Daily Thrifty Tips - March 22, 2006

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Mister Riggs is my 5 month old cat. We got him in October. He likes to PLAY.

Here he is playing school with my granddaughter, Madison Kaylynn.

By Kayrayriggs from Indpls

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Zorro is an 8 year old raccoon. We got her as a baby after her mother had been hit by a car.

When we had her in the house she loved to take a bath in the bath tub and then she would curl up alongside the dog and they would take a nap together.

We had to let her go to the wild when she got 2 years old. She now comes to the door for food. Every spring she brings her new litter of babies up on the deck and we feed them loaves of bread. If I do not get it out before they come in, they come and knock at the door.

By Barbara Grow from Rothbury, Mi

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When the batteries in my remotes stop working, I open the remote and roll them around. They will work for a long time yet. I even do it a few times more and they will work again. It sure saves on buying batteries.

By Betty from Fond du lac,Wi.

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Wanda asked the obviously expecting young mother if she knew yet what
she was having.

The young mother sighed, "I've always wanted a girl but after four boys
I finally gave up."

Then she told us about her recent Doctor's visit:

"I went to the Doctor and after checking me he said the baby's brain
was developing normally. When I told my girlfriend that the doctor said
my baby had a brain she shouted,

"IT'S A GIRL!!!"

By Chris from Hartville, MO

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You don't have to pay for snazzy eCards - There are sites that give away unusual ones for free. I like the ones at doverpublications and MOMA.

By Pam from L.A., CA

Editor's Note: Another good place is Dear Webby's Posty's sites at

http://mypostcards.net/

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To prevent creases when hanging linens from wire hangers, take a cardboard tube from a used up roll of paper towels and cut lengthwise. Then slip it over the wire hanger and apply tape where you cut the tube. Then you can rest your linens on the tube instead of the wire.

By ThriftyFun

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When writing addresses and phone numbers in a new address book, use a sharp pencil (not a pen!) With people changing addresses and phone numbers so often, you can erase the old number and put in the new without having to scratch out the ones written in pen. Your book will look neater and will last a lot longer.

By Adrienne from Cleveland Ohio

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To those grandparents who never get a thank you note from their grandchildren for gifts, leaving it up to your children to teach them might be futile. I suggest that instead, your grandchildren may become more interested in writing notes if they have personalized stationery, stamps, and an address book of their own, like a grown up.

You could give them this as a gift (filling in the important addresses for them) and clearly, their thank yous will now mean so much more than if they'd been forced to send them by their parents.

By Patti from Holyoke, CO

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Credit card companies are not altruistic in any way. I carry a balance with 0% interest. They sent me checks to buy items or to transfer other balances at 3.99%. On the surface this seems like a good deal but then I read a contract they provided. It states any payments received will be applied to the balance with the lowest interest rate first, after that is paid off, then the next highest interest rate has the payment applied. Whatever balance you have at 3.99% keeps getting larger with time because the interest is added each month. This will add up quickly to the credit company's favor. So be aware.

By Steve

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If you're making eggs and get a piece of eggshell in them all you have to do is take half of the cracked eggshell and scoop out the piece of shell. It works better than trying to get it out with your fingers and chasing it all around the bowl! lol

By luv2craft from Normalville, Pennsylvania

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I need hints on how to get rid of gnats. I "boil" my plumbing once a week, take trash out every day, never leave dishes piled up and still these vermin take the initiative and join me for dinner, and are not adverse to taking a bite of my food... even as it heads for my mouth! I was told in the past to put clorox out, but I am allergic to clorox. Any other suggestions?

RipsGracie from Duncanville, AL

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I am looking for a low-purine diet for gout, one that is very simple and to the point. Broken down by weekly intake using old fashion measurements (cups, teaspoons, etc.). Is there such a thing?

Denise from Pantego, TX4

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I need some ideas for a theme for my mother's 50th Surprise birthday party. I don't want to use the same old sayings. Her name is April.

Angela_lynn25 from Grand Rapids, MI

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How do you get a burn stain off a formica coutertop?

im68300 from New Jersey

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I need to know what is the easiest and cheapest way to remove paint from vinyl siding. My husband and I stained the deck 3 years ago and since then have not been able to remove the paint. It is a deep cherry color and our siding is beige! We want to sell the house but need to get the paint off first. We tried all the home depot products, including regular paint thinner and Goo Gone but they did not work. Please help.

Kris from Randolph, NJ

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How do you get black marks off of white glossy baseboards, caused by the vacuum running up against them? Also, how to get white marks from the same thing (vacuum) off of dark polished wood?

Mel from Tampa, FL

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I have 3 very large pacu that have outgrown their tank. Any advice on what to do? Does anyone buy large fish? I have 6 aquariums but not a single one with room enough to seperate them. Thank you for your input.

Nelwyn From Bunkie, LA

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I am having a birthday party for my 2 year old. He loves choo choo trains. Can anyone think of some inexpensive decorations to use? Any input would help.

Thanks!
Ccrooker from Illinois

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My husband, 2 year old son and I moved into a brand new apartment building. We love it! Except for our living room smells like someone has been farting in it all day (sorry for the visual image). We have tried everything to get this smell out, but it's still there. We thought it was our son's diapers making a stink, so we take them down stairs promptly, but it still continues to smell. I've called our maintenance on it, and they just think that I'm crazy when I tell them that my apartment smells and I think it's coming from the people around us.

Any suggestions to what I can do to make the smell stop?

Lauren from Woodstock, IL

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I am looking for instructions about how to sew in a bra into a formal (wedding) dress. My daughter's seamstress has told her she needs to wear a bra, but adhesive bras irritate her skin and we have not been able to find a non-adhesive bra that stays concealed. The dress has a back that dips low.

Amy from Lafayette, IN

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I am wondering if you all can help me pinpoint where our electricity is going. Starting approximately in November our electric bill began going sky high. We hadn't changed any of our habits that we could think of, yet our KW per hour usage started to go up. We don't watch much TV and our computers had both bit the dust so we weren't spending time on them.

We both work so we're gone pretty much during the day. When December hit and our bill was even worse I decided to ratchet down; changed all the light bulbs to compact fluorescent, clamped down on TV and computer time, talked on the phone in the dark! I nearly died when I got my next bill and I'd used 7 KW hours MORE!

We're now in a new house and our usage has half again increased and I'm not sure what to do. Our local utilities don't do energy audits. We do cook at home but usually on the stovetop and we've not changed that much. Our "new to us" appliances are older, which could account for some of the half again increase, but I can't figure where the first allotment has come from! Does anyone have any suggestions of where to look?

kellyanne77 from CT

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I have a purebred Pomeranian that seems to have problems growing her hair. I have confirmed that she is a purebred pomeranian. Are they any ways that i can encourage her hair to grow? The attached picture is not of my dog but that exactly what she looks like but with shorter hair.

Sam from Rockhampton QLD

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Does anyone know how to get rid of weevils? Sometimes they are called cupboard ants. We must have gotten them from the grocery store and now I can't get rid of them. I have bleached the cupboards and I have tried the basil leaves in all the dry products. Finally I have resorted to throwing everything away and storing in plastic bags and containers... yet they are still here.

Mary from Panama City Beach, FL

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Do hummingbird vines die out during the winter? I have nothing on my vines.

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Thanks,
Otis from FL

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I have water damage to the bottom of the cabinet under my kitchen sink from a leak. Is there any easy way to replace/repair this without having to tear out the old bottom and replace it with a new one? I'm handy, but not handy enough to replace it!

Tracy from Parma, Ohio

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My husband and I only have two days vacation and wish to Iowa in August or September. Any suggestions for "points of interest" for a fun time on such a short vacation, that won't break the bank?

Thank you!
Eva from Illinois

Editor's Note: Eva also asked about Wisconsin ideas, we created a seperate requests for that.

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Does someone have a pattern for making a hooded baby towel?

Lisalisa from Huntington Station, NY

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We had two phone lines coming into our house. I recently disconnected phone line A. I would now like to connect the jacks inside the house that were used for phone line A into phone line B, the line that is still active. Verizon said it would cost a minimum of $95 to have someone come out to do this, but implied that we could easily do it ourselves. But they wouldn't tell us how. Anyone know how to switch the phone A lines over to the phone B number?

Sparrowood from Cambridge Springs, PA

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I have unpacked stored clothing and I have noticed a few stains on the clothing. Does anyone know how to remove stains that have been around a while? I hate to throw these clothes out, they are still very wearable except for the stains. I sure hope someone can tell me what will work.

Thanks,
Mary from Panama City Beach, FL

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My husband and I only have two days vacation and wish to Southern Wisconsin in August or September. Any suggestions for "points of interest" for a fun time on such a short vacation, that won't break the bank?

Thank you!
Eva from Illinois

Editor's Note: Eva also asked about Iowa ideas, we'll create a seperate requests for that.

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Reunion.com Find Old High School Friends at Reunion.com

http://www.thriftyfun.com/lk/reunion.lasso

Breed Description: This is a large, impressive-looking breed with a luxurious medium-long coat and long flowing lines. Other than looking like a large plush toy with a plumed tail, Ragdolls do not have any particularly distinguishing physical features. They are medium to large cats that are slow to mature and long-lived. They have a natural fat pat on their abdomen regardless of their weight and trusting, docile personalities.

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If you have a building or remodeling project in your future, consider the benefits of going green. It's a common misperception to think that incorporating environmentally friendly measures into your project will cost more, but that isn't usually the case. In fact, even if you're on a tight budget, many elements of sustainable building and remodeling can be incorporated into your project with minimal (sometimes zero) upfront costs.

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Breed Description: Whippets are slender and graceful and closely resemble a small version of the greyhound in appearance. This breed was bred to run and has a long lean head, streamlined body and long, straight legs. Calm and laid back indoors, the Whippet makes a loving and affectionate house pet.

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Breed Description: The Pomeranian is the smallest member of the German spitz breeds. Characteristics include a compact body, long, thick coat, a lion-like mane and a striking plumed tail. These little dogs are friendly and active. Their intelligence and docile, yet playful, temperament make them ideal companions.

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