Keeping chickens for eggs: is it frugal?

I started keeping chickens (hens) about a year ago. I wanted the fresh eggs and I love being self-sufficient. I’ve been keeping detailed records about what I’ve spent and how many eggs my 4 chickens have provided me with. Things to consider: cost of a coop (hen house and run), cost of food (feed and…

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Jackpot List of Savings Links

The latest issues of the Commissary Connection had a great section of links to savings pages for some of the best-known brands in American. I’ve gone through and added them to a “Brand Name Discount Links” page so they’ll be easy to get to and use. Some of them require you to sign up, other’s…

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Discounts for Veterans

Eat Free at Applebee’s Military veterans and active-duty Service Members will be able to eat free at any Applebee’s across the U.S. on Veteran’s Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. There will be six entrées available from the menu. Guests will be asked to show one or more of the following as proof of service: a U.S.…

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How to save money on college textbooks

The Pain. The Agony. The Price. Plan Ahead to Save Money on Textbooks. Textbooks are a necessary “evil” when it comes to your college expenses. While essential, there are many ways to reduce the burden to your budget. The fall semester is almost here, but a little work now can reap big savings. The biggest…

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Have you ever wondered what the dates on your food mean?

“Sell by July 31” or “Use by October 19, 2010”? I’ve seen articles on this before, and appreciated the info, so I’m going to pass some of this along… Dating on non-perishable food According to the USDA, most of the dates on food sold at stores in the USA are not related to safety. They…

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25 Tips for Saving Money at the Grocery Store

Make a list. My preference is to make a list, shopping for 1 or 2 weeks worth of meals at a time. I order the list loosely by the departments in the store (produce, meat, dairy, baking, etc.). Unless I happen upon an incredible deal on an item we need, I do not buy anything…

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10 tips for a frugal thanksgiving dinner

Make turkey broth with your leftover turkey carcass Save the celery tops and celery leaves from your stuffing to use in your turkey broth Save the skins you peeled from your onions to use in your turkey broth (they add the color) Take all other vegetable scraps and add to your compost bin (or start…

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Making cheap turkeys tastier

Later today I hope to pick up a couple of the 40¢ per pound turkeys at Walmart. I like to get nice big ones, because I’m planning for leftovers. (I buy 2, freeze the second one, and we enjoy another nice turkey dinner in early spring.) One of the things I’ve learned about cooking a…

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