frugal

Cheap, Easy Ways to Store Holiday Decorations

Posted on 01/7/2013 by Jeff Yeager | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Entertainment | Money & SavingsThe late Andy Rooney once wrote: “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” I agree, and I’ve also always argued that you shouldn’t be too hasty when it comes to picking up after the year-end holidays in general. After all, how many times a year do you have a tree inside your house, hosiery decorating your fireplace mantel, and a whole …

Reuse Your Fruitcake: Make French Toast

Posted on 12/31/2012 by Jeff Yeager | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Food | Money & SavingsYou know how I love the challenge of “creative repurposing” — the art of finding alternative uses for things that many people just throw away. So in honor of the season’s most despised — and oft discarded — baked good, I recently set out to research creative reuses for fruitcake. See also: cheap holiday party ideas. Don’t get me wrong. I’d never, ever consider throwing away a fruitcake, as I’m one of those people who actually adore the stuff just the …

A Cheaper Alternative to Surf and Turf

Posted on 12/26/2012 by Jeff Yeager | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Food | Money & SavingsLooking for a festive-but-frugal dinner for New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day? Try this recipe for “surf and turf cheapskate-style.” I don’t claim it’s as good as real lobster tails and filet mignons. But at a fraction of the cost, it’s pretty darn tasty in its own right. See also: Holiday cocktail recipes I like to serve it with baked potatoes and steamed broccoli, or a nice Caesar salad. And if you skimp on the champagne by buying an inexpensive bottle, that’s …

Behind the Scenes on ‘The Cheap Life’ Set

Posted on 12/17/2012 by Jeff Yeager | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Food | Money & SavingsIt was only 2 p.m., but the day already seemed about a week and half long, and for good reason. See also: Subscribe to The Cheap Life By the second day of filming for my new web series, The Cheap Life, I’d already: Struggled to audibly deliver my lines about the virtues of peanut butter while simultaneously attempting to eat copious amounts of it off my index finger; Been dressed and redressed as an aging rock star, a ’70s era …

“Fall Into Savings” Challenge Wraps Up

Posted on 10/29/2012 by Jeff Yeager | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & SavingsThe special 2012 “Fall Into Savings” Challenge is now history, and it indeed made some history, with a record number of more than 5,600 individuals now registered in the Savings Challenge group. Who knew there were so many cheapskates out there? This month-long Challenge, which ended on Oct. 28, was all about finding simple, creative ways to save money. So simple, in fact, you might say you just “fall into” these money-saving methods (get it?). Yep, group members really got …

Save Money By Breaking Bad Spending Habits

Posted on 10/8/2012 by Jeff Yeager | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & SavingsIt’s true what they say: Bad habits are hard to break. But the good news is that breaking many bad habits will not only make you happier, and maybe healthier, but richer too. And that’s what the Week 2 “Break a Bad Spending Habit” Challenge is all about. We want to hear your success stories about how you’ve kicked some nasty habits and saved some cash because of it. Maybe it’s a habit you just fell into like getting coffee …