Follow the Savage Sisters- Fight Back with Minecraft Veggies January 9, 2017When one’s grandson is more interested in playing Minecraft (a sandbox video game) than in eating healthy vegetables, a grandmother must become creative. The result? Minecraft veggies. Start with a package of “experience orbs” and “acacia wood blocks” (frozen peas … Continue reading →savagesisters
- Unique Decoration Helps Avert Luggage Theft December 2, 2014Thieves who stalk airport luggage carousels usually prefer nondescript bags. Then, if they’re caught, they can always claim they simply mistook the stolen items for their own property. One solution is to choose distinctive, memorable luggage. If you’re not eager … Continue reading →savagesisters
- Taking Your Desk Drawer on the Plane July 29, 2014While I always carry pens and pencils with me, as well as business cards and a small notepad, sometimes I need a few more desk items while traveling. I’ve found that by selecting just those particular items, I can still … Continue reading →savagesisters
- Outsmarting Jet Lag July 22, 2014The first time I flew to a time zone three hours ahead of my own, I missed a large part of an important meeting the following morning. That’s because my body had refused to heed the clanging alarm at what … Continue reading →savagesisters
- 5 Ways a Plain Tee Shirt Can Extend Your Travel Wardrobe July 15, 2014Packing just one solid-color tee shirt can greatly expand your clothing options, no matter what the purpose of your trip may be. Alone or under a sweater, a simple tee shirt worn with jeans or a travel skirt is perfect … Continue reading →savagesisters
- Meeting the Drying Challenge July 8, 2014Conclusion of the series, “Doing Your Own Laundry on the Road” You’ve washed and rinsed your clothes by hand. Now they’re clean . . . and wet. The final step is making sure they dry sufficiently. Most hotels discourage guests … Continue reading →savagesisters
- 5 Do-It-Yourself-Laundry Options While Traveling July 1, 2014Part 2 in the series, “Doing Your Own Laundry on the Road” Last week looked at soaps available for washing your own clothing while you travel. This week we’ll look at the actual hand-laundry process. Self-laundry Options and Methods 1. … Continue reading →savagesisters
- Know Your Soaps for Travel Laundering June 24, 2014Part 1 in the series, “Doing Your Own Laundry on the Road” One key to packing light is being willing to wash a few clothing items on your trip so you don’t have to pack as much in the first … Continue reading →savagesisters
- 12 Ways to Stop Static Cling Anywhere on the Globe June 17, 2014No matter where you’re headed, you can stop static electricity* from plastering your clothing to your body. Here are a dozen methods for taming clinging clothes: My favorite solution is to carry half of a fabric-softener sheet in a little … Continue reading →savagesisters
- An Entire Week’s Business Wardrobe in Just One Carryon June 10, 2014When I fly across the country each year to serve as guest professor at Taylor University, I do not check any luggage. I’ve devised a way to pack everything I need for the entire week in a business-casual environment—in freezing … Continue reading →savagesisters
- Fight Back with Minecraft Veggies January 9, 2017
Tag Archives: trash to treasure
Make Your Own Utility Tables
When Carmen Davis-Stevens needs a table, she doesn’t spend hard-earned money to purchase one. She simply makes what she needs out of materials on hand. As an honorary Fiercely Frugal Savage Sister, Carmen shares with us how she made two … Continue reading
Posted in Carmen's Corner
Tagged creative solutions, furniture, recycling, trash to treasure
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Second Life for Chicken Wire and Lawnmowers
When Carmen got tired of looking at a pile of chicken wire that once surrounded an old poultry pen, she tried to squish it into small wads. “‘A Spade Is a Spade’ is what resulted,” she told us. “After that … Continue reading
Carmen’s Clever Wood Stove Conversion
Carmen Davis-Stevens, our honorary Fiercely Frugal Savage Sister, recently sent us pictures of her stove-conversion project. Jennifer and I are impressed. We thought you would be, too. Carmen purchased an old wood-burning cook stove to use in her summer kitchen.* … Continue reading
Posted in Carmen's Corner, Resourceful Recycling
Tagged broken, creative solutions, mending, recycling, trash to treasure, woodburning
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Carmen’s Door Magic
When our guest blogger Joan recently told us about her stepdaughter, a person after our own creative, recycling hearts, she bragged about one of Carmen’s creative projects. Fifteen winters ago when wind was blowing in under Carmen’s front door, she … Continue reading
Create Tools from Unusual Sources
When I decommissioned my old vacuum cleaner a couple of years ago, I asked Jennifer if she could think of any other uses for its parts. She said, “Maybe the handle would work to turn off your water main control … Continue reading
Posted in Resourceful Recycling
Tagged creative solutions, household tips, recycling, trash to treasure
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New Reflections on Old Mirrors
Before tossing an item into the garbage, consider what other purpose it might be used for. This is a key to being fiercely frugal, and it often provides surprising solutions. Take my old medicine cabinet, for instance. When I painted … Continue reading
Extend a Driveway with Recycled Concrete
When I purchased my house three years ago, I was concerned about weeds that previous owners had allowed to conquer the yard. A particular worry was the driveway’s right-hand border where a short parking pad had cracked and the pieces … Continue reading
Posted in Thrifty Yard Tips
Tagged creative solutions, landscaping, trash to treasure
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Make Your Own Sofa Table
“Would you be interested in a dark-blue leather sofa?” my friend asked. She planned to feature neutral earth tones in the home she was building, and navy wasn’t one of them. You bet I was interested! The color perfectly matched … Continue reading
The $15 Wedding Dress
One of the great joys for a frugal person is an upcoming holiday, especially a lesser one, such as Presidents’ Day or Columbus Day. I become giddy with delight because I know that’s when my local thrift store will offer … Continue reading
The Fiercely Frugal SAVAGE SISTERS 