Blog Posts by All You Magazine

No small change! These things can really dig into your budget.*Thanks to the drought affecting much of the United States, food prices continue to rise. Last week, we mentioned an increase in produce prices, particularly corn and soybeans. Now, both beef and poultry prices are expected to increase soon, with beef prices rising 4 to 5 percent.

AND SOME GOOD NEWS: You may not have control over rising beef and poultry prices but you can keep your grocery bill steady by purchasing and consuming less meat. Here are a few tips on going meat-free (even a day of vegetarian meals will help) and some easy meatless recipes. Not sure you're ready to take the plunge? Use these tips to stretch out grocery staples.

*If an amazing offer to go the 2012 Olympics appears in your inbox, beware! With all the hype of the approaching games, scammers are taking notice and sending emails with the sole intention of stealing your information--and your money. So far, 124 scams have been detected. Many of the emails are disguised as being from the Olympic games themselves,

Why buy what you could make at home?Dishes, silverware and glassware come out shiny and clean thanks to this simple three-ingredient powder containing antibacterial grapefruit essential oil.

Prep: 4 min.

Cost: $2.45

Yield: 32 oz. (enough for 32 loads)

YOU'LL NEED

• Rubber gloves
• Measuring cup
• Mixing bowl
• 32-oz. lidded plastic container

Related 10 more cleaning products you can make yourself!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups washing soda
• 2 cups borax
• 25 drops grapefruit essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Put on gloves. Add washing soda, borax and oil to bowl, stirring with your hands to mix and eliminate clumps. Transfer powder to plastic container. Use 2 Tbsp. detergent per wash. You also can add 1 tsp. vinegar , if desired, to the rinse cycle to prevent spots on silverware and glasses.

Buying a dishwasher? Check out our buying guide

When life gives you lemons, why not whiten your nails? We've got 13 genius uses for this inexpensive citrus fruit.
1. Whiten Nails: Cut a lemon in half and rub on your nails for about seven minutes. The acidity will help remove any yellow tint.
2. Soften skin. Combine lemon zest with sugar and soak the mixture with olive oil for 30 minutes for a homemade body scrub. Give a little extra TLC to dry patches on the elbows, ankles and knees.
Related: 11 Uses for Petroleum Jelly
3. Add sunny highlights. Want to lighten your tresses a notch or two? Mix lemon juice with your favorite conditioner and apply to damp locks before heading out to catch some rays.
4. Fix a streaky tan. To lighten a botched self-tanning job, rub a halved lemon over the area.
5. Zap Zits. Try lemon juice on blackheads at night to clear up skin Gargle with lemon juice and water to kill odor-causing bacteria, or suck on the lemon wedge served with your water.
Get six more uses for lemons on AllYou.com

No small change! These four things can really dig into your budget.If you're renting a home, you may want to watch your wallet. In the 12-month period that ended June 30, U.S. rental prices rose an average of 5.4%. According to CNN Money, increased costs can be attributed to demand from former homeowners displaced by foreclosure and potential homebuyers who failed to qualify for mortgages.
AND SOME GOOD NEWS: With mortgage rates at a record low and home prices decreasing, now is a good time to consider buying a home instead of continuing to rent. If you're not ready to take the plunge and buy a home just yet, a new job could help make paying rent a little less of a financial burden. While it's not exactly wonderful, the job market did perk up last month. Claims for unemployment benefits fell, fewer individuals were laid off, and private businesses added 176,00 jobs in June.

This year, it's more expensive to own and operate a vehicle than it was last year. AAA recently released their 2011 Your Driving Costs report, which found that the cost of owning

Save hundreds of dollars over the course of a year with these common household products that do the same job as your pricey favorites for much less.

1. Swap: Shaving cream for hair conditioner
Save: About $4
Why? Shaving cream creates a layer between the razor and your skin while protecting from nicks and cuts. But conditioners work just as well, and they moisturize while you shave.

2. Swap: Dry shampoo for baby powder
Save: About $8
Why? If you don't have enough time to wash your locks, rub baby powder into your roots. Massage it in well, then brush it out. This trick also gives flat, greasy hair more oomph.

3. Swap: Body scrub for epsom salts
Save: About $10
Why? A bath with Epsom salts can help ease stress and tension, but did you know that these salts also can give you smooth, radiant skin? Simply mix a handful into your body wash (or a spoonful into your face wash). It sloughs off dead skin and revives your complexion instantly.

4. Swap: Styling cream for

Are you taking a trip this summer? Consider putting a hold on some of your monthly services to save enough to offset the cost of some of those souvenirs and restaurant meals.

Services to Suspend
YOUR PHONE SERVICE: Ask your wireless or landline provider for a voluntary suspension- you'll still have access to 611 and 911. Also turn off your smartphone's data-roaming and auto-check functions to avoid paying for e-mail that comes through if you're traveling abroad.

YOUR CABLE SERVICE: Depending on the provider, you might be able to put this on hold, or score a "seasonal plan." If not, see if you can switch to a more basic, lower-cost plan during your vacation.

Related: Lower (or eliminate!) your cable bill

YOUR DIRECTV: As long as you don't have a balance on your DirecTV bill and aren't ending service for more than six months, it won't cost you anything to suspend it. Remember to ask before you act. When you request a hold on your services, find out if there are any fees or any time

Why buy a medicine cabinetful of products when that humble tub you have on hand can do so many jobs?

1. REMOVE EYE MAKEUP: Coat your lids, then gently swab with a tissue.

2. HIGHLIGHT CHEEKBONES: Fake a model's bone structure by patting and blending a tiny amount across cheekbones. The shine attracts light and creates a contoured effect.

3. GLOSS YOUR LIPS: Add red food dye-or tastier cherry Kool-Aid powder-to a dab of petroleum jelly for instant lip color.

4. INTENSIFY EYE SHADOW: Morph your powder shadows into creams for a more pigmented color (prime your lids with foundation and translucent powder first to avoid creasing).

Related: Our favorite editor-approved drugstore mascara

5. GET AN EVEN TAN: Dry skin tends to soak up excess tanning lotion, leaving skin splotchy. Smooth on petroleum jelly before tanner.

Related: 6 Beautiful Uses for Lemons

6. PRESERVE YOUR FRAGRANCE: Dab on pulse points, like your wrists and the sides of your neck, before spritzing on

Looking for ways to save money on groceries? Start by knowing when grocery stores are tricking you into spending more money than you intended, and adjust your shopping strategy accordingly.

[Source: Daily Savings from All You] For more tips on smart shopping flip through this free digital issue of All You! [/sourcecode]

Related: Cook from Your Pantry: 9 Meals You Don't Have to Shop For