It's safe to say that only in a town like Marblehead, Massachusetts (that's Brown's Island above), could you end up going to school with a girl named Abigail Martha Haddock. But there you go.

Though Martha grew up on the Atlantic, she now lives in the  Pacific Northwest, where, as the Frugal Fraulein, she works, teaches, and blogs about all things frugal, and writes for Associated Content.

Her blog, Frugal Canning is a fun and useful read; this week features a driving tour down the Oregon coast with her mom, which is always more than a trip, it's an adventure!

Much of the frugality tips on the web are pretty much old hat, but Martha offers some different takes.

I also found this post on bankrate.com, oddly enough, has some interesting tips. (Hmm. Using baking soda instead of shampoo? I dunno...) If you post a tip that readers like on the bankrate site, you can win $100.

I cut back to the "quick cycle" on the washing machine because I was trying to cut down on the water going through the septic system; it turns out that this is a good money saver as well, because it also takes it easier on the clothes. The Times recently ran a piece on why it makes sense to use less detergent, both on the dishes and the clothes.

                                                                              --BJ Roche