It all started when my friend Rosalie told me she's going to start roasting her own coffee beans in her kitchen. In a popcorn popper. The motivation? First, quality and taste, but also to cut the high cost of quality coffee by at least half. That was enough to get my attention.

Every week, I invite readers of this column to send me their clever tips for how to save time and money. Then, once a week, I open the Everyday Cheapskate mailbox to let you take a look. So many of you tell me this is your favorite day of the week. It’s mine, too!