest Control Spray: Garlic Oil Spray for Aphids and More

A HUGE thank you to Collette for this all-natural and inexpensive alternative to pesticides and other harmful sprays. :) Plus, this recipe (I estimate) will cost you around $0.50 or so to make. A great savings!


Garlic Oil Spray

10-15 cloves of minced garlic
2 tsp. mineral oil
600 ml water
1 tsp. liquid dish soap

Soak garlic in mineral oil for 24 hours. Strain garlic out and add 600 ml water and 1 tsp. liquid dish soap. Mix thoroughly. Spray plants with this solution. Pests affected: Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies

Frugal Crafts: Bread Dough Clay

Yes, you can use plain old white bread to create gorgeous crafts that last! The addition of white glue is what makes it a durable dough. Here's a basic recipe to get you started with this type of crafting. :) (And talk about FRUGAL -- just buy whatever brand of white bread is the cheapest and you can create loads of goodies for just pennies.)

Bread Dough Clay
3 pieces of fresh white bread (crusts removed)
1/4 cup glue

Crumble the bread and use hands to mix in the glue. Kids love this part! Add a bit of water if needed after about 1-2 minutes of mixing. Breads vary so you may have to adjust the recipe for the bread you are using. Food coloring or paint works great to color the dough. Kids can make shapes or even beads for a necklace. Dries in about 24 hours.

I also just posted a FOOLPROOF Kool-Aid Play Dough Recipe for Kids over at: http://kitchencraftsnmore.blogspot.com - be sure to check it out. :) It's one recipe you'll use over and over and over again...

Frugal Groceries and Shopping: Using a Price Book

A price book is a frugalite's best friend! It is where you constantly store information about prices on groceries - it's with this book that you'll know when and if something is TRULY on SALE.

Here's a great article that I really enjoyed, that gives you a lot of details on how to start using a price book when grocery shopping:

• Save Money Using a Price Book - Article by Bobbie Jean Knealing - Lots of good tips here to use a price book - either a regular notebook and pen or a computerized version. http://www.betterbudgeting.com/articles/money/pricebook.htm

Save on phone plans - Household Savings

Home phone and cell phone plans can be OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. AS with everything else, comparison shopping is key to saving your hard earned money. With pad and paper in hand, call or email local phone companies. Be sure to have a list of all the features you want, and then compare the prices and pros and cons of each.

Only then are you ready to make a decision. You could easily save $20-$50 a month or more, which adds up a LOT over the length of a year.

Save old batteries - they still have some juice left

Old batteries used in diskman's or other high-drain appliances, still have some juice left in them, even when they'll no longer run your Diskman! Remote controls and clocks can run on those old batteries for months before you'll need to replace them. :)

Have a garage sale!

Last weekend I saw SO MANY garage sale and yard sale signs, that it got me thinking...Garage sales are not only a great way to make some extra money, but they help us hoarders get rid of a lot of clutter.

The best garage sales are ones where there's lots of good stuff for customers to choose from, so think about having a family garage sale where more than one family contributes items. Different colored labels can identify which family a certain item belongs to.

Homemade Bug Killer Spray - Household Recipes

Yes you CAN make your own bug spray at home! This uses natural ingredients that aren't UNpronouncable. Give it a try - this stuff not only works great, but it's a far cheaper alternative than pricey commercial sprays.
http://www.happyslob.com/bugkillspray.html

Sears Promotional Code - $15 off $100 or more

Just got this email and thought all Frugalites would like to know about it. (Particularly Canadian ones, obviously. ;) )

Great news. We’ve just given our sears.ca website an amazing makeover.You’ve GOT to see it. Here’s a great offer for you to help us celebrate!

Save $15 on a minimum purchase of $100* when you order from sears.ca. To take advantage of this offer, key in Bonus Offer Number 941612080 in the ‘Bonus/Promotional Number’ box at checkout. Offer expires June 16, 2006.

I've gotten some excellent deals on the Sears.ca website before - check out all of the bargains. At the end of season in particular there are some IMPRESSIVE deals to be had!

A Notebook in Hand (Frugality Tips)

While on vacation, my husband and I have been (trying) to keep track of all that we spend. Keeping a small notebook and pen or pencil in your handbag is a very cheap and easy way to keep track of where your money is really going. Then later, you can input that information into a spreadsheet or your budget program at home on the computer.

Oftentimes when we spend, we have no idea where all of that money went to. Try this idea today and you'll have a clearer idea of where your money goes, and then know where you need to cut back.

Free Purina Cat or Dog Food - Fabulous Freebie (Frugal Pets)

Purina ONE is offering a coupon for a free 1.8 kg bag of cat food or a large bag of dog food. Yes, this is ABSOLUTELY free! :) This is a great quality pet food, so definitely take advantage of this offer. All you need to do is sign up at:
http://www.purina.ca (for Canadians) - you'll see a box on the right for this free pet food offer.

I'm sure your cats or dogs will thank you.

Copycat Starbucks & Tim Hortons Recipes

If, like me, you LOVE a great cup of coffee, but not the pricetag attached, then please hop over to my Coffee Creations blog: http://coffeecreations.blogspot.com
I'm always searching for new coffee recipes and have recently posted a copycat Tim Hortons Ice Cap recipe, Starbucks Frappuccino recipe & more! :) Is it just me, or we all on an exceptional caffeine rush? YEEEEEEEE!

Frugal Food: Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Make Your Own Chocolate Syrup
Some of the loveliest things happen when you mess up a recipe. :) For instance - today I had a sudden INTENSE craving for chocolate. (Aren't ALL chocolate cravings intense, though? At least mine sure are...) Anyway, I thought: "I'll make some of that chocolate fudge I love."

I only wanted to make a half batch, so I halved all of the ingredients in the recipe EXCEPT (by mistake) for the milk. I kept boiling and boiling and wondered why it wasn't getting to soft-ball stage. :) Duh!

Anyway, I was left with a really gorgeous velvety chocolate sauce/chocolate syrup. It's sweet enough but not overly sweet, which I really love. Here's the recipe for this MISTAKE which turned into a wonderful thing:

1/3 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups sugar
few pinches of salt
1 1/2 cups of milk
about 1/2 tsp vanilla

In a heavy large saucepan, combine the cocoa, sugar and salt together well. Add the milk and stir with a wooden spoon to blend. Over medium-low heat, heat the mixture until it's boiling. I boiled for about 10 minutes and ended up with a really nice, velvety textured sauce. :)

Store in a covered container in the fridge. Would also be fantastic in a glass of milk for easy chocolate milk OR used as a dessert sauce on plain cheesecake. YUM!

Frugal Fun: Great Deals on Books at BookCloseouts.com

I've shopped at BookCloseouts.com many a time - you can get a fantastic bargain there, especially when you're armed with these new coupon codes to save even more:


BookCloseouts.com is based out of St. Catherines and usually has some pretty good deals. Shipping is pretty reasonable too. One thing to note is that some books aren’t in ‘new’ condition. They’re great for children’s books.

Coupon #1: Deal: Get $5 off an order of $25 or more Coupon code: 5off25 Coupon password: bookcloseouts Expires: May 15, 2006

Coupon #2: Deal: Get $10 off an order of $50 or more Coupon code: 10off50 Coupon password: bookcloseouts Expires: May 15, 2006

Coupon #3: Deal: Get $20 off an order of $100 or more Coupon code: 20off100 Coupon password: bookcloseouts Expires: May 15, 2006

Found this frugalite delight on the RedFlagDeals.com site

Frugal Food: Free Milk Coupons

What's better than frugal? FREE! I just found out about this great deal for Canadians - free 2 liter milk coupons on selected cereal boxes. Apparently they've been spotted on Cheerios (both regular & Honey Nut - yum) and an assortment of other General Mill cereals. Canadian Frugalites - keep your eyes peeled for this bargain. :) This is definitely a coupon that is a great value!

Frugal Food: Walnut Squares

This is an old fashioned favorite squares recipe sent in by Debbie. It sounds REALLY good - and hey, very frugal at the same time. I'll look into this, but I'm pretty sure that walnuts and other nuts can be frozen to preserve them -- so when you see them on sale at the store, buy a few extra bags. :) In this recipe it really is only the walnuts that are pricey: everything else (flour, egg, brown sugar, salt, baking soda) is very inexpensive.

"This is a recipe handed down from my grandmother to my mother and to me. Our family has been making them for years. A chewy cookie and mmm so good."

Walnut Squares

Beat until foamy - 1 egg
Beat in: 1 cup brown sugar
1/2 t. vanilla

Sift together and stir in:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. soda
Mix in:
1 cup chopped walnuts

Spread in well greased 8" square pan.
Bake until top has dull crust.
Cut into squares while still warm.
Cool, then remove from pan
Bake 325* 25-30 minutes

Make Money with a Garage Sale This Month!

So, maybe you're REALLY strapped for cash. Or, having become one with your new frugalite ways, you DON'T want to pull out that credit card unless it's necessary. Trying to think up some new ways to scrape together a bit of cash?

Have a garage sale!

You could even have a friends & family sale where you get a few of your friends and/or family members in on the action - so that you have lots of goodies to sell! Just be sure to carefully label items with different colored labels - each person will be assigned a label color. And, when people pay, keep track of who bought what so at the end of the day the money can be divvied up correctly among everyone. :)

I've heard of people making anywhere from $300-$1000 or more in a day or two! Watch upcoming weather reports and plan to have the sale on a nice weekend - if it turns ugly, you can always host it in your garage OR push it ahead a week.

Frugal Food: Homemade Lemonade (Make Your Own)

Here's another refreshing summertime drink that you DON'T need to make with a mix! :) When lemons go on sale, stock up and enjoy this with lots of ice and maybe a sprig of mint. You'll never go back to the other kind of lemonade again!


Lemonade
4 lemons
1 c. sugar
6 c. water
Directions:
Cut the lemons in half and squeeze out all of the juice you can, removing seeds. Pour juice into a large pitcher.
Add 1 cup of sugar and half of the water, stirring to dissolve sugar completely.
Add remaining water and pour into glasses filled with ice. Add a slice of lemon to the rim for a pretty garnish.

For TONS of recipes, visit http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net

Make Your Own: Easy Homemade Iced Tea Recipe

Don't rely on those (icky tasting) mixes or pricey frozen iced tea concentrates any longer! It's easy to make your own iced tea! Check out this simple recipe for a perfect cuppa cold refreshment...

http://www.cooksrecipes.com/beverage/perfect-brewed-iced-tea-recipe.html

REALLY cheap & easy. :) We frugalites LOVE both of those qualities. What would you guys say this would cost to make? Maybe $0.30 or $0.40 a pitcher - a bit more if you like to toss in a few fresh lemon slices. YUM! Enjoy, frugalites.

Frugal Cleaning: Easy & Cheap Carpet Stain Remover

It only takes two simple ingredients and this stuff works well on most any carpet stains! Give it a try:
http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/carpetstainremover.html

The Definition of a Frugalite

Definition of a Frugalite: One who is frugal, yet fun. A person who wants to save as much of their hard earned cash as possible - but in creative ways. A person who sees this frugality mission as a challenge, a goal to attain - not a miserable way of life.

Oh, so you're a frugalite? Well then, welcome home!