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Thrifty Tip Contest
(July 1 - 31, 2014)

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

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Duration	Entries
July 1 - 31, 2014	74

Tip: No More Paper Products

melissa
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 293 Posts

July 29, 2014

This was something that put more money in our pockets instantly! We stopped using napkins and paper towels. We were spending at least $5.00 a week just to wipe our mouths and clean our house.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 12

Tip: Onion Snow from Frozen Onions

July 21, 2014

When I cook, I love onion but not in large pieces or strips. None of the kids I know like them that way either. When the Vidalias are in season, I buy several and freeze them whole.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 11

Tip: Banana Peel Sleepy Tea

attosa
Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,246 Posts

July 7, 2014

Don't throw away that banana peel! It will help you fall asleep tonight, for free! Just steep your clean, sticker-free peels in a pot of water for 10 minutes, sprinkle with cinnamon, drink an hour before bedtime, and off you go.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 20

Tip: Using Any Vacuum Cleaner Bag

July 7, 2014

A pack of 3 vacuum cleaner bags costs $10.00. That's over $3.50 for one bag! I never buy the original bags anymore. Instead, I buy any bags that are roughly the same size at yard sales and Thrift Stores. Salvation Army has baskets full of those bags in all sizes, for 25 cents a bag!

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 32

Tip: Use Nasturtiums for Salads and Sandwiches

Free2B
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 216 Posts

July 1, 2014

Nasturtiums aren't just a beautiful flower for your garden. They are delicious too! Seeds are readily available just about anywhere they sell garden seeds.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 8

Dollar Tree Tub and Shower CleanerThe iron is so bad in our water that I have to clean our shower once a week. There are two things that work for me. The first is "The Works Tub and Shower Cleaner" from the Dollar Tree. You spray it on, leave it and wipe off. It's magic.

1 Comment Comment

Stop Ants on Hummingbird FeedersTo prevent ants on hummingbird feeders, use a dryer sheet on the wire supporting the feeder. It works great!

2 Comments Comment

Third Hand for the Trash Bag

Third Hand for the Trash BagInsert the edge of your trash bag in an open drawer, then close the drawer. You will then have both hands free for disposing of trash. The drawer acts as a third hand!

Brown Paper Bags for Healthy Microwave PopcornStore bought microwave popcorn unfortunately is not "health food", mainly because of the artificial butter flavoring. If you are concerned about that, you will want to make your own healthy microwave popcorn at a fraction of the price!

2 Comments Comment

Cheap and Easy Low Flush ToiletAlmost all toilets can be easily retrofitted to allow a extra low flush by adding some plumbers putty to the inside of a hollow flapper which most 'cheap' toilets have. This makes the flapper heavy and not allow it to float.

Customizing a Pen Cup

Customizing a Pen CupI love sunflowers. I found a really cute cup to put my pens and scissors in on my desk. When I got it home, they all fell in too far for me to see. So, I found a little cosmetic jar that dropped right in and didn't tip.

1 Comment Comment

Dryer Sheets for Removing TarMy husband is a roofer and came home with tar on his pants, which I did not notice. I wet several dryer sheets and went to town. Worked amazingly! I then washed the inside of the dryer with hot soapy water.

Funnel from Empty Juice BottleCut top third off an empty juice bottle, usually about where the top of the bottle forms the "funnel". I usually place a ziplock bag into the bottom part and the funnel part into the bag.

Make Tablets from Recycled PaperI fold the 8x11 paper into thirds the long way. I then separate the paper into three pieces, cutting on the fold lines. Fold the pieces in half and cut them again.

1 Comment Comment

Nail Polish Remover For Silk StainsI have an ivory silk comforter that I purchased about a week and a half ago. It came in the mail, and I've already spilled a pink substance on it. I took a cotton ball and dipped it 1/4 of the way into nail polish remover.

2 Comments Comment

Set Up A Wading Pool for the DogsWe keep ours full of water outside for our two dogs. They can have plenty to drink and even get in if they want to stay cool :)

Use Flyswatters as a Drain Filter

Use Flyswatters as a Drain FilterDon't throw away old flyswatters. They are great drain filters for the bathtub or sink in a pinch.

Cleaning Fans

Cleaning FansI let this fan go for far too long before cleaning. See how it collects dust because it runs all the time?

Remember Passwords EasilyChoose a category that interests you; Premier League Footballers, Wild Flowers or whatever. Find a name for all of the more commonly used letters of the alphabet Your password for any given site will be the name that starts with the same initial letter, plus whatever combination of...

4 Comments Comment

Donate Old Pools to Animal ShelterIf the plastic wading pool is in good condition, take it to your local animal shelter. They use them to cool off dogs and give them a little recreation and a break from their cage.

1 Comment Comment

Fairy HeartNot only fairies, but birds love this too. Use it as a decoration for your Fairy Tea.

Teaching Kids to Care for Their ClothesWhen my kids were younger, each had plastic hangers, a laundry hamper and clothes basket in their favorite color. They knew what laundry was theirs and were responsible for putting it up, just by the color of the hanger and basket.

Use Rain for Cleaning Throw RugsI found out by accident the best way to clean my old throw rugs. I washed them and hung them on the clothesline outside. Then it rained, and rained and rained. To my surprise, they were cleaner then when I first hung them out.

1 Comment Comment

Glue Bait Down to Catch ChipmunksThey will steal the food in the traps. I had success by using a hot glue gun to glue sunflower seeds to the cage or mousetrap. We have caught over 50 chipmunks in the past 2 months. It works great in the live cages.

4 Comments Comment

Hope ChestI started a hope chest for each of my sons when they were twelve. Now if they don't marry immediately upon leaving home,they will have a lot of things they will need for their home.

2 Comments Comment

runner rooting in cup sitting on top of soil in black plastic pot

Rooting Strawberry Runners In Pudding...Several people have posted a tip on ThriftyFun suggesting the use of pudding cups for starting seeds and cuttings. My opinion was that they were too small to allow adequate root formation prior to transplanting.

Salted or Unsalted ButterWhat is the difference between salted or unsalted butter? Salted butter is for putting on a warm bagel, muffin, potatoes etc. Unsalted butter is used for baking. If you use salted butter for baking, use no salt!

CDs to Keep Birds from Eating FruitI have 2 apricot trees that I started from seed. They are now over 7 feet tall, after only 5 years. When they start to bloom, I hang old CDs from a string on the branches. The birds don't like the reflections, especially if there is a breeze to move them around.

1 Comment Comment

Do Not Trust Online Inventory DatabasesMy advice is not to trust the online store inventory databases. Go to the store and see for yourself.

Laundry Basket to Transport Warehouse PurchasesWhen we are going to be shopping at Sam's Club, where they do not bag the groceries we purchase, I put my laundry basket in the truck of the car. When unloading the shopping cart, we put the items into the laundry basket.

4 Comments Comment

Muffin Tin for Draining Glasses

Muffin Tin for Draining GlassesI recently cleaned out a garage and found tons of things others could use. However, they were only usable after about 8 hours of washing and bleach rinsing.

Natural Ideas for Ant ControlMy neighbor had a huge pile of cement ants. She used a mix of 50/50 baking soda and powered sugar. They were gone the next day. I thought the sugar would attract them but it worked.

3 Comments Comment

No-Blow Picnic TableclothWhen I was a kid, we picnicked a LOT in the summer. My mom got tired of the table cloth blowing up and tipping everything, so she began packing a twin-sized fitted sheet in the basket. It fit the public tables perfectly, and no more blowing tablecloths.

3 Comments Comment

Hummingbird NectarThis mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for about 1 week.

Ideas for Finding a Free LaptopI read on here about going through Freecycle. That doesn't work so well here in Indiana. One place we were able to find a free laptop is through the college classifieds online.

19 Comments Comment

Online Textbook Trade-in TipsDo you ever plan on using Amazon's trade-in program to get rid of old textbooks. Before you send in a book, cancel your trade-in submission and wait a couple of days to see if they will raise the price. I did this recently and the company added $8.00 to the trade-in value.

Pill Bottles for Transporting Salad DressingI take lunch to work daily. I use the empty and cleared pill bottles to carry my salad dressing. Then, no soggy salad and the size is perfect for the correct amount of dressing without drowning the salad

2 Comments Comment

Buggins Natural Insect Repellent

Buggins Natural Insect RepellentBuggins Natural repels gnats and other annoying flies. I purchased from Menards for around $5. It can also be purchased online for around $6-7. It works wonders!

Check Prices Online Before Buying AmazonDo you shop online using Amazon? To make money off of their customers, they sell items they have in stock 'for less' than retail value, with the promise of free shipping if you purchase an Amazon Prime membership.

Lazy Susan in a refrigerator.

Fridge OrganizerIf you or your family ever get frustrated losing things in the refrigerator, I hope this helps!

4 Comments Comment

How to Make Flavored OilsI realize that some of the things I send in call for oils. Do not buy them, you can make them as easy as ABC! I go to Vitamin Cottage and buy the herbs I need in the herb section. I never buy spices at the grocery stores because herbs are better tasting and cheaper!

Treating Chigger BitesI am allergenic to chigger bites. I found how to kill them on me quickly.

3 Comments Comment

Butterfly Net As Bug CatcherNo photo, but a great tip. Use a dollar store butterfly net to cover the bug, then use your shoe. No bug spray needed.

Cleaning Stained Plastic BowlsTo clean stains out of bowls, leave bowl sitting with white vinegar in it. Leave it for a few days, then rinse and wipe out.

1 Comment Comment

Easier Cleaning of S'mores SkewersIf you invested in the metal skewers for your s'mores, or just for roasting marshmallows, here's an idea for you:

Easy Camping FirestartersMy son used to be in Boy Scouts and they loved to make a fire at night during the summer. For fire starters, we took the cardboard from toilet paper and taped one end shut. Then he filled the tube up with dryer lint and taped the end shut.

Pay Off Property Taxes EarlyI am unemployed and work part time jobs off and on during year. So I have starting paying off taxes during the year. Working at the tax office, I found out you can pay your taxes early.

2 Comments Comment

Hummingbird Feeder With Bees

Protecting Hummingbird FeedersI have been reading about a variety of ideas for keeping ants, etc., out of hummingbird feeders. I have cared for hummingbirds for over 30 years and I've tried just about everything out there.

12 Comments Comment

Store Large Trash Bags in TrunkKeep a couple of big plastic trash bags in your car - trunk, tool box, or gear box - they will help keep the grease and grime off your clothes when you need to change a tire, attach or detach a trailer to the hitch, or add oil/radiator fluid under the hood.

Keeping Cool in the HeatWear a wet piece of cloth under your bike helmet and a wet bandanna around your neck. I had doubts about biking when it was too warm, but these two pieces helped.

Clean Holes Where Water Enters ToiletWatch where the water comes out and goes into the toilet bowl. There are about 50 or so holes to allow that water to flush. If they are restricted, it will impede the flow. Take an ice pick or nail and poke each one of the holes.

Litter Box TipsI find it helpful to put many layers of old newspaper in them and then sand on top. I only let them use 1 box and keep the other clean, with its door to the wall.

Perfect Splatter-Free Bacon

Perfect Splatter-Free BaconFor perfectly crisp bacon that doesn't make a huge splattering mess in your kitchen, add a tablespoon of water to your pan after placing the bacon inside. The water will render the fat, keeping splashes at bay, while the heat continues to crisp your bacon well after all the water has evaporated.

1 Comment Comment

Dilute Dishwashing LiquidI buy 1 large bottle of whatever is on sale and I save the old bottles, When I get a new bottle, I fill 3 bottles with just a 1/4 of liquid and the rest water, I end up with 4 bottles of liquid detergent.

2 Comments Comment

Freeze Juice Packs for Ice PackI always keep some of those Capri Sun juice packs on hand for the neighborhood kids. We live on a lake and there's always children going by.

Homemade Ring Toss GameAfter the 4th of July celebrations, we had some of those light up necklaces that light for a few hours and then expire. The next day, we used them to make a ring toss game using a small orange cone that we had in the garage.

Prepare Ivory Soap in the MicrowaveIf you use Ivory soap for your homemade laundry detergent, put your bar in the microwave and turn on high until it blows up into a "mountain". Stop the microwave, let cool, then push down the mountain into a hill of soap flakes.

1 Comment Comment

Trade With Your Local FloristI had some house plants I had to get rid off so I took pictures of them to the local florist. They took some of the plants and gave me fresh cut flowers in exchange.

Use Gap as Hanger Helper

Use Gap as Hanger HelperIf you have a dowel, piece of PVC pipe or like me, a butter knife you can hang up to 5 or 6 shirts or pants between the washer and dryer. I recently found this was so much handier than hanging up clothes on door knobs and the backs of chairs.

Uses for Old Screens

Uses for Old ScreensWhen we replaced our windows, we kept a couple of screens from the old storm windows. Now, I wish we had kept all of them as there are so many uses for them.

Use Old Crocs as Wall Pocket

Use Old Crocs as Wall PocketI love Croc shoes but they don't love me. So, since my last pair was one of the colors of my bedroom, I came up with this little decorating tip.

2 Comments Comment

Emergency Sink Stopper

Emergency Sink StopperThe house I am at doesn't have the disposal stopper. I like to do dishes with a full sink of water so this posed a problem. Then, I realized that a tall glass works wonders.

1 Comment Comment

possum in a trap

Pick Up Leftover Outside Pet FoodI have a neighbor who was country born and country bred. His cat is never allowed in the house. He feeds the cat outside, near his back door. I don't think he realizes that the food the cat leaves behind attracts flies, mice, rats, and other pests, including possums.

9 Comments Comment

Compressed Air for DustingMy living room items get very dusty due to my windows always being open. I have wooden ships and knick knacks. I use compressed air in the can to spray the dust off of them. It works great.

2 Comments Comment

Herbs planted in pots

Natural Herb CenterpieceI started buying those reasonably priced small potted herbs that are sold in most grocery store produce departments year round and thought they would make a great table centerpiece at home and for a bridal or new home shower or even for a natural style wedding!

Clothspin Bag as Handy Organizer

Clothspin Bag as Handy OrganizerHang a clothespin bag from your porch swing for a "pocket" to hold books, your newspaper, snacks, even a bottle of water.

1 Comment Comment

Cure for Dry SkinI have terrible dry skin. I am itching all the time, it is just horrible! I talked to my new doctor about it and decided to share her advice with all of you. It really does work and no pills!

1 Comment Comment

Dryer Lint FirestarterI use dryer lint in a cardboard egg carton and drizzle old candle wax from scented candles that have lost their fragrance. Once it has cooled, I cut the sections of egg cradles to separate and put in a ziplock to keep dry.

Frugal House BuyingI purchased a small house in a blue collar neighborhood. The owners had decided to retire about 3 hours away and kept lowering the price until I was able to pay cash.

Garden Hose as BorderUse your old garden hose as a border for your garden. It keeps rabbits out because they think it's a snake.

1 Comment Comment

Pizza Crust for Teething KittenWe recently got a 3 month old kitten and he's teething. The other day, me and the hubby fixed pizza and the crust was rock solid. Our kitten, being a curious little guy, starts sniffing my pizza so I gave him a bit of crust.

2 Comments Comment

Removing Dry Erase Marker from ClothesI let my little grandson scribble with a dry erase marker and he got it all over his shirt. I was really surprised that it would be so difficult to get out. I tried all the tips listed, except for the ink remover.

2 Comments Comment

Splurge a Bit on Teen's BirthdayYour child is about to become a teen! It only happens once, so do something to remember.

1 Comment Comment

Substitute for Sticky Pads

Substitute for Sticky PadsI've mentioned this before but methinks my tip is too cheap and easy for most people to accept.

2 Comments Comment

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