October 5, 2004

Frugal Parrot PerchParrot perches can be quite expensive. They need jungle gyms and toys to play with or else they get bored and begin to exhibit negative behaviors like feather plucking.

 

Kids Jacket SwapKids grow out of their jackets really quickly but the jackets don't seem to wear out quickly. Get together some of your friends and host a jacket or coat swap. You can also do this with adult clothes too. Everyone needs to bring a jacket that is in good shape. And now you can swap for a good jacket that will fit your ever growing kids.

 

Make Your Own TaquitosFry any time fresh or freeze them for a quick meal. Great with sour cream, cheese, avocado, salsa, etc.

 

Help Your Local Tech School and Save MoneyI am a student at a local technical college. At the college we have Dental radiology and cosmetology. These groups are always looking for outside people to use in their practicums.

 

Alcohol - A Wonder for CleaningRubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) is very inexpensive to use. In our market you get two 16 ounce bottles for $.99. I use rubbing alcohol to clean up in the kitchen.

 

Light Your Pumpkin With Twinkle LightsAfter you have carved your halloween Jack o'lantern light him up with a set of twinkle lights set inside. You can use the battery operated kind or cut a hole low in the back and run the cord thru to the outlet.

 

Polar Fleece Blankets As SheetsI live in Adelaide, South Australia. The winters here get cold (no snow) but houses here do NOT have any form of central heating. Instead of using electric blankets (dangerous with children jumping on bed), we use polar fleece blankets as sheets.

 

Homemade TeetherMake a homemade teether for babies. Wrap an icecube inside a wash cloth and secure with a rubber band. Feels great on their gums, gives them some water to drink, and catches the drool too! By Kim in NJ

 

Homemade Outdoor Twister GameBuy a tarp that has grommets at the corners. Use four tent stakes to hold it down. Paint on your colors for your circles. Make a spinner out of a paper plate with the paper clasp in the middle of the dial.

 

Bedside Beverage IdeaMy DH is handicapped and he has a terrible time turning over his drink by the bedside. He loves to drink flavored drinks made with Splenda as he is a diabetic. I have come up with a great way to keep his drink safe and handy for him.

 

Quickly Heat Water to Peel TomatoesWhen I have a tomato that is hard to peel, but don't want to take the time to boil water to put it in. I have a Bunn coffee maker that the hot water runs right through, I make a pot of really hot water and drop the tomato in the pot of hot water.

 

Prevent Food From Sticking To Your Frying PanIf a frying pan is heated and rubbed well with salt, nothing in it will stick. By Ruth Ann

 

Preventing Barbecue Flare-upsTo prevent flare-ups when barbecuing, place lettuce leaves on the hot coals before barbecuing fatty meat. The lettuce will blacken but not ignite.

 

Prevent Grease Splatters When Frying EggsWhen frying eggs, drop a couple pinches of flour in the grease before putting eggs in to fry. It will keep grease from popping out.

 

Toothbrush BraceletsMake Bracelets out of old toothbrushes. I thought this was sorta cute! I just thought they made nice little scrubbing brushes!

 

Switching the Screen for the Storm Window on HalloweenWhen Halloween is here it's just about time to switch from a screen in the front door and a storm window. On Halloween I take the screen out - pass the candy through it and the next morning put the storm window in. I did this when I had a dog so that she wouldn't bother the goblins - now it's just an easy way to get the job done. By Barbara

 

Baby's First Halloween CardWhen my granddaughter was an infant, she was too young for trick or treating on her first Halloween so I bought a "Baby's 1st Halloween" greeting card. We dressed my granddaughter in a costume and at every house we stopped at, we said we didn't want candy but we would like them to sign the card.

 

Consumer Awareness - Free AOL AccountsRecently, myself and several others have had trouble trying to cancel AOL service after starting the "free trial". After giving a confirmation number we were still being billed for service we had cancelled. I haven't received this month's statement yet. I'll keep you posted. Just a heads up.

 

Recipes Using Pre Sweetened Kool-Aid?I have too much kool aid on hand after a sale this summer. I was really figuring that we would use it but we didn't! Is there a cake recipe or other dessert I can use it in so I don't waste it? I really don't need any punch. melody_yesterday

 

Wooden Spoon Reindeer?I need the directions for making Christmas Reindeer out of wooden spoons. You use the whole spoon. The handles make up the legs and the spoon makes the body. You then decorate them with felt saddles, ears and googly eyes. I just can't remember the placement of the spoon for the face.

 

Good Recipe for Seasoned Butter Beans?I would love a tasty recipe for seasoned butter beans - for crockpot or stove top. Preferably like the Glory Brand but a lot less costly --Last time I had any, they were 87 cents a can! Looking forward to hearing how everyone makes theirs! melody_yesterday