Money Is Not Everything

If you’re like me, you like to enjoy seasonal goodies during the summer. Homemade cobblers, fresh sorbets, crisp salads and grilled veggies all make our list of warm-weather faves. Tired of paying top dollar for fresh produce? Check your back yard for these freebies!

Rhubarb                                                                                                                          

Those who live rurally may be lucky enough to have access to several patches of rhubarb in their back yard or the yard of a family member who has more than he or she knows what to do with. And there’s no doubt about it. Summer is the season for rhubarb recipes. Whether you’re going for pie, cobbler or even rhubarb wine, you’ll be able to cook to your heart’s content with even a mid-sized patch of this back yard produce item. Urbanites will likely need to purchase theirs at the farmer’s market, but it can still be a great seasonal value.

Crab Apples

If you’re trying to buy organic food on a budget, you have to admit. It’s pretty hard to beat free in the price department. If you have access to a crab apple tree, then you have a way to make multiple quarts of apple sauce and jelly to use throughout the rest of the year as a fat substitute for baking, to enjoy with baked scones and more. You can even use it to flavor homemade liquors. Collecting them off the ground and tree is a project you can easily turn the older kids loose on when you need a way for them to burn off steam and still feel like they’re being required to help around the house.

Dandelions

These things literally grow like the weeds they are. The good news? Dandelions represent a great source of free food during the summer months. The greens represent one of the more easily-accessed cheap weight loss foods at your disposal certainly, but even the flowers can be used at meal time. Here’s one recipe that uses fresh dandelion flowers to make an alternative to breaded mushrooms. Other options with this plant include dandelion wine, sautéed greens and even a salad ingredient.

Berries

More on Frugal Eating

• Use These 4 Cheap Produce Items to Make the Most of Your Grocery Budget
• Saving Money at the Store: Spend Less on Produce

Berries are a flexible item that you can enjoy wild, or even plant for perennial access that saves you the stress of spring gardening. You can use them in summer cocktails, as an ingredient in homemade salad dressing, as an ingredient in homemade ice cream and even to add antioxidants to your morning breakfast smoothies. They’re also great to freeze and use in baked goods and bowls of hot oat meal throughout the year.

Produce doesn’t have to come from the grocery story or a high-maintenance garden. You may find more than you think growing in your own back yard!

We’re all looking for ways to save money in the current economy, but with personal grooming items costing what they do, it can sometimes be difficult to pinch pennies in this particular area. Here are some of my favorite cost-conscious strategies to look great for less.

Know When to Spend                                                          

While I’m all for dishing out for higher end cosmetic items when there’s no other option to get what you need, the truth is there are many instances where we can get by with themulti-purpose beauty products we already have in our bathroom or kitchen cabinet. Finding a workable facial moisturizer is always a challenge for me whenever I decide to try something new, and the final result is rarely priced the way I’d like. That being said, overall body lotion an moisturizing treatments can be purchased or prepared affordably with minimal effort or investment.

DIY Hair Color

We all want to have great hair for less, but when it comes to color and curl, things can get tricky. Highlighting and home perms may be a bit out of most women’s skill sets, but a semi-permanent boxed color like Clairol natural instincts can be achieved pretty easily and will wash out over a few weeks. Perfect for experimentation or if you accidentally choose the wrong shade of brunette.

Let Your Skin Shine

While facial sunscreen may still cost a pretty penny, there are many homemade skin care recipes that can be used on the rest of your body when it comes to exfoliation and moisturizing. From cracked heel treatments to deep conditioning for your lips, several solutions are available right in your kitchen pantry.

Manicure Maintenance

While you may not think affordable nail care options exist, the truth is there are several ways you can get your hands ready for center stage without breaking the bank. Beauty supply stores for example, sell professional files, nail oil and travel-sized clippers for less than traditional salons, making manicure maintenance achievable for professionals on a limited income. Your color selection can also impact your overall beauty budget. Collect every nail lacquer color in the rainbow for instance, and things are likely to get pricey. Keep things basic with a French pink and a dressy red on the other hand, and you only need to choose a good base and top coat combo to round out your repertoire.

Looking your best doesn’t have to run your family budget off the rails. A bit of restraint and planning, combined with minimal DIY efforts, can have you feel polished and pampered for pennies.