If you like drinking wine and, like me, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on this indulgence, then let me introduce you to flipflop wines. This winery is not only making the most delicious, budget-minded wine I’ve ever tasted, but they’ve also partnered up with an incredible non-profit to make a difference in the lives of impoverished children.
Heather LevinHeather Levin is a freelance writer based in Detroit, MI. She's passionately committed to living green, saving money, and helping others do the same in their life.
FlipFlop Wines Review – Buy Cheap “Friendly” Wine & Help the Poor
Heather Levin
Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea
Heather Levin
This article is part of the Money Crashers Natural Medicine Cabinet Series, outlining 20 of the top natural home remedies and treatment.
It’s hard for me not to get excited about tea. Strange sentence, I know, but I drink tea constantly. Green tea, white tea, herbal tea…I have an entire cabinet in my kitchen devoted to tea and tea-making supplies.
And I’m not alone. Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, next to water. Billions of people around the world drink tea on a daily basis. And aside from its wonderful variety in taste, tea offers us countless health benefits that we’re only just now starting to understand.
Health Benefits & Uses of Lemons and Lemon Water
Heather Levin
This article is part of the Money Crashers Natural Medicine Cabinet Series, outlining 20 of the top natural home remedies and treatment.
Most of us use lemons regularly in the kitchen. Lemon is great spritzed over salmon, added to rice with dill, and mixed into lemonade. Delicious!
But what many people don’t know is that lemons have a ton of other uses outside of flavoring food which can also save you a significant amount of money. In the book 1,801 Home Remedies: Trustworthy Treatments for Everyday Health Problems, Reader’s Digest classifies lemons as a “Top Household Healer.”
Ginger Health Benefits & Uses – How to Make Ginger Tea Recipe
Heather Levin
This article is part of the Money Crashers Natural Medicine Cabinet Series, outlining 20 of the top natural home remedies and treatment.
You’ve probably seen the stubby, yellow-colored ginger root in your grocery store’s produce section. This ancient root has been part of Asian cooking for years; it’s amazing when added to stir fry, sautéed with fish, or even steeped in hot water for tea.
12 Good Sources of Fiber in Food – Heath Benefits of Dietary Fiber
Heather Levin
Do you eat enough fiber? Most Americans don’t. Although the recommended daily fiber intake is 20 to 38 grams, WebMD reports that the average American only eats around 14 grams of fiber per day. And many eat even less than that.
There are many reasons why you should try and make sure you’re getting enough fiber. And it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune either.
Benefits of Fiber
As most of you probably know, fiber is an essential nutrient you need to avoid constipation and bloating. But there are many other benefits to eating a diet high in fiber as well.
Aloe Vera Gel & Juice Benefits
Heather Levin
This article is part of the Money Crashers Natural Medicine Cabinet Series, outlining 20 of the top natural home remedies and treatment.
Some of you probably have an aloe vera plant or two hanging around your house. Aloe vera is one of the most common houseplants in the world.
But the spiky little plant is a powerhouse when it comes to healing. In fact, many experts consider aloe vera to be one of the most beneficial plants on earth.
This new insight makes you look at that pointy plant in a new way, right? I know I sure did once I learned about the many health benefits of aloe vera.
Natural Medicine Cabinet Series: Top 20 Natural Home Remedies, Healers & Treatment
Heather Levin
I don’t like going to the doctor. I’m self-employed and pay for my own health insurance, which means the cost of any visit comes right out of my pocket. So unless it’s serious, I simply don’t go. Needless to say, it’s been years since I last set foot in a doctor’s office.
Some of you may be in the same boat as I am. Many health insurance plans no long cover office visits, and this means that the five minutes your doctor spends looking you over can cost you $75 or more. And that doesn’t include what you’re going to shell out for prescription drugs.
13 Items You Should Never Buy Used
Heather Levin
There are some things you should always buy used secondhand. For instance, college textbooks, used cars, and baby clothes can easily be bought from a previous owner. And, you’ll save a bundle when you do.
But imagine you’re out shopping at a garage sale or pawn shop. Are there any items you shouldn’t buy used, things that might end up costing you more than you’d pay if you just bought it new?
As a matter of fact, there are. Let’s take a look at some of these items.
5 Dandelion Greens Recipes for Salad & More
Heather Levin
In the first part of this series, I talked about some of the incredible cost and health benefits of eating dandelions as well as how to harvest various components of this common weed including dandelion leaves, greens, flowers, and roots.
In this next post, I want to cover how to cook dandelions, and go over some of my favorite recipes. Most of these recipes are virtually free when it comes to expenses, especially given the fact that dandelions grow wild in many of our backyards, and for those of us who don’t have dandelions growing, they are inexpensive to harvest.
Health Benefits of Eating Dandelions – How to Harvest Leaves, Greens, Flowers & Roots
Heather Levin
Every spring our yards are filled with the bright, sunny appearance of dandelions. Well, at least I think they’re bright and sunny. Many people view the common dandelion as a weed, and wage a small war to eradicate the plant from their lawns.
Personally, I welcome the appearance of spring dandelions for one reason: I love to eat them.
I know, it sounds strange. Why on earth would someone want to eat dandelions?
6-Step Guide to Renting Out a Room in Your House – Should You Do It?
Heather Levin
Another month has come and gone and you’ve just barely been able to squeak on your mortgage payment. You breathe a sigh of relief, but already you’re dreading next month, when the financial anxiety hits again.
If this sounds like your life, you’re not alone. Thanks to the recession, many people are just barely getting by right now. Month after month they frantically find ways to pay their mortgage and put food on the table. It’s a stressful and dispiriting situation to be in.
Xeriscape Landscaping Ideas & Sustainable Gardening Tips to Conserve Water
Heather Levin
Did you know that according to NASA’s investigation of satellite images, the U.S. grows enough residential grass to equal the state of New York? That’s 53,000 square miles…of grass.
The water all this grass requires to stay alive is astronomical. One-third of all residential water use is dumped on the lawn, where it picks up any pesticides and fertilizers you’ve laid down and then trickles down into your local watershed.
How to Sell on Etsy – Set Up a Shop Selling Jewelry, Crafts, Baby Items, Art & More
Heather Levin
If you’re an artist, jeweler, soap maker, knitter, baker, or you simply have a house full of vintage items, then you might be in a perfect position to start your own business on Etsy.
If you’ve never heard of Etsy, you’re in for a treat. Etsy is a lovely online marketplace designed exclusively for people selling handmade and vintage items. The site allows people from all over the world to sell their homemade goods, and anyone, from stay at home moms to well-respected gallery artists, can create an account to sell their work.
11 Ways to Reduce and Save Money on Utility Bills
Heather Levin
It is common for many families to stare dejectedly at $200, $300, $400, and sometimes even $500 in utility bills every month. That can be an especially hard pill to swallow when times are tight – especially with gas prices rising.
This issue hits close to home for me as well. My dad lives in Lousiana, and his monthly bill is an astonishing $430 per month. And, that’s living in the Sunny South!
So what can you do to reduce your utility bill without being forced to move? Well, according to Energy Star, half of all the energy we use in our homes goes toward heating and cooling. A significant amount goes towards water as well.
What is Witch Hazel – 10 Amazing Uses & Benefits
Heather Levin
If you’ve never heard of witch hazel, you’re in for a treat. Why? Because this natural astringent is not only awesome for your skin, but it has plenty of other amazing uses as well.
First of all, let’s take a closer look at witch hazel itself.
Witch hazel, also known as winterbloom or spotted alder, is actually a flowering shrub common in North America. The leaves, bark, and twigs of witch hazel are high in tannins. Tannins are found in any natural astringent because of their ability to tighten, dry and harden tissues. The witch hazel water you can buy for $2 at any any drugstore is actually a steam distillation of the bark, leaves, and twigs of the shrub itself.
