Articles written by Stacey Mcclure

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About me - Stacey Mcclure

Stacey McClure

Domestic Goddess

Stacey is a domestic engineer and a highly respected efficiency expert. She holds three advanced degrees in household management related disciplines.
(all from the School of Hard Knocks)

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Personal Finance > Spending & Saving (Other) Would you consider yourself to be frugal or cheap?: 1 of 14
I am a little confused by the question. A person could take this one of two ways. First, if the question is multiple choice, I would have to answer "Frugal". On the other hand, if the asker is insinuating that "frugal" and "cheap" are the same thing, then I don't think the question makes sense. Take a look at the two terms de... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Thanksgiving How to make a Thanksgiving dinner menu: 1 of 12
Whether you are an amateur or a seasoned professional, planning and preparing a Thanksgiving feast is not as difficult as it sounds. Most of the foods you will prepare are similar to any other meal. The only difference is you will be doing it on a larger scale. When you have cooked as long as I have, you get a feel for how mu... More..
Health & Fitness > Mental Health (Other) Is adult ADD really annoying?: 2 of 14
If this question refers to Adult ADD being annoying to the person who suffers from it, my answer would be a resounding YES! As I tell my daughter sometimes, "It is exhausting being me". For instance, right now I am supposed to be working my "regular job". Instead, I got totally sidetracked and wound up writing another articl... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) How to plan meals on a budget: 1 of 7
It's the last week of the month. Your food budget is looking a little skimpy. Don't panic, I will give you some tips on how to s-t-r-e-t-c-h those last few food dollars! Some people may look at meal planning on a budget as a chore. I prefer to look at it as a challenge. If you have read my article How to feed your family of 4... More..
Computers & Technology > Online Shopping & Trade Is Craigslist safe to use?: 2 of 12
With eBay's fees constantly on the rise, and the hassles setting up a Paypal account & shipping, Craigslist has become a popular choice for people to sell their unwanted items. Like everything else on the internet, Craigslist can be a useful tool if you just use a little common sense. Some may think it is dangerous to dea... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Children's Activities (Other) Rainy day ideas for children: 3 of 17
Start a craft box! If you don't have a suitable box, and you know someone who sells Avon or works in an office, ask them to save you a box or two. Avon boxes have a snug fitting lid and are great for stacking, and most offices buy paper by the case and these boxes usually have the same type of lid. Stock your box with these t... More..
Home & Garden > Cleaning (Other) Clean Smart!: 1 of 5
Here is some advice for keeping your house a little more orderly. Everyone is busy, especially around the holidays. If you are like me, the house gets cleaned on the weekend (when you are supposed to be relaxing). Then, slowly but surely throughout the week, it all piles up again. By the time Saturday comes, you have to do it... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas Christmas 2009: Uncommon ways to save money at Christmas: 1 of 4
Here comes Christmas! Never fear, I have lots of great ways to defray the costs. Everyone is feeling the pinch of our uncertain economy and looking for ways to cut corners. For those of you that are not accustomed to the frugal side of life, try some of these ideas this year. You would be surprised at how easy and fun it can ... More..
Personal Finance > Personal Finance (Other) Personal finance: How to be smart with your money: 7 of 26
Penny Pinching 101 Everyone pinches pennies, it's just that some people are "tighter" than others. If you are new to penny pinching, here are a few basics that every seasoned tightwad will agree are "no-brainers" when trying to save money: Don't be shy - ALWAYS ask for a discount. All they can do is say no, and 90 percent of... More..
Home & Garden > Pet & Pest Problems How to catch a mouse: 3 of 9
Fool proof way to catch a mouse: Inspired by Houdini the uncatchable mouse Well, folks, it's that time of year again. It getting cold outside and the little mice are looking for refuge. Unfortunately, that means you may be hearing unwanted pitter-patter of tiny feet in your house. Granted, mouse catching is not rocket science... More..