It’s fun to watch ‘Extreme Couponing’ on The Learning Channel, but how many of us have the time, space or desire to create stockpiles of discounted groceries and thousands of coupons.

Maybe you would like to have some extra cash to do something fun. Certainly spending less would free up funds to pay some bills and you don’t have to look far for reasons to save money.

The key? Get organized and it will only take a little extra time to master saving at least half the amount you spend on groceries.

If you spend $600 a month on food, you could be a saving $3,600 a year!  And that is after-tax money.  That means you would have had to make about $5,000 before taxes to pay the $3,600 extra that you are unwittingly spending now. …read more of Frugal Pantry 101: Getting Started with Coupons here

Coconut water is refreshing and has been marketed in recent years as an energy boosting natural sports drink because of the high level of minerals and potassium.

When you exercise or play sports heavily, you lose electrolytes, such as potassium as you sweat. These electrolytes need to be replaced and beverages, such as coconut water can do just that.

Popular beverages packaged from the clear, almost sweet liquid of young Thai coconuts can be pretty expensive. …read more of Coconut Water Fresh from the Source for Frugal Fitness Freaks! here

It’s been a long day at work and the kids need so much help and love and you just want . . . some comfort food for dinner … something quick, but really satisfying.

There is a way to cook comforting, inexpensive, plant-based chowder – from scratch faster than it would take to have a pizza or Chinese food delivered.

Keep frozen veggies, shelf stable boxes of almond, soy, hemp or flax milk, onions, garlic and olive oil, you will always have the ingredients on hand.

Did you know that frozen vegetables are fully cooked?  Precooked and flash frozen, there is no need to steam or cook them to death.

To preserve optimal nutrition, take a bag of dinner veggies from the freezer in the morning and place it in the refrigerator to preserve nutritive value, while saving time and energy. …read more of Quick and Creamy Chowder, Plant-Based Comfort on a Cold Night here

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t just happen overnight.

It begins with a few small changes, or better yet, some big ones.  We can’t always be perfectly green when we are feeling overwhelmed with obligations and our lives are happening at warp speed all around us.

What if, however, this was your new green mantra?

“When I have a choice, I will  . . .”

. . . reach for the cold water handle instead of the hot so that the hot water heater does not have to use fuel to heat the new water to replace what was used.

. . .turn the water in the shower off while sudsing and conditioning my hair.

. . . shut the refrigerator or freezer door when pausing for a conversation so that the inner temperature will remain low, not requiring electricity to restore it to pre-wide open temperatures. …read more of When You Have a Choice… here

St. Nicholas, originally a Greek Bishop of the Catholic Church in the third century A.D. was born into wealth and gave his inheritance to the needy.   So, our modern St. Nick, a.k.a. Santa Claus is truly related to the religious “reason for the season.”

We all need to remember that true Christmas joy is found in acts of kindness and generosity and doesn’t have to revolve around glossy, glitzy decorations and shopping.

Instead of exchanging a multitude of presents, family, co-workers or friends can plan to have a “Yankee Swap”.  Each person brings a wrapped present of a predetermined cost. …read more of Lean, Green, Serene Christmas here