It may have been published a couple of years ago, but Americans are now catching up to the message of Steve and Annette Economides and are eagerly plunking down their pennies for the hot home economics crash course.

The authors of America’s Cheapest Family have done remarkably well feeding their family of seven on just $350 per month, paying off their first house in nine years and purchasing a second, larger home, buying cars with cash, taking nice vacations, and yes, even socking away …

Tags: American , cars , cash , college , credit , debt , families , fresh , frugal , green , groceries , house , payments , processed foods , recession , reuse , saving , second-hand , vegan

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My lovely, celebrity-style dressing room is a spare bedroom I stole in the house, a spare that once housed a maple crib, green nursing glider and armoire of precious, spit-up stained Baby Gap dresses on mini-hangers.

Today, it’s my own little retail Mecca (organic, of course). But I do allow my daughters to visit and check out the blouses and shoe rack, and yes, even borrow on occasion. That sort of thing was taboo when I was growing up. Moms were moms.  Friends were the ones loaning stuff.

My own stylish …

Tags: budget , Community , cross-dressing , family , fashion , frugal , gay , green deoderant , jeans , recession , recycling , sharing , shoes , swapping , teens , wardrobe

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It’s hard to ignore those cautionary labels (even the misspelled ones). Do we dare wash a delicate garment at home and risk ruining the texture or shrinking it beyond recognition?

Warnings are warnings, but there are exceptions to every wash ‘n wear rule.

With the help of our blog readers, writers and the experts, we have put together a list of myths we are happy to debunk to save you some precious bucks.

1. Washing sweaters will ruin the texture!

“Hogwash,” says EcoSalon’s Caitlin Fitzsimmons, whose mama passed on the tried and true method. …

Tags: air dry , conservation , cotton , detergents , DIY cleaning , dry , dry cleaning , energy , fabric , fabrics , fashion , fold , frugal , garments , hang dry , labels , recession , shrinkage , silk , sweaters , textiles , textures , warnings , wash , water , wool

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They’re already talking about their costumes, those candy-crazy girls of mine. That’s how I know fall is here, just a wink and a nod after packing them up for summer camp.

Design-wise, it’s one of the easiest seasons for stylists since it involves scavenging for leaves and twigs to tweak our vignettes for free. Ah, there’s that “F” word, again, a favorite at EcoSalon.

Want to spruce up your rooms for autumn without much of a budget? Take one of the following paths most traveled …

Tags: candles , crafts , decor , design , dried flowers , fall , free , frugal , fruit , garden , harvest , leaves , plants , potpourri , pumpkins , squash , twigs , veggies

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