Daily Thrifty Tips - January 24, 2006

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They are so adorable at this age...

By Renae from Georgetown, In

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Do you ever get those annoying internet CD's in the mail? Tired of throwing them out? Well, don't. I decided to try something with them and it worked! I used them to make playing card holders!

Simply take two CD's and put drops of super glue on the lower half of one of them. Press the two CD's together for a minute, then let it sit out and continue drying thoroughly. You now have playing card holders - make one for all the card players in your family! See the picture, they're cute!

By Stacey from Orem, UT

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Tuffy is a 2 month old Shi-Poo. I got him on January 14th, 2006 through an ad.

He does what all puppies do. Eat, chew, sleep and potty. I love my puppy.

By Betty from Fond du Lac, WI

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Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I have some darling, easy cards to make from just construction paper, craft glue, markers and googly eyes (optional).

Dog-ear Card: Using Brown construction paper, take one corner diagonally down to the opposite side of the paper (like making a triangle.) Cut the strip of paper below that. Now it IS a triangle. Turn the triangle paper so that the flat side is up, and the point is toward you. Hold a ruler to the flat side of the triangle and pinpoint the middle. Now, take each side of the top and fold (from the middle point) diagonally down so that now all three points of the triangle are toward you. There's your dog with it's floppy ears. Either draw eyes or glue googly eyes on, draw a nose and a mouth, then write your message on the outside of one ear, then lift it and put another message under the flap. Very fun and easy.

Cat Card: Fold a piece of construction paper the short way. Draw an outline of a cat, making sure the ears, top of the head, and tip of the tail connect with the fold. Cut it out and glue on googly eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers. Then open your cat card and put a message inside. This one is also very cute, and extremely easy. Finally, fold a piece of cardstock in half the short way and cut in half. (You can make two cards out of this one.)

Heart Card: Take a piece of aluminum foil and fold in half. Cut out a half-heart shape, so that when you open the foil, you have a heart. Using a glue-stick, carefully spread glue on the dull side of the foil and press onto the front of your card. Decorate with stickers or whatever. Then put a message inside. Very nice look with the foil heart. This Valentine's Day, make your cards rather than buy them!

By Stacey from Orem, UT

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To eliminate cooking odors from your hands, onion, garlic, shrimp, etc., rub a few coffee beans in your hands. The oil in the beans will absorb the odors.

By Bobbie from Rockwall, TX

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Never be caught off guard by a forgotten birthday again! Elegantly wrap a little tin of mints, a tiny picture frame, a fancy pen, or a deck of playing cards--then keep it in your purse, glove box, or desk drawer. Some greeting card companies even make palm-sized cards and envelopes that you can tuck into your wallet for emergency situations!

Also keep a box of birthday candles handy--it's easy to buy a vending-machine cupcake, but the candle makes it look like you thought about it.

WARNING: Overuse of these tricks can make it look as though you don't really care.

The whole point is to remind the people in your life how much you think about them. Be sure to write special days down and plan adequately!

By Debbie from Dundee, MI

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We have store bought bird feeders for the yellow finches. And they would rather eat from an old nylon anklet ( or panty hose leg) than anything else. My hubby used a 3 inch piece of PVC pipe and cut a small hole in the birdseed bag and secured it to the hole with rubber bands.

Now we can fill the anklets without to much waste. Fill the sock with seed you'll be surprised how much they will stretch and hold. Tie a knot at the top,make a small hole to hang it in a tree or bracket. Might take a day or two for the birds to find it, but they will come in bunches very soon.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark,Ca.

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I have more than 8 different email addresses, split between cable provider, hotmail and gmail. With all accounts combined, I still get less than one spam per day - combined!

Pick a name that is unique. If you pick a name and have spam the very next day, chances are that someone has contaminated the user name before you. Put something in front of the name...
something like...

hereis
mebe
iare

things that spambots aren't likely to come up with

Use one account as your "junk" account. Use that one to sign up for stuff on the internet.

Never post your email address online. If you must, you should post only your junk account (disposable when spam gets out of hand) in the following format...

myemail at myprovider dot com

Then instruct readers to change at to @ and dot to . and remove spaces. This thwarts the majority of spambots.

Give your "private" email address only to persons you know, not to companies unless you have tested them on a separate email address for spam first. Have a second account that you use for certain registrations and newsletters AFTER testing them on your junk account. Test them for 2 months before allowing them to know your "private" email address.

When your 'disposable' junk account starts accumulating spam, dump it for another.

By beanygurl from Winnipeg Canada

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Using Hot Air and Baby Oil

Soften the crayon by blowing hot air on it with a hair dryer, then wipe with a clean cloth with a little baby oil on it. Works great!

By PICO from ST. PAUL, ALBERTA

Using Toothpaste

Do you hate when your children or brothers and sisters get permanent marker stains on the wall? Well, I have a solution for you and its very simple. All you have to do is use any toothpaste (maybe Colgate) and wipe the mark away. Works every time!

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Have a spa party! Have 5 stations: manicure, pedicure, facials, hair and gift shop! Assign one station to each guest. Have magazines to read while getting things done and snacks to munch on! SO HAVE FUN

Megan from Saranac, NY

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Vinegar! White or apple cider are both wonderful cleaning products. If you have a smoke smell (like I recently did when my son started a fire on my range), I got out the white vinegar and scrubbed the bad odor and the smoke away. If you have a smoker in the house, it is also useful. Add it to your laundry detergent for curtains that sparkle. Wipe down walls and windows with it. It's antibacterial so you can use it in your medical appliances if you have any. It will change the ph for incontinent adults who are ill. Just mix about four parts water to one part vinegar and spray it on.

It will kill garbage odors and pet urine odor. Spritz it on straight.

The uses are nearly endless. If you have a baby, put it in the last rinse of baby clothes to remove all the left over soap. Wonderful stuff!

By Laurel Johnsen from Rathdrum ID

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For a romantic Valentine's Day with your significant other, I rented a room with a jacuzzi tub in it. My friend helped me. I bought tule at the fabric store, (looks like wedding veil material) and draped it over the bed with an eye hook in the ceiling. This part I would never do again because now that I think of it, it didn't work very well.

We made 100 candles from old candles that we melted down into little dixie cups using the same wick. When they were dry we cut off the cup and placed them on plates of all sizes, some had multiple candles on them.

We went to a florist the day before and asked for the flowers that were going in the trash. She gave us the discards. We pulled off the petals and sprinkled them on the bed, and in the jacuzzi.

We brought a cd of Barry White. My friend and I decorated the room and while I went to get my husband she lit all the candles. As I led my BLIND FOLDED husband into the room she slipped out with the kids and went to stay at my house and took care of my kids for the night.

When I took off the blind fold well I don't have to tell you he was pleasently surprised. Bring wicker basket filled with wine, cheese, smoked fish, bagette, chocolate, strawberries, whip cream, (whatever you would like) Believe me, husbands love this as much as we do. Tell your husband your making the plans this year. The benefits are as much for you. This is good for an Anniversary, birthday, anytime.

By Laurie Strommen from West Covina, Ca

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Save money by serving Oatmeal for breakfast instead of expensive cold cereal. The store brands of oatmeal are excellent and are on sale often. It is fast and easy to prepare in your microwave. I have had great success in lowering my cholesterol by eating oatmeal.

By Bobbie from Rockwall, TX

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What is green and goes 100 mph?
A frog in a blender.
What happens when you add milk?
You get a frog nog!

I learned this in sixth grade (32 years ago) and it still makes me laugh.

Laurie Strommen from West Covina, Ca

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I seem to have a cloudy film on my mirror that I believe has come from spraying air freshener in the room. My problem is I have tried vinegar, water and glass cleaner. It seems to just smear it. Any ideas?

Lisa Marie from Friedens, PA

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It's my 16th birthday party in 16 days and I'm looking for some ideas for things to do. I dont really want a party and the only other ideas are to go swimming or to the movies and thats not very exciting so please help! Do you have any ideas?

Sophie from Tasmania, Australia

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Has anyone planted Amaryllis outdoors? When and how should I plant mine? I've heard of them being put outside but don't know how deep to plant them and if they can be left outside permanently.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Vicky from Jacksonville, NC

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I just bought a portable Wonder Washer washing machine from ebay and I would like to know if anyone has ever used one and how they liked it. I bought it for my daughter who lives in an apartment since coin operated machines can be quite expensive to use.

imaqt1962 from St. Joseph, Illinois

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I have two really big grease stains from well grease on my sweatshirt. I have tried washing it and it didn't come out. This is my favorite sweatshirt. Please help!

Sabrina from Santa Rosa, CA

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I just purchased leather furniture literally two days ago and already have scratches all over it! I had no idea that the leather would be so easily scratched. It is a very dark rich color and I have three dogs that all lay on the furniture. They are all under thirty pounds and don't run all over it. They just jump up and sit down, but it is already scratched to pieces.

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on what to do or if this is normal and will fade with time? Should I try to get a refund because I was told that scratches were covered in the warranty and after reading it have found out that they are not covered! Any advice is appreciated.

Becky from Cincinnati, OH

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I was just wondering if anyone had a recipe that I've been looking for. I think it was called Chicken Christopher. I had it at a pretty swanky restaurant with my parents several years ago but can't afford to go back. If anyone can help, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeggie from Elberton, GA

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Our bichon puppy had an accident on our tan microfiber couch, I cleaned with water and a clear detergent but I have water marks left on the cushion. Any suggestions on how to remove the water marks?

Jill from Ebensburg

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Our oak tree dumps a lot of acorns on the lawn. What is the best way to get them out of the lawn?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Holly from Richardson, TX

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It is going to be my 13th birthday soon and I don't know what I am going to do. I want invite around 30 people for at least 2 hours. It can't be too expensive and I want there to be an activity provided (i.e. swimming). It can't be at my house.

Please help,
Maria from Coventry

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Can anyone give advice on how to remove the ghost-like white hazy marks glasses with cold drinks, or perhaps a mildly hot pan leave on solid wood furniture like the dining table? How does one take the white hazy circular mark off the nice wood table? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Cheryle Zahm from Longview, Texas

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How can you clean urine stains from white underclose without bleach?

Jeff from Peoria, AZ

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My 2 year old daughter is moving out of her old bedroom (nursery) into her new bedroom across the hall as soon as I can figure out what to do about the wall color. Her furniture and decor is pastel colored surfer girl meets shabby chic country in a "cozy" sized room. Her bedding and window treatment are pink, purple, and lime. All colors I love, but I can't quite pick what shade of which color to paint her room. I'm thinking of a refreshing, but not annoying shade of lime with a lavendar/purple trim. Any suggestions? Please note: I'm staying away from pink as a primary color, but using it as an accent color would be fine.

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Victoria from Orlando, FL

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Hello Frugal Readers,

I was wanting to know what can I do to make a good cup of coffee. Is there a secret to it? I always start with good cold water and a name brand coffee like Folgers. I always keep my coffee pot clean, but the coffee seems to be lacking something and I am not sure what. Do you have any ideas?

Thanks,
Teresa from VA

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I had a mishap with the washing machine. I accidentally washed something pink with an off-white tank top and jacket which are now slightly pink. How do I get the pink out of my clothing?

Starrling from Tempe, AZ

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I've seen Washing Soda recommended here. Where can I find it? I couldn't find at Wal-Mart.

Debbie from IL

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I need some ideas for an activity blanket for an aged care facility. It's the Dementia section. Pictures would be helpful.

Jacqui from Adelaide. Australia

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Does anyone have organic gardening lawn maintenance listed by month using corn gluten meal, dry molasses, etc.?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Thanks,
Holly from Richardson, TX

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My cat urinates on materials. I just moved into a new apartment and I am afraid my cat will keep up this bad habit. If I leave any clothing or blankets on the floor she will urinate on them. The worst thing she urinated on was a futon; I have a new coach and am afraid for it. What can I do to break my otherwise sweet cat of this habit?

Starrling from Tempe, AZ

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I need some tips on cleaning mold off the ceiling of my daughter's bathroom.

Thanks,
Theresa from Campbell, CA

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