How to Make a Frugal Cloche

Use a milk jug and juice container as a cloche (284x425)

I am always anxious to start gardening. The general rule of thumb is plant cold-hardy vegetables 4 – 6 weeks before the last frost, but I just can’t wait that long! Our last frost isn’t until mid June!  Since I am impatient, I have come up with several different ways to create frugal cloches for [...]

Naturally Frugal Tip: Repurpose Coffee Cans

repurposing coffee cans

I absolutely love how  Organized Island repurposed coffee cans! Using recycled coffee cans, contact paper, and chalk board labels, she created elegant storage containers. You can see the finished product as well as the steps she took to turn old coffee cans into storage containers here. You can find more Naturally Frugal Tips here. Do you [...]

Naturally Frugal Tip: Recycle Paper Scraps and Create Custom jar Lids

Use Scrap Paper to Cover Jar Lids

I like to buy items in glass jars because I don’t have to worry about what number is stamped on the bottom. Another benefit of glass jars is that they can be reused to store food. Unfortunately food stored in jars end up looking like this: Using glass jars for food storage is practical and [...]

Repurposing a Water Bottle to Create a Vase

My intent in repurposing water bottles was not just to create a vase, but to create a childproof vase because this little guy will not stop picking my daffodils: Every time I open the back door Andrew shoots out and quickly returns with flowers for me. I made several attempts to redirect him early in daffodil [...]

Repurposing Onion Bags

A few days ago my daughter asked for a scouring pad. I asked her why and she said she was going to clean the bathroom. I didn’t have a scouring pad, but I wasn’t about to let that stop my daughter from cleaning! I remembered that I had some mesh onion bags and decided to [...]

Repurposing #7 Plastic Food Containers

I have been ruthlessly decluttering my house in preparation for a move that will occur a little over a year from now. I know it probably seems a bit early, but since I don’t know where we are moving or how we are getting there, this allows me to channel all of my fear of [...]

Ideas for Reusing Tissue Boxes

I have mentioned before that we usually use handkerchiefs (I actually cut up soft pieces of flannel for my toddler; it is so much gentler on his little nose than even the softest paper tissue, but I digress). I do, however, keep Kleenex on hand for company so I occasionally have leftover boxes. Before I [...]

Resolution – Buy Nothing New in 2010

When I first heard about The Compact, I was intrigued by the concept of not buying anything new for an entire year. However, I did not think that I could join on my own and did not think I could convince the rest of my family to join with me. I have since learned that [...]

Reusing Tissue Boxes and Grocery Bags

Sometimes I forget to bring my reusable grocery bags to the store which leaves me with left over plastic bags. And although we use cloth handkerchiefs, I do keep tissue for our guests, which leaves me with leftover tissue boxes. So I combine two leftover items and create a new use for them: I realize [...]

Recycling and Reusing Items to Save Money

We used to live in an area where our waste collection company gave us 3 cans as part of our standard service: One for yard waste, one for recyclables, and one for garbage. When we moved to our present location the waste company asked if we wanted to go with the same plan as the [...]