Our 82 Very Best Go Frugal Posts

It took us a few years, but we've now written hundreds of blogs about saving money. In fact, it sometimes feels like we've written it all, until another topic comes to mind and we're off on a writing streak.

All this research and talking with experts has created a generous reservoir of frugal tips for all our readers. While you may have read some of them before, we thought at least 82 were worth a second look. Let us know if we selected your favorite or if there's another you think is worth noting. And thanks for reading!

BABY STUFF

1. Baby Proofing
If you're expecting a new baby but are short on cash, setting up your home for the new addition may be hard to fit into your budget. Learn about "Baby Proofing Your Home the DIY Way."

2. Baby Registries
New parents sometimes feel they need to stock up on a giant pile of paraphernalia before the blessed day. It's hard to know what you really need, much less where you should register. We share a few tips in "Baby Registry 101."

3. Budgeting For Baby No. 2
On the other hand, planning for your second child may be less stressful and less costly, but there are still unavoidable expenses involved. We examine "8 Things to Consider When Budgeting for a New Baby."

4. Baby Showers
While we were on the topic of baby registries, we took a look at the cost of baby showers. Read all about it in "How to Host a Memorable Baby Shower for Less." 

5. Birthing Basics
Babies require a lot of supplies but, even if everything goes well, the hospital bill can be killer. We looked at ways to reduce the cost of delivery in "Bargain Birthing Basics."

BACK TO SCHOOL

6. Book Bargains
Teachers whip out new reading lists each fall; lists that set parents back a pretty penny. When budgeting for books, you also have to consider children who are voracious readers. Abe Books and Barnes and Noble are obvious places to shop, but we'd like to help parents out further by sharing "Where to Find the Best Bargains on Books."

7. Personal Touches
Paper -- check. Pencils -- check. Trapper Keeper -- check. You've done your back-to-school shopping and your child's backpack is overflowing. Now it's time to look at adding a few inexpensive personal touches with "8 Frugal Back-to-School Ideas."

HOLIDAYS

8. Traveling With Kids
Whether you're going by car, train or airplane, travel with kids can be either a torture or a treat. Our resident mom offers parents "11 Secrets to Successful Travel With Kids." 

9. Pop Pampering on Father's Day
Lose the tie and give dad something that will really bring a tear to his eye: A bit of man pampering. We offer nine inexpensive ways to give dad a great day in "Father's Day: Sayonara Ties, Hello Man Pampering."

10. Resort Gotchas
When the snow begins to fly, North American dreams turn to beaches with lots of sand and sun. Package deals sound perfect, but some don't include a lot of expected "extras" in the basic costs. We recommend you "Watch for These 8 Resort Gotchas."

11. DIY Holiday Decorations and Cards
Some people never display the slightest bit of stress during the holidays. Don't you just hate them? Or maybe you'd like to join their ranks? If you shop early and plan ahead, there may still be room for some personal extras. If so, check out our "Last-Minute Guide to Making Christmas Decorations and Cards."

12. Homemade Boyfriend Gifts
Remember when a "mixtape" was considered a great gift for a boyfriend? With the advent of iTunes, the avenue for this frugal gift is firmly closed. Still, there are lots of other inexpensive gifts you can create for the man in your life. We share "22 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Boyfriend."

WEDDING IDEAS

13. Repurposing Wedding Gowns
Unless you're a red-carpet celebrity, a wedding dress may be the most expensive garment you'll ever own. Rather than let it turn yellow under your bed, stored in a beribboned white box, consider "31 Ways to Repurpose Your Wedding Gown."

14. Reducing Wedding Expenses
The wedding industrial complex wants you to spend a fortune on your big day by forking over a fortune for wedding supplies. But is that really necessary? We urge you to cut the cake, among other things, with "15 Ways to Reduce Wedding Expenses."

15. One Wedding = $5,000
Our in-house bride let her wedding budget go wild, until she incurred $200 in overdraft fees. That's when she and her fiance sat down for a bit of budgeting. Our blushing bride shared her advice in "How to Plan a Wedding With $5,000." 

16. DIY Save-the-Date Idea
A reader was so excited about her idea for creating a save-the-date card she just had to share it with our readers. Check out her adorable "Save-the-Date Idea That Saves You Money."

17. Saving On Everything
Go Frugal blogger Cara Davis wrote the book on wedding frugality -- literally. The author of "Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot" shared her favorite tips in "63 Ways Real Brides and Grooms Save Money." 

18. Working With Vendors
One of the hardest parts of planning your wedding is figuring out which vendors you should hire and then actually dealing with them on a near-daily basis. That's why we offered brides to be our "7 Tips for Working With Wedding Vendors."

COUPONS

19. I Love Coupon Month
We bet you never heard of National Coupon Month. It's a real "holiday "in September and has been going on for 13 years! We thought it a perfect time to "Celebrate Coupon Month With 30 Days of Clipping Tips."

20. The History of Coupons
Did you know coupons were invented way back in 1894? Isn't that about the time shopping was invented? :-) Actually, the background behind coupons is quite interesting, so we shared it in "The History of Coupons."

21. Social Media Coupons
Facebook, Twitter and even LinkedIn are possible resources for everything from coupons to free stuff. We explained how you can access these deals in "7 Tips to Save Using Social Media."

DIY

22. Drying Flowers
While it may seem drying flowers is a simple thing, there actually are several tricks to the process that will ensure the beauty hangs on long after the bouquet has died. For Valentine's Day, we provided a step-by-step guide in "Learn How to Dry Flowers."

23. Haunting a House
What with Halloween treats, costumes and decorations, this October 31 holiday is getting more and more expensive. It's also a lot of fun, so we wanted to share our "15 Steps to Make a Homemade Haunted House."

24. Homemade Coffee Roaster
Did you know we had an engineer on call? You will after reading his step-by-step guide on how to "Craft Gourmet Coffee Beans With a Homemade Roaster." BTW: Our source suggested you might try Coffees of Hawaii if you're not up for roasting your own beans. They're one of his favorites.

25. Repurposing Coffee Cans
Coffee cans are so sturdy it's hard to throw them out. There must be some other uses for them besides storing a caffeinated product. Of course there is, and we explained it all in "13 Ways to Repurpose Empty Coffee Cans."

26. Freezing Garden Crops
You've done the hard work of growing vegetables and herbs, now it's time to save a bit of that bounty for winter. Canning is a pain and drying requires too much time and space, so why not consider "5 Steps to Easy Freezing." 

27. Winter Weatherizing
We've talked about harvesting your crops, so that must mean it's time to look at sealing up your home against winter weather. DIYers will love our "5 Ways to Weatherize Your House and Save Big."

DRESS FOR LESS

28. Shoe Buying
Shopping online for shoes has become much easier with the invention of "free shipping both ways." Merchants like Zappos will pay for shipping to you as well as if you want to return their shoes. But that's just one way to economize. We share several other tips in "Put Your Best Foot Forward to Save On Shoes." 

29. Smart Online Shopping
There are so many reasons to shop online these days. It's easier to compare prices, you save gas and free shipping deals abound. We checked it out and found another "5 Tips for the Savvy Online Shopper."

30. Clothes Dying
Dying fabrics may be part of your sewing repertoire, but who needs all those nasty chemicals? To help you out, we looked up "How to Dye Clothes the Natural Way."

EDUCATION

31. Graduation Gifts
If you can't give a college graduate a job, the next best thing may be to give them the tools to find employment. We recommend "10 Frugal Gifts for College Graduates."

32. Rental Shopping
College students change homes faster than they can drop a class, but moving into a new place may not be the wisest choice if you don't do your homework. We took the liberty of offering some advice in "Pick the Perfect College Pad With Our Handy Checklist."

33. For-Profit Colleges
Tuition at traditional institutions has become unaffordable for a large number of high school graduates. As a result, more people are turning to for-profit colleges offering a certification or two-year degree. Is this always a wise choice, however? Take a look at "8 Red Flags to Selecting a For-Profit College." 

34. Financial Aid
Few can afford to attend college without taking out loans and applying for grants; but figuring out the ins and outs of this process is exhausting. Learn "4 Vital Facts About College Financial Aid." 

35. Selling Textbooks
Times have changed and reselling textbooks on campus is no longer a student's only option. Since these scholarly works cost so much, you should get a better return on your investment. Check out the advice offered in "How to Cash In When You Sell Used Textbooks."  You'll find even Amazon buys used books.

ENTERTAINMENT

36. Frugal Dating for Men
Being a frugal guy doesn't mean dating is out of the question. Thanks to the recession, more women appreciate a man who watches his pennies. You might even get a second date if you read "27 Dating Tips for Frugal Men." 

37. Manipulative Restaurant Menus
You may think you have a choice, but that fancy menu has already pre-selected what you're going to eat. Learn the tricks of the trade in "7 Ways Restaurant Menus Manipulate Diners." 

38. Frugal Party Themes
Christmas isn't the only time for parties, but it sure creates a popular opportunity for entertaining. It's also the worst time to spend money, so we looked at "10 Affordable Holiday Party Themes." 

39. Inexpensive Cookouts
Let's hop from Christmas to the 4th of July, another popular time for home entertainment opportunities. Check out our "7 Tips for an Inexpensive 4th of July Cookout."

FINANCES

40. Reducing Debt
We write a LOT about finances, but our most popular post on the topic has to be "Get Out of Debt $10 at a Time." 

41. Keeping Cool
Tempers may rise when people talk about global warming, but it sure seems temperatures are rising even more each summer. We looked at what you shouldn't do to stay cool with "7 Things That Will Keep Your House Hot in the Summer."

42. Spending Tax Refunds
You file your taxes and wait for it, wait for it, wait for it...it's here! That refund check may feel like a windfall, but it's just the government giving back your own money. Consider the IRS a no-interest bank and spend the money wisely. Check out "10 Ways to Avoid Wasting Your Tax Refund." 

43. Save Like a Billionaire
Envying the rich does little to help your own finances, but examining their advice is a great way to learn how you can become wealthier. We looked at the "Top 7 Secrets of Four Billionaires Who Live Below Their Means." 

44. Financial Counselors
Uncle George is not the best person to advise you on dealing with debt, unless he's a registered financial counselor. Even then, you're better off seeking out a solid back-up. Learn "How to Choose the Right Financial Counselor." 

45. Teenage Financial Literacy
Before your teen heads off to college, joins the real world or takes out their first credit card, they should have a good grasp of their personal finances. Guide them to our post, "A Teenager's Guide to Financial Literacy."

FREE SHIPPING

46. How Free Shipping Works
Offering free shipping in some form has nearly become a necessity for online merchants who want to survive. But did you know free shipping isn't always totally free? We examine the "7 Types of Free Shipping." 

47. Sierra Trading Post Riddle
The outdoor gear and clothing retailer came up with a clever trick; a riddle is hidden in every catalog. Find it, answer it correctly, and you'll receive free shipping on your order. Read all about it in "Sierra Trading Post Riddle for Free Shipping." 

48. Textbook Buy Backs
We write a lot about textbooks because they're so expensive. Rather than sink your cash into a paper doorstop, we suggest you look into the "Top 10 Textbook Buy-back Websites with Free Shipping." 

49. Walmart Ship-to-Stores
Rather than pay for shipping to your door, some merchants are offering "ship-to-store" deals, including Walmart. You make a purchase online and, after it's processed, just pick it up at your local Walmart store. Read more about it at "Walmart Joins Free Ship-to-Stores Trend."

CAR TIPS

50. Full-Coverage Auto Insurance
Schools ought to teach students about car insurance before they're allowed to get their driving licenses. It's a complicated subject, so we cleared away a bit of the mud in "Do You Still Need Full-Coverage Auto Insurance." 

51. Selling Your Car
Whether your car is your best friend or worst enemy, there comes a day when it's time to sell the old massive piece of metal. It's a stressful process, however, so we'd like to make it easier with "How to Get the Most Money for Your Used Car." 

52. Buying Cars Online
You can purchase anything online these days, including cars and automotive supplies. But we caution you to beware before you buy in "10 Tips to Avoid Internet Car Sales Rip-offs." 

53. Saving on Gas
Our frugal blogger tried an experiment and reduced her vehicular speed for one month, then sped it up for another. The result: She saved $35 in the first month. Kate shared the experience in "Real Life Lesson: Slowing Down Really Does Save Gas."

GOING GREEN

54. Conserving Water Outdoors
You hear lots of tips about watering in the evening, not planting Kentucky Bluegrass, etc., so we added a few more unusual tips to help you save. Read "20 Ways to Conserve Water Outdoors."

55. Cheapest Vegetables to Grow
Before you buy your plant starts -- whether from your local co-op or a big-chain home and garden center -- consider which plants will provide the biggest financial return on your investment. We examined the topic in "The 10 Cheapest Veggies to Grow." 

56. Recycling Electronics
Before you take that old computer to the dump, keep in mind there are an increasing number of ways to reuse, reduce, recycle and repurpose electronics. The most common method of disposal, naturally, is recycling, so we researched "8 Fresh Ways to Recycle Electronics." You might particularly want to check out the latest offer from Best Buy.

57. Unplugging Computers
When perpetually turned on, computers are one of your biggest energy vampires. Turning them off is, naturally, one of the best ways to go green, but we examine 11 other ways you can "Unplug Your Computer Energy Costs."

58. Efficient A/C
Heat waves spawn energy brown outs, thanks to overworked air conditioners. Other than turning the blessed thing off, we suggest "6 Steps to an Efficient Portable Air Conditioner."

HEALTHY LIVING

59. Food Foraging
There's free food in the great outdoors, but knowing what to forage and what to leave is a real art. Learn how to find healthy foods with "Free Ingredients: A Guide to Food Foraging."

60. Frugal Flu Treatments
Don't be fooled into useless flu remedies or preventatives. Downing a massive shot of vitamins and minerals isn't going to fight back the fever. Instead, we suggest you consider "10 Frugal Flu Remedies." 

61. Winter Fitness Tips
It's so much easier to exercise outdoors when the weather is warm, which is why many fitness addicts turn to health clubs in winter. Membership is expensive, however, so we looked into "10 Frugal Fitness Tips for Winter."

62. Massage Envy
A good massage is worth its weight in gold but you're not going to enjoy the experience if you don't relax and go with the flow. We detailed several other tricks to full-out bliss in "10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Massage." 

63. Controlling Stress
Research has unquestionably proven stress is expensive and a real killer, but eliminating it from our American way of life is nearly impossible. Even hermits living in caves must experience some form of stress. In an effort to help keep you calm, we wrote "25 Chill Pills to Control Costly Stress."

KIDS ACTIVITIES

64. Outdoor Entertainments
If your child plans on playing video games all summer long, it's time to get him up and out of the house. Our resident mommy blogger compiled "20 Ways to Frugally Entertain Your Kids Outdoors." 

65. Cut the Cost of Sports
Whether your kid loves soccer, basketball or even cricket, there are costs involved in outfitting her for participation in group activities. Everything from team fees to sporting goods put a strain on your budget. Fortunately, we came up with "11 Ways to Cut the Costs of Kid's Sports." 

66. Birthday Parties
Birthday celebrations for kids have gotten out of hand. From clowns to bouncy castles, many parents are shelling out more than they should for one day's entertainment. That's why we wrote "Eco-Fab and Frugal Kids Birthday Parties."

MONEY MAKERS

67. Spring Cleaning Profits
There's cash in them there hills of junk! You need to know, however, which junk should be tossed and which you can sell for cash. Take our advice and read "Spring Cleaning Tips to Stash, Cash or Trash."

68. Pricing Garage Sale Items
Garage sales spring up on every corner in the summer, but not all make money. Often, the reason is that the items are ticketed too high (and sometimes too low). Sellers need to know these "17 Tips for Great Garage Sale Pricing." 

69. Starting a Home Business
At a certain skill level, age or part of the country, finding a job is nearly impossible. Sometimes, the best alternative is to create your own work. Read all about it in "Start It Up: 12 Semi-Easy Home-Based Businesses." 

70. Teen Jobs
Hauling, yardwork, building birdhouses...there are lots of ways for teens to make money...or so we found. Read our list of "45 Odd Jobs for Teens and Tweens." 

71. Tax Time Jobs
Having trouble finding work? Tax time offers quite a few opportunities for temporary or part-time work. We found some that required a variety of skill levels. Read "By the Numbers: 16 Temporary Tax Season Jobs."

MONEY SAVING TIPS

72. Using Coffee Filters
Coffee filters are going out of fashion as built-in filters and single-cup servings become more prevalent. Fortunately for filter makers, we found "25 Alternate Uses for Coffee Filters." 

73. Money Saving Myths
Since the beginning of the recession, tipsters have been telling us lies. Well, not necessarily lies but money savings myths have spread across the Internet like a Paris Hilton sex tape. We examine a few of them in "Busted: 38 Money Making Myths."

74. Making Products Last
When we make a list we like to go big -- really big -- as evidenced by our blog post "63 Tricks to Extend the Life of Consumer Products." 

75. Buying Foreclosures
Foreclosure rates have slightly slowed down, but there are still plenty of empty houses on the market. Before you buy into a nightmare, however, we suggest you read "10 Need-to-Know Tips When Buying a Foreclosure."

SHOPPING TIPS

76. Layaway Plans
Put down that credit card and back away slowly. There's no need to pay fees and high interest rates now that such major merchants as Sears and Kmart. have resurrected layaway plans. We tell you all about it in "Layaway Programs: The New Plastic."

77. The Best Time To Buy
Have you ever wondered when it's the best time to buy a lawn mower, furniture or even gift cards? We reveal all in our "Best Time To Buy Guide," covering more than 100 products.

78. Rent or Buy?
Is "stuff" taking over your life? Are your closets crammed and your garage maxed out? It may be time to consider whether you can get away with renting a product, rather than buying it. We answer all your questions in "Should I Rent or Buy?" 

79. Buy New or Used
So maybe renting isn't for you, despite our instructions in the last listing. Now it's time to consider whether you should go greener and cheaper with second-hand products. We help you decide in our post "Should You Buy New or Used? 40 Recommendations."

TRAVEL

80. Making Disneyland Work for You
We asked a mommy blogger to share her experience during a whirlwind trip of Disneyland. Maisie certainly learned a lot in just two days. Happily for us, she passed these lessons on to readers in "How to Avoid Going Goofy at Disneyland." 

81. Best Time To Go
Travel is broadening, and so is writing about it. We researched our heads off and compiled "The Best Time To Go Guide for 70 Destinations."

82. European Travel
Who doesn't want to go to Europe? Heck, we want to go to Europe! Sadly, plane fare is so expensive there's little left for the rest of your vacation, unless you follow the tips we offer in "All Aboard! 10 Tips for Frugal European Travel."

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