Daily Thrifty Tips - October 11, 2006

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Suzie Q is a 1 year old Terrier mix. I rescued Suzie from the Illinois Doberman Rescue Group, Plus. They take all kinds of dogs and cats, not only dobermans.

She likes to run around the house while getting chased by my 9 year old siamese cat. She loves her rawhides and loves her walks!

She is a real good cuddler. Loves to be near people. She just learned how to sit!

By Josette from Plano, IL

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I ran across this beautiful fall foliage in Minnesota the other day. These trees are normally a burgandy to green color, but have turned red in the fall. Can anybody tell me what type of tree this is? They look to be about 4-5 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, with no trimming needed. The leaves are oval shaped, being about 1 to 1 1/2 long. Some (not all) of the branches almost look like a stalk of Rhubarb, and feel sort of crispy to the touch. There are not any thorns on them, I've been asked that before. Thanks in advance!

By Julie from North Dakota

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I use butcher paper for the kids to draw on, and it also doubles for wrapping presents. The kids love to decorate the paper and make their own cards out of it, too. Friends and relatives can't wait to receive their gift and cards, and they keep the "artwork," too. Butcher paper costs about $12 a roll and lasts more then a year. Butchers have been very willing to order it for me. They usually place their orders once a week. Plus, it is great to wrap items for the freezer.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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Just got a "majolica" Italian plate from a thrift shop for 60 cents. It is lovely, but it had chips on the edges. Being white, I covered the chips with old thickened white-out and then when dry, covered it with a layer of clear nail polish. Now it has fruit on it on my sideboard and no one's the wiser! (You can also used thickened white-out around drains in the bath to mend chipping there.)

By Pam from Los Angeles

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1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all youwant.
4. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don't judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
14. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
15. When you lose, don't lose the lesson
16. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
17. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
18. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps correct it.
19. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
20. Spend some time alone.

By imaqt1962 from illinois

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During a stressful time in our lives, my DH and I did not have the money to pay our rent, so we had to search for a more frugal life for the two of us, our daughter and three children who were at the time living with us, plus our son and his two children who also stayed part-time with us. Three bedrooms were not enough to accommodate all of our family. A year before, 1996, we had bought 5 acres of land on a land contract (when we paid for it, we got the deed). My mother died in 1997, who I cared for until her death. My sister and I split what she had in checking and savings, as she was debt-free.

My DH and myself sat down and came up with a plan to cut out our monthly rent and water bill. We traveled to IL to a mobile home sales that had older homes at the back of the lot. Some were not livable, but some were, so we bought 4, a little over $1,000.00 and paid to have them moved to our land. My daughter got a three bedroom, my son got a two bedroom and we got a two bedroom. The forth one we sold and almost paid for the fee to move them from IL. We had two septic tanks put in and got our water from a spring that runs year round. During this time DH had to have a kidney removed due to cancer, but we tightened our belts and prayed and God saw us through this time also.

Our daughter got back on her feet and bought herself a new mobile home in about 3 years. We took her three bedroom mobile home and lined up the back doors and encased the doors with facings. We now have a five bedroom mobile home. We took the end bedroom and the living room from DD's old home and made a large 12x20 bedroom and large closet. We have not paid any rent or mortgage since 1998. We now have our land paid off.

Another thing we did was to sell our cars. DH lives 1/2 mile from his work now. Due to a back injury, I am not comfortable in a car, but a van I can ride without so much pain. DH bought an older van. Yes, paint was peeling, rust and all, but it was dependable transportation. After about 4 years, I got my SSD started and we bought a van that was wrecked, 1999 model and DH got parts and fixed it, so we have no car payments! Yes, it hurt some in the beginning to move outside the city limits, do without garbage pickup, but the county dumpsters are just about a mile from us. Since I was home, I cooked from scratch most of the time when I was able. DD's 3 children get off the bus at our home and I keep my DS's two little one's when he is on duty at the fire department. DS and family are looking to move a mobile home on the end of our property, which we will deed him an acre, so he has no down payment.

I don't think many people would enjoy our way of life, but to us it is freedom. We have all the room we need and 2 baths, a nice van, but these were hard work to get and took time.

I also use a fabric softener sheet dipped in liquid fabric softener for many loads of clothes. DH is the community service director at our church and we get almost all our clothing free there, as well as give to others that need clothing. I have a large garbage bag full of stuffed toys ready to give to the police department and fire department to give to children that are involved in fires and accidents.

You can learn to live without some things and be happier and have more time to do the important things in life, like spend time with family and friends, study and read. Make use of the local library as it is a world of information. I haven't bought a decorating magazine in 3 years, so much less paper clutter. I don't feel we are missing anything we had before, except the monthly bills!

Martha from Savannah, TN

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If you have many plastic containers you want to clean in the dishwasher, put them on the top rack, then place a baking cooling rack over them. This keeps the containers from flipping over and filling with water. Make sure you put all plastic on the top rack only. You can use as many cooling racks as fit in your dishwasher. This also works with the lids.

By Valery from Cranford, NJ

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You can also get deals on beauty products at Beauty Supply Stores - besides stuff for hair, I picked up 2 jars of eye cream on the sale table as well as other facial products - cheaper than drugstore prices.

It's getting close to Halloween - so remember that you can pick up colored hairspray for costumes - or even to color old wigs - at beauty supply places for less than elsewhere. Lots of colors to choose from and it washes out easily.

By Pam from Los Angeles

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One year I cut out four Christmas balls (circles) in bright colors. I then cut out picture circles a little bit smaller than each family member. Mounted each picture on a ball then mounted the ball to card stock. I then glued a string to the top of each ball. Inside I wrote "Have a Shiny Christmas!"

They worked well because each depicted an event that year in each person's life. My daughters wedding, son in front of first house, husband in front of his new job truck and myself in front of my new business. Better than a news letter.

By Pat from PA

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I found a great way to use leftover cooked vegetables. I liquify them in the blender and then add them to my tomato sauce. It adds vitamins, but does not change the flavor. Also, if you have a very young one who is now on table food, and you are left with several jars of pureed vegetables, these too can be added to tomato sauce. These are two ways to use all the food you've paid for.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

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I would like to decorate the front of a building for halloween but it's a very plain painted brick building. What could I use to stick decorations to the outside of a brick building? Just temporary stuff for 5-6 hours. I don't want to use screws or nails, I was thinking hot glue for small items that don't weigh much, any suggestions?

Madisonandco from KY

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My sons friends put those urine deer repellent scents in his car vent, every time he turns on the heater the car smells so bad. He cannot get the thing out of the vent.

Rlo From Shinnston, WV

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Does anyone know of any really good christmas charities for children in the boston area?

Melissa from Boston, MA

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Does anyone have a pattern, or know where I can buy a pattern, for making clothes for the soft Barbie and Me doll?

Mary from Lake Geneva, WI

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We are the Rebels playing the Wildcats and we need some float ideas.

Sandy from Haralson, CO

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What are some inexpensive do-it-yourself ideas for one-of-a-kind wall art? I'd like to make my own unique art for my home, but I get intimidated by those big blank canvasses at the store. They make it look so easy on decorating shows, but I can never remember how to do what they show on the shows. Any ideas?

Rhiannon from Athens, GA

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I have several nicks and chips in my linoleum floor. Is there a way to repair or cover them and make them less noticeable?

Gail from PA

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My dog was throwing up and now he does not want to eat. What can I do?

Dennis from Bronx, NY

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How do I take a cutting of a rose bush branch for replanting?

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Gale from Missouri

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Is the vinegar, salt and soap weed killer harmful to pets? I would like to try it on my paved area however my puppy is likely to lick the area. Should I apply and then keep her away for a week? Hose it in after a few days?

Stacey from Australia

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Have any of you seen on craft sites, in person, etc. the little purses made from Capri Sun pouches or Kool-Aid pouches? I have the directions and have made one. My question is this and it is NOT addressed on any of the directions I have found... how do you get the glue from where the straw sticks off the pouch! I have used Skin So Soft, lighter fluid and alcohol... and with all you have to rub and rub and wipe. Seems to me there should be something easier. Any hints or ideas out there

Thanks,
Bonnie from Martinsburg

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I really like fresh pineapple, I was visiting an Island called St. Lucie and I ate the best pineapple I have ever had. Does anyone have suggestions on how I can start my own plant? I was wondering if I could use the top of a store bought pineapple and do like a potato to start it, but I do not know if it would work. Thanks for any ideas you may have.

Hardiness Zone: 8b

Rodney from Dallas, TX

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I burned an aluminum pot on my smooth cooktop and cannot get aluminum ring off burner. What do I do?

Evelyn from Debary, FL

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Bank of America's Keep the Change program is now available in my state. Has anyone used this? What do you think?

Fisher

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When moving, I secured my CD's into their wooden holder using packing tape. I have now taken off the tape and it has left a sticky residue on both the CD cases and the wooden holder. How do I remove it?

Estelle from Buntingford, England

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What are the big black hairy spiders named that live in garden walls?

Doom from Portsmouth

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I have tried to use coupons from Thrifty but the stores are refusing to accept them here because they are printed off the Internet. Are the coupons legit" or is this just certain stores in this area, anyone in Chicago have this problem?

Carol from Chicago, IL

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Do you have any great anti-spyware programs you'd like to recommend? I like Housecall by Trendmicro, but it's not available as a standalone program, just as a part of an anti-spyware, anti-virus... trio. My daughter has Spy Sweeper, which I wasn't too impressed with until I discovered it was set to sweep every two weeks instead of daily. I have since changed the sweep schedule.

Holly from Richardson, TX

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My husband recently bought a beautiful !9th Century Piano that was stored in a barn for some time and it was full of mice. He was able to get rid of the mouse nests after carefully taking out the keys and many of the panels but it still reeks of a very foul and musty mouse odor. We want to bring the piano into our house but not until the smell is gone. Any ideas?

Love Antiques from North Dakota

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I have just plain cotton t-shirts that have splattered grease spots on them for cooking and they have been washed several times and dried. Now I have a big pile of fairly new t-shirts that all look like they have wet spots on them. Any suggestions on how to get those out?

Thanks!
Shelley from UT

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I need a door sign ideas! We are the Wildcats and we need ideas for a slogan against the Saints!

MaKayla from Berry, AL

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I am looking for ideas for a teen's golden birthday.

Lala from Highland, IN

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I have heard that there is a type of Canadian grass that produces a thick, lush, and hardy lawn. It is supposed to crowd out crabgrass. What is the name of it and where is the best place or website to purchase it at?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Vanet from Saugerties, NY

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How do you take the itch out of ant bites?

Shannon from Margate, FL

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My daughter wrote on her car windows with shoe polish. She then sprayed it off at the car wash. Now her car has hundreds of white spots all over it. How do I get them off?

Debbie from Paducah, KY

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Get "The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer" Free

When you subscribe to my newsletter "The Budget Stretcher" you will receive this easy guide to effectively organizing and managing your money absolutely free. Get all of the Budget Forms and Worksheets you need to make it work for you. Click the below link to learn more:

More Information:
http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/confirmsubs.html

There have been some questions about the new Crafting for Fun and Money program we started last month. In this FAQ we answer them.

Why are you paying $15 for crafts?

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