Updating Kitchen Cabinets

We refaced our kitchen cabinets last year. We bought cabinet grade wood
at a lumber store, cut it to the sizes we needed for the cabinet doors
and stained it. It looked like a totally new kitchen! It cost a
fraction of the price of getting new cabinets since we were able to do the
work ourselves. Unless your kitchen has odd shaped doors, you should be
able to do this also. You can even get a router to make the pretty
designs in the doors if you want. We tried but decided we did not want to
invest that much time.
Vicki

Insider’s Report on Dry Cleaning

My mom has worked for a dry cleaner for over 22 years. And even though
she can have most things dry cleaned for free, she rarely does it. She
has repeatedly said that it generally is not the cleaning that causes
problems. It is the drying! For the most part, she washes her “dry clean
only” garment(s) in cool water on gentle cycle and then line dries.
LLP

Emergency Fund Earnings

For years, I kept my emergency fund in my savings account (with about a
1% interest rate), thinking that would be the most liquid way to
access it without any penalty. I finally asked my credit union about their
money market account. It turned out the interest was 5% and there was no
penalty for withdrawing the money at any time! It always pays to ask.
Mary

Freecycle Before and After

I know a lot of people that love using Freecycle. Recently, I read an
article in the paper about a woman who freecycled away all of her
furniture before moving and then got “new” things from Freecycle when she
arrived in her new town. By doing that, she saved moving costs. It sounded
like a clever idea.
Debbie

Toast Twice

My kids and I love French toast, but making it can be time consuming
and the frozen versions are too expensive. To save money and time when I
am making French toast on the weekend, I make two batches and freeze
the second batch in pairs of two. Now, to satisfy a midweek French toast
craving, all I have to do is pop a few in the toaster or in the oven.
Carleen M.

Furnishing Your First Home

When setting up housekeeping for the first time, the cost of furniture
can be daunting. The solution is to purchase furniture (and other
household items as you discover the need) at yard sales and thrift stores.

I furnished my entire modest three-bedroom house for only $200 by
shopping these venues. The thrill of the hunt for pleasing items is part of
the fun. A bonus was to learn my way around the new town to which I had
moved. Shopping at yard sales and thrift stores becomes an ongoing
pleasure and savings opportunity. I now use the opportunity to upgrade my
furnishings and possessions when I see a good deal. However, if you
don’t have the available cash on hand, even a good deal isn’t good enough.

Annie H. in Redgranite WI

Why Not Do-It-Yourself?

It never occurred to me that changing door locks was a do-it-yourself
project until a friend mentioned it when I asked for a locksmith
recommendation. We went to the hardware store, picked out a couple of new
locks for less than $30, and changed the locks in half an hour. I think we
saved about $100!
Cathy in Los Angeles

Free Weights

Instead of purchasing weights for exercising, fill two identical dish
detergent bottles with sand or water.
Patricia G.
Gary Foreman
The Dollar Stretcher