Daily Thrifty Tips - March 26, 2008

It's finally spring time! Do you have any gardening photos to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit them here:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Scenery: Tree At Dusk

This picture is of a tree in the front of my apartment. It was taken at dusk in the late afternoon. My favorite time of day, in October of 2007 in sunny Cali!

By bleaue from Burbank, CA

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Beauty (Sealpoint Siamese)

Beauty is 1 1/2 years old and is a Siamese - Sealpoint. We have her mother, she was born in our bedroom.

She likes to chase anything. She's the smartest cat we've ever had in 50+ years.

By Elizabeth from Salinas, CA

Editor's Note: Here is a previous entry about Beauty and her mother, Bon Bon:

• Beauty (Siamese) and Bon Bon (Calico)

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Mr. Peabody's Apples - Book Review

Want to teach a great lesson on not gossiping or spreading rumors? Madonna not only is a great singer, actress and dancer she is also a good writer. I have used one of her books called "Mr. Peabody's Apples" for my lesson. The story is about a teacher named Mr. Peabody. On his way to work every day he takes an apple from a fruit stand. Billy, a young boy in the story, thinks Mr. Peabody is stealing the apples and tells everyone. This, of course, is not true because Mr. Peabody pays for them once a week. The story shows how rumors can hurt other people and are hard to stop.

By Gary from NJ

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Hair Serum Has Many Uses

Silicone or Dimethicone based products made for smoothing Frizzy and Curly Hair (Like Citre-Shine or Frizz-Eze anti-frizz serum), are great for smoothing rough elbows, knees and feet better than anything out there! And because they are mostly silicone, these products also make a wonderful lubricant for squeaky hinges, doors and even Spinning Wheels. Silicone based hair serum works better than any oil (or moisturizer) and lasts 10 times longer! And what's nice, I always have this product on hand. * I've also used a dab of Citre-shine Hair Serum on a soft cotton rag to condition and buff my leather couch. It worked great, plus it has UV protection.

By Cyinda from Seattle

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Use Paper Towels To Sow Small Flower Seeds

To sow all those fly away seeds, simply lay paper towels in your flower beds, wet, and then put seeds directly on the towel. Cover with soil and water as needed. Presto! You will have flowers popping up in no time and the paper will simply rot in the ground!

By Debra from Hampton, TN

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Stop Receiving Catalogs At CatalogChoice.org

http://www.CatalogChoice.org is a website where you can opt out of hundreds of catalogs you no longer wish to receive. It is a free service, and the company will not sell your information to any online marketers or emailers. Their service saves the environment and saves you money, because there is no longer that temptation to buy. It only took me about 10 minutes to opt out of about 30 catalogues. The site was very easy to maneuver through. I highly recommend it!

Source: another thrifty newsletter

By Diana from Prospect

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Centerpiece for the Head Table at Wedding

My husband and I did our own wedding, we are fifty-somethings on a budget, and figured we had enough life experience to pull it off.

We did a great job (lot of work), but forgot one very important thing; a stunning centerpiece for the head table! As we were decorating the reception area, my Bridesmaid asked for it; I drew a blank!

Both avid crafters, we headed for my house, where I happened to have a very large, thin glass vase, quite round, but also tall; it narrows at the top then flares again; I found this Gem at a craft Store in Penn, and it made it to Nova Scotia in one piece; we took a bouquet of silk roses from my craft room, put them into the vase upside down, turned it over, talk about pretty!

Since I made my own wedding cake, I happened to have a set of doves which were too ostentatious for the cake; they looked wonderful on top of the upturned vase! Add white doilies, one under the vase and a small one under the "love birds", sprinkle a little confetti; very different and cost under five dollars but would retail for at least thirty.

My hubby and I kept it, he has it on a book shelf, next to some wedding pics. Hope this helps some one, frugal living is simply being rich with little money!

PS: It was about 18 inches tall; just perfect.

Source: Our own creation.

By Debbie from Nova Scotia

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Use Brake Fluid To Prevent Auto Doors from Freezing

Here's a tip to prevent your auto doors from freezing to the door molding. If you park in the driveway during the freezing weather and in the morning you find the door frozen/stuck to the molding, try this. Put a light application (small sponge) of BRAKE FLUID on the molding. Brake fluid will not freeze and also preserves rubber. Don't get it on the paint. Glycerin also works.

By Cajun62234 from Collinsville, IL

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Reusing Beneful Wet Dog Food Containers

These are 10 oz. containers with recloseable lids. They are dishwasher safe and can be sanitized. I find they are a perfect size for individual meat and gravy servings. Also, meatballs and sauce. We are now a family of two since our kids have grown. I still cook for an army and freeze portions in the Beneful containers. They are so easy to pop into the microwave. I can have liver and onions while my husband has meatballs and shells. These containers are great.

By Diane from East Hartford, CT

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Wait To Unlock Your Car Door

When I am in parking lots going in or coming out of the store, I see people all the time clicking their car unlocker. They are like 20 or 40 feet away from the car. Please don't do that! Every time I see some one do that I think, wow, they are calling attention to themselves saying here I am and that is my car and it is now unlocked.

I don't have this invention but I wouldn't click it until I was at the car bumper at least.

By Sandy from Baltimore, MD

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Always Check Postal Rates

Always ask the postal clerk to check for the least expensive shipping option. Sometimes what you think will be cheaper to ship media mail, like CDs, will actually be cheaper to ship first class. It never hurts to ask. Also, in case you haven't heard, the rates go up again May 12th - and from what they tell me, this will now be a yearly thing.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Add A Little Salt To Keep Milk Fresh Longer

When you open a new container of milk, put in a tiny amount of salt in it. This will keep the milk fresh much longer. The salt will settle to the bottom, so gently shake the container before pouring to distribute the salt evenly. You won't taste it!

Source: Given to me by a co-worker

By Judy from Syosset

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Cigarette Smell on Leather Furniture

How do I get cigarette smoke out of a leather desk chair? My friend gave me this awesome chair but it wreaks of smoke and I don't want to get rid of it. I already tried Febreze, leather cleaner, and baking soda and nothing has worked yet. Any suggestions?

Danielle from California

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Vinegar to Remove Shampoo Build Up

I have a question about using vinegar for a hair rinse. Do you use it full strength, or dilute it? Do you rinse it out after, or leave it in? If you leave it in wouldn't it leave a smell? I have very fine, thin hair.

Donna from Victoria B.C.

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Hair Ideas for Girls That Play Sports

Should 15 year old girls get a very short hair cut if they play sports? If yes, please give ideas.

Stacey from Seattle, WA

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Cleaning Wooden Deck Cracks

How do you clean the cracks in your wooden deck? The boards on my deck are a little too close together and SO MUCH gunk gets stuck between them. I tried using a screw drivers to scrap it all out and I also used the high power nozzle on the end of the hose to shoot it out with water, but neither technique works all that well. Any ideas?

Mallory from Silicon Valley, CA

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What "Jandy" Do You Use?

I would like to know if any of you have an inground swimming pool, what brand and type of 'Jandy' do you use? Seems like we have to replace ours every Summer! We have been buying 'Hayward Navigator' at the cost of $300.00 from a catalog 'In the Swim' and the cost is just getting to be too much. I would like to know where you purchased and the make and model number along with how long it has lasted you. Since we live in the desert we don't empty our pool and keep the pump running year round so the Jandy works 365 days a year.

Thank You,
Laurie from Pahrump, Nv.

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Cleaning Laminate Cabinets

My kitchen cabinets are not made of wood. It looks like pressed fiberboard with a dark woodgrain laminated finish that has been heavily varnished supposedly so they would be easy to clean. I cannot get them clean--have tried vinegar, fantastik, windex, etc. Any advice would be appreciated.

Betty from Slate Hill, NY

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Graduation Gift Ideas

My son and daughter-in-law will both be graduating from college in April (she'll start grad school next fall). I'm looking for some graduation gift ideas. I've asked them for some suggestions but they've given none. I also need some gift ideas for my son who graduates from high school in June and daughter a few years from now. What's the going monetary value for graduation gifts to your own children if you're frugal but don't want to appear too cheap?

Kerry from Sandy, UT

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Losing a Bedroom When Renovating

Help I need an opinion. My wife and I are thinking of redoing a very small main floor bathroom. It is 5'x6'. There is a small room abutting it that we really don't use. I am thinking of stealing a piece of that room for the bath and using the rest to build a walk in closet and to make the family room also a bit larger.

We have 3 bedrooms and a bath upstairs. My wife thinks we should not do this as (if we sell) someone could use the small room as a 4th bedroom or a study. I think a bit larger bath, large closet and a bit larger family room will be a better seller. Any opinions?

Thanks,
Carl from Cresskill, NJ

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Gift Ideas For Father's 97th Birthday

My sister and I need ideas for our father's 97th birthday. We want to get him something different and unique. He enjoys his computer and feeding/watching the birds in his backyard, playing pool at the Senior Center, etc. His mind is still bright, but it's hard for him to get around much, using a walker. It's going to be a relatively small celebration, with just relatives. Anyone have any ideas?

Linda from Alabama

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Burnt Tomato Soup

How do I get burnt tomato soup out of a metal pan? I was making grilled cheese and tomato soup the other day and seemed to let it sit to long. I now can't seem to get the burnt soup off the bottom of my pan. Can anyone help?

Angela from Aurora, CO

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Teaching Letters and Numbers

I need crafty ideas to teach 4 year old letters and numbers. My little girl is very lively and I need to get her to learn numbers and letters. She is interested but cant keep still. I was thinking maybe games like hop scotch or ones with lots of movement color or lights. Any ideas please?

Thanks,
Jack from UK

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Removing Pen Marks from Photos

I have some old photos that have captions written with a felt tip pen on the back of them. They were sent to me and were not dry so the photos have pen marks on them. How can I remove the marks without ruining the photo?

Megan from Sylvania OH

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What can I do with my forced bulbs?

I am in zone 7b. I received some forced bulbs for my birthday, and they were lovely; however, I'd like to know what my options are at this point since the hyacinth and the daffodil are through blooming, and soon the cala lilly will also be through.

I believe that I'm supposed to wait until the leaves get brown and dry, then remove the bulb from the soil and store it in a cool dry place until fall and then plant them. Is that my only option? Might I be successful if I transplanted these "plants" right out into my garden at this point so that they get established before it winters here, or am I taking a risk that the disturbance will affect the bulb's receipt of the nutrition from its greenery?

I don't want to take a risk, but for me it's also a risk that I might forget in the fall that I have bulbs I'm supposed to plant - or I might forget where I've hidden them in the garage or something like that :). I'm just putting this out there so that I know what my options are and what others have tried as far as after-care of their forced bulbs. Thanks so much!

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Tina from Ashland, OR

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Selling Off an Estate

I am interested in hearing advice, experiences, tips on what is the best way to go about selling the contents of an estate. My husband and I have inherited a family home which itself is in run down condition, but the contents are antiques. We have heard negative things about auction houses and estate dealers. How do we go about finding the value of items?

It seems like a horrendous job. A friend offered to help sell things on Ebay. What would be a fair percentage to offer for this service? We really need to make the best profit but don't know which direction to go. Would appreciate hearing from others who have experience and have had success. Thank you.

Arlinn

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Tuna Salad Without Mayo

Anyone have recipes for tuna salad WITHOUT mayo? I like tuna salad, but would like to try different versions without the fat/calories of mayo.

Thank you to all!
Monnat96 from Pingree Grove, IL

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Preventing Discoloration in Apple Juice

How do I prevent the brown discoloration of freshly-squeezed apple juice?

Michael from Geilston Bay, Tasmania

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How much does a concrete driveway cost?

Does anyone have an estimate how much a new concrete driveway 20x41 would cost? My old driveway has to be dug up and new fill brought in.

Thanks,
Sammi from Ironwood, MI

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Tub Surround vs. Tile

I can't decide whether to put in a tub surround or to put tile around my tub? Any ideas, also which is easier to keep clean?

Patricia

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Advice For A Puppy With Parvo

I think my puppy has parvo. I have read some of the articles on this website and he has the symptoms. He seemed to be fine this morning but when I went outside this afternoon he was a different dog. He is very lethargic and has lost weight very quickly. He will lap water occasionally but refuses all food. He is also vomiting the water back up.

I had some Gatoraid here and some chicken broth. I have been giving him a 3 cc syringe of Gatoraid and then another syringe of chicken broth mixed with a little high calorie vitamin paste I have here for my dogs. I tried the paste alone but it makes him throw up immediately. I have seen one loose stool, normal in color, no visible blood. Unfortunately, I have no way of getting Tater to the vet because it is Easter weekend and we live in a very rural area and I cant find one open.

Of course, I have separated him from the other dogs and he is inside with me. If anyone has any ideas please post a reply. I don't want to lose him. He was an orphan and I kept him out of a litter of 9 that my husband found while hunting in the woods. We found homes for the others but he was "begging" us to keep him. He was the runt and stole our hearts. This is breaking my heart.

Babynurse

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Kitchen Paint Color Advice

My kitchen counter is yellowish-gold. What color should I paint my kitchen walls?

Lynette from Postville, Iowa

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Should I Get A Mohawk?

I have been wanting a Mohawk for a while now but I don't know if I should. I don't care what other people think, but I'm very self critical. Any advice?

bethalizx

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Dessert Sauce Made From Instant Pudding

I know there has to be a recipe out there somewhere for making a simple dessert sauce from instant pudding. I really don't want to waste all the milk and pudding mixes experimenting. Does anyone know the secret recipe?

Barbara from Illinois

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Problems With A Sweet Gum Tree

We have a very large sweet gum tree. A large area of bark has come off the tree and a lot of the roots are exposed. Is this tree dying from the loss of bark? How can I cover up the roots? The roots have ruined my front yard.

Margie

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml