27 Frugal Uses for a Dead Phone Book

This post is from GRS staff writer Donna Freedman. Donna writes the Frugal Cool blog for MSN Money, and writes about frugality and intentional living at Surviving And Thriving.

While consulting a professional about writing-related aches and pains, I was asked to describe my work station. When he heard that I used a laptop flat on the desk he told me that changes must be made. Among other things, he wanted me to get the screen up at eye level by purchasing a computer monitor stand from an office-supply store.

My frugal hackles went up. What, PAY for something that I could likely cobble together myself?

And that’s why my computer monitor stand is made of 16 phone books.

That’s right: 16 phone books, stacked in two papery pillars on my desk. The space between the two stacks theoretically allows air to circulate, preventing the laptop from overheating. But just in case, I set the computer on a couple of small pieces of scrap wood atop the books.

Yes, it’s about as attractive as the ass-end of an ugly dog. But it’s a successful frugal hack because:

It works! No more sore neck.The only person who sees it is me, and I don’t care what it looks like.It allowed me to turn a nuisance into an asset.Turn lemons into lemonade
And phone books are a nuisance, a pulpy plague on the landscape. It used to be only once every 12 months that publishers hired guys to fling bundles of books at the homes of folks who probably didn’t ask for them. But now these shrink-wrapped directory bombs litter doorsteps and driveways off and on all year.

How do you think I obtained 16 of the things so easily? My neighbors completely ignored the books set in the apartment building lobby. Or next to their doors: Sometimes the bundle-throwers finagle access to the building and drop directories at every apartment entrance. After the books had gathered dust for a couple of months, I figured it was OK to glean them.

Theoretically you can opt out of delivery by visiting YellowPagesGoesGreen.org. However, that site notes current USPS regs may not permit opt-outs in certain (mostly rural) regions. If that’s the case, try calling individual phone-service providers to request being taken off mail- or private-delivery services.

In the meantime, don’t toss all your phone books. They can be useful.

Bugs, hazardous waste, and puppy pee
You didn’t ask for them. They show up anyway. Time to get creative.

When nature calls: Got a weekend cabin? Building an off-the-grid home but can’t yet afford a composting toilet? Since the Sears Roebuck catalog is no more, stash a phone book in the outhouse.Hazmat response: Keep a book in the garage and tear out pages to soak up oil, antifreeze or other unpleasant spills. Unlike paper towels or shop rags, they’re free.Speaking of unpleasant spills: Use pages to soak up pet urine or to pick up the, um, carpet bombs.Greening the cat box: Step-by-step instructions for making your own cat litter appear at a blog called The Greenists. Try it with phone-book pages instead of newsprint.Wood stove/fireplace owners: Use a few pages to help get the fire started.Gardeners: Mulch beds with phone-book pages.Gardeners, part 2: Kneel on the skinnier phone books while weeding.Flower gardeners: Press blossoms between the pages.iFold: Use phone-book pages for origami projects.Crafty folks: Use pages for papier-mache or decoupage.Crafty folks, part 2: Use the phone book as a work surface when cutting, gluing, or painting small projects.Pest control: See a bug you want to kill? Drop a phone book on it.Strength training: Want to build your cycling or climbing muscles? Fill your bike saddlebag or your backpack with phone books and get moving.Hot stuff: Got more cooking projects than trivets? Turn a phone book into a hot pad.Cuts, wraps, and lifts
Let’s get really creative, shall we? (I prefer that term to “weird” or “obsessive.”)

Pack it up: Use crumpled or shredded phone-book pages versus foam packing peanuts when mailing fragile items.Pump it up: Blogger Ed Kohler used a phone book to support his bike pump while working on a tire.Cut it up: The nimble and inventive Mr. Kohler found a second use for phone books — as a cutting board for cheese, while staying in a hotel.Wrap it up: Want to reduce your reliance on commercial gift wrap? Cover small gifts in phone-book pages for an effect that’s both frugal and eco-friendly. Bonus points if the wrap matches the contents, e.g., the new necklace concealed by the “jewelers” page.Jack it up: A guy I know was called upon to change a relative’s flat, but discovered the tire jack wouldn’t raise the vehicle far enough off the ground. It needed a block under it. He used the Yellow Pages.Clean it up: Use phone-book pages instead of newspaper to wash mirrors and windows.Prop it up: Mike Lieberman, aka the Urban Organic Gardener, used phone books to lift container gardens up off the cold metal fire escape when he lived in New York City. “The most use a phone book has gotten in years,” he observed.A few of us still DO use them
Sometimes, a phone book is only a phone book.

Leave one in the car: If you forget the address of a business you want to patronize, pull the directory out of the trunk. (Not everyone has a smart phone to use for looking up addresses. You need a phone book in the car anyway in case you get a flat tire, right?)Getting around: Some directories have city maps. Cut them out and staple them together for quick reference if you get lost or are see a garage-sale sign. (Not everyone has GPS, either.)Fun/creepy fact: Horror writer Stephen King recalled an odd kid in his rural hometown who obsessively read the obituary pages, crossing each deceased’s name out of the local phone book. With anecdotes like that, who needs fiction???Pack one when you move. You might need to find the number for a business or medical facility in your previous town. Technically you could look it up online, but not everyone has the Internet at home. Those of us who have it might not have it when we need it; my ISP went kerplunk for part of the day last week.Kid stuff
In finding new uses for phone books, you’re not just teaching your children to be resourceful. You’re also teaching them to recycle.

Sit up straight, Junior: Make a booster seat with directories and duct tape.Real cut-ups: Blogger Lisa Hoover has found several educational properties in phone books. Their “hundreds of pictures, logos and drawings” make them a natural for cut-and-glue art projects. You could also set a task such as “Find the letter ‘P’ in five ads” or “Look for pictures of insects and animals” — granted, that’s more fun to do with glossy mags, but education is where you find it. (Bonus: Kids will be delightfully grossed out by the bug drawings and photos in exterminator ads.)Build a fort!: Someone once suggested wrapping directories with paper or duct tape for use over-sized building blocks. Storage space will dictate how many you could keep on hand, but you wouldn’t necessarily need scores of the things. I remember playing quite happily with a few pieces of scrap lumber, which became everything from a doll’s table to a bridge for toy cars. Ditto phone books.One more shot at usefulness
In an ideal world you won’t get any more directories after you’ve opted out. However, that choice might not take effect right away, i.e., phone books already scheduled to be tossed on your doorstep will probably still end up there.

If you can’t use them, please put them in the recycle bin. And if there’s no recycling in your area, try one or more of the ideas noted above. It won’t change the fact that you’re throwing the paper away versus turning it into more paper through recycling. But it will at least give the pages one more use before they’re sent to the landfill.

Besides, think of the paper towels you won’t need every time you drip while changing the oil, or until the puppy gets the hang of housebreaking.

Or of the money you’ll save on outhouse paper. I will concede, however, that the Sears catalog would be a lot more fun to read while you wait.

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When Being Frugal Isn't the Solution

Here at Wise Bread, we have a lot of articles on how you can become more frugal and still enjoy a great lifestyle. All of these articles are very useful, but sometimes being frugal isn't the solution to improving your life. Here are some instances when frugality isn't the whole answer, and some additional solutions for achieving a happy balance. (See also: 12 Frugal Compromises)

If you are trying to achieve financial goals simply by spending as little as possible, then you are ultimately limited by how much income you have. Some readers have written to me and said that it is impossible for them to save just because their fixed expenses eat up most, if not all, of their income. Most of them are not lavish spenders, but are just making so little that they're surviving paycheck to paycheck. In that situation, it's better to focus more on increasing income than saving nickels and dimes. If you think about it, an extra $25 earned a day equates to $500 a month, and that side income will definitely help pay down debts faster.

I have seen those extreme couponing shows, and it actually scares me that some people buy so many boxes of processed foods. I'm not sure if all that stuff actually gets consumed, but I have seen many instances where people bought so many of something just because they got a good deal, and then a lot of it went to the trash. With the rise of deal sites like Groupon, I've also heard of stories of many paid coupons that aren't redeemed. I am a fan of looking for coupons for the things I need immediately and buying just enough, and I really like Phillip Brewer's article on shopping European style. I think more people can actually save money by buying what they need on demand instead of buying too much of something on sale.

A phrase that has been popping up lately is "frugal fatigue." Basically, it means many people became frugal due to the recession, but now they are sick of pinching pennies and out to spend again. I've heard stories of people giving up their coffee or changing the grocery store where they shop, and it's the mentality of sacrifice that makes people unhappy. I think as long as you can comfortably afford something, then there is nothing wrong with treating yourself once in a while. Sometimes happiness costs very little, and you don't have to feel guilty about spending.

Ultimately, I think that a combination of living below your means and generating extra income will help you reach your financial goals faster. You can't just concentrate on looking for deals and clipping coupons to improve your financial situation. Just like a well-balanced diet is good for your physical health, a well balanced set of financial actions will improve your financial health.

What do you think? Are you too fixated on saving money and not on earning money?

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Little Old Lady Recipes: Classic Frugal Cooking

Today I'm thrilled to announce release of my new book — Little Old Lady Recipes: Comfort Food and Kitchen Table Wisdom, published by Quirk Books. It's a collection of simple comfort-food recipes; sassy advice; and photos (by the excellent Michael Reali) of wonderful women in their kitchens.

The recipes in the book came from several different sources, including my own grandmother, the women whose photographs are featured in the book, and bygone cookbooks like the 1921 Atlanta Women's Club Cook Book. But no matter what their source, one thing that I love about all of these these recipes (well, besides the fact that a lot them call for real butter) is that classic "little old lady" cooking is more than simple and tasty, it's also darn frugal. Recipes like chicken and dumplings aren't just aiming to pair delicious chicken soup with bready dumpling goodness, they're using those dumplings to stretch a little bit of meat into an inexpensive, filling meal. Vegetable scraps and leftover meat bones aren't trash, they're what you make fragrant soup stocks out of. And a good weekend pot roast, well — that will serve you convenient leftovers all week long. (See also: Stretch Your Food at Every Meal)

One of my favorite recipes that I had the pleasure of including in the book is my family's baked bean recipe, one of my personal favorite comfort foods. The beans can be made in a crock pot, or they can slowly cook over several hours in the oven (if you use your oven, make this recipe in the fall or winter and turn your house heat down accordingly while cooking so you're not wasting energy). In the evening, you're rewarded with rich, not-too-sweet beans that are great served with another money-saving powerhouse — coleslaw made from that super-cheap vegetable, the cabbage.

The beans are also fantastic served with Boston Brown Bread. I've included both recipes from the book below, and I very much hope you enjoy them.

1 qt navy beans1/2 lb salt pork1/2 tbsp dry mustard1 tsp salt2 tbsp molasses3 tbsp sugar1 onion, chopped

Baked beans are best served with brown bread; save your empty coffee cans to steam it in. Although thrift is always a virtue, do not skimp on the salt pork. It's what adds the majority of flavor.

Cover beans with cold water and soak overnight. Drain. Pour into a pot or casserole dish with the rest of the ingredients. Add enough water to cover the beans. Cover and bake in a 250°F oven [or crock pot] for 8 hours. Serves 4 to 6, and tastes great with coleslaw.

1 egg1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup molasses1 cup sour milk2 tsp baking soda1 tsp salt2 3/4 cups graham flour

Between baked beans and this moist, molassesy bread, they're doing something right up in Boston.

Beat eggs, add sugar and molasses, and then the rest of the ingredients. Mix and place in 3 greased 1-pound cans. Cover tightly. Steam 1 to 2 hours by placing on a steamer over boiling water, letting the water go about halfway up the can. Basically, you just don't want the can touching the bottom of the pot you're boiling in. (You can also steam the bread in a deep oven-safe pan in the oven itself. Just make sure to replenish the water if needed.) Bread is done when a toothpick comes out clean. Makes enough to sop up a lot of delicious bean juice.

What are your favorite frugal "little old lady" recipes? Share in the comments!

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Ask the Readers: What's Your Favorite Frugal Comfort Food?

Ask the Readers: What's Your Favorite Frugal Comfort Food? | Wise Bread AboutContactAdvertise PerkStreet: Get 2% Cash Back
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Everyone has a comfort food they crave from time to time. Whether its something your mom used to whip up or a special treat from your favorite restaurant, chances are there is always one comfort food option that can put a smile on your face and brighten your day. If your favorite comfort food happens to be a frugal option, even better!

What is your favorite frugal comfort food? 

Tell us about your favorite frugal comfort food and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card or a copy of Little Old Lady Recipes: Comfort Food and Kitchen Table Wisdom!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Or Win 1 of 3 Copies of 'Little Old Lady Recipes: Comfort Food and Kitchen Table Wisdom'

We are doing three extra giveaways for a chance to win a copy of Meg Favreau's new book!

Celebrity chefs? Exotic ingredients? Immersion blenders? Who needs 'em?!? Little Old Lady Recipes honors the extraordinary women who create pot luck dinners, church socials, wedding banquets, and the best desserts you've ever tasted. Ever page features their simple, no-frills recipes for pot roast, meat loaf, dumplings, corn bread, fried chicken, bundt cake, and other mouth-watering favorites, along with gorgeous photography of the chefs at work and generous portions of their kitchen table wisdom ("Butter comes from a cow. Tell me where the heck margarine comes from, and then maybe I'll eat it!").

These Little Old Lady Recipes are simple, delicious, and ridiculously cheap and easy to make. So ditch the food processor, stop wasting money on overpriced organic frozen dinners, and start enjoying the 70 classic dishes, plus variations, that our auntiesi and grandmothers have made for generations!

Mandatory Entry: Post your answer in the comments below For extra entries (1 per action):Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment telling us you did, orTweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:Contest ends Monday, November 7th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after November 7th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.You can enter all six drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.

Good Luck!

Read More Ask the Readers: Share Your Favorite Frugal Holiday TraditionAsk the Readers: What About Money DON'T You Know? (Chance to Win!)Ask the Readers: Will This Winter Be More Expensive? (Chance to Win!)Ask the Readers: What Is Your New Year's Resolution?Ask The Readers: Should Kids Get Paid For Doing Chores? 0 No votes yet Select ratingNot usefulSomewhat usefulUsefulVery usefulExtremely useful Your rating: None ADVERTISEMENT Related Topics on Wise BreadAsk the Readers Food frugal Giveaways
comments 121 discussionsAdd New Comment Comment: * CAPTCHAThis test helps prevent automated spam submissions. Your name: * E-mail: Website: 1 Nov. 2011 | 4:18 AM bevb. #1

We enjoy french dip beef cooked in the slow cooker...

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 4:41 AM Amy #2

My personal favorite is scalloped potatoes with a little bit of ham in it. My daughter loves salmon patties. Both are meals I tend to make when I'm broke and making things stretch.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 4:53 AM Therese #3

I love homemade Chicken Noodle soup, with the chicken and broth coming from the bones of a whole chicken from a previous meal.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 6:26 AM Christie #4

I'm hoping this one ends after November 7th, although I wouldn't mind going back to October weather -- it was gorgeous then!

Anyway, my favorite frugal comfort foods: for eating out foods, definitely a McD's double cheeseburger with extra pickles. I craved those when I was pregnant and now whenever I feel queasy, that's the first thing I go for. For just warm yumminess: polenta and my sweet balsamic sauce on it. Warm, cheesy, creamy deliciousness. Good loose tea (earl grey or darjeeling) is often one of my comfort foods as we live in the north and it is cold and snowy about 5 months a year. My kids often stop for a tea break instead of recess from school! :)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:07 AM Lynn Truong #5

Christie,
Yes! I guess the end of the year just passes so quickly! Thanks for the heads up!

1 Nov. 2011 | 6:29 AM Keith #6

i love mashed potatoes!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:16 AM Katrina #7

French bread with pesto. I can survive on that all day!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:18 AM Lisa #8

Oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:33 AM RazzBari #9

Cheesy grits!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 8:28 AM Guest #10

Left over mashed potatoes (or instant) with frozen corn and green beans and butter or margarine

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 8:48 AM Little Miss Moneybags #11

Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 8:49 AM Little Miss Moneybags #12

Tweeted for an extra entry! https://twitter.com/#!/lilmsmoneybags/status/131397962986291201

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 9:08 AM Jan #13

Baked mac and cheese with bacon. Mmmm..

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 9:20 AM Kate #14

Definitely homemade vegetable soup!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 9:34 AM Jay #15

baked macaroni & cheese

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 10:10 AM NJJ #16

My favorite comfort food is apple bread and pumpkin ice cream!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 10:17 AM Brandon #17

I love eating an In-N-Out Burger whenever I am stressed or just want a delicious meal!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 10:21 AM gt0163c #18

Macaroni and cheese (made for real, not out of a box) and apple crisp are my favorite cheap comfort foods. Fried egg and cheese sandwiches are a close runner up...and now I'm hungry. :)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 10:23 AM Michelle #19

My all time favorite frugal comfort food is a big bowl of creamy mac n cheese! It soothes the soul...

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 10:32 AM Guest #20

My favorite is creamed tuna fish on rice. It's warm, a little spicy from the curry, and cheap. Definitely my crave food.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 10:32 AM Verl #21

I liked Wisebread on Facebook!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 10:40 AM Verl #22

My favorite frugal comfort food is a sugar-free Jello shake. Dissolve your favorite flavor of Jello in a half-cup of boiling water. Add it in a smoothie maker to about a couple of cups of ice cubes and some fruit, plus a little milk or cream if you want. Blend until smooth. Let it set. Just like a fruity parfait!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:09 AM Guest #23

Impossible Salmon Pie with biscuit mix, eggs, milk, cheese, canned salmon, and vegetables has become my go-to comfort food in the last few years.

Impossible Pies are named because they make their own crust as they bake. The recipes call for Bisquick, but I use the whole grain Hodgson Mills Insta-Bake instead to add extra fiber and protein.

I use http://busycooks.about.com/od/impossiblepies/r/imposssalmon.htm as a base recipe and then sub frozen California veggie mix for the asparagus and add more spices.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 8:39 AM Guest #24

Wow, this sounds so good and easy. Never tried Hodgson Mills Insta-Bake but will now.

1 Nov. 2011 | 11:12 AM Louise #25

My fav frugal comfort food has got to be gumbo!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:13 AM Louise #26

I already like WiseBread on FB!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:23 AM KS #27

Rice and beans with sausage.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:37 AM Stefany #28

Mac 'n cheese...hands down!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:39 AM Guest #29

My favorite frugal comfort food is a big bowl of angel hair pasta and bolegnese sauce.
even better, the majority of the ingredients are found at the local dollar store!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:42 AM Garon #30

$5 foot long! You can't beat a good cold cut on honey oat!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:46 AM Jennifer #31

Mashed potatoes!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:53 AM Alex #32

I love all kinds of soup.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 12:02 PM Diane Mendenhall #33

I love mashed potatoes with a little cheese and garlic thrown in. Yumm.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 12:03 PM judyyy #34

My favorite is soup. I save left over vegetables(like the corn cup off a leftover cob) a few tablespoons of green beans that were not eaten, etc and freeze them. I also freeze the liquid from cooked vegetables. When I have a tupperware container full, I just add a chopped onion and some hamburger meat, home canned tomatoes and it makes a very frugal soup.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 12:03 PM Raina #35

Plain baked potato with salt and pepper, or ramen noodles with tabasco sauce.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 12:04 PM judyyy #36

I like you on facebook.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 12:11 PM JKlare #37

layer thinly sliced potatoes, salted and peppered with pats of butter between each layer (and the bottom) in a cast iron skillet. Baked until golden brown.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 12:14 PM KelR1 #38

My favorite frugal comfort food is mashed potatoes. It's something you can make as simple or as complicated/fancy as you want (I usually opt for very simple like Potato Buds in the box or microwave mashed potatoes). You can eat it when you're sick or well. It's just all warm and soft and reminds me of big family dinners when I was very young. Good stuff!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 12:17 PM amberwitch #39

Intrails! Pigs hearts in cream sauce. A winter favorite which unfortunately is rather timeconsuming.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 1:01 PM petra #40

My favorite frugal comfort food is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a tall glass of milk.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 1:02 PM Pedro #41

I like homemade chili.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 1:21 PM dairygirl #42

My favorite frugal comfort food is a dish I call "Sandy Surprise", comprised of a can of garbanzo beans mixed with a can of diced tomatoes. Just heat through and eat. The "surprise" is how delicious, affordable, and healthy this is!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 1:41 PM GM #43

I like chicken noodle soup from scratch.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 1:42 PM Peggy #44

Meat Loaf with macaroni & cheese from the blue box!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 1:51 PM michelle #45

I grew up in Korea, so I'm going to have to say rice!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:05 PM Loren #46

My number one comfort food: rice n' beans.

Nothing like it - nutritious, delicious, satisfying. Simple preparation, versatile, convenient.

I fix it up à la Asian, Cajun, Malaysian . . . endless possibilities.

My motto: If you got rice n' beans, you got it made.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:10 PM Forrest #47

Ramen noodles all the way. Its been long enough since college that I can enjoy them again.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 2:48 AM Gerholdt #48

Add a cup of frozen mixed vegetables and cook until done - many a study break snack!

1 Nov. 2011 | 2:10 PM Guest #49

Rice pudding made with cinnamon and raisins.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:34 PM Pamela Belair #50

Ah, that would be Boston Baked Beans...in addition to it being a great frugal meal, it also warms up the house so we can avoid turning on the furnace...DOUBLE frugal.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:34 PM Lora #51

Mashed potatoes and meatloaf.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:35 PM Liz #52

My favorite frugal comfort food is zucchini bread, Grandma's recipe! Never fails to make feel at home, no matter where I am.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:41 PM Kelly #53

My favorite super cheap comfort food is air popped pop corn! It is super cheap and if you don't have an air popper you can make it in a brown paper lunch sack in the microwave. It's not too dangerous for the waistline if you need a "drown my sorrows in mindless munching" fix. You can also jazz it up with a bit of melted butter and salt. Toss in a packet of Splenda also and you've got kettle corn.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:42 PM Laura #54

Quesadillas made on a hot dry griddle with flour tortillas that puff up with air bubbles and cheese that comes out of the edges and gets all grilled and chewy. Sometimes I just put an extra pile of grated cheese right on the griddle and fry it. Super good!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:51 PM Rebekah #55

Macaroni and chese - from the box if I'm feeling lazy, or homemade if I really want comfort food.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:51 PM Amanda #56

Seems to be the favorite here....mac'n'cheese! Preferably homemade but a box will do

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:55 PM casey #57

Ramen noodles!! If you add an egg it makes the dish feel even more "comforting"!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:56 PM Angie #58

Grilled cheese: whatever you have on hand! Not only frugal, but quick and easy and generally healthful! It's what I eat when no one else is home for supper. To make it extra-special I slip in a couple of slices of homemade dill pickles in and serve with leftover soup.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:58 PM GL #59

Hardboiled eggs!!! :^D I know, I'm weird...

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 2:59 PM GL #60

"Liked" and commented on your Facebook page.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 3:00 PM GL #61

Here's my tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/grigorylukin/status/131490862189379584

Thanks for doing these giveaways, guys! :)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 3:27 PM Elizabeth S. #62

I like (love) your FB page!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 3:28 PM Elizabeth S. #63

My favorite frugal comfort food is what I grew up to call shepherds pie. Mashed potatoes, hamburg, and corn.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 3:36 PM Monica #64

Spaghetti, usually meat-less or using hot links sausage

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 4:00 PM Wendy #65

Mine is baked mac & cheese. It's my mom's recipe that I've veganized (yepper, vegan mac & "cheese"). The organic pasta and vegan daiya cheese aren't cheap, but I compensate with homemade breadcrumbs made from homemade sourdough bread. Now there's another frugal comfort food: Homemade bread made in the breadmaker I scored on Freecycle.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 4:01 PM Cassie #66

Homemade baked macaroni and cheese made with whatever cheeses I happen to have left over in the fridge. If I happen to have some ground turkey or beef, that gets browned and goes in too! Comfort like a hug from the inside out. :)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 4:22 PM Aaron Lin #67

Scrambled eggs with a splash of A1 sauce.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 4:46 PM Dee Dee #68

Love grilled cheese and bacon sandwich on rye bread!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 5:12 PM Carson M. #69

Shrimp combos...typically couscous, rice, potatoes, stir fry, etc...mixed with pan fried or steamed shrimp and any array of fresh spices.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 5:37 PM Carvis Cathey #70

I am most comforted by a nice Snickers with Almonds candy bar, other wise a good meal on Sunday's after church.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 6:06 PM Larry #71

Homemade chicken soup.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 6:22 PM Tomomes #72

A bag of Snyder's of Hanover Honey Mustard Flavor... I try to limit myself to one bag a month. That's how it's frugal! :)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 6:35 PM Tonia #73

My family loves cinnamon toast as a frugal, comforting and tasty snack.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 6:47 PM Becca #74

Mine is definitely spaghetti! Super simple and always delicious :)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 6:59 PM Matt Phenix #75

Tuna noodle casserole, just like Mom made when I was eight. Egg noodles, chunk light tuna, cream of mushroom soup, peas ... perfection.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:04 PM Guest #76

A soft boiled egg with toasted homemade bread. A meal for 40 cents.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:13 PM Marja Kuijsten #77

Mashed potatoes mixed with spinach and a boiled egg on the side is our favorite tasty, fast and frugal meal, even the kids like it! (and they are very picky eaters!)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:33 PM Lynda #78

mac and cheese

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:33 PM Lynda #79

i like wisebread on facebook

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:34 PM Lynda #80

http://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/131560501833502720

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 7:36 PM Michael #81

Funeral potatoes. The cheesy, crunchy goodness is where it's at.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 8:11 PM Joan #82

Scrambled eggs with cheese and toast. Cheap and easy to fix.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 8:58 PM Sarah #83

I adore mashed potatoes! With just the right amount of butter it's like heaven!

(I also love bacon on anything, so I guess that counts as a comfort food!)

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 8:59 PM Sarah #84

I also "liked" you on Facebook!

Thanks for such a great giveaway!

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 9:18 PM Angie W #85

This is going to be weird, but my favorite cheap comfort food is rice mixed with egg, onion, and corn. The ultimate comfort for me.

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 9:19 PM Angie W #86

I like you on facebook

REPLY 1 Nov. 2011 | 11:16 PM Gerholdt #87

My mom's recipe for chopped chicken liver. Clean 1 pound livers, removing the yellow sacs. Saute slowly with a coarsely chopped onion until very firm but not rubbery. Discard the onion - it has given up its sweetness and absorbed any bitterness. Chop by hand with two hard boiled eggs and an onion to 1/8 inch pieces. Do not use a food processor! It should have some texture, not be a pate. Mix in a tablespoon or two of chicken fat (vegetable oil also works) until it holds together enough to spread on a cracker, miniature rye bread or baguette slice. Salt and pepper to taste - it takes about twice as much as you think. About $2 for ingredients, makes a great hors d'ouvre.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 2:09 AM kristina #88

Macaroni and cheese

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 4:27 AM Becky Greene #89

Almost anything with melted cheese - homemade mac and cheese is the classic!

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 5:03 AM debbie #90

ramen noodles...a frugal classic loved by many

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 6:52 AM alison #91

Chili and cornbread are my favorite cheap comfort foods!

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 7:34 AM Adry #92

The good old standby: classic Mac n Cheese!

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 7:53 AM Guest #93

Beans and rice are my favorite comfort food.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 8:36 AM Guest #94

Saltine crackers crumbled in a cup with milk poured over. Must eat them fast while they are still crunchy.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 9:21 AM Megan #95

Wait a second now, can you think of many "comfort foods" that are expensive?

Personally, grits and cheddar is a winner every time.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 9:57 AM BillDeel #96

Home made squash soup. Although a great soup has many ingredients, most of them are spices that you only have to buy once. This recipe below is fine-dining quality. All you need for fresh veggies is 1 squash, 2 onions, 1 lemon, and garlic and ginger. I don't use the fresh corriander, I use dry instead.

The Worlds Best FRUGAL squash soup.
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/fresh_and_spicy_squash_soup.php

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 10:27 AM Jenn #97

a simple box of annie's mac and cheese.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 10:28 AM Guest #98

Hot cocoa!

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 10:50 AM Guest #99

I make a large sourcream pound cake and stick it in the frig. This gets better tasting with age and lasts along time. I love having something homemade to satisfy my families sweet tooth. I also like to have muffin batter in the frig for quick snacks or bkft. the batter will like several days giveing me more time for the holidays.

REPLY 2 Nov. 2011 | 11:17 AM jla #100

Favorite frugal comfort food:
Snack-Popcorn popped in oil on the stove (loose kernals are a fraction of the cost of microwave popcorn and they taste better!) topped with parm cheese (any cheese will taste good) and Frank's red hot sauce.
"Meal"-2 Corn or flour tortilla microwaved with two pinches of cheddar cheese and two spoonfuls of canned black beans in each. Add any veggies you might have around for added bulk. Quick and cheap and filling!

REPLY 12next ›last » Ashley Jacobs Community Coordinator More from Ashley » A recent grad with plenty of college cents var VSWopts={ContainerID:'vswsearchbox'};(function(){document.write("");var s=document.createElement('script');s.src="http://as.vs4food.com/ERA/SearchWidget/widget_script.aspx?pubid=wisebread";s.id='vswsearchscript';s.type='text/javascript';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);})(); Hot TodayMost CommentsLatest Articles Is Paying Off Your Mortgage Early Costing You Money? Top 5 Travel Reward Credit Cards Best Money Tips: Save Water at Home How to Earn a Good Interest Rate in a Low-Rate Environment Recession Survivor: Would You Eat Bugs and Roadkill to Cut the Grocery... more 25 Ways to Entertain Your Child for Free or Cheap (20) 7 Banks Still Offering Free Checking and Great Interest Rates (18) 6 Ways My Family Scores Free Travel With Credit Cards (18) Escape Student Loan Debt — Slowly (15) Little Old Lady Recipes: Classic Frugal Cooking (15) more Top 5 Travel Reward Credit Cards Is Paying Off Your Mortgage Early Costing You Money? Best Money Tips: Save Water at Home Recession Survivor: Would You Eat Bugs and Roadkill to Cut the Grocery... The Best and Worst Things to Buy in November more Today's Hot Deals 70% Off Restaurant.com w/code GATHER Dell Vostro 230 Slim Intel Dual Core 3.2GHz PC $219 + $8 s&h Vibram Men's or Women's FiveFingers Shoes for $40 + $6 s&h Men's Vintage Suede Bomber Jacket $39 Macy's Coat Sale: 25% to 40% off + extra 15% off See all the best handpicked deals or enter your email address to get deals delivered to your inbox daily! Facebook

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