Daily Thrifty Tips - September 10, 2007

Volume Six, Number 174, September 10, 2007 (Read It Online) I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Susan is still out of town this week, she'll be back on Friday. Here are the contest winners for the week before last. Photo Contest Winner Make a Bathroom Vanity from an Old Dresser By Elaine from Iowa Tip Contest Winner Photo Scavenger Hunt By Marilyn from Lewisburg, TN Coffee and Dessert Wedding Reception By ALS from MD Thank you to everyone that took time to submit something. Thanks for reading, Jess and Lewis Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Cleome Flowers Christmas Ornaments From Curtain Rings Ball and Chain Wedding Shower Cake Pup (Beagle) Today's Tips: Make Sure Ebay is Actually Making You Money Saving Leftover Tomato Sauce in Ice Cubes Reusable Baggies Product Review: Star Mop Using Instant Coffee to Color Wood Scratches Classical Records for Frugal Gift Print Preview to Save Paper Removing Grease Stains from Clothing New Requests: Nontoxic Shrubs for Desert Garden Locations For Angel Food Ministries In Illinois Get Rid of Musty Smell In Buggy Laundry Tips for Hard Water Frugal Nickleback Band Memorabilia Removing Nail Polish Stain From Berber Carpet Homemade Cover For Baby Wipe Case Decoupaging Fabric To Glass Paint Chipping Off Metal Sink Grants For Seniors To Buy a Home Looking For Products From the '70s Carnival Themed 30th Birthday Party For husband Giving a torn Leather Coat For Crafts 14th Birthday Party With Hawaiian Sleepover Theme Removing Stain From Black Cotton Pants How Long Before Using Newly Painted Bathroom Repairing Bathing Suit Making Homemade Pot Scourer Removing Beetroot & Mayonnaise From Cotton Getting Rid Of Opossums Is Paint Still OK To Use After 2 Years? Fried Eggplant Recipe Getting Rid Of Carpenter Ants Transplanting a Butterfly Bush Urine on a Suede Couch Fruit Fly Control Today's Sponsor: 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 Today's Photos: Cleome Flowers Cleome is one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed. Not only that, you have a lot of free flowers the next year and they reseed themselves. By Elaine from Iowa Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33926965.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Christmas Ornaments From Curtain Rings An old curtain rings made into a Christmas decor. First I washed them then let them dry (alternatively painted them) then sketch a design on it with glue and sprinkled with glittering dusts. Attach a ribbon formed in bowtie and glue with a pearl or button (alternatively twined with tube cleaner). Tie a silver, gold, a crochet thread so it is easy to hang on the Christmas tree or in windows. By Lourna from Ronneby, Sweden Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40470472.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ball and Chain Wedding Shower Cake I made this for my daughters wedding shower, the ball was a styrofoam ball that I just covered in a #32 tip with black royal icing. I purchased some chain link at a local hardware store, it went over very well! By Diana from Highland, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31287781.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pup (Beagle) Pup is about 1 year and a Beagle. My husband and I were driving on a back country road about 6 months ago. There was the cutest beagle. My husband said we could take her home and find it's owner. we never could find anyone to claim her. Pup loves to run and play with Snap the Goat. I didn't want to give her a name since I was sure someone would claim such a sweet dog. No one did so she is stuck with the name of Pup. She is a great friend to our 11 year old Rottweiler, Roxie. Roxie can't run and play much anymore. Pup sets with her and is her eyes. It is amazing. I think she was sent here to keep her company. She is great with kids. This is her with my nephew Matthew. By Esther from Plainfield, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74519250.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Make Sure Ebay is Actually Making You Money Just a word of advice: I see a lot of articles and feedback on many thrifty websites suggesting that a great way to make extra money is to sell on Ebay. PLEASE PLEASE be careful that you are actually MAKING money in the long run! I have sold and bought off Ebay for quite a while now and there are times when the cost of driving to the post office, or the packing materials, or even the time involved in listing an item negates the earnings. And PLEASE watch out for Ebay's fees. They can mount quickly and then you discover that after selling a ton and cheering for your windfall, half of it goes right back out the door to Ebay. I think Ebay is a great sales tool but some things are really better sold on craigslist (no fees), private chat boards (like Diaperswappers for us cloth diapering moms) or at a yard sale. By all means, use Ebay but please be careful. Victoria from Carpentersville, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25067971.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Saving Leftover Tomato Sauce in Ice Cubes When a recipe calls for a small amount of tomato sauce, you can have extra sauce left over. Mix the unused sauce with a little water and pour into ice cube trays. Freeze and store in freezer bag or container. By Marcia from Starke, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51035312.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Reusable Baggies To save money and reduce wasteful packaging, I buy big bags of chips, pretzels, tortilla chips, etc. Then I repack them in small plastic containers for lunches. More often, however, I was packing them into snack size zip top baggies because they take up less room in my husband Michael's lunch bag. So I saved money on the chips, but was wasting money and plastic with the baggies. There had to be a thrifty solution. I bought vinyl zip top binder pouches about 9x6 inches. They have a plastic slider like expensive zip top bags. They are easy to wash. They don't take up much space in a lunch bag. Office Depot had them on sale as a back to school loss leader for the ridiculous price of one penny each. I bought five, so Michael and I each have two, plus one extra. Bigger pouches could be used for sandwiches. If you are packing for several people in your family you could use different colors and assign them to each person. This idea not only reduces the use of expensive zip top baggies, they are easy to carry, weigh very little and don't take up much room. By Samaree from South Bend, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76405770.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Product Review: Star Mop Product: Star Mop Manufacturer: AquaSTAR Cost: @$16.00 A million thanks to the ThriftyFunner (can't remember your name, sorry!) who recently posted a good review of this product! I want to add my enthusiastic endorsement of this product as well! I decided to go ahead and get it and it's wonderful! I used to never mop and now it's so easy. I just love, love, love this mop! (Never loved a mop before! LOL!) The mop comes with a microfiber head that's easy to use and easy to remove and wash and dry. What I've found to be easiest--even when wet-mopping--is to use it with the mop head dry and spray the floor as I mop with water or 409 (or whatever your favorite cleaner is that doesn't need to be rinsed). Then use the mop and it cleans and kind of almost dries the floor at the same time. Since I couldn't find it in any of the stores around here, I ordered it from http://www.asseenontv.com. You can also order it directly from the manufacturer's site, http://www.starfibers.com; but be sure you get the real one and not a knock-off; I understand that the knock-offs are disappointing. By Lynn from Chico, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40596566.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Instant Coffee to Color Wood Scratches For scratches on wooden tables, picture frames or anything wooden, take a teaspoon of instant coffee, add a couple of drops of hot water (just enough to make a thick paste). Take a clean cloth, dip into mixture and rub into scratch. Let dry. If it's not dark enough, repeat until you get right wood color. If it's too dark use a wet cloth and wipe until you get the right color. If you get excess somewhere you don't want it, just wipe with wet cloth. You'll be amazed at how easy this is. It only takes a few minutes and costs next to nothing. By Kelly from Largo, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11785700.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Classical Records for Frugal Gift Just had a lovely but frugal birthday. One of my gifts was a set of Baroque classical records in great condition. The music is lovely, and there was a beautiful illustrated booklet about the music and the times. I know my husband got a good deal on the records, and with our used turntable, the music is just as good! By Pamphyila from Los Angeles. CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10891030.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Print Preview to Save Paper Before printing a document off the Internet, do a print preview. Many times the last page is nothing more than the icons at the bottom of the web page. You can save on paper by selecting to print one fewer page than is listed. By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78750869.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Grease Stains from Clothing Have you ever gotten those grease stains on your shirts or jeans from McDonald's bags and cant get the stain out? Try Ajax Dish soap and Baking Soda mixed together until it makes a paste. Take an old toothbrush and work it into the stain. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so and then if you still see a partial stain, take the dish soap and baking soda and mix it with a little Shout. The dish soap and baking soda should do the trick but there are those really bad grease stains that need that extra kick) Hey, if Ajax soap is a degreaser for your dishes, why can't it be for your clothes too! By breza_hmh from OKC, OK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf636080.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Friends of ThriftyFun Dear Webby's Humor Letter Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter. Webby now has a blog, read his latest newsletter as well as back issues here: http://webby.com/humor/blog/ More Information: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Nontoxic Shrubs for Desert Garden I am looking for ideas for non poisonous shrubs for desert gardening. I would like color with flowering plants. Hardiness Zone: 8b Cuppie from North Las Vegas, NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91816896.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Locations For Angel Food Ministries In Illinois What are the locations of the Angel Food Ministries in Illinois. Jill from Arcola, Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29848219.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Get Rid of Musty Smell In Buggy How do you get rid of musky smell from buggy and covers? Nikki from Wimbledon Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73234667.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Laundry Tips for Hard Water Does anyone have any tips for doing laundry in hard water? Thanks, Anna Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50076473.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Frugal Nickleback Band Memorabilia I love this band, Nickelback, but can't afford posters or anything. So today I decided that there is no reason why I couldn't make me something with Nickelback on it! So I got to brainstorming and thought about covering a piece of of cardstock with pictures. But then I remembered the day before my Nanny (Grandma) had given me a red notebook. Ah-Ha! I put those to ideas together and started creating and this is what I came up with! Photograph Notebook: Supplies notebook, scrapbook or anything you want to cover pictures cardstock glue contact paper Instructions Step 1: Cut a piece of cardstock to fit the front of your book, glue down. Step 2: Arrange pictures how you want before glueing to help prevent mess-ups. Glue down all pictures. Let glue dry COMPLETELY! Step 3: Then cut contact paper big enough to cover front and back. Adhere contact paper and press firmly (if you are doing the back also, complete steps 1 and 2 BEFORE doing this!) Step 4: Enjoy your COMPLETELY UNIQUE book! Hope you like this! Sorry cant post pic! I printed my pictures off the internet but you can use family photographs! Do you have any other ideas on how I can make stuff? I can't afford to hop up and go buy supplies. Mackenzie from Tennessee Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74222915.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Nail Polish Stain From Berber Carpet Had nail polish on carpet. Got it out but now there is a lighter spot on beige berber carpet. I have tried cleaning. Can anyone help? Teeny from NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76895863.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Cover For Baby Wipe Case How to make a cover for baby wipe case? Ginger from Dublin, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99221298.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Decoupaging Fabric To Glass Does anyone know how to decoupage fabric to a glass block light? Julie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78108842.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Paint Chipping Off Metal Sink My sink was bought new years ago and is metal with paint over it. The paint is chipping off. Anyone know of what kind of paint I could buy to repaint it? I have already tried patching it to no avail. Thanks. Peachynptc from Peachtree City,GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72126376.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Grants For Seniors To Buy a Home I would like to buy a house for me and my husband where we can control the environment we live in. We need a grant to do so. Where do we go or how do we apply. Arlene from Mechanicville, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59387037.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Products From the '70s Any web sites that sell products from the past years of nineteen seventy, i.e. shampoo and conditioner, gee your hair smells terrific, puka shell necklaces, or mood rings. Any item from that time period 1976 to 1979, please legitimate sites only thanks. Birthaleen from Burbank, California Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50340671.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Carnival Themed 30th Birthday Party For husband Having a carnival themed 30th Birthday party for my husband and ideas? Thanks Meredith from ,MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17666809.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Giving a torn Leather Coat For Crafts Have a brown leather coat w/tear in back. Who can I give to for crafts? Sandra from Monroe, Mi Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62489972.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print 14th Birthday Party With Hawaiian Sleepover Theme I need help! I want to have a sleepover for my 14th birthday and to have it in a tent in my garden. I want to have a fire and marshmallows and all the sort of stuff but its in October and I don't know whether to or not because it might be really cold? Can anyone give me some advice I'm in real need. Also could you give me an idea on games. I was thinking to have it as a Hawaiian theme? What do you think? Thank you. Jenny from Isle Of Wight Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81092726.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Stain From Black Cotton Pants I have got a stain on my pant i.e from my hubby's pants, because of washing in the machine together. It's a black pant with gray marks on it, how do I get rid of them. It's pure 100% cotton. The stain is the colour is come from other pant while washing. paramjit from Kuwait Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30922609.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How Long Before Using Newly Painted Bathroom Any one know how long you need to wait on showering in a repainted bathroom? Don't want the moisture mess up the paint job. Cherrie from MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92547554.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Repairing Bathing Suit My puppy chewed a portion of my bathing suit. There are no pieces missing just a slight hole. Does anyone know how or if it can be repaired and if so what should I do? Jennifer from State College, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34362648.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Homemade Pot Scourer Does anyone know of a way to make a pot scourer or scrubber that will last? I'm tired of buying reversible sponges that I have to throw away after a week. I have seen some instructions for making one out of nylon yarn, but I've misplaced them. Thank you in anticipation! Virginia from Canberra, Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95338542.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Beetroot & Mayonnaise From Cotton My husband dropped a mixture of beetroot and mayonnaise on his work cotton stripped shirt. I soaked it after a few hours of it happening, in plain water. How do I remove it. Tebo from JOHANNESBURG, ZA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53626811.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid Of Opossums Do you have any advice in getting rid of mommy opossum and her litter? She has been around off and on for years, but now she has a family and now they come to feed with our cat! I don't want to try to catch her or her litter, very nasty. Kathryn from Houston, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53751160.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Is Paint Still OK To Use After 2 Years? I have some paint that is two years old. Will it be ok to use it? Is it still good? Cherrie from Mississippi Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22930855.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fried Eggplant Recipe I have been trying forever to find the recipe for "Fried Eggplant" with dip from Olive Garden Restaurant.I looked on Internet for Copy recipes and can't find it.Also I'm looking for the recipe that Grandy's Restaurant has for making their green beans. Can anyone who knows please let me know? Thanks and God Bless. Angelheart from Clyde. Kay from Clyde, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63516466.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid Of Carpenter Ants How can I kill carpenter ants without using an exterminator? Already have one on retainer for termites. I really don't want to give them any more money. Thanks. Sheila from Central Florida Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70994662.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Transplanting a Butterfly Bush What should I do besides watering after transplanting a very large butterfly bush? Should I fertilize or cut it back? Hardiness Zone: 7b Carol from Willards, Maryland Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82417888.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Urine on a Suede Couch Ok, so my little cousin urinated on my brand new suede couch, and I don't know how to clean it. He drew on it a few weeks before, and I was told to use windex, and that worked to get the ink out. His mother didn't tell me he urinated on it until 2 or 3 days later. Can anyone help me, or do i need a new couch? Kim from Baltimore, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17446482.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fruit Fly Control How do you get rid of fruit flies? At the end of summer when I start bringing the bounty from my garden into my house the fruit flies are everywhere. Julie from Lindon, UT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf697819.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Today's Sponsor: 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 Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.