Here are 10 frugal tasks you can do this weekend. Yes, some of these projects really are on my family’s to-do list during the next couple of days!

Take care of your holiday décor so it lasts at least one more season. Toss out the [...]

You or the spouse is on layoff because of the auto company financial woes.
This is a lot different situation from the scheduled summer shutdowns when the family can plan ahead and maybe do some traveling. Yes, autoworkers normally do expect a week or two off at Christmas. But four to six weeks off at one [...]

Do you need to save money this Christmas, but still want to enjoy this time of year?

Here are 15 money saving tips for the holiday season:

Cook or bake holiday recipes that rely on ingredients you already have or can get inexpensively. Many of the holiday [...]

With the current economic situation, Home Instead Senior Care of Monroe has posted on its web site a list of “10 cost-cutting warning signs” that relatives and friends of senior citizens want to watch for.
The list appears on page 10 of the November edition of Thrive Magazine, which is published by Monroe Publishing Co. The [...]

Another idea for finding unique and lovely Christmas gifts on a budget is at a craft or vendor show.
Some of the biggest, most popular craft and vendor shows in the Monroe area will be taking place during the next few weeks.
The craft and vendor shows in Monroe County generally feature free admission and free parking, [...]

I think every little girl in Monroe goes to dance school at some point.
Whether she wants to to be the next Miss America (Monroe’s Miss America 1988 Kaye Lani Rae Rafko danced as her talent) or the next music video hiphop dance star, local girls, and the occasional local boy, do spend a lot of [...]

I have a story for page 1A today’s print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News about Angel Food Ministries. The headline “It helps stretch the budget.”
A snippet:
A national low-cost grocery program that has been available in Lambertville for almost two years now has a new pick-up site in Monroe.
Monroe Church of the Nazarene, 3401 [...]

When you buy a home, or select your next home, or choose your next rental, keep in mind that the benefits of a good location goes way beyond having a trendy zip code.
My husband and I chose to buy a home in the city of Monroe This was in 2004, before gas prices rose to [...]

Why rely a blogger or web site to tell you the best shopping deals for your family? You can do coupon-rebate-promotion sales matching work yourself with just an hour a week. Here’s how.
1. Collect all the coupons you can through a Sunday newspaper (or two or three … yes it is possible in most of [...]

About an hour ago, I saw THREE DTE Energy trucks drive down my street. Does that bring any hope that our power will be restored soon?
Here are 10 things I’ve discovered one can do during a power outage at home.

Clean out the refrigerator and wash it out (because one rarely sees the fridge this empty).
Catch [...]