Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 148, October 11, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Thanks for submitting all the great tips.
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Thanks for reading,
Susan
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Organizing Bed Linens
- Take Inventory of All Your Belongings
- Resolve Carpet Cleaner for Blood Stains
- Archiving Scrapbook Pages
- Coffee Jello
- Using Cloth Placemats and Napkins
- Finding and Using Wooden Crates
- Wedding Champange Flute Candles
- Babysitting Checklist and Emergency Numbers
- Fixing a Stripped Wood Screw Hole
- How to Dispose of Paint and Other Hazardous Materials
- Green Housewarming Gift
- Easy Chicken and Dumplings
- Making Mock Condensed Milk (like Eagle Brand)
- Mock Apple Pie
- Sauerkraut Salad
- Fixing Fudge
- Rabbit Dance
- Thickening Runny Deviled Eggs Filling
- Freeze Leftover Sauce In An Ice Cube Tray
New Requests:
- Making Your Own Cards?
- Gift in a Jar Ideas?
- Looking for a Thin Pizza Crust Recipe
- Uses for Levi Pockets
- Ornamental Pepper Plant
- Homemade Laundry Soap Blunder
More Reading:
- A Friendly, Frugal Thing To Do
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Today's Tips
Organizing Bed Linens
After washing bed linens, I fold the sheets as small as I can, and one pillowcase. Then I put both sheets and folded pillowcase inside the other pillowcase. This way, I can always find a complete set when I'm digging through the linen closet.
By Jackie Smith
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Take Inventory of All Your Belongings
Create an inventory list and do a room to room video log of all your belongings. Leave out nothing of importance to you. Add a written report of where purchased, value, etc. Some insurance companies require detailed lists of what you are replacing before they settle with you. My sister had to do this from memory after her home was blown apart and scattered for miles from a tornado. Vacuum seal your records and place in your freezer. It's easier to find big objects after the storm and the rains that always follow a tornado.
By Mildred Ruckert
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Resolve Carpet Cleaner for Blood Stains
Recently I had the experience of trying to remove a substantial amount of Blood stains from my son's White heavy Karate uniform. I tried everything and finally noticed my carpet cleaner bottle I had purchased and not yet used. I sprayed it all over the stains and took a soft brush, began to gently scrub and before I could even finish they were already gone. I was amazed. Rinsed with warm water and the stain was totally removed. Then re-washed in soapy water. The product is called "Resolve", triple action carpet stain remover. I also used it on an old rust stain on a pair of pants and walla, stain gone. Does not remove the colorfast colors either.
By Jaye long
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Archiving Scrapbook Pages
Take photos of your finished pages, then take the negatives or CD, vacuum seal them and place in your freezer. Your precious memories then may not be lost.
By Mildred Ruckert
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Coffee Jello
Ingredients:
1/4 c. cold water
1 pkg. plain gelatin
1/2 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. hot coffee, NOT INSTANT
1/2 c. chopped dates
Cool Whip
Directions:
Pour plain gelatin into cold water; let stand until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Mix sugar into coffee; add gelatin mixture. Stir until dissolved. Add dates; pour into 1 quart bowl. Chill in refrigerator about 3 hours. Serve with Cool Whip if desired.
By dsbaby14
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Using Cloth Placemats and Napkins
Use cloth placemats and napkins. They're a treat you'll come to enjoy every day.
Cloth placemats and napkins dress up your table, help with any spills, keep the dishes and silverware more quiet from banging on the table, and set the mood for your meal. They are easy to make, or you can buy them at thrift stores. Mix and match, according to your mood. They are easier to care for than a larger bulkier tablecloth. Wash them with your kitchen towels.
You will get so accustomed to this little luxury that you'll never want to use a flimsy scratchy expensive paper napkins again, and you'll feel your table is incomplete without the nice look and feel of placemats & cloth napkins.
I've used them for years now and I don't fuss with them. They come off the line and I fold them, and use. No ironing allowed. I do have a few that should be dried hanging straight or over a wooden rack in order to come out nice and flat. Sometimes my guests have reservations about using my "good" cloth napkins and they actually apologize for getting the napkin dirty. I laugh to put them at ease and say, that's all I use and I wash them with the towels. Go for it!
By Jayne
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Finding and Using Wooden Crates
One of the electronics firms here in town regularly gets rid of wooden crates. I went to the shipping and receiving boss and asked if I could have them. They said "sure" as they used a lot of man hours breaking them up to go to the dump. I have used these for a small garden shed, I have torn them apart for the wood to make standup Christmas ornaments for the yard and best of all my local animal rescue loved these for dog houses for the bigger dogs. Look around and call your local moving and storage or an assembly plant. You to could be rolling in free plywood, too.
By Debra in Colorado
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Wedding Champange Flute Candles
We did this for my daughter's wedding. I went to the thrift store and bought two beautiful matching crystal champagne flutes. I then melted wax (can be bought at craft stores.) I let the wax cool just a bit so it would not crack the crystal and added some glass glitter in blue and silver which were her colors. Now when she eats her one year cake she will have beautiful candles to light for the special one year anniversary.
By Debra in Colorado
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Babysitting Checklist and Emergency Numbers
When my children were little and I had to have a babysitter I would make a checklist for the babysitter and would leave it by the phone. I would write such things as where dinner was and what time they needed to be fed, bedtime and bath time, and what snacks they can have and where they are. I then put this into a plastic sleeve and left a dry mark eraser next to it so she could mark things off. I also laminated the emergency phone list with clear contact paper, that way if it was a wet emergency, like a broken pipe, the phone list would not melt in her hands :)
By Debra in Colorado
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Fixing a Stripped Wood Screw Hole
To fix a hole that has become too large for a wood screw take some tooth picks and wood glue and fill the hole until it is the right size again. If you decide to fill it completely you will need to pre-drill for the screw. Let the glue and the toothpicks dry completely before you finish your project.
By Debra In Colorado
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How to Dispose of Paint and Other Hazardous Materials
My storage room was filled with half cans of paint (I just redecorated,) varnish, old paint thinner and stripper. My trash people told me that they could not haul this to the landfill so I called our county extension office and they told me that most counties now have a hazardous waste drop off where you can drop items like these for disposal.
Well, that's great but here is my idea. Why not swap those last bits of paint and varnish with a friend. I loved the color that my friend painted her living room and now I have a desk painted that color. I covered the paint with a little leftover poly and I have a great looking desk.
By Debra in Colorado
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Green Housewarming Gift
When faced with having to buy a house warming gift for a friend I never know what to get someone until I came up with this tip. I love flowers and gardening. On the spur of the moment I needed something nice so I looked around my yard for something I could give. A friend had given me some Hens and chicks and they had really spread so I went and got one of the big heads and planted it in a nice pot with a bow. My friends loved it. I have given irises, a few shoots off my antique rose bushes (you know the little suckers that grow off the bottom) and day lilies for their yard. Most have moved into new homes where landscaping was at a minimum. These were really appreciate gifts.
By Debra in Colorado
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Easy Chicken and Dumplings
Okay people, this is so easy and yummy. All you need is 2 cans of Cream of Chicken soup, empty into pan, and fill one can up with milk and add to the pan, then get 3 cans of biscuits, flatten each one and slice in pieces and throw into pan and cook until done (about 10 minutes) This is YUMMY!
By NascarFan
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Making Mock Condensed Milk (like Eagle Brand)
With the holidays coming sooner than we think, it is time to make those delicious recipes that call for Eagle Brand condensed milk. But it is really expensive to buy. So make your own with this simple recipe. I guarantee it works as well as the real thing!
Mock Condensed Milk
Mix together in your blender: 2 1/4 cups Milk Powder, 1/4 cup warm water, and 3/4 cup granulated sugar. Pour into covered container and refrigerate until cold and thick. This amount is equal to 1 can Eagle Brand.
By Harlean from Arkansas
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Mock Apple Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/3 cup water, boiling
- 16 ritz cracker, coarsely broken
- 1 and 1/3 cup sugar
- Butter the size of a walnut
- 1 and 1/3 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions:
Combine all ingredients except water. Have double pie crust ready. Add water to ingredients, stir in quickly and pour into crust. Cover with top crust and bake at 350º for 30 minutes.
Never Fail Pie Crust
Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 and 1/2 cups shortening, *
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, well beaten
- 5 Tablespoons water
- 1 Tablespoon vinegar
Directions:
Cut shortening into flour until finely crumbled and add salt. In another bowl, combine egg, water and vinegar.
Make a well in the flour and add wet ingredients all at once. Blend with a fork until flour is moist and dough forms a ball.
* Blue Bonnet margarine works well in place of shortening - easy to measure. This dough can be re-rolled without being tough, so you can use scraps to make another crust or to cover a pot pie.
To make a pre-baked pie shell, make a foil form (line a pie pan with foil, then carefully lift out). After you put your crust in the pan, set the foil form in and fill with dried beans. Bake 15 minutes, then lift out form and beans carefully and continue to bake crust until golden brown.
By Harlean from Arkansas
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Sauerkraut Salad
This is the easiest, best salad, especially good with Tacos.
Ingredients:
1 Can Sauerkraut
1 Can Kidney Beans Drain, and add
1 small can chopped olives
Dress with mayo and sour cream together, to taste.
By Sharon James
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Fixing Fudge
When making fudge, keep an extra stick of butter or margarine at the ready. If you overcook the fudge and it gets to thick, it can often be saved by quickly adding an extra stick of butter
By Nanalori
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Rabbit Dance
My 2nd grade son told me this one:
What kind of dance do rabbits like best?
Hip HOP!
By Suzziee
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Thickening Runny Deviled Eggs Filling
If your deviled eggs filling come out too runny, try adding a little instant mashed potatoes straight from the package. It doesn't affect the taste, and it firms them up nicely.
By Nanalori
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Freeze Leftover Sauce In An Ice Cube Tray
I rarely use all of a jar of pizza sauce, a can of tomato sauce or a can of tomato paste and they seem to spoil so quickly. What I do is empty the contents into an old ice cube tray. Make sure it's one you don't plan on using anymore, because it may stain. Then when the cubes are frozen, you pop them out and put them into a zippered bag. Each cube is approximately 2 TBSP. Of course it will depend on your cube size. But measure them out to 2 TBSP per cube and if you need 1/4 cup of whatever you have frozen, just grab 4 of them. They thaw fairly quickly because they are so small.
By Andrea from MI
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New Requests:
Making Your Own Cards?
I looking for any kind of feedback on Xmas cards. In the past, I have purchased Xmas cards at the dollar store. We have a big family so I send out close to 150 cards. I know I can continue sending out the dollar store kind but I do want a bit of creativity. Has anyone here, had their kids make the Xmas cards and maybe make copies on cardstock at Kinko's? Is this expensive? I figured it would creative for the kids. What do you think?
Laura Lange
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Gift in a Jar Ideas?
I have an overload of mayo jars that I have collected. Does anyone have a tried and true gift in a jar that will fit in a mayonnaise jar?
Laura Lange
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Looking for a Thin Pizza Crust Recipe
I am trying to make my own pizza crust. I have purchased the boxed crusts and made them. It is just my dh and I so I am able to make two and sometimes three crusts from the boxed ones. However, when I bake them I like a thin crisp crust and mine are rather doughy and thick. Can anyone tell me how I can make a thin crisp crust? I also have a pizza stone (Pampered Chef) that I can use. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Cookiepom
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Uses for Levi Pockets
I've been cutting levis up to braid a rug. Any ideas what to do with the pockets?
Darla from Montana
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Ornamental Pepper Plant
I bought an ornamental pepper plant 3 weeks ago. From the day I brought it home it has not done well. The peppers are shriveled up along w/the leaves. I now have it indoors. The first night I had left it outside. I think it suffered cold damage. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you,
Joey
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Homemade Laundry Soap Blunder
I just made my first batch of laundry soap (fels naptha, washing soda, borax combo). After sitting for 24 hours, it didn't gel up like it should have. Instead, it serparated into liquid with a waxy, 1 inch top (kinda looks like how fat rises on soup when refrigerated). What did I do wrong? Can it be fixed by re-heating the batch? I thought I followed the directions exactly.
Leann D
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More Reading
A Friendly, Frugal Thing To Do
By Cyndi Roberts
How many times do we all say to ourselves "This year I will send birthday cards to all my nieces and nephews and anniversary cards to all my brothers and sisters and cards from the kids on Grandparents' Day?"
View Article: Click Here
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