Daily Thrifty Tips - February 20, 2009

As the stock market continues to fall and the recession deepens, this can be tough on parents and children alike. Do you have tips for parenting during tough economic times? Feel free to share them here:

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Kendra (German Shepherd Mix)

Kendra is an 8 year old German Shepherd mixed breed dog. I adopted her from the Humane Society/ Prison training program when she was 10 months old.

Kendra loves to play ball & chew on her bone. She also loves to cuddle up in the evenings on the couch next to me and watch TV.

Kendra loves company. When someone comes over, she gets all her favorite toys out of her basket and drops them on their lap or on the floor. She is a ham and will sit still for pictures too!

By Jenny from Springfield, OH

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Craft Project: Two Aprons from One Overall

Two unique and fun aprons from one jean overall.

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Garden: Flowering Florida Maple

This is a Florida Maple flowering. Love the vivid color it runs every year. It's great when it's full of Black Birds.

By Georgette from Orlando, FL

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Garden: Summer House

2 years ago we had to cut back a holly bush which had grown out of control. Unfortunately it just left bare branches so we decided to remove it altogether. In its place we've erected this summerhouse.

It is lovely in the summertime; I can sit and read without the sun blinding me or just enjoy my plants and watch the birds. I add potted plants, hanging baskets and bird houses on the veranda in the spring and summer. However, I think this is my favorite picture of the garden!

By Skinnyjinny from Scotland

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Garden: Guard Frog

This is what I call 'My Rock Garden' and I believe it decorates my yard well. My favorite Garden in my yard. I use frogs, turtles, alligators, snakes, and snails to decorate it. Also solar lights for an added touch. The birdbath in the middle, is a favorite drinking and bathing place for all different birds.

By Georgie from Jayess, MS

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Learn Colors at Bath Time

Teach your kids colors by letting them choose a little bit of food coloring for their baths. With a regular box of blue green yellow and red, you can make a lot of colors. It helps them learn not only colors, but which colors mixed together make other colors. It also makes bathtime fun, and it doesn't stain the tub or the kids.

By Katherine from Wenatchee, WA

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Hand Out Snack Bags to the Homeless

Many of us are moved to reach out to those "homeless and hungry" people by the roadside, but are reluctant to offer money because of not wanting to support drug or alcohol abuse.

I have a friend who instead of giving out cash, keeps little snack bags in her car which she hands out to them. You can include some small toiletry items as well. Breakfast bars, snack crackers, small boxes of raisins or other dried fruit, trail mix, etc. are some suggestions.

Another idea to consider is to buy the 2 for $2 breakfast sandwiches at McDonald's and similar fast food establishments. When I have had to grab a quick breakfast on the run, I have purchased them, ate one for my own breakfast and then gave the other one to the first homeless person I saw.

In the bigger cities so many of these people spend their days in a public park. They go to the trashcans seeking leftovers from someone's picnic or lunch. Instead of stuffing your uneaten, yet still good food, into the trash can. Sit it in the bag on top of or beside the can. It will be gone before you get far.

The economic struggle we are all affected by hits these people even harder because donations are down. These ways of sharing cost us nothing but may mean the difference of eating or not to someone else.

By Sandy from Elon, NC

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Use Christmas Lights to Keep the Doghouse Warm

If you have an outdoor dog that you are sure won't bite or chew the cording, you can help it keep warm in the winter by tacking a string of Christmas lights into the inside top and sides of the doghouse and running an extension cord to the power source. Also tack a piece of cloth over the door opening for a flexible door-dog workable-that will help keep the heat inside.

By Trace from Wartburg

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Furniture Polish Helps Catch Dirt on Furnace Filter

Each month when you change your furnace filter, spray it with a furniture polish first before installing. This will help trap more dust in the filter due to the oil base of the spray furniture polish. I use a cheap can of spray from the dollar store.

Source: My heating and cooling service man

By Judy from Kentwood, MI

Editor's Note: Make sure to read the label of anything you spray on an air filter to ensure it's safe to breath and non toxic.

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Strategically Place Note Pads as Memory Aids

To remember things you want to do keep a big pad on your desk and one near your chair where you set in living room. I also keep a pad for a grocery list, sometimes just watching TV I think of an item I need so I write it down. I also take Ginkgo for memory, it helps.

By K.W. from Dothan, AL

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Freebie: Romance Novels

In honor of their 60th anniversary Harlequin Books is offering 16 of their romances from several of their genres to download FREE. http://www.harlequincelebrates.com By Pam from L. A., CA

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Restore and Reuse Dryer Sheets

Extend the life of your dryer sheets. First they are extremely useful for cleaning the lint trap. Don't throw them away. Find a tightly sealed jar or container. Save all your used fabric sheets. Buy the smallest bottle of your favorite fabric softener. Collect all used sheets. Put them in your container. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of liquid softener and shake them up well. Toss in dryer. They will work every time. Reuse them over and over again. Add liquid softener as needed. When money is tight you will always have good smelling and soft clothes.

By Marlene from Upper Jay NY

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Budget For This Year's Gifts Now

Set a budget TODAY for your gift giving this year. By setting a limit and sticking to it, I've saved a ton of $. So often, don't we all just pick up a little extra and a little extra over and over? Be sure to include cards and postage. I buy blank cards with pretty pictures and include a note for most that I send.

By Laura from Mason, OH

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Bone Your Own Chicken Breasts

Our family eats a lot of chicken. I was buying chicken breast only when it went on sale for 2.00 or less. Cooking it in large batches and freezing it for future 'fast food'. I felt I was saving money because of the price and that there was no waste to the breasts.

Recently the stores have been selling split chicken breasts for .88 or less per pound. I bought a couple of pounds to cook and freeze when I had a light bulb go off. This is a chicken breast in the rough! A sharp knife, a little time, yielded a nice section of meat. I didn't come out exactly as I had hoped but those little pieces became chicken 'tenders' for a quick stir-fry.

I didn't worry too much about the meat left on the bones because those went into a pot to become chicken stock and soup in the making. Skins, extra fat and those other useless pieces went into another pot to be cooked with some rice to be added to dog food.

Everything, once cooked (the chicken had ice crystals on it when I bought it and I don't like to refreeze uncooked meat), including the "dog food" can be frozen in marked packages, making it easy for anyone in the family to make a quick meal.

So instead of spending 1.99 on 'no waste' chicken breast, I am spending a bit of time and getting the breast, soup, chicken pieces and dog food 'extender' for 88 cents!

By Cynthia from AL

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Drying Freezer Bags

I wash and reuse freezer bags, except the ones that had chicken in them. I know some people turn the bags inside out to dry. I don't do this because I always seem to tear the ends of the "zippers". What I do is take a section of a "select-a-size" paper towel, fold it in half and put it in the bag, then press the bag flat. You can zip the bag shut if you want to, but this is not necessary.

The towel absorbs the water. Remove the paper towel when bag and towel are dry. Save the paper towel because it can be used in another bag, or for general cleaning. You can keep using the same towel in several bags. Saves money on paper towels and freezer bags. If you use a lot of bags, the savings can really add up. Try it, you will like this method.

By Linda from Bloomington, IL

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Removing Hair from a Bathtub

I clean houses for the elderly and one of my clients has very long hair. I was wondering if there is an easy, quick way to remove hair from sinks, tubs/showers, toilets, etc. When I clean it just moves the hair around and I end up having to pick it off, and that is gross to me. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Janice from Illinois

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Instructions for Kitchen Bunnies

I would like to have instructions for "kitchen bunnies". I live at Willow Creek and we are doing a fundraiser for Relay for Life. Any other craft ideas are welcome. Thanks.

Cheryl from Eldon, MO

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Removing an Autograph from a Jersey

I have an autograph signed on a authentic basketball jersey that I am trying to remove so I can get it re-signed on the number part instead. I am in a hurry as there is an autograph session on Saturday and is my only chance to get it signed again.

I tried using washing liquid and water which got it faded a bit and I've tried using nail polish remover and it faded a bit more. Should I wait till it dries and continue the same process? Will the full signature eventually fade away completely? Is there any other stuff I could use on it, alcohol or Carbona? Any help would be appreciated.

Ivan from Toronto, ON

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Clorox Bottle Crafts

I am looking for crafts made out of Clorox bottles. I was told you could make a bird house the shape of a bear out of a Clorox bottle. I was wondering if anyone had the instructions on how to do this or any other crafts made out of Clorox bottles.

Kathleen from Sprakers, NY

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Wood Floor Recommendations for a House with Dogs

Can anyone recommend a very durable hardwood or laminate flooring for a household with three big dogs?

Tracey from Westerville, OH

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Homemade Cherry Coke

I really enjoy a cherry coke now and then. It is not always available and I don't want to buy a big 2 liter or a six pack. How can I get the cherry flavor?

Big Sis from Cocoa Beach, FL

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Earning Extra Money for College Classes

Does anyone have ideas on earning extra money to pay for summer college classes? I work FT, go to school FT and I'm a single mom. I have started saving for summer courses. Any money making ideas are welcome. Thanks!

yurika975 from Houston, TX

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Tips for Starting an In-Home Daycare

I am starting a new in home daycare. I need program ideas and help with contracts or any other forms you need to use. Thank you.

Mel from Oregon City

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Windows Painted Shut

We recently moved into a very old house that has it's windows painted shut. The windows are suppose to open from bottom to top, not side to side. Does anyone know of how to reopen old painted shut windows? Thanks!

Cheryl from Oregon

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Storing Corn or Flour Tortillas

What do you store your corn tortillas in? I keep mine in a Ziploc gallon size bag in my pantry. Any other ideas?

Onesummer

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Unclogging a Bathtub

I need some help in cleaning out my bathtub drain. I have used "Plumbers Helper" like it was going out of style but still no results. Plunging has been almost a daily chore and still no relief. How about a few ideas? Help!

Louis from Sarasota, FL

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Toilet Keeps Clogging

I live in a townhouse that is approx. 6 years old. My toilets clog constantly. I use low-budget thin toilet paper because the thicker paper is even worse. I am tired of plunging my toilets every other day. Help!

Janice from Mechanicsburg, PA

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Removing Fabric Dye from the Dryer

How can I remove cloth dye from the inside of my dryer?

Janice from Victoria, BC

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Ladybugs in the House

How do I get rid of ladybugs from my bedroom?

Bonnie from Lascassas, TN

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Make a Family Calendar

I'm working on making a family calendar for our huge family for Christmas. I would like to find one I can do for free and insert photos and dates.

Lou Ann

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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.

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The Basics of Fertilizing Trees
By Ellen Brown

Trees rely on sun, rain, and soil nutrients, to support their growth. When left to nature, trees are self-fertilizing, and competition for nutrients from surrounding plants is limited by the availability of these three resources. When planted in our landscapes, however, we rake up leaves and force them to compete for available resources with a wide variety of plants. That's why sometimes trees need a little boost in the form of fertilizer.

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