While going out is rarely on the schedule these days, there’s a way to feel like we’re being social and having fun, even when budgets are tight. Stay home. Here are some tips for great times at home on the cheap.
Once upon a time, I received an iPod Shuffle as a gift. When I finally set it up a few months later, I was amazed at how easily I could carry around my favorite songs. I was the most technologically advanced (read: coolest) person in the family, and I relished the role.
My name is Elizabeth, and I’m addicted to J.J. Abrams.
School buses will soon bustle down the streets. Students will be armed with lists of items their teacher want them to purchase for the school year, followed by the frantic dash to various stores to find the paper, pencils and notebooks.
Starlight. The word describes the glitter of Hollywood, dance halls, playhouses and other entertainment venues. Stars of screen and stage dazzle the hours away as we watch from theater chairs or our living room sofas. Entertainment, however, has little to do with the stars in the sky.
Weekly canine Q&A, with advice on neglected dogs and new dogs.
Weekly financial Q&A, with advice on son living with parents and keeping college costs in check.
Q: I am worried that my mother is not drinking enough and will become dehydrated with the summer heat. What are the signs of dehydration?
Weekly family column, with dog-care tips, a review of “Nanny McPhee Returns” and more.
With a new school year in full swing for some and looming for other families, getting things done will be the major goal — whether it’s getting out the door on time in the morning or making sure homework is finished before bedtime. Experts say being organized can help students and their families reach the finish line.
The first day of school for me was always exciting. There were new teachers, new kids and new fears. I discovered, however, that once I located the pencil sharpener, I would be OK.
I love the idea of coupons. They simply allow for money to be saved; a top priority in my book. But try as I might, I can’t get into them into certain aspects of my shopping, like the grocery store, where I hate feeling forced to buy things that I don’t really want just to save 40 or 50 cents.
“Where is the summer going?” we asked each other in June and again in July. The answer was scrawled throughout my datebook. At the beginning of August, we were in dire need of a break.
My husband and I have this running joke: Whenever something in the house breaks, it always costs a thousand bucks to fix it. So I didn’t bat an eye when the toilet had a nervous breakdown recently and the plumber came back with an estimate of $1,000. My husband, however, almost had a stroke.
This time of year doesn’t typically bring to mind the holiday hustle and bustle, but thinking about it now might be the best thing you can do for your budget and your schedule.
A little planning ahead goes a long way toward being prepared come holiday time. Check out these tips on how to get ready now for the holidays that will be here before we know it.
Spending an afternoon in the kitchen preparing meals to freeze for future use is not only smart, it’s economical.
Food and nutrition specialist Julie Garden-Robinson of the North Dakota State University Extension Service, recently spent a few hours in her kitchen preparing about 72 servings of food at only $1.50 per serving.
“Frozen foods are readily available in the grocery store, but making your own frozen entrees allows you to prepare your favorite meals. You can also control the amount of fat and salt you add, so the home-prepared meals can be healthier and also less expensive,” she said.
Get to know the solar system by recreating a part of our galaxy.
According to the Jewish calendar, the new year of 5771 begins at sunset Sept. 8. Known as Rosh Hashana, it’s a day of celebration and renewal. Before the fate of the upcoming year is sealed, however, Jews undertake 10 days of repentance that culminate with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Rabbi Michael Paley, the United Jewish Association Federation’s scholar in residence, answers some questions about these all-important Jewish holidays:
Want to add an elegant touch to your family’s breakfast? Try apples. Full-flavored and plentiful, they’re the perfect solution.
