There's nothing I love more than a trip to the store to splurge on all things home. Whether it's a new organizer for my desk or a fresh pair of curtains to brighten up my living room, sprucing things up is a definite mood-booster. My guilty pleasure, though? Cleaning products. I know, it's lame -- but it's always fun to try out new brands and stock up. And the fresh smells?! I love.

With that said, cleaning products can certainly get expensive. By the time I've grabbed everything I need to tidy up my bathroom -- it's not completely out of the question to be $50 in the hole. Which is what brings me to my latest quick fix: Good 'ol baking soda.

But really, it's shocking how many different ways us normal folk can use a can of Arm & Hammer to clean surfaces in every room of the home. Check out these 5 surprising ways baking soda can clean your home:

This economy, I tell ya, it's tough. Everyone is feeling it, and I mean EVERYONE. Why, just today I came across these money-saving tips from some bankers and their wives. "Both bankers and their once free-spending wives are suddenly becoming familiar with the art of thriftiness," the article reads. DO TELL! "This is what they have imparted. We hope it is of use."

Oh man. I cannot wait to read these frugal living tips from the bankers and their wives. This is going to be good.  

I don't know about you, but over the years, I've picked up plenty of odds and ends at garage sales (which are never really held in garages, when you think about it -- usually they're more like lawn/driveway/front stoop sales). And so I see no reason why what happened to an unidentified bargain-hunting family in New York couldn't have happened to me -- maybe there's still hope! Sure, my odds of getting struck by lightning while being attacked by a shark are probably better, but a girl can dream!

Anyway. Here's the story: The aforementioned family was at a garage sale one day when somebody (maybe the mom?) spotted a simple but elegant glass bowl. Hmm. There were a few nicks and scratches here and there, maybe a tiny crack or two, but it was pretty and simple and she'd been looking for something to put on the mantelpiece.

Let me be the first to tell you that pastels are most definitely not reserved for girls! The wall color in this nursery done for baby Jude will testify as much. It's such an inviting space and you'll love to see how it all came together after being gutted down to the literal bare bones.

Click through for more!

Meet the Wagasky’s, the Las Vegas family of four that lives debt-free on (wait for it) $14,000 a year. That’s just over a thousand bucks a month, folks. A scratch under $270 a week. I hate to say it, but I don’t think that even covers our grocery bill. But dad Jason and mom Danielle have found a way to make it work, and they say it makes them “happier” and “a better family.”

The frugal lifestyle began out of necessity in 2008 when Jason, a former Army sergeant, was stationed in Iraq. Danielle was left managing the home, two kids (Keigan and Libby), and the budget.

Ah, the day after Christmas. The celebrating is (temporarily) over. You have a vague “what the hell just happened” feeling. And it’s time to shop. I know, I know, some of you would rather eat a pile of grass than brave the crowds today. I agree. But dude -- the sales are crazy. It’s worth it to just get up early; pack a bottle of water, maybe a snack; organize your receipts; and head out into the wild, wild world of Day After Christmas Shopping. And you don’t want to skip these places if you do so, because their sales are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Come on, you can do it -- here are 5 places with awesome post-holiday sales.

If you're feeling the pinch this year, you're not alone. With the struggling economy and high unemployment rate, most of us are watching our sad, sad, empty wallets even closer this season. The gifts, the travel, the feasting -- it all adds up pretty quickly. That's why we gotta keep our eye on the prize, and our bank accounts, and follow some simple tips for saving money during the holidays. So! Here are 10 ways to do so.

Be careful what you post on Craigslist. And be sure you're very, very explicit about exactly what it is you're offering, or you could wind up like one poor Georgia family.

Facing foreclosure on their home of 20 years, Pam Hobbs and her son lost even more when a yard sale posting on Craigslist gave people the impression that it wasn't just the furniture in the driveway they were giving away for free. Folks were welcome to come into their home and take anything -- and everything -- they could get their hands on. Total. Chaos.