Daily Thrifty Tips September 22, 2004

Hello,

Great day for contest entries yesterday. Over 25 were submitted! Keep up the good work! It really keeps us busy.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Tips:

• Making Decorative Magnets
• Frozen Juice Concentrate In Ice Cube Trays
• Cleaning Old Linoleum
• Use Baby Wash to Avoid Bathtub Rings
• Use Baby Powder on Grease Stains
• Tips for Boiled Eggs
• Baking Soda in Cat Litter
• Creative Burger Ideas
• Caffeine in Pain Pills
• Mexican Beef Casserole
• Homemade Cold Pack
• Beef Stew Over Rice
• Feedback: Green and Healthy Grass
• Feedback: Uses for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
• Feedback: Using It Up
• Old Pantyhose and Nylons
• Feedback: Uses for Contac Paper
• Feedback: Quick Soup Ideas
• Today's Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies

New Requests:

• Problems with Neighbors Cats
• Looking for Shower Wrap Information
• Cleaning Carpets and Keeping Them Clean
• Crocheted Birdhouse Afghan Pattern

More Reading:

• Replacing a Leased Vehicle
• 14 Tips for Crate Training Your New Puppy

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Today's Tips

Making Decorative Magnets

You can buy a package of self-adhesive magnets at an office supply store. They are usually used for business cards. You can use these to make your own fun magnets.

Find pretty little pictures, plaques, sayings, etc. in magazines and catalogs, carefully cut them out, cut the magnet to size, and stick your picture onto the magnet. Very simple!

I recently found a set of 6 plaques in a catalog, made a little set of magnets from them, and used them to decorate the front of a cabinet. It looks like they are painted on, very chic.

Also these make nice little gifts to tuck into a letter to a friend, to cheer someone up or make them laugh.

By Jayne

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Frozen Juice Concentrate In Ice Cube Trays

To stretch the frozen juice concentrate at my house where there are many kids and teens, I put mine in ice cube trays. they can be removed as needed, one at a time, and kids can pick what kind they want. That way they can't drink a whole carton of juice (out of the jug) at a time. Less fun for them if they have to make their own! One cube makes 4 ounces of juice.

By Carol

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Cleaning Old Linoleum

I was almost ready to put down some new linoleum in my kitchen. Regular mopping had not cleaned it and the dirt seemed grounded in. I mopped again in preparation, but this time I made up my own cleaning solution... 50% Bleach, 50% Water and some liquid dishwashing detergent. Wow, it took up all the dirt. It looks like new. I can hardly believe it.

By judy

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Use Baby Wash to Avoid Bathtub Rings

To avoid having to deal with a bathtub ring, use baby wash in the water. I use Johnson's and Johnson's, I don't know if others work. I have never had to deal with a bathtub ring.

By judy

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Use Baby Powder on Grease Stains

This always works. When you have a grease stain, use baby powder. Put a lot on it and let it sit for a few days. Shake it off and if it still looks greasy, pour more on and wait. A dog buried his greasy chicken bone in my suitcase on top of a silk blouse. I had to apply several times but the grease came out.

By judy

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Tips for Boiled Eggs

When you boil eggs, add a little salt or vinegar to the water, bring it to a boil, boil for one minute and remove from heat and cover. Let it stand until cool enough to handle eggs. The salt or vinegar will keep a cracked egg from seeping out of the shell all over the pan.

When they are cool crack the shells and hold them under running cold water over them as you shell them. Start with the large end of the egg. Usually there is an air pocket on that end that makes it easier to start removing the shell. The running water helps to release the shell, so that you have pretty eggs for deviled eggs.

Here is another boiled egg hint. When you boil eggs that you are not going to use immediately, put a couple drops of food coloring in the water. Alert everyone that the colored eggs are boiled.

By Harlean from Arkansas

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Baking Soda in Cat Litter

I add baking soda to plain cat litter to keep it smelling fresher. I usually sprinkle a little on the bottom of the litter box, add the clay litter, then sprinkle a little more baking soda on top of that. Baking soda is relatively inexpensive at Aldi and a small box lasts for several litter box changes.

By Ness

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Creative Burger Ideas

To give your family a diversion from "regular" hamburgers, roll meat into logs and pan-fry. Serve in hot-dog buns.

Burgers can also be done in a 'MickeyMouse' shape, triangles, or create a happy face in ketchup to encourage little ones to eat.

For those who still eat their burgers medium rare, you can (securely) seal a slice of cheese between two flat patties. The cheese melts within while cooking.

For a nice low carb meal, try serving a burger patty with a scoop of cottage cheese and a side salad.

A squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of butter flavored buds keep calories/carbs low. : )

By Doggy

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Caffeine in Pain Pills

Many expensive pain relievers on the market claim to have a special ingredient. If you read the label carefully you'll find the ingredient is caffeine. Caffeine acts as a booster to pain relievers. Drink a cup of coffee or tea within 20 minutes of taking a generic pain reliever and you get the same effect for a fraction of the cost. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic which is why it's included in menstrual symptom and pain relievers.

By Lisa, RN

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Mexican Beef Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb. hamburger, browned
1 can ranch beans (I use a bigger can when I need to feed more people)
1 package taco seasoning
1 small can tomato sauce OR Rotel tomatoes
1 small can water
grated cheese
flour tortillas

Directions:

Mix hamburger and beans in fry pan. When hot add taco seasoning and hot water and sauce or tomatoes. Simmer for a few minutes. This will be layered in a dish with cheese and tortillas, ending with cheese. The size dish depends on how many beans and how many tortillas you added. Bake for 30 minutes in 350 degree oven or microwave for 10.

By Sonya

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Homemade Cold Pack

Another great homemade cold pack is to add regular rubbing alcohol to water - about 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water - in a freezer type zip top bag. I keep a couple of these in my freezer at all times. The bags don't freeze solid because of the alcohol and that makes them ideal to wrap over a wrist, knee or similar area. I use them over and over before they get a leak. I also usually add a drop or two of food color to the mixture to make them easy to find in the freezer.

JLD

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Beef Stew Over Rice

For a quick dinner, cook enough rice to go around and heat canned beef stew and serve over the rice. Excellent!

By Marti

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Feedback: Green and Healthy Grass

My husband mows on a high setting so the grass stays high but neatly trimmed. This keeps the moisture in the grass and we never have to water it. It stays green all summer, maybe not as green as the best lawn on the block, but still very green. We live in NC so we are a little more humid and wet than some other areas.

By Heather

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Feedback: Uses for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

We have an asphalt driveway and I used it to get the yellowish stains out of my linoleum floor it worked great! I also used it to get magic marker off of my son's wooden desk.

By bulanda

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Feedback: Using It Up - Old Pantyhose and Nylons

I always cut the legs of pantyhose into a bunch of "circles" and use them for my ponytail tieback... usually over a rubber band. My daughter laughs at me but hey! It works!

By Luvyabye

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Feedback: Uses for Contac Paper

Yee Hah, contact paper queen checking in.

Cover Juice cans for pen/pencils. I got a piece of heavy (1/4 inch thick) cardboard from fabric counter trash at Wal Mart, covered it with "parquet" wood pattern & my keyboard is on it right now. Great Lap desk sitting on top of the box the keyboard came in, covered with clear so I don't lose the part number.

I have "acres" of boxes covered with the stuff too and I used the white marble to cover the small medicine cabinets in our bathrooms when they started to rust because I loathe the smell of paint, though some contact paper stinks too.

Check yard sales & thrift shops, folks donate the stuff and if anybody finds Brick pattern, please email here and let me Know. It is my "Grail Quest".

I covered my kitchen cabinets too. The upper ones still look nice, my cats shredded the lower ones so I hope to find a not so stinky paint for them.

I look in stores for discarded boxes that have pegs in them. I have these in several rooms. I just cover the advertising logos with contact paper. It really helps to organize, one of the few successes I have in that area. One time I found some "peg board" attached to a big makeup display. I cut off the peg sections & punched hanging holes in the tops then covered with red & white check. These were my first pegs & I've had them for over 30 years with neck chains hanging on them.

I put some beige on top of my dryer when it got a lot of rust spots on it. Just don't cover the controls or lint filter door. I covered my circuit breaker box door & I've done extensive cat damage repairs to walls too.

When I see a pattern I really like unless it's Too Expensive I buy a couple of rolls & file it. I'm about to cover my toilet seat to match my bathroom cupboard doors.

Does anybody know if covering a mailbox is practical? Store bought mailbox covers are EXPENSIVE!

Oh yeah if you put a jigsaw puzzle together on a posterboard, put clear over the picture & a pretty wood grain pattern around the edge to Frame it.

Thanks, this is fun.

By Linne Dodds

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Feedback: Quick Soup Ideas

(Recipe #1) Company Soup: 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup plus can of milk. Add one can chicken noodle soup plus can of water.

(Recipe #2) Prepare can of condensed split pea soup with ham. When ready to serve, let drained black olives float on top. A real conversation opener- doesn't change taste much - it's just fun.

By susan_a362

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Other Active Topics

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Today's Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
2 unbeaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup boiling water
1 - 2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Sift the flour and salt together. In separate bowl cream butter, margarine, sugars, eggs & vanilla. Combine baking soda & water. Add to butter mixture. Add chocolate chips, nuts, and sifted mixture. Drop by 1/2 tsp onto greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 350F.

From http://www.CanadianCountryGifts.com

What are your favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes?

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Tip Contest

New Contest! Submit a tip and you could win:

Foodsaver Vac 300
This is the entry level Foodsaver. It offers commercial-quality vacuum packaging and is great for storing meat and cheese. It has a retail price of $79.99.

Enter the contest!

New Requests:

Problems with Neighbors Cats

Hi folks , I am having MAJOR problems with my neighbors cats ( live in a manufactured home community) and they let cats run wild. I own no cats, yet my entire driveway and yard is FILLED with cat poop. I can't walk to my car without being assaulted! I am tired of cleaning my driveway EVERYDAY and I want my 1yr old daughter to be able to play in her yard without all the poop land mines !!! HELP!!! - Nicole

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Looking for Shower Wrap Information

A friend told me about shower wraps she used to help sew for another lady to sell. She said you use a towel that has a wide hem, 4" of velcro to close at top, elastic for around the top and a ribbon trim. Has anybody else made these? I would like to make a couple for my daughter's-in-law for Christmas. My friend had forgotten the measurements used for the small, medium and large sizes. I would just like to hear if anybody else is making these. Also, wouldn't it be neat to make a matching one for the guys?

Katherine

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Cleaning Carpets and Keeping Them Clean

Does anyone out there have a good suggestion for getting and keeping carpets clean? I have scrubbed with Resolve and then sprayed with a mixture of water and vinegar, then soaked that up with paper or cloth towel. It works well but then the area gets dirty again. Any suggestions?

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Crocheted Birdhouse Afghan Pattern

I am looking for a crocheted birdhouse afghan pattern. I don't want to order the kit because it doesn't give you a choice on colors of yarn to use. I really need the pattern if anyone can help me.

Thank you,

MarySue

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More Reading

Replacing a Leased Vehicle
By Gary Foreman

I have a 4 year-old Toyota 4Runner with 33,000 miles that will be at the end of the lease next July.  I have never had any problems with the truck and I would love to keep it, but it would cost approximately $17,000 at that time and I will only be able to pay $4,000 in cash.  Is it smarter to finance $13,000 on a lesser vehicle that is brand new or only slightly used with a warranty?  I have checked into financing the $13,000 for 36 months and can afford to make those payments but that will mean paying for this vehicle for 8 years, yuk.  I knew this was a mistake from the moment I did it, but now I have to get out.

View Article: Click Here

14 Tips for Crate Training Your New Puppy
By Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

Your new puppy is arriving and you have heard of crate-training, but are not sure how to make it work for you and your newest addition. Through my years of experience as a pet-owner, lover and pet-care expert, I have learned some things about crate training that I'd like to share with you.

View Article: Click Here

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Thanks

Susan
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