Summer fun for not too much dough

Ivy says: Recently Meredith and I had an email exchange where she asked me what I had planned for the kids to do over the summer. I never answered her, because as anyone who has ever emailed back and forth with me knows, I’m spotty about answering email. It’s not y’all, it’s me. I put …

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Sunday Surprise: Round Up Edition

Heather says: In an odd turn of events, all those who should be asleep are.  I don’t know if this will become a regular feature or not, but here is a round up of posts I have found interesting, this week, in the frugal and personal finance communities. My Two Dollars – reminds everyone that …

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No Sew Hem Repair, A Temporary Fix

Dear Home Ec 101, The hem is pulling out of my neutral fall-back pants, the ones I wear nearly every day when I’m not inspired to pick out anything else. The stylishness and variety of my wardrobe aside, there is no way I’m actually fixing that sucker with a needle and thread right now – …

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Organization is Fundamental

Organize First Sew Later

Alternate title: In which Ivy loses very important directions and has to wing it, and it all could have been avoided by keeping all her stuff in one neat place instead of keeping her stuff flung all over the house. Ivy says: Darling Home Eccers, I do stupid things to help you learn from my …

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How to live on less: repurposing items

Ivy says: Today in the “How to live on less” series, let’s talk about repurposing items. This is a lesson learned from our Depression-era moms and grandmoms. The idea is to take items that have been used for one thing, and turn it into something else. This can be as simple as using a (washed …

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My window’s so bright, I’ve gotta buy shades…

Dear Home-Ec 101, I have a very large window that bears the brunt of the western sun in summer. Do you have any suggestions for easy, inexpensive window coverings that will block or reflect a lot of heat? Thanks! Trying to Keep My Cool In Montana   Ivy says: What, it gets hot in Montana? …

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