The Lemon Bar Recipe You’ll Bake Again and Again
I’ve learned there are two kinds of recipes: the ones you try once and forget, and the ones you end
Tips
This section contains many, many Great Reader Tips that Mary has amassed over the years. Â From an ingenious tip for removing that cloudy film on your headlights to a simple tool to keep your garbage disposal clean to a no-scrub method for a sparkling clean coffee carafe, they’re all here in one convenient location.
Read on for hundreds of helpful tips, tricks and smart ideas submitted by people just like you!
The Everyday Containers You’re Throwing Away Too Soon
Before you buy pricey storage bins, check your fridge and pantry. Everyday food containers—like yogurt cups, coffee cans, and pickle
Best Foods to Freeze for Quick Meals and Easy Savings
Freezers aren’t just for meat and ice cream! From milk to mashed potatoes, learn the best foods to freeze—plus tips
Cheap Sunscreen, Priceless Skin: What Works and What Doesn’t
Not all sunscreens are created equal—but you don’t have to spend a fortune to protect your skin. Here’s what works,
The Great Ice Cube Tray Hack Roundup (Hint: Not Just for Ice)
Think your old ice cube trays are useless? Think again. These 10 practical ice cube tray hacks will save you
Cheap Ways to Feed Teenagers Who Eat Like NFL Linemen
If your teen eats like an NFL lineman and your grocery bill’s showing it, take heart. These smart, compassionate tips
Grill on a Budget: Backyard BBQs Without the Burn to Your Wallet
Hosting a backyard BBQ shouldn't cost more than dinner at a steakhouse. With a few clever strategies—like grilling your sides,
No AC? No Problem: Smart, Frugal Ways to Stay Cool at Home
When summer heat rolls in, staying cool without air conditioning can feel impossible. But with a few smart strategies and
How to Pick the Perfect Peach for Grilling, Baking & Eating
Peaches are one of summer’s greatest rewards—but picking a perfect one can feel like a gamble. Is it ripe? Will
How to Break the Plastic Wrap Habit in Your Kitchen (and What to Use Instead)
Tired of wrestling with plastic wrap that sticks to everything except what you want it to? You're not alone. In
Honey Garlic Salmon: A Quick & Flavorful Dinner in 10 Minutes
If you need a quick, easy, and downright delicious dinner, this honey garlic salmon recipe is about to be your
How to Make Cheese Fondue at Home (Without the Hefty Price Tag!)
There’s something undeniably fun about dipping, swirling, and indulging in a pot of gooey, melted cheese. It’s interactive, a little
Grease Down Kitchen Drain: Should You Really Do It? Plus Answers to Your Burning Questions
Welcome to another round of Ask Me Anything—where your everyday dilemmas, curiosities, and (sometimes) marital disputes land in my inbox.
Reader-Approved Tips for Vacation Plant Care, Preventing Wood Splitting, and More!
Welcome to another roundup of fantastic tips from our resourceful readers. This week, we’re tackling everything from keeping your plants
DIY Mop Pad Replacement, Cheap Tub Scum Removal, and Other Reader-Approved Tips
Welcome to another edition of great tips from our clever readers! This week, we’re diving into a treasure trove of
How to Shop Amazon Prime Day and Beat Rising Costs
Prime Day 2025 is just around the corner—four full days of deals, July 8 to 11. That’s 96 hours of
How to Store Tomatoes Perfectly Fresh for 10-Days or Longer
I have tested so many ways to keep tomatoes fresh long enough to use them—on the counter, upside down, attached
It’s Called ‘Hypermiling’ (Would You Go This Far to Save Gas?)
Hypermiling is a method of increasing your car’s gas mileage by making intentional changes in the way you drive. Sure,
No More Flabby Celery and More Great Reader Tips
If you suffer the heartbreak of flabby celery, asparagus, and fresh herbs despite your best efforts to keep them fresh
Keep Your Iced Coffee Strong All Summer Long with This Simple Hack
If you dislike the way conventional ice cubes dilute your ice coffee, we have a solution—coffee ice cubes. These ice
8 Genius Ways to Keep Your Brown Sugar Soft and Ready to Use
Is there anything more frustrating than reaching for brown sugar, only to find it has hardened into a brick? Whether
Quick Kitchen Conversions You’ll Actually Use
One standard stick of butter in the U.S. contains 8 tablespoons, measures 1/2 cup and weighs 1/4 pound.
28 Genius Aluminum Foil Hacks to Save Time and Money
Using aluminum foil to line cookie sheets and to keep a steak hot while you finish getting everything ready to
No More Sleeping Through the Alarm and More Tips and Great Ideas!
Surprise! Today, instead of sharing tips you’ve sent to me, I’ve decided to hog the entire column to share some
Air Fryer vs. Convection Oven: What’s the Hype and Which One Do You Really Need?
Air fryers have been making waves in kitchens since 2017, skyrocketing in popularity during the pandemic. They promise crispy, golden-brown
How to Store Bread the Right Way: Keep It Fresher, Longer!
Whether store-bought or homemade, is it asking too much for bread to remain fresh long enough to use it up
19 Hacks to Keep Cool When It’s Super Hot Outdoors
Whatever hot weather adventures you have planned—the beach, pool, campground, or even your own backyard—these cool summer tips, tricks, hacks,
31 More Kitchen Hacks You’ll Wish You’d Known Sooner
Here is a wonderfully creative collection of tips that spotlight my readers' resourcefulness and intelligence in the kitchen and pantry.
40 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda Readers Swear By
You'll find it in small boxes in the supermarket aisle next to flour, sugar, and cake mixes. It comes in
Cheap Source for Quality LED Lightbulbs and More Great Reader Tips
Think you can't get a better deal on quality LED lightbulbs? Well, think again! Look at this most unlikely resource
Secrets for How to Clean Leather, Cast Iron, and Lots More
It's safe to say we're all aware that Italy is where one would find the best leather. I'd just never
More Creative Ways My Clever Readers Save Time and Money
Sometimes I wonder how Everyday Cheapskate readers discover their handy ideas. I mean, who would have thought something that cleans
The Absolute Best Way to Clean Your Microwave Oven
Face it, a microwave with frequent use, whether at home or at work, isn't going to get a thorough cleaning
29 Smart and Surprising Uses for White Vinegar at Home
It's cheap. It's available in every supermarket and home center in the universe and so useful around your home, you
21 Brilliant Kitchen Hacks You’ll Wish You’d Known Sooner
Whether you are naturally gifted in the kitchen or had the pleasure of growing up with some talented cooks who
10 Stress-Free Flying Tips for a Smooth Travel Experience
It goes without saying that when traveling by air, you need to get to the airport early. But this summer
Readers’ Tips Often Come with More than Just Great Ideas
The only thing I love more than great tips from my readers are the words of love and thanks. Yeah,
How to Remove Cloudy Film from Headlights Covers Plus More Great Reader Tips
Well, you’ve done it again! You clever readers have come up with another batch of fabulous ways that all of
How to Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel Sinks and Appliances
As sleek and sturdy as it is, stainless steel is not immune to picking up unsightly scratches in the course
Keep Kitties Out of the Kids’ Sandbox
Pop Quiz: What looks like water, is certainly inexpensive, has a pungent odor but is not toxic (in fact you
How to Save Money and Build Financial Confidence
For a good deal of my life, I lived under a dark cloud of fear that I would end up
Ask Me Anything: Concrete Stains, Yellowed Whites, Power Toothbrush
Every day when I open my inbox, I find dozens, if not hundreds, of questions from the audience. Want to
Money-Saving Tips, Tricks, and Hacks to Put Your Freezer To Work
Whether yours is a stand-alone unit or part of your refrigerator, your freezer costs a lot in wasted energy or
Simple Tool Keeps Garbage Disposal Clean Plus more Great Reader Tips
Some days I just have to smack myself in the forehead. Why didn’t I think of that?! Doesn’t it make sense
16 Facts and Uses for the One-Cent Piece That are Worth Every Penny
For some people, pennies are so annoying, they don’t even bother picking up strays that end up on sidewalks and
Take the Sag Out of a Closet Rod and Lots More Clever Tips and Tricks!
A sagging closet rod is so annoying but minor compared to clogging up your entire apartment building's plumbing system. Both
The No-Scrub Method for Sparkling Clean Coffee Carafes and More Great Reader Tips
There exist all kinds of methods for cleaning glass coffee carafes—most of them brought to us by hard working, super
Best Inexpensive Small Kitchen Appliances That Save You Money
Recently, I heard from EC reader Douglas who wrote, "Would you please repeat your column that describes the best inexpensive
17 Genius Laundry Hacks and Tips for Cheaper, Better, and Faster Laundry Days
I love to do laundry. I’m crazy that way. Here are some of my favorite laundry tips that just might
These Puppies Detect Water Leaks (and More Great Reader Tips!)
My readers do come up with the greatest tips, tricks, and ideas for how to save time and money every
25 Really Fun Tricks and Tips Every Traveler Needs to Know
Over the years I’ve collected a bunch of really great travel tips—some fun, some crazy, but all of them very
15 Ways to Cut the Cost of Owning a Pet
So how can you afford to care for your pet—in sickness and in health? Make prevention maintenance your top priority
Top Ten Signs a Website is Not Legit—It’s a Scam!
Every day millions of people get sucked into Internet scams and tricks that end up costing them dearly, something I
Rehab is for the Birds and More Great Reader Tips
If you’re planning a home rehab—or in the throes of that right now—just imagine how wonderful it would be if
The Scoop on Free Ice Cream: Top Deals and Birthday Offers You Don’t Want to Miss
Who doesn’t love a cool, creamy scoop of ice cream, especially when it’s free? Whether it’s your birthday or just