Looking for some great food ideas that are cheap and yummy?

Some of you will remember Mr Bargain Queen, my husband and occasional contributor to this blog. Among his many talents, he’s a fantastic cook.

Here’s some great food ideas he wrote some time ago, that you might’ve missed — they’re still delicious!

Have you been told over and over again that “It’s the thought that counts”, but you still feel pressured to spend more on someone simply because you feel that they deserve something special? Sometimes it seems that “special” and “costly” are synonyms, but really that’s not the case.

As I shared in My gift shopping strategy, or why small gifts rock, I’m a big fan of gifts that don’t break the budget. If you’re still worried…

Photo: Mars Infomage, flickr.com/marstheinfomage

The stock market has crashed, a world-wide recession is said to be starting — and cheap chic is the topic du jour:

• The Rocky Mountains News asked can cheap be chic?, but delivered an article on whether cheap shoes are comfortable. Disappointing, but then the article to match the headline can be written in a word: “Yes.”
• Forget the stock market, invest in a coat says The Telegraph (UK). (Via The Thoughtful Dresser.) I’ve justified more than a…

Pencil skirts are a favorite style for women who love to accentuate their curves a la Marilyn Monroe. This is a style where quality is especially important, though. Thin cloth and poorly sewn seams are easy to spot. Fortunately, you can find skirts that are priced cheap without looking cheap.

This XOXO pencil skirt is now only $9.99, marked down from $29.98, and it got rave reviews from Amazon users who called it “the perfect pencil skirt”…

I usually don’t spend a lot of money on my nails. I can count on one hand the number of professional manicures I’ve had and, although I do love great nail polish like OPI’s Russian Navy, most of the time my nails are a very frugal au naturel. However, there is one area where I don’t cheap out: my nail file.

Sure, you can get cardboard files for super cheap. I used them for years. However,…

Summer break is just about over and even this college grad is looking forward to taking a class or two this fall.  After all, it gives me a great excuse to do a little back-to-school shopping.  Who says you can’t be a nerd and love fashion?

As you update your wardrobe for the upcoming semester, don’t neglect the workhorse of scholastic accessories: the backpack.  This Leader of the Pack zip around backpack from Tignanello combines form, function, and…

An elegant occasion calls for equally elegant jewelry. Crystal jewelry is a great choice if you aren’t loaded but don’t want to settle for itty bitty gemstones, but frankly, most of the costume jewelry options out there are marketed more to indiscriminate teens than adults with a keen eye for both quality and style.

That’s why I’m so happy to come across a piece so gorgeous but inexpensive as this crystal drop necklace from 1928 Jewelry. It…

Sure, cheap sunglasses can let you experiment with shutter shades and other summer fads without breaking your budget. However, if you’re serious about protecting your eyesight (or just want to look luxe for less), then I recommend splurging a bit for a quality pair that you and your eyes will love for years to come.

These oversize Gucci sunglasses provide 100% UVA/UVB protection to protect your eyes and delicate eye area from the sun’s harmful rays all year…

There’s one area where fairy tale princesses and I agree; Special occasions call for glamorous accessories. And what could be more glam than wearing a dazzling tiara?

This rhinestone and silver plate tiara is perfect for a girl’s quiceanera or prom, but is also a fabulous alternative to a veil for the modern bride who wants to show that fairy tales do come true.

At just $19.99, it’s also a lot cheaper than most of the bridal veils…

If you’re searching for a shopping tote that’s more colorful than these basic grocery totes, but still inexpensive, then I have a keyword for you: