One of the best ways to stretch your budget is to buy things used.  You'll find some great bargains, and you'll be helping the planet by giving gently used items a new life. I've done a lot of shopping for secondhand goods over the years and I can tell you that there are some great buys and some things you should leave behind.  Here's my list of things to buy: … [Read more...]

I used to be a road warrior.  I traveled for my job, driving from small town to small town, eating fast food and staying in chain hotels. I always made sure to swipe all the usual hotel sundries - shampoo, soap, lotion.  I did it because I was a cheapskate and those little bottles and bars made it so I had less to buy.  I did it because it made me feel like I was really maximizing my dollars spent at the hotel. But over the past few years, I've come to realize that all those little tiny … [Read more...]

There may be a National Get Outdoors Day, but when you live in rural Northern Minnesota where the winters are long, it really should just be called every day in the summer. We try to get outside as much as we can during our short summer. It's a way for us to soak up some Vitamin D, get some physical activity, and connect with our natural world. One of the things I like most about spending time outdoors is that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money. You don't need to buy tickets or invest … [Read more...]