KATC.com

Does this sound like you? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average family of four is spending about $100 a month more at the grocery store than it did a year ago. Do the math: That’s an additional $1,200 a year for the same amount of... more »

Feel like you never stop cleaning? A 2008 University of Michigan survey found that American women scrub their houses an astonishing average of 17 hours a week, while (no surprise) their spouses spend a lot less time with a sponge. The good news: “Such drudgery is totally unnecessary,”... more »

It took a bout of unemployment to jolt Joyce Wilden of Melbourne, Fla., out of the cleaning products aisle. “We were out of window cleaner and looking for every possible way to save money,” she says. So she went online, searched for a recipe for a homemade version and... more »

If you’re like most people, you’ve been cutting back on nonessentials -- eating out less, postponing travel plans, giving last year’s handbag another run. But what about the essentials? Check out these surprisingly simple strategies for cutting costs on such monthly expenses as your electric bill and your car... more »

For Amie Cross, 28, saving money while saving the planet isn’t just a good idea: It’s a passion. “I’m a stay-at-home mom, and that means part of my job description is saving money whenever I can. To me, it goes hand in hand with being good to the environment,”... more »

Sure these are tough times. But there is some good news on the earning front for people who want to pick up extra income: “While companies are cutting full-time employees, there are still tasks to be done -- and a bigger need than ever for part-timers who work from... more »

Talk to anyone, walk into any store, log on to any Web site, and you’ll find that “saving money” are the buzz words of the moment. “Women are online comparing notes on cool ways to stretch a dollar,” says Ellie Kay, mother of three and author of Living Rich... more »

Buyers be aware: You can find some real steals these days, especially if you’ve got your shopping game face on. This recession has undoubtedly unleashed America’s inner cheapskate, and whether they’re spending money on cars or manicures, more people are discovering ways to get a better deal on just about... more »

After finishing up a yearlong work project, Maura Rhodes faced the daunting job of cleaning up her home office. “The place was a disaster. And one of the big things that kept me from getting started were several years’ worth of magazines strewn all over the place,” says Rhodes. So... more »

These days, pulling up to the pump can be a painful experience. Still, many of us end up wasting precious gas without even knowing it, according to Geoff Sundstrom, a gasoline expert for AAA. So try these tips to stretch your tank to the max. 1. Find the lowest... more »

Is the economy throwing a damp dishtowel on your dinner party plans? Don’t be too quick to cut social gatherings from your budget. Sharing good times with friends -- no matter what the bank statement says -- is too important to forgo. And with a little... more »

It’s time for the annual block party, and you know what that means: burgers and dogs, brownies and ice pops, coolers of beer and juice boxes. Every family kicks in money and donates a dish, and everyone helps with the setup and cleanup. But instead of collaboration, maybe your block... more »

Jenna Rath was afraid she’d blow the budget for her husband’s, Wally, 40th birthday bash. The size of her house dictated that the party had to be outside. But a cold front threatened, making a rented tent with heaters a last-minute must. The tent she could afford was big but... more »

Wedding brunch for 80? Family reunion for 150? It’s the perfect season to celebrate life’s special events. And because keeping costs down is on top of everyone’s party to-do list, we asked the most fun-loving frugalistas we could find to share their secrets. It turns out a big budget isn’t... more »

Mother’s Day may be about honoring Mom, but let’s face it: The traditional take on this celebratory Sunday is not exactly what most moms dream about. “Whoever thought that breakfast in bed was the way kids should honor their moms?” says Lauren Picker, a 45-year-old mother of two in New... more »

For Nancy Richmond, Sunday dinners are something to treasure. While her family sits down to eat together in the dining room practically every night (with candles and tablecloths no less), these meals are special. “My husband cooks the same kind of wonderful meals he makes all week long, but it’s... more »

Could your regular “Girls’ Night Out” use a pick-me-up? The solution to a stale GNO routine may actually lie on the shelf in your family room. Games -- whether they’re of the board, card or video kind -- can turn a get-together into a juiced-up matchup of wits, creativity... more »

Is the economy throwing a damp dishtowel on your dinner party plans? Don’t be too quick to cut social gatherings from your budget. Sharing good times with friends -- no matter what the bank statement says -- is too important to forgo. And with a little ingenuity, it doesn’t... more »

There’s something about anniversary celebrations that can tax even the happiest marriages, from pressure to make the day a special one to money wasted when it turns out all wrong. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to say, “I’d do it all over again.” Focus on spending... more »

Considering cancelling your annual holiday shindig because of cost? No need. "With planning and a little creativity, it's easy to throw a great party without spending a lot of money," says former caterer Denise Vivaldo, author of Do It For Less! Parties (Terrace Publishing 2005) and Do It For Less!... more »