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Thrifty Tip Contest
(July 3 - 9, 2010)

This contest is over. See the winners and other entries below.

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Duration	Entries
July 3 - 9, 2010	55

Tip: Fix Sandal Clasp with Key Ring

Monica
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 297 Posts

July 9, 2010

I purchased a pair of sports sandals for $.50 at the thrift store. I hadn't noticed a plastic clasp was broken on one side of a sandal. I decided to get pliers and completely break the piece off the sandal and do the same to the other side.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 38

Tip: Refurbishing A Faded Patio Umbrella

Carol from Iowa

July 9, 2010

Our deck table needed an umbrella and someone threw one out. It was faded but otherwise in pretty good shape. I decided to spray paint it using an indoor/outdoor paint that is good for wood, metal, and more.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 19

Tip: Cleaning with Rubbing Alcohol

dorothy wedenoja
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 170 Posts

July 7, 2010

I bought a large mirror at the Goodwill several months ago. No matter what I tried to clean it with, it still had streaks and spots that would not come off. Several family members tried to clean it for me, but nothing worked.

Comment Was this helpful? 26

Feather Wreath

July 6, 2010

Here is a photo of another wreath that I took the other day in a vet's office, where I was applying for a job. I am so impressed that something so beautiful can be made from discards.

Comment Pin it! Like this photo? 25

Cutting Your Own HairTo cut your own hair so that it frames your face in layers, do the following: Standing in front of a mirror, front comb hair and fasten in a ponytail directly above your nose. Make sure that hair is evenly drawn into covered elastic band.

Designer Names at Thrift ShopsGet to know brands for the best thrift shop bargains! A $7 purse is nice, but a $7 Anne Klein purse is an even better value. The brands will probably be better made, so that the item will wear better too.

4 Comments Comment

Flavoring Water Without Adding Calories?I can't consume artificial sweetener of any kind without getting really sick, so I freeze chunks of fresh fruit and put in the freezer to use as a flavoring and cooling agent. Pineapple, lemons, limes, apples, pears, watermelon, and honeydew are all good choices.

3 Answers Answer

Give Child Your Old PhoneWhen you upgrade to a new cell phone, take out your SIM card and give your children your old cell phone. Depending on your old phones features they might be able to take pictures and play games.

Keeping Cool When Walking The DogMy dogs and I walk every morning. The weather in southern California is heating up. When it gets like this, we go out earlier in the morning and I have a hat and a kerchief which, when soaked in water keeps me cool.

2 Comments Comment

Make a Memory Board for Photos and KeepsakesOn it, I place pictures of people who have gone to heaven, special obituaries, corsages of my daughters' weddings, a metro card from my trip to New York, old badges from jobs I had and loved . . .

4 Comments Comment

Make Your Own Fabric Softener SquaresTake a package of soft cloths and cut them in half. Soak in fabric softener, wring out well, and hang dry. When ready to put a load of clothes in the dryer, slip a dried softener sheet in.

5 Comments Comment

Store Honey Bottle in a Mason JarI buy the plastic squeeze bottles of honey at the grocery store and they always drip and leave a "honey ring" in my cabinet. So here's a great tip. Put the honey bottle right inside a mason jar or other jar that it will fit into.

5 Comments Comment

Use a Window Fan To Cool HomeTo keep your house comfy and save money on electricity during summertime, buy an exhaust fan that you can easily mount/dismount in one of your windows.

5 Comments Comment

Buy and Freeze Corn In SeasonI just got finished cutting some corn off the cob and thought I'd share my thoughts on that. I have gotten to the point where, when it is on sale, I buy a few more ears of corn than we can eat at one time and cut it off the cob to freeze for later.

4 Comments Comment

Cutting WatermelonFor years I've had a difficult time cutting a whole watermelon without making a big mess. I've found that if I use a steak knife to cut a halved round watermelon around the inside like you would a grapefruit.

Easy Way to Set HairI drizzle water over a roller, shake off the excess, and set my hair. This means the tips of the hair gets the most moisture. By the time I am dressed and ready to go out, I find the hair is usually dry. If not, just a minute with the drier fixes it.

Fold Cotton Rounds To Use TwiceWhen using cotton rounds to apply facial toner/astringent, fold it in half before moistening and using it. You can use the "outer" sides of the half-moon once and depending on how dirty it gets, you can then flip it "inside out" and use it the next day

2 Comments Comment

Free Summer Museum Admission For Military FamiliesHundreds of museums across the nation, in all 50 states, are offering free admission to military members and their families. These are large museums like San Diego's Balboa Park. The free admission covers the military member, spouse, and children.

hanging soap in pantyhose

Hang Soap At Outdoor SpigotI put a bar of soap in the toe of a cut off leg of pantyhose and tie it onto my out side water faucets. It is handy for clean up after working in the yard and saves bringing the grime into the house.

8 Comments Comment

Leave Camper Refrigerator Open When EmptyIf you have a camper, you know about the refrigerator odor that can occur after a camping trip. I have found that after emptying the refrigerator, if I leave the door open, all of the condensation will evaporate from the unit.

Limit Indoor Appliance Use In SummerWhen summer hits, I try everything to keep it cool inside without running the AC 24/7. I do all my cooking outside and dry clothes outside as well. Why turn on a heating appliance and run the AC at the same time?

3 Comments Comment

A chair seat covered with a cheerful blue seat cover with fish.

Make Seat Covers from Vinyl TableclothI wanted to change the covers on my deck chairs. I purchased a colorful vinyl tablecloth at the Dollar store, cut the "fabric" to size, and used a staple gun to attach. Voila! New seat covers for very little expense!

3 Comments Comment

Never Feed Pets More Than They Can Eat At OnceI live with two independent black female cats. They are jealous siblings and each demands my undivided attention! I give each cat her own small dish of wet food. Never give your cat or dog more than they can eat at one sitting!

sewing scrubber

Pot ScrubberA pot scrubber can be easily made from a mesh vegetable bag.

Use Leftover Shampoo For CleaningI've always hated wasting shampoo and the last part of the bottle. So I bought a pretty basket and set it on the floor next to the shower, now when the bottle gets too low I put it in the basket upside down.

Use Parasol in SummerI am really enjoying my parasol this summer! Even with a hat and sunglasses, it's much nicer to have one's own shade at an outdoor party or event. And there are a lot of inexpensive options out there.

5 Comments Comment

Use Plastic Jack-'o-Lantern to Distract BugsI had let the dogs have one of those round jack-'o-lantern buckets the kids use for trick or treating. The color of it was orange and there were all these gnats or small flying bugs on it as if it were glowing. It wasn't glowing, it was just the color.

Garbage Bag Dispenser

A Garbage Bag DispenserI hate the way that rolls of trash bags get unrolled, so I found a great solution. I cut a small square hole in the top of the container with my jig saw, making a slot for the trash bags to "pop up" like they do on the baby wipe box.

7 Comments Comment

Keep Spare Pair of Sunglasses in CarNow that summer's here, keep an extra pair of sunglasses in your car or truck. That way you will have a pair if it gets too hot or you forget yours.

2 Comments Comment

Old Sweatshirt

Make Quilt From Old SweatshirtsSweatshirts can be recycled to make good quilts. They are warm enough that just a backing rather than adding batting may be sufficiently warm if a lightweight quilt is desired. I often alternate sweatshirt materials with jean material.

4 Comments Comment

woman sleeping

Nine Tips to a Great Night's SleepGet yourself tuckered out. If your body is tired, you will be tired. So instead of cracking open the back door when you get home so your beagle can get some fresh air, grab a leash for your pooch and get out for a walk. Getting your blood flowing will jump-start your energy when you are feeling sleepy and prep you to be dog-tired when nighttime rolls around.

2 Comments Comment

Bird flapping its wings.

Pay Attention To Your Bird's Body LanguageFlapping wings: clipped birds hanging onto the side of their cage and flapping their wings is an exercise for your bird and can indicate that he might need a little more activity or wants some of your attention.

1 Comment Comment

Peeling CucumbersHave a lot of cucumbers to peel or just don't like the peelings? Grab up your potato peeler. It works great especially for those that have problems with their hands.

Product Review: Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry SheetsThis product combines laundry detergent, fabric softener, and a dryer sheet into a single sheet which you place into the washer with your clothes and then transfer to the dryer.

5 Comments Comment

Baking Soda and Lemon

Removing Oil Stains From CarpetMy husband was good at tracking mud and oil into our carpet, until I finally made him clean it up. The stains were a nightmare. Not so much the mud, but the oil that he tracked in along with the mud sent me through the roof.

4 Comments Comment

Store Utensils In Jars at BuffetWe needed a thrifty cute way to hold plastic silverware on a buffet line for a 50th wedding anniversary party. This party was a casual summer time lunch buffet with sandwiches, pickles, olives, chips, and dips,etc.

4 Comments Comment

Touch Up Paint With Liquid PaperWhen we washed off a white wicket shelf that is in the bathroom (wicker doesn't mind water every once in a while), some of the paint chipped off revealing another color underneath.

Use Bait Fish As FertilizerIf you want to grow corn or tomatoes and a lot of them, go to the bait shop. Place 3 little fish about 2 inches below the plant. Cover them, plant your plant, sit back, and watch it grow. You will have more corn and tomatoes than you can use.

1 Comment Comment

Use Knife Block as ClapperI really enjoy sewing, but lack the finances to buy some things I would like to have. For quite some time, I have wished that I could afford to buy a clapper, like I have seen on some sewing shows.

2 Comments Comment

What Can You Do With Leftover Herbs?I love fresh herbs, garden grown and store bought, but I DO NOT like having to waste what isn't used. So this is what I do after cleaning and separating what is necessary for the recipe.

1 Comment Comment

Add Yogurt to Your Septic SystemYogurt does all sorts of wonderful things to keep you septic system in tip-top shape. It puts a great number of tireless cultures in there to get the job done and there is nothing much cheaper you can do that does as much good.

Baby Wipes for Quick Bathroom CleanupLike a lot of people, I keep baby wipes on the back of the toilet. Well, I pulled one out and wiped off the holder and what a beautiful shine I got. Looking in the mirror I noticed a few toothpaste stains, so I proceed to wipe it away with another baby wipe.

3 Comments Comment

Craft: Top Hat CenterpieceI bought plastic top-hats at a discount party store for about $1.00 each, punched a small hole in the top, and used curling ribbon to anchor gold balloons to the hat.

2 Comments Comment

Dish Detergent and Bleach to Kill Lawn PestsKeep your lawn free of fleas, ticks, and pests by mixing 1 cup Joy detergent or any cheap liquid dish detergent and 1 cup bleach with a gallon of water. Put in garden sprayer and spray lawn. This will keep your yard pest free for the summer.

4 Comments Comment

red and green biscuits

Homemade Dog and Cat TreatsI've collected these pet treat recipes over a period of the past 20 years, have tried them all, and cats and dogs have liked them all. Of course, we've been owned by a few that would eat just about anything, so that may not be the best judge of them being wholesome.

3 Comments Comment

Host a "Pancake Palooza"Several times throughout the summer, we have a "Pancake Palooza". We set up a food station with one or two electric griddles, the fixings for the pancakes, a crock pot with pre-browned, cooked sausages, a cooler with either little bottles or a pitcher of juice, and coffee.

2 Comments Comment

Make Reusable Absorbent Towels

Make Reusable Absorbent TowelsDo you use a lot of paper towels? Here's a way to help cut down and save money in the process. Get some flannel and some terry cloth from the fabric store; about 3 yards of each.

11 Comments Comment

Mosquito Prevention TipsI eat a clove of garlic and dab a few drops of patchouli oil on myself and am not bitten by mosquitoes. This will last for three days on me. I have tried without patchouli since I eat garlic anyway. The bugs bit me.

2 Comments Comment

Recycled Planters For Mother's DayAs a preschool Sunday School teacher, I had the children plant flowers to be good size by Mother's Day. To decorate our plastic margarine/butter/sour cream containers, I wanted to make them look like the floral shop plants.

Simple Ways to Manage Energy Costs

Simple Ways to Manage Energy CostsEducate yourself to understand your utility bills and each line item and charge included in your bill. Knowledge can save you money!

5 Comments Comment

Spray Wrinkle Releaser RecipeYou can mix a small amount of any type liquid clothes softener with water in a spray bottle then hang the wrinkled item on a hanger and spray generously.

7 Comments Comment

Trash Bin as Rain BarrelWith all the talk of saving water, I have not seen a suggestion to save rain water. Why let it run into the street? You can buy special rain water savers but why not make your own.

2 Comments Comment

Use Baggie Instead of FunnelI needed to transfer some very small pet food to a better container and I couldn't find my funnel, because I live with a lot of people who don't put things back. I tried making a small hole into a sandwich bag and inserting the hole into the container.

4 Comments Comment

Uses for Bagged Shredded CabbageBagged shredded cabbage is great for making your own coleslaw. My hubby just adds salad dressing. It also can be thrown into soup as a veggie.

4 Comments Comment

Watch For Semi-Precious Stones In JewelryWhen most people think of gems they think of diamonds and other precious ones, but there are lovely semi-precious stones that are lovely and very affordable.

2 Comments Comment

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