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Thrifty Tip Contest
(May 1 - June 30, 2017)

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May 1 - June 30, 201776


Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,298 Posts
May 10, 2017

Our family plan is unlimited talk, text and shared 10GB of data among four phone lines. I remind everyone on the plan to turn off cellular data when they're using WI-FI (free internet) so we know for sure we are not using cellular data and that will prevent from overcharges on our bill.

A phone showing cellular data off.

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Placing a drinking straw as a channel for draw cords in clothing.
Drinking Straw for Threading Draw CordsI use a drinking straw when threading draw cords from my hoodie jackets, and on my shorts. This way, it makes it easy to pull it through. Just insert the draw cord into the drinking straw and staple it so that it won't slip away when you pull it. It is an easy way to keep the draw string in place!

 
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A tube of Systane eye lubricant.
Lubricate Dry Eyes at NightIf you suffer from dry eyes, especially at night, apply a thin layer of eye ointment underneath your lower eye lid. The ointment will keep your eyes moist throughout the night until morning. The ointment I use is over the counter and accessible for anyone to purchase.

 
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Recharge Your Car's Air Conditioning (Freon)
Recharge Your Car's Air Conditioning (Freon)Summer's here and having cold blowing air conditioning is a must have! It isn't the greatest time to refill air conditioning at the auto shops or dealership now because they'll charge a leg and an arm for a 15 minute simple recharge of freon.

 
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Free Classes at Apple Stores - shipping box for computer
Free Classes at Apple StoresIf you own or plan to own an iMac, do not toss your box away. The box is structurally designed so you could easily package your iMac again for on the go, for a move, or for instances where you need to bring your iMac back to the Apple Store for repairs or to take advantage of the free classes.

 
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Order Low Or No Ice for Drinks at a Restaurant - glass of strawberry lemonade
Order Low Or No Ice for Drinks at a RestaurantWhen I'm eating at a restaurant, I sometimes splurge my money on a strawberry lemonade beverage. To get my money's worth, I always tell the waiter easy on the ice. If I don't mention easy on the ice, they'll fill the cup completely with ice so, by the time I take a couple sips I would already have finished my drink.

 
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Themed vases originally designed for Mother's Day.
Shop after Seasonal Holidays for Big SavingsIf you shop after Seasonal Holidays like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. you can save at least 50-75%, if you are lucky some stores even offer up to 90% off.

 
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Using a pair of tongs to squeeze juice from a lemon.
Use Tongs to Squeeze LemonsThe simplest way to juice a lemon is to cut it into half and find a juicer. When don't have one, find a food tong and clip one half of lemon. Hold the tong on both ends and press in full force to release the lemon juice inside.

 
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Flat ironing twisted sections of hair.
Big Voluminous Waves With a Flat IronI originally started doing this trick because I wanted to save space in my luggage on trips by not packing both my flat iron and my curling iron. But now I love this look so much that I do it instead of using my curling iron. I get a much more natural curl rather than tight spiral curls from my curling iron.

 
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A brand new new Apple computer.
Educational Discounts on Apple ProductsIn June of 2016, I shopped Apple's Back to School Deal where I was able to receive an Education Pricing Discount on my iMac purchase plus, eligible for the current promotional offer which was a pair of wireless beats for free with purchase, a $299 value.

 
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A display of 4th of July themed glow products.
Glow Sticks for Fourth of JulyFor only 97 cents each, you can buy assorted glow accessories like: necklaces, headbands, flags, wands and more. This is ideal for summer camping nights, or specifically Fourth of July when it's fireworks at night! The kids will have a blast with these lights and be festive!

 
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A rubber band being used as a bookmark
Rubber Bands as BookmarksSince reading is one of my past times, I always have many kinds of bookmarks on hand. One of them is the simple rubber band. Every time I take a break from reading, I just insert my rubber band as my bookmark. Simple yet helpful.

 
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An empty mug next to a sachet of instant coffee.
Sachet as Coffee StirrerJust in case you forget to bring a coffee stirrer along with your instant coffee, use the sachet packaging. After emptying a sachet, fold it three times and use it as your coffee stirrer. Just make sure it's all cleaned up. Wipe it up before using.

 
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Avoid Lightning Strikes with Plastic Tipped Umbrella - hand under plastic tip
Avoid Lightning Strikes with Plastic Tipped UmbrellaI live in a tropical country. We don't have snow, but we have rainy seasons with thunder and lightning, so we have to choose an umbrella very well. We should be looking at the tip of the umbrella, what I mean is the finial end of the umbrella. It should be plastic not the metal one.

 
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Compare Prices for the Best Value - screen shot of price comparison
Compare Prices for the Best ValueThe internet is an amazing resource to compare prices to see if you are getting the best value possible! A travel mug featuring 7 hours hot, leak proof, and 18 hours cold interested me. The mug was reasonably priced, or what I thought was reasonable before researching.

 
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Prevent Bubbles in Nail Polish - rolling bottle between hands
Prevent Bubbles in Nail PolishPrevent bubbles in your nail polish. First do not shake your nail polish. This helps to avoid bubbles. Second do not hit the nail polish bottle on your hands because this too also can create bubbles.

 
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A sign for your car that reads "Baby on Board!"
Baby On Board Sign for your CarMany assume "Baby on Board!" sign is so others can drive carefully but actually the sign is for an emergency. If the car was to be in an accident, the sign will allow emergency personnel to know immediately there may be a baby or child in the car who may not be able to help themselves out and needs assistance.

 
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A 5 gallon bucket from Firehouse Subs, for use in gifting.
Father's Day Goodie BucketWhat a great idea for Father's Day! No more boring ties or coffee mugs. I buy an empty pickle barrel from Firehouse Subs, and they donate the proceeds from those sales back to local firefighters. Then I fill it with chips, candy, DVDs, cigars, socks, ink pens; a variety of little things both useful and tasty!

 
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Magnesium and zinc supplements for tinnitus
Magnesium and Zinc for TinnitusRecently, my tinnitus got so bad I was not able to sleep, hearing loud buzzing sounds inside my head that nothing could cancel. I was ready to try anything, even surgery, but a holistic health professional suggested I try magnesium and zinc.

 
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A sticky note being pulled from left to right.
Proper Way of Pulling Sticky NotesI've always had sticky notes, not only in the office but also at home and in my bag. But one common problem of sticky notes is pulling it off in a wrong way. Most of us will pull it from the bottom to the top and this results the paper to curl when we stick it.

 
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Using a chair back to stretch out new underwear.
Stretching New Underwear ElasticI bought some new panties and the elastic in the waist was too tight. I put them on the back of this chair and left it for a few days until it stretched to the same size as my old ones. Now I can wear them.

 
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A screen in a car for connecting a smartphone.
Use Caution When Connecting A Smartphone to a CarWhen a smartphone is connected to a car, you are basically sharing your personal information. It is best to not connect your smartphone to a car that is not yours, especially a rental. If you do, please make sure to erase all your information and clear the history.

 
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Birthday Freebies - Sephora makeup
Birthday FreebiesMake sure you register for birthday rewards a few months before your birthday. I have received: $10 gift card to Victoria's Secret, $25 to Williams Sonoma (you must have their credit card), sample makeup from Ulta and Sephora, a sandwich from Honey Baked Ham, and a silver necklace from Helzberg Diamonds.

 
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Homemade Small Toiletry Containers - two spice containers in plastic bags to protect against spills
Homemade Small Toiletry ContainersI often house sit. When it's at certain homes, I don't get to share their "girly" hair care items. Often too, I find myself without medicine bottles to take small amounts with me. Today was one of those days so I cut down a zipper bag and made two spice containers safe to travel with the liquid inside.

 
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Keep Beauty Products Receipts for Refunds - nail polish and top coat
Keep Beauty Products Receipts for RefundsSome stores offer 100% guaranteed satisfaction toward beauty products. If a beauty product does not work for you, you can actually get a refund of your money back even if the product has been opened and used.

 
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Quickly Cool a Hot Car - open door
Quickly Cool a Hot CarThis is the most annoying situation, parking your car under the heat of the sun. When you get inside, it feels as if you were inside the oven! It burns all over! I hope that this tip can contribute to lessening the heat inside of your car.

 
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A bottle being turned upside down.
Get Every Last Drop out of Your BottlesI always store my bottles upside down, but a bit still remains. I hold the bottle by the bottom, and move it quickly in a circular motion. The centrifugal force allows all the remaining contents to drift to the bottom, enabling me to use it all.

 
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Wooden supports to keep a leaning fence upright.
Support for a Leaning FenceIf your fence is leaning over, but still in decent condition, both you and your neighbor can use wood to lean the fence up on both sides. We had leftover wood, so we cut a small piece and then screwed it to the fence, then used a longer piece of wood at an angle for support. This method has been holding up for over a year!

 
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A hand with clean and bright fingernails.
Thrifty Nail BrightenerI am now 54 so my nails are not as bright as they were when I was younger. After many years of wearing nail varnish and false nails, they have yellowed a bit. I came up with a little idea when I bought a new illuminator powder.

 
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Cell Phone Holder - TP tube phone holder
Cell Phone HolderHere is an idea for a simple do it yourself phone holder. Decorate the toilet paper roll as you would like, cut a hole in the top for your phone, and then use 4 tacks to make the roll stand. Also this doubles as a speaker.

 
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Count Cash Before Inserting into ATM - photo of an ATM
Count Cash Before Inserting into ATMA couple years ago, I encountered a malfunction at an ATM machine. This was when depositing without an envelope slip or punching in the amount you were going to deposit was just discontinued.

 
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Secure Your Sliding Door and Windows - length of wood inside the sliding door track
Secure Your Sliding Door and WindowsSliding doors and windows are an easy way to attract burglars when they are open and unsupervised. To prevent the thought of burglars and feel safe in your own home, you can purchase pieces of wood or PVC pipe.

 
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A bag of marshmallows stored in the freezer to be used as an ice pack.
Boo-Boo Marshmallow BagIce is great for boo-boos, but marshmallows are even better because there are no pointy edges. I have a package in the freezer, still in it's original bag, to use for headaches, bruises or other boo-boos.

 
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A window covered with a privacy window film.
Frosted Privacy Window FilmFrosted privacy window film is fairly inexpensive. This film is ideal if you are living in a rental home, do not want to damage the windows or close the curtains. With the film, you are still receiving natural sunlight.

 
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A wrinkled bill from the Philippines, being ironed.
Ironing MoneyWrinkled money problems? Let's make it easy to look clean, smooth and flat. I just grab my flat iron, put it in a low heat and iron my money. I do this every time I get home. My sister used to do this also. Try it!

 
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A gas pump before pumping gas.
Snap a Photo of the Gas Pump Instead of a ReceiptFor as long as I have been driving, I would always get a receipt just in case there is a bill discrepancy. Instead, now I snap a photo as my proof and it'll be on my phone just in case, plus the time and location on the photo.

 
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Scissors cutting through sandpaper to sharpen them.
Sharpen Scissors with SandpaperSharpening scissors is one of my problems. Since I have a kindergartener and a grade 3 kiddo, projects are always under way in school. Of course, I have to assist them on their school projects. And because scissors are often needed, using them for a long time makes them dull.

 
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A coin bank with some coins around the base.
Teaching Kids to SaveI have this coconut bear coinbank which I got four years ago. This was a freebie from opening a kiddie bank account for my child. The bank gave this to encourage parents to teach children to keep at least a single penny a day.

 
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A grey security mailbox with a key.
Upgrade to a Security MailboxBy having a secured mailbox with a key lock, it can prevent people from attempting to steal your mail and provides you a sense of relief if you are expecting urgent or important mail.

 
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A fruit drink in a plastic bottle.
Bee Diverter for PicnicsI always put a saucer full of something sweet far away from our picnic site, especially up on Roan Mountain, TN. Roan Mountain State Park is just so lovely, we can't resist going there with a nice picnic.

 
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A dress on a hanger in a doorway.
Fashion is Where You Find ItI have posted before about scoring fabulous finds at my local thrift shop. This dress was $5 and looked like it was made for me. If I had a dollar for each compliment I got when I wore it yesterday, I would have made several times the purchase price.

 
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Rubbing sandpaper across a metal food grater.
How to Sharpen a Food GraterRegular usage can sometimes make your food grater dull over time. I use a piece of sandpaper to sharpen my grater. Simply cut a small piece of fine grit sandpaper and wipe the grater from the bottom to the top.

 
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Logo for ThriftyFun Tips
If Your Riding Mower Will Not StartIf your riding mower will not start (most of these tips are applicable to push mowers also).

 
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A pair of shoes bracing a door open.
Shoes for Bracing a Door OpenI have a magnetic screen on the door and I like to open the sliding door for a nice cross breeze. Today I was trying to brace the door open and had a pair of shoes close and it hit me. Put one on the outside and one on the inside. Perfect solution and I didn't have to spend a dime!

 
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A shopping list written on a piece of paper.
Save Time and Money with a Shopping ListWhen I write a shopping list, I know exactly what I need to purchase and get out of the store so I will not overspend or purchase unnecessary splurge items. I will also save time by having a list in-front of me when I shop.

 
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Two pairs of shoes under a worktable.
Leave Sets of Footwear at WorkI have plenty of damaged shoes from getting soaked in the rain. I developed a habit of keeping a pair of shoes under my worktable.

 
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A computer screen showing how to use Window's Quick Launch options.
Using Windows Quick LaunchWhen I got my first computer, I went to the Start Button and Control Panel for everything. Then I discovered I could open all Windows folders and much more, right from my desktop with one click. No need to go to Start and then Control panel.

 
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A bottle of baby powder and a basin of ice water.
Jamsu Makeup Priming TechniqueJamsu is a Korean makeup technique that is all the rage right now. You can get beautiful matte looking skin without any use of primers or setting powders. All you need is a baby powder and a big bowl of ice water.

 
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An In-N-Out Burger T-Shirt placed over a pillow, with a second bright yellow T_Shirt pillow behind.
T-Shirt as Pillow CoversHere is a way to make pillow covers with t-shirts. Whether they are too big, bright, or loud, they can be reused as fun and funky decorative pillows.

 
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A package of screws, sealed inside tape.
Use Tape to Keep Track of HardwareTiny little bolts, screws and springs can be reused again but can be hard to find or easily lost. If they are left scattered, it could be very dangerous to your toddlers.

 
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A desk mat under a laptop computer on a wooden desk.
Desk Mat to Protect from Scratches and SpillsIf you want to keep your desk in new condition and scratch free, I would recommend purchasing a desk mat/pad. Not only will your desk mat help prevent scratches but also serve as a mouse pad if you have a mouse, or use a wireless mouse, and easy clean if you spill anything.

 
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A garage door opener remote control.
Keep Your Garage Door Opener Remote SafeA garage door opener remote could be a key to your home. If left out visible in a vehicle, it could attract robbers, especially since your home address is on your car registration which is typically in your glovebox.

 
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A lit crayon in a candle holder.
Crayon as Alternative CandleThis is an emergency tip. If you are out of candles or you are in a camping trip with kids, Crayola crayons are another alternate to candles. Lighting a crayon can last for 30 minutes!

 
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A bottle of canola oil next to a refill pack.
Keep Containers and Buy Refill PacksWe always buy in big portions at home so we can save more time and money. Keeping the containers and buying refill packs instead of buying another bottle of liquid ingredients can save you almost 50% of your expenses.

 
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Items in a home prepared for an indoor yard sale.
Planning an Indoor Yard SaleI want to get a dog. I don't have much money but I do have lots of stuff. I decided to have an indoor yard sale inside my apartment. My living room is full of normal yard sale stuff. My dining room is full of nice crystal, collectable items, etc.

 
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A collection of mismatched glasses on a countertop.
Matching Glassware is UnnecessaryWhen I first married, everything had to be a complete set. I found it was impossible to keep up with drinking glasses, as they broke more frequently than I expected. I found that I could pick up glasses for as little as a dime at garage sales and thrift shops.

 
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Fingernails with a natural manicure.
Natural NailsIf you ever want to make your nails look way nicer without having to go to the nail salon and spend a outrageous amount of money on your nails, then just add a single coat of a pearl pink polish to your nails.

 
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A repaired shoelace being inserted into the eyelet of a pair of shoes.
Scotch Tape for ShoelacesSince I have an 8 year old boy, shoelaces are my problem. At this age, they are very active on playing, running, and activities at school. Sometimes, the tip of the shoelace will get split and it's hard to get it inserted into the holes of the shoes.

 
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Woman using dental floss to apply eyeliner
Dental Floss Pick As an Eyeliner GuideThe majority of my girlfriends have trouble applying wing-tipped eyeliner. I always give them this tip. Paint some liquid eyeliner onto the string of a dental floss pick then hold it against your eyelid to get the perfect line. Let it dry then fill in the triangular portion under it. Perfection!

 
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Using a binder clip for your toothpaste.
Using a Binder Clip for ToothpasteUse those binder clips from your office for toothpaste. Fold the bottom of the toothpaste tube and clip it with the binder.

 
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Wedding invitations using a printed kit.
Using a Printable Kit for Wedding InvitationsI am currently planning our thrifty wedding for 2018. Since we are having a small wedding with less than 60 people, I would need no more than 30 invitations. I browsed a couple of websites and estimated it would cost anywhere from $150 to $300 for custom made invitations!

 
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A beautiful bunch of flowers for Mother's Day.
Sprite to Preserve Mother's Day FlowersThree days before Mother's Day, my two little angels gave me flowers. Because I wanted them to last longer, I added Sprite. They will last for 10 days, and those petals will not pull off easily.

 
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Check your Car's Lights Regularly
Check Your Car's Lights RegularlyIt is important to check all your headlights, blinkers, brake light and signals to see if they are working properly. I do this bi-weekly, just a few minutes out of your day.

 
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Clear pockets for holding worksheets.
Reusable Dry Erase PocketsIf you have kids, these reusable dry erase pockets are extremely useful. The trim of the pockets are neon and fun which attracts attention of the littles ones! No need for laminating papers, just slide the worksheet(s) in and allow your kids to be able to write on them like a dry eraser board.

 
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A hair dryer being used to remove wrinkles from a shirt.
Use Hair Dryer to Remove Wrinkles in ClothesJust hang your crumpled shirt, spray it with water and start blowing it with your hair blower! This is for an emergency situation, especially if you are going to a special occasion, like a wedding. So now there's no need to worry if you carry a wrinkled shirt.

 
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A hotel lobby.
How To Get A Cheaper Hotel RateFinding an affordable hotel room can be a hassle, but with these tips it can be much easier. This post will focus on IHG hotels, as I work for an IHG brand hotel but most tips should work in general.

 
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A Shark Navigator Lift-Away in a hallway.
Product Review: Shark Navigator Lift-AwayThis vacuum has excellent suction and is bagless. I save a lot of money not having to buy bags. It is lightweight and the power head is removable. It has many attachments, and has a microfiber cloth that attaches to one of the attachments for bare floors.

 
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An updo wrap to attach to black hair.
Beautiful Hair with an Updo WrapIf you want an effortless and beautiful hair updo that literally takes you less than a minute to do, I would recommend purchasing one of the hair updo wraps. It is very easy to use, just tie your hair in a bun, clip your hair and put the hair updo around the bun in your hair. That's it!

 
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A pink rose growing outside.
Mother's Day Flowers That Will Never FadeA gift is always appreciated more when thought goes into it. I found these beautiful flowers in front of the medical center where I go to pick up medicine for the family. I took a couple of pictures of the flowers. I am going to send my elderly mother an email with this flower in it, as a card.

 
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A clasp bracelet and a roll of tape.
Putting On a Clasp BraceletWearing a bracelet with a clasp takes time to put on. It can make you angry sometimes or even fall off when it is already on your wrist! I just cut a small piece of Scotch tape, put my bracelet on my wrist and tape it on. That way, I can hook the clasp on the ring of my bracelet without it falling off my wrist.

 
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A background placed on a wall with bunting to be used as a photo booth.
DIY Photo Booth for PartiesPhoto booths are very popular at parties especially birthdays, engagement parties, weddings, baby showers, get-togethers, holidays and so forth. If you're on a budget - you could have a make shift do it yourself photo booth with simple items you may already have around your home!

 
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A pinecone painted green and placed in a small pot.
Painted Pinecone as Faux SucculentI made a small faux succulent out of a green painted pinecone. I also made a planter that fit it just right out of a plastic scoop. When the pinecone is painted green and dried, it looks like a succulent plant in a little planter. I placed it in my garden, and it looks adorable!

 
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A paintbrush dipped in a container of boric acid.
Rid Your Kitchen Of AntsIf you see ants in your kitchen, it's really pointless to kill them. If you kill 10, they wont be missed by the nest which may contain thousands. You can use these 10+ ants to your advantage.

 
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Coupons and samples from writing companies.
Compliment Companies to Receive Coupons and PerksI saw this tip on a thrifty-type reality show. The woman said "if you write to companies of food that you habitually shop with just to compliment them on their product, they will send coupons."

 
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Bottles of coconut oil at a supermarket.
Oil Pulling for Dental HealthThis is a very old Ayurvedic tradition that is very helpful. What you basically do is take a tablespoonful or two of oil, swish it around in your mouth for 10 minutes, then spit it out and then rinse your mouth with warm water afterwards.

 
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A white car's back tire.
Tire Rotation Maintenance for Longer Lasting TiresIf you rotate your tires every 3,000 - 8,000 miles, you will have even wear on all four of your tires. This will ultimately allow your tires to last much longer! On average, a set of brand new tires last me at least 4 years!

 
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