tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46249716206493487492024-03-12T21:05:08.516-04:00Mrs. MacGyver's Home JournalA Guide to living the lush life for less. Tips, tricks, and DIY projects for the fabulously frugal.Mary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624971620649348749.post-89462514847754256962010-11-11T14:44:00.007-05:002010-11-12T01:13:41.860-05:00DIY on the Fly: Easy Fixes for Household ProblemsEveryone's got problems. It's a fact of life. Some problems are big, others are small, and when they are all put together they could drive you plum crazy. Fixing some of those annoying little things that have been irritating you might just take the edge off. Maybe you've heard of some of the household fixes maybe you haven't. But I swear by every one of them. Stinky fridge: Put a small bowlMary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624971620649348749.post-28669240905385732302010-11-04T19:30:00.003-04:002010-11-04T20:17:39.514-04:00Learning to Sew is SmartRemove home economics classes from school? Heck no! They are teaching valuable skills that our youngsters can use through out their lives. Still today, friends of mine who attended the same school as I did talk about that funny old duffel bag we made in Home EC. Every kid used that bag to tote their gym clothes to class. I still use techniques I learned in that class today. But besides Mary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624971620649348749.post-21272817251776282322010-11-03T13:34:00.004-04:002010-11-03T15:29:44.525-04:00Looking Fabulous on the Cheap (Ways to save on your favorite Cosmetics)Every gal wants to look her best, even frugal gals. There is just something so exciting about opening up a new tube of lipstick, or a new bottle of perfume. Well, at least for me there is. I know personally that you DO NOT have to spend hundreds of dollars to have a collection worthy of a makeup artist. I like some drugstore makeup, and I like some department store makeup, but I get both for Mary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624971620649348749.post-39660395017736021592009-04-29T13:42:00.002-04:002009-04-29T13:46:41.428-04:00Dying Clothes and Household LinensIn these times of economic uncertainty, it's time we rethink buying new clothing and linens every time something has become faded, stained, or in need of repair. This is why I dye my things to give them new life. A few weeks ago I was very tempted to go buy a new fall coat. My coat had become more than a little dinghy. It had taken a ride with a crayon in the dryer, and to top things off, I Mary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624971620649348749.post-86829981645110095792009-04-29T13:06:00.003-04:002009-04-29T13:40:44.022-04:00Pinch Every Penny!A few tips from a Penny Pinching Professional.As the economy goes into the crapper, everyone is looking for new ways to save some money. Fortunately for myself, I have been saving money everywhere I can for years. So it's nothing new for me. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good deal. Some of these tips you can only save a little bit of money, but every little bit adds up. By pinching Mary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624971620649348749.post-37801665528960206672009-04-29T12:54:00.004-04:002009-04-29T13:05:35.198-04:00Small Appliance Saves Big Bucks!I have recently fallen in LOVE with Crock Pot cooking. There are just so many reasons why using a slow cooker is great for me. The first thing that caught my attention, of course, is how economic it is. On a low setting a Crock Pot runs at about 75 Watts per hour. That costs me less than 7 cents an hour!!! "Holy Crap", I thought. So I brought my old crock-pot, (which I had cleverly obtainedMary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624971620649348749.post-77561645663838735562009-04-29T12:32:00.003-04:002009-04-29T12:51:46.171-04:00Cold Water Washing is HOT!Yes, the cold water setting on your washing machine is the way to go. But if you don't do it right your laundry will become stained and unsightly! Why is washing your laundry on the cold water setting such a great idea? For one thing, it's easier on the environment (washing your clothes in cold water will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 100LBS a year). It's also easier on your clothes, and Mary Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01784125253506281350noreply@blogger.com0