Northern Cheapskate

Frugal. By Nature.

Delicious Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

Delicious Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

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There was a period of time where the only thing my son would eat for breakfast were cereal bars. And I hated it.  I hated it because they were expensive.  I hated it because there was all kinds of packaging to dispose of.  I hated it because I wasn't all that thrilled with the ingredient list.  He loved them because they were sweet, but I knew I had to get something in his body that kept him full until lunch time. I persuaded him to eat homemade breakfast burritos (just eggs, bacon and … [Read more...]

How To Learn Stuff For Free Or Cheap

How To Learn Stuff For Free Or Cheap

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There's only one thing you need to do to get ahead in this life. Never stop learning. Now that doesn't mean you have to shell out big bucks to become an educated, thoughtful individual.  Every person you meet, every place you visit, every thing you do, has the potential to teach you something. Find the opportunities in your community.  Open your mind and not your wallet when you discover how to learn stuff for free or cheap. … [Read more...]

Bringing New Life To Old Things

Bringing New Life To Old Things

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One of my boys has an affinity for hats.  He always has a hat on his head - sometimes even when he sleeps! His favorite hat is a black driving cap he bought with his own money.  He wears this hat everywhere.  And it was starting to show some wear. The hat had gotten dirty (he is a boy, after all) and despite a label that said "Spot Clean Only," I had washed it a few times.  So now it had a few spots and it was really faded.  In fact, it almost looked brown. He wanted a new hat.  But … [Read more...]

5 Fun Ways to Play with Sidewalk Chalk

5 Fun Ways to Play with Sidewalk Chalk

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Sidewalk chalk is a thrifty way to have fun outdoors. You can make your own chalk or make chalk paint. Kids think it is a lot of fun to make things like chalk that they could buy in a store. But if you're not going to make your own, I personally  like the Crayola 48-Count Sidewalk Chalk. It includes a variety of colors so that you are able to have several shades from the same color family.  You can really get creative with a big color palette. Sidewalk chalk can be both fun and educational … [Read more...]

22 Nifty Ways to Reuse Stuff You Probably Already Own

22 Nifty Ways to Reuse Stuff You Probably Already Own

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The following is a guest post by Patrick Garmoe from Tiperosity. It’s kind of a shame don’t you think, of all the stuff in your home that gets tossed, purely due to lack of finding a good home once that item’s initial purpose is complete? I’m part of a team compiling tips on what to do with all that old stuff. When I was writing a list of great people and blogs that help people eek more our of their money and stuff to share our tips with, I naturally thought of Christina and her Northern … [Read more...]

5 DIY Natural Health & Beauty Products Using Essential Oils

5 DIY Natural Health & Beauty Products Using Essential Oils

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Essential oils are very popular right now.  They can also be expensive, but if you can find find multiple ways to use them, they are actually a great value. These five DIY natural health and beauty products using essential oils will help you ditch the store bought products with harsh chemicals in favor of these greener alternatives.  … [Read more...]