Chill out with a refreshing beverage foraged from your backyard and neighborhood, and scavenge free salads and spices for your dinner. Here are a few things you can easily find, for example, in the city of Los Angeles.

Don't be nervous about entering a food bank for the first time. It's okay to be new to it, and no one there is going to judge you for needing help. What to expect when you visit a food pantry.

Want to use under 400 kWh of electricity a month? Here are my notes on trying to get my electric use count to this small goal. Even if these ideas don't work for you, there might be a tip or two in here you can adapt for your own family.

Warm, cozy, fingerless gloves that run off USB power. This pair has an image of Pooh Bear on them, even though they are for adults. Low watt USB heating devices save you money! This is a part of the low-watt heat bubble warming system I am working on.

This is a 99 cent frugal living ebook that is worth several times its cover price. It's a Kindle download you can read free from your laptop, desktop computer, smartphone or Kindle reader.

This isn't the best book for frugalists or homesteaders in general. It's about solar energy, but is more of a short technical textbook than a how-to on saving money through solar energy.

A one week menu plan for a family of four in tough times.

Learn ten easy and smart ways to reuse those plastic grocery bags before recycling them for good.

Here are some basic concepts to help you lower summer cooling costs by putting off the massive energy usage of your air conditioner for as long as possible.

Modern electronics suck electricity from your wall even when you think they are turned off. A surge protected power strip will ensure you don't waste money by letting you turn appliances completely off, with no ghost energy drain at all.