I made my family’s favorite Japanese Milk Bread the other day and, well… I was NOT paying attention. First, I don’t think I warmed the milk enough. Second, I used the wrong yeast. I don’t know what to tell you — it was really cold and maybe my brain was frozen too. The result? A…
By Dagne | The Real FrugalistStretching the dollar like I stretch my yoga pants. Halloween doesn’t have to suck the life out of your budget. Between candy, costumes, and décor, the stores will gladly take your paycheck—but you don’t have to hand it over. With a little creativity (and a touch of glue-gun magic), you…
This morning on The Powerhouse Roundtable, Reince Priebus claimed that “our economy is doing really well.” I wish that were true. I wish I could say that families aren’t struggling, that jobs are plentiful, and that the future looks bright. But the facts tell a different story, one that too many households are living through…
It’s that time again—let’s take a look at how the dollars shook out this week. Spoiler: restraint was the name of the game (mostly). 1. Homemade Garlic Herb Focaccia Instead of running to the store for garlic bread (a risky expedition where one loaf turns into a cart full), I whipped up my own garlic…
By Dagne Goodwin | The Real Frugalist Frugality isn’t about deprivation. It’s about making choices that actually serve you—unlike that fancy meal delivery box that showed up late, melted, and cost more than your electric bill. I’ve spent a lifetime learning to stretch a dollar until it whimpers, and I’m here to pass along my…
Today we sauntered—yes, sauntered—our frugal little selves right up to East Wind Farm in Strafford, because my tomatoes are taking their sweet time, and I’ve got a squash casserole dream that just can’t wait until harvest season decides to show up in my yard. Let me tell you, their tomatoes? Gorgeous. Grown in a greenhouse,…
Baking your own bread isn’t just about the heavenly smell wafting through your kitchen—it’s a downright rebellion against overpriced loaves that expire faster than your last impulse buy. You get to skip the preservatives, weird ingredients you can’t pronounce, and that nagging feeling that you just paid six bucks for glorified flour and water. Plus,…
Let’s be honest. When you hear the word budget, your brain probably files it right next to “kale smoothie,” “dental floss,” and “watching paint dry.” But hear me out: budgeting isn’t the soul-sucking chore it’s made out to be. In fact, it’s the only thing standing between you and eating instant noodles out of a…
