A year ago…Costco money savers, duct tape savings, and dinner recipe

I like to look at blog posts from a year ago and see what is still relevant. Here are the top 5 stories I found!

A new friend shared a little known fact about shopping at Costco. Members can purchase Costco cash cards and give them to non-members. Recipients can get a free one-day membership to use the cash card on gas or warehouse items. The cards are also good online. Cash cards make great gifts and they are useful for employees, students living away from home, and friends who are dying to buy 20 pounds of strawberries. Ways to shop at Costco without a membership.

Looking for an extravagant meal without knockout prices? Have a sushi party. I co-hosted one this weekend with a friend and together we spent $200 on miso soup, salad, sushi, sake, sashimi, beer, appetizers and dessert for 12 people. A similar meal would have easily cost $50 a head at a restaurant, meaning as a group we saved $400. Making sushi at home is easy and a big money saver!

I’m in the middle of a $50 fashion challenge against blogger SDBargainMama, who is based in San Diego, and I’m turning to used clothing stores to put together a top notch outfit within budget. Here is how I find bargains at thrift stores.

I recently saved about $35 using duct tape to fix my bike seat instead of buying a new one (and after riding it for one week I’m happy to report that it works fine, though a little bit of stickiness is poking through that may eventually stick to my clothes). Jamie at SpendLessTV shared another great use for duct tape (No. 2), which made me think I should highlight the many, money-saving uses for duct tape.

I’ll tell you the truth. I got into this mess because I had blog envy. Back then all the other reporters at my newspaper, the Los Angeles Daily News, were talking about how many hits and comments they got. I wanted a piece of the action. Jazz, Sept. 11 and how I got into blogging.

My Mom’s homemade macaroni and cheese always hits the comfort food spot. Because we all need a break from recession pressures. Recipe for Mom’s macaroni and cheese.