Thrifty Tip Contest (December 11 - 17, 2010) | ThriftyFun

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(December 11 - 17, 2010)

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

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Duration	Entries
December 11 - 17, 2010	60

Tip: Index Cards to Keep Track of Seldom Used Items

ChurchGrandma (j.a.) Manweiler

December 17, 2010

When reorganizing my home, I used to forget where seldom-used items got redirected to. After some frustrations, I learned to keep a recipe card file of alphabetized note cards, one for each item I moved.

Comment Was this helpful? 17

Tip: Turn Microwave Plate and Turntable Into A Lazy Susan

(Guest)
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 846 Posts

December 15, 2010

I recently saw a tip about recycling a microwave plate. Besides keeping the glass microwave plate when replacing your microwave; be sure to also keep the plastic piece the plate sits on that works as the microwave turntable.

Comment Was this helpful? 27

Tip: Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide

December 14, 2010

Peroxide is cheaper than bleach, healthier for you, and kills bacteria. Check out these options: Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out to cure canker sores.

Comment Was this helpful? 21

E-Cards For the HolidaysOne of the easiest ways to save some money this Christmas is to send E-Cards instead of using the traditional paper and post method. The trick is to achieve this without looking either cheap or uncaring.

1 Comment Comment

Keep Perfume Sample Cards in ClosetDo you use fragrance samples from magazines or do you ignore them? I stopped using perfume many moons ago, but use these samples in my closet. I have a canvas shoe holder and clip the sample card on a hanger near the shoes.

Letter Carrier Gift IdeaCover a clean empty can with paper (or leave uncovered and decorate if you wish) , fill with a variety of small wrapped candies, and stick in your mailbox. Raise flag on mailbox.

3 Comments Comment

Lid as Cat ToyHere's another free cat toy. Save the cap from your dish washing liquid, thoroughly wash away soap, and give it a little kick across the carpet or tile. My cat Jack loves to chase these and thinks they're extra fun when it bounces against something!

1 Comment Comment

Lime Gelatin TreesUse pointed paper cups for making lime gelatin "trees." Cut away paper when mold is firm and decorate with cream cheese or Cool Whip.

1 Comment Comment

Make Your Own Pet BedRecycle your old bed pillows to make your pet a bed. Put the old bed pillows through the washer and dryer to clean and fluff them up. Then use the pillow fill to make a custom bed for your pet.

2 Comments Comment

Old Cell Phone for EmergenciesI have an elderly mother who likes to work in her garden, often when I'm not at home. Rather than have her carry an awkward portable phone outside for emergencies, I wanted to buy her an economical cell phone, but was annoyed with all the charges and limitations.

3 Comments Comment

Print Recipes in Letter Format

Print Recipes in Letter FormatIf you print recipes from a website in letter or A4 format, you can put them into a plastic sleeve and put them on the fridge or other metal surface with a magnet. You can keep several recipes in one sleeve and swap recipes as you need them.

Reuse Baby Jars for CondimentsUse plastic baby food containers to hold condiments for lunch sandwiches or use to hold egg salad or tuna salad for lunch or picnic sandwiches.

Store Puzzle Pieces in Ziploc BagsMy toddler grandson loves puzzles. We have many boxes of them - 35-55 pieces each. So the pieces don't get mixed up with other puzzles, I bag each puzzle in a zip locked baggy (sandwich size) and place it back into the puzzle box.

1 Comment Comment

Tip for Fall MumsIf you like fall Mums this tip is for you! This is a pass on tip, it's been recommended to me to trim your mums down to 4 inches on or close to the 4th of July.

2 Comments Comment

Tip for Smooth GravyHere's a tip from the worst cook in the whole world. This has gotten me a lot of laughs over the years but it really does work. I cannot make decent gravy (among many other things).

3 Comments Comment

Use Potholder to Store Rasp GraterTo store flat, rasp-style graters safely in the kitchen tools drawer, take a square, pocket style potholder and slide the graters into the pocket. Fold the potholder in half and secure with a rubber band.

3 Comments Comment

Use Spray Paint To Change DecorationsSpray paint things that you need to change. For example, I went from gold to silver with my decor for Christmas. I spray painted baskets, ornaments, pinecones, etc. silver.

1 Comment Comment

Wash Clothes with PlungerWhen I want to wash a separate article by hand or do not want to use the washer for a few black socks, etc., I use the "plumber's friend" or plunger. Just swish the plunger up and down like a washing machine.

7 Comments Comment

Wrap Gifts in Old ShirtsFor free/cheap gift wrapping, save old red and green shirts or find them cheap at the thrift store or at yard sales throughout the year. Cut them up and use for wrapping gifts. Any buttons can be used to make cute package ties.

6 Comments Comment

Give Cat Extra Attention After Medicating ThemThere are times I have to give medicine to my cats directly into their mouths because it cannot be mixed with food. Since they usually don't like being held down, when I'm done I hold and hug them for a minute to calm them down and be nice to them.

1 Comment Comment

Oatmeal Wheat Germ Dog BiscuitsThis is a good recipe if you like to spoil your dog with healthy treats. Or, it can be used as a great hostess gift for someone who has a dog.

3 Comments Comment

Use Old Catalogs As MulchEveryone complains about catalogs and how they clutter up their mail boxes. I say bring them on! I use them as mulch under my trees and bushes. In a dry country such as Australia, water conservation is priority.

1 Comment Comment

Address Labels for Christmas CardsSince my handwriting is so terrible and I hate asking for more help than absolutely necessary, I found my own solution for our annual Christmas card exchange at church. Use business address labels for your Christmas greeting and mailing information.

Angel Feather Christmas PoemThis can be a refrigerator magnet or a gift tag attachment and is simple to make. Take some card stock and print the following poem on it. Then attach a fluffy feather to one side of the printing.

4 Comments Comment

A sling for carrying firewood

Craft: Sling For Carrying Fire WoodOur wood stove is down a flight of stairs to our living room area. We were always sweeping the steps after carrying wood in, because of bark, leaf, and twigs dropping. So, I decided to sew a "sling" for my husband to carry the wood in.

1 Comment Comment

Flat Paper Bows for Shipped PackagesDo you have to mail gifts and don't want the bows to be mashed, yet don't want to leave them "plain?" Cut out pictures of pretty bows or make flat "bows" and "ribbons" out of construction paper and glue them on.

2 Comments Comment

Homemade Pine Cone Fire Starters?There are lots of pine cones lying around on the ground at the moment. Use them to make free and very effective firelighters to light your woodburner or open fire. I soak them in used cooking oil to make them work even better.

2 Answers Answer

Homemade Powdered SugarI make my own powdered (confectioner's) sugar. I whirl it in small amounts (1/2 cup or less) for a few seconds, maybe a minute, in the blender or food processor. I think it's cheaper than buying it.

10 Comments Comment

Organize Grocery List by DepartmentI made up this shopping list and found it to be very helpful. It separates the items I need so I don't walk all over the store needlessly.

1 Comment Comment

Post Unwanted Items Online Before RecyclingRecycling is good, reuse is better. Before tossing things out, see if someone else can use them. Post on Freecycle or Craigslist for free and see if your trash is someone else's treasure.

3 Comments Comment

Removing Cigarette Odor from Small ItemsI had a bag of yarn that had a horrible cigarette odor given to me. I had heard if the odor couldn't be removed by other means, to freeze the item. I didn't have enough space inside my freezer, so decided I would set the it out in the snow on my deck.

1 Comment Comment

Renew Existing Window ShadesI wanted to change the shades on my dining room light to match my decor. I made a pattern with newspaper, transferred the pattern to fabric, added iron on interfacing for stability, used fabric glue at the seams, and glued a decorative braid at the top and bottom edges.

1 Comment Comment

Use A Tub As A Puppy BedMy husband brought home a small puppy, who needed a bed. I took a small bin I use to soak light laundry, and turned it into a bed for our new puppy Luke. I put an old flannel pillow case in and folded it over to make a soft bed for him.

1 Comment Comment

Bring Rain Barrel Indoors for the WinterWe brought our rain barrel indoors for the winter. Rather than let it sit idle, we placed it high on a sturdy table and hooked it up to receive the water that comes from our furnace.

Christmas Dough OrnamentsOne of the best ways I get into the holiday spirit is to make something fun with my grand-kids. Get together to make homemade ornaments from baker's clay

Dealing With a Hyper DogMy dog Daisy is part Jack Russel and part Feist. She is hyper, wets the floor when she gets excited, jumps on everybody that comes in the door, has to lick everyone and would sit in everybody's lap if they would let her.

4 Comments Comment

Handmade Christmas Cards as GiftMy daughter-in-law is very gifted in creating beautiful scrapbooks and greeting cards, so every year for my birthday, which happens to fall in November, I receive a lovely array of handmade greeting cards including a minimum of 20 Christmas cards.

1 Comment Comment

Hot Water Bottle for PetsWhen you know your cat or dog is ready to sleep for awhile, place a rubber hot water bottle under the bedding, but close enough so they feel the heat. I use these myself sometimes during the day and definitely at night.

2 Comments Comment

Keep Spare Wiper Blade in CarWhen replacing the wiper blades on your car, always save one in case of an emergency. It will take up almost no space in your trunk and could prove invaluable in an emergency.

2 Comments Comment

Keeping Lights on Weak BranchesMany of our outdoor shrubs have soft needles and branches. When decorating the shrubs with outdoor holiday lights, we pin the light cords to the branches using clothes pins.

Throw Pillows, Not MoneyI wanted to give my niece throw pillows for Christmas. Making them myself seemed to be out of my budget, even when I found the pillow forms at 50% off. Buy bed pillows when they go on sale.

2 Comments Comment

tree skirt with matching stockings

Tree Skirt SetThese are little tree skirt sets I made. One is for my daughter and the other for my grand-daughter.

1 Comment Comment

Use Expired Sunscreen as LotionUse expired sunscreen for hand lotion or shaving cream. Make sure you mark them as expired, so you won't forget and use them and get a painful sunburn.

Useful Gifts for Someone Who Has "Everything"For those who are in a nursing home or already have "everything", I have found that a great gift to give is a calendar made at CVS or Walgreens of photos that are meaningful to that person.

2 Comments Comment

Wrap Presents in Reusable TotesI've been collecting inexpensive cloth tote bags for gifts. I buy these tote bags at grocery stores and thrift shops. They cost $1 or $2. I put birthday and Christmas gifts inside the reusable tote, instead of a gift bag or wrapping paper.

2 Comments Comment

Buy Thrift Store Gifts For ChristmasOur family usually draws names and we have a limit to spend on each person. Next year we decided to do something out of the ordinary and have a 'thrift store gift Christmas'. It will be fun to see how many more gifts you can buy for a person on your list.

2 Comments Comment

Christmas Candy OrnamentsYou will need a number of metal (or other heat-safe) cookie cutters for this recipe. It yields 12-16 small (around 2 inch) shapes, or 8-12 large ornaments. The exact yield will depend on the size of your cookie cutters.

Contact Paper to Refresh Counter TopsIt might sound tacky, but putting contact paper over your Formica counter top works. I was cleaning the bathroom prior to having the family over for Christmas dinner.

3 Comments Comment

Toilet paper holder built to resemble an outhouse.

Craft: "Outhouse" Tissue HolderI built this toilet paper holder for my daughter's birthday. I think it is just great.

Dog Toy From Old SocksTake those one and lonely socks whose partners seem to have vanished when washing and tie in knots to create a dog chew toy. You can place dog treats inside to help those puppies stay away from unwanted shoes.

Easily Seed a PomegranateTo easily seed a pomegranate, get a large bowl and fill it with water. Cut the pomegranate in half. While the pomegranate is submerged, proceed to seed the fruit underneath the water. This will prevent it from splattering.

1 Comment Comment

Label Your Cell PhoneSo many cell phones look alike these days, and if the battery has run down, there is no way to tell whose is whose! Using a label maker, put your first name and an alternative phone number on the back so that if yours is lost, it can be returned.

1 Comment Comment

Make Mini Meatloaf in Muffin TinsWhen you make your "world famous meatloaf" try baking it in a muffin pan. Everyone gets their own "personal" size meat loaf, and it knocks off more than half of the cooking time! And as a bonus, leftovers (if there are any!) can be frozen individually.

1 Comment Comment

Package Gifts in Reusable ContainersIf you visit the dollar store to buy gift bags for presents, instead of buying a bag, buy a small plastic ice bucket, trash can, food storage container, colander, etc. to hold the gift. For the same price as the gift bag, you are buying a reusable item.

Removing Scratches on MirrorFor light surface scratches on mirrors, use Eagle One Never Dull Wadding Polish. It worked great for me. You will need to use a little elbow grease but keep at it and the scratches will disappear!

1 Comment Comment

Secret Santa Gift IdeasHoliday secret Santa gift giving is easy for me. I go to Walmart, Marshalls, and Target.

1 Comment Comment

Use Back Of Knife To Scrape Food Off Cutting BoardAfter dicing or chopping something, it's common to scrape the knife across the cutting board into a bowl using the blade of the knife. This is a good way to dull your knife. To keep it sharp, flip the knife upside down and use the spine to scrape off the board.

Use Old Linens for PetsDon't forget to save old sweaters and soft towels for pet beds or shelter outside.

2 Comments Comment

Use Peeler For Cold ButterUse a y-shaped peeler to remove slices of butter from the top of a rock-hard stick of butter that's come straight from the refrigerator. The peels can be laid on top of a slice of bread, so there's no need for spreading.

Photo of a box of On-Cor Turkey Slices.

Thanksgiving on a Tight BudgetWith money being so tight this year I was very worried about whether we would be able to have any sort of Thanksgiving Day dinner. So after some serious thinking, I put my plan into action, and we ended up having the best Thanksgiving ever.

5 Comments Comment

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