Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 285, December 3, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We have another interesting article by Ellen Brown about Christmas Cactus, you can find a link to it in the More Reading section.
We will be publishing new Christmas Gifts and Crafts each day until Christmas. We could use your help! If you are working on crafts and have a digital camera, snap a picture of the craft and submit it to the photo contest page. We already have some great crafts submitted, but the more the merrier.
Also, if you have decorated your house, we would love to see a picture of it.
Photo Contest!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Tip Contest!
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Frugal solutions to everyday problems: Submit a request...
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photos:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
More Reading:
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Today's Photos
Easy Gardening
Don't dig that dirt, do this. Lay sheets of newspaper on the spot you pick for a garden. Cover the spot in the papers and then pile on dirt and compost.
Water it and let it sit. In a few months then plant your flowers. You can use cardboard in place of newspapers. Doing this kills the grass weeds
etc. and it is so easy to garden this way.
By Paula Phillips from Oklahoma
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Reusing a Broken Arbor
I reused my arbor that broke and made use of the lattice on my porch.
By Michelle Bayquen from San Jose, CA
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Beaded Snowflake Mittens
By Connie Decker Brown Easy Holiday craft project. Make Mittens from scraps of fleece and bead simple snowflakes on them.
View Craft: Click Here
Personalized Christmas Balls
By Christine Weber Creating a personalized, ornamental ball for the tree can be as individual as you like. Mine are red balls with golden glass paint depicting a design and each loved one's name.
View Craft: Click Here
Beaded Snowflake Scarf
By Connie Decker Brown Easy Holiday craft project. Make a scarf from fleece and bead simple snowflakes on them. Then you can use the scraps of leftover fleece to make some mittens!
View Craft: Click Here
What Not To Put on Your Landscape
The President Casino landed on the Holiday Inn's front lobby and lawn in Biloxi, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.
By Calmbrez1978 from Gulfport, MS
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Little Stuffed Chair Ornaments
These are little hand made stuffed chairs I am giving as ornaments. You may be able to see they open. One has a little teddy bear inside. Two of the larger ones have a very, very small resin cat on. These are for my grand daughters, who each have a cat colored like the resin cats.
These are simple to make, just a little tedious. I found the pattern and directions in a magazine years ago and made a copy of it. I can't remember the book, it was actually a Christmas book at the library.
Hope you enjoy the picture.
By Bonnie from Martinsburg, WV
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Today's Tips
Peeling Hard-Cooked Eggs
Tap the egg on the counter all over to crack the egg shell in several places. Rub the cracked egg between your hands to loosened the eggs shell. Then dip the egg in a bowl of ice cold water and begin peeling.
By ThriftyFun
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Cloudy or Crystallized Honey
You can restore cloudy or crystallized honey to its original state by placing it in a pan of hot tap water. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes and it will be good as new.
By ThriftyFun
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Saving Money on Entertainment at Wedding
I just got married in August. I thought I would have to pay about $200 for a pianist or something, then even more for a DJ for the reception. I discovered I could get a professional harpist and cellist for $300 for the ceremony, then just played a classical CD for the reception. Everyone loved the music during the ceremony so much, they didn't miss it during the reception
By Margaret from Wilmington, NC
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Car Buying Tip 6 - Sit Next to the Salesman
When you are negotiatig with the salesman, sit next to him, not across from him. Insist on it. Tell him you are not comfortable reading his writing upside down. Why? Psychologically, he will feel as though you and he are "on the same side." Sounds silly, but it really works. If it is impossible, try sitting beside the desk instead of in front of it.
By Robin Segal
http://www.thecarbuyersbible.com
Previons Tip: Write Down Everything
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Meringues for Inexpensive Baking
I love to bake, but baking can be an expensive hobby. When I'm especially strapped, I make meringues. Meringues are a cheap (and VERY low fat) delicious treat. Only egg whites and confectioners sugar are needed. You can create any shape with them and you can spice them up by dipping them in melted chocolate once they are baked. 50 of these treats only costs about $2 to make....add another $2 or so if you use chocolate.
By Margaret from Wilmington, NC
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Easy Frosting for Cake or Cupcakes
Sprinkle chocolate chips on your cake/cupcakes just a few minutes before they are done and you only have to spread the chocolate across the top after they are melted and the cake baked. Easy frosting!
By Robin from Washington, IA
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Labeling Food
When labeling your food items in your fridge or freezer, you can use several things to do it with. I've used transparent "magic" tape (kind you can write on), either with an ink pen or a permanent marker. I've used the little freezer labels you can sometimes find at your supermarket, but these are expensive, so to minimize my savings, I don't use a full piece, I'll cut one in half or into thirds to make them last longer. As long as I have the space to write the name of the dish and the date of preparation, that's all that counts. I've also used filing stickers that I've found in the office supplies dept. to use to mark my dishes to freeze. All these suggestions are also good about if you're taking a dish of food for a potluck, someone might have a question about the dish, or it's ingredients. For one of these events, just put your name on the sticker as well as the other info. My Mom used to use first aid tape, as she said it would last longer (back in those days it did.)
By Terri from NV
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Hold a Monthly Craft Exchange Party
Hold a monthly party and invite all your crafty friends to exchange
items they no longer need or use. This can save hundreds of dollars and you can get fresh ideas as well.
By A nne.Alexander from Nevada
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Saving on Decorating for Your Wedding
Instead of hiring a decorator for your wedding, go to a craft store/ and or party store (also make sure to hit the dollar stores just in case) to buy your decorations then ask some friends to help you decorate in lieu of buying you a wedding gift. I recommend sitting down and mapping out how much of each item you'll need. Then also sit down with your friends in a semi-formal meeting and explain what decorations you'll have, and how you want it to look.
By Margaret from Wilmington, NC
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Keeping Fruit Salad from Browning
Squeeze lemon juice on fruit salad and it will not brown quickly. Some grapefruit juice will work as well and will taste even better (if you like the taste of grapefruits).
By ThriftyFun
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Chopping Nuts
If you are chopping nuts with a knife, you can make them easier to chop by putting them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes at 300 degrees F (149 C) before chopping them. A quick way to chop nuts is to put them in a plastic bag and hit them with a mallet or meat tenderizers. It's actually even quickly than using a food processor since you have nothing you need to clean afterwards.
By ThriftyFun
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Organizing Papers and Magazines
A frugal way to organize magazines and papers. Ask at your local library for the holders that magazines come in. They are usually free for the asking.
By A nne.Alexander from Nevada
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Softening Brown Sugar
If your box of brown sugar has hardened over time, don't throw it out. Instead place the box in the microwave on high power for about 20 seconds and your brown sugar will be softened.
By Sharon
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Making Economical Christmas Ornaments and Cards
In NYC, the .99 store is all the rage. For economical christmas ornaments and cards go to your local .99 store and buy any glass Christmas balls, sparkles, pipe cleaner and clear glue. Our .99 store has them all. You can decorate the balls with sparkles and pipe cleaner. You can use any .99 decorative material. Also, you can find greeting cards there too. They're no frills so with the same materials you can decorate the cards and make them look more expensive than they are. If you have pets and small children it hurts less when the accidently break your christmas balls.
By Janet Cobeo from New York City
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Saving on Wedding Favors
Rather than spending 1.50 each for pre-made wedding favors that weren't at all personal, I made 50 of my own for about 13 dollars. I got the little bubble bottles (the clear wedding ones), some ivory address labels, and some pink and ivory ribbon. I printed our name and wedding date on the address labels, punched a hole in them, and tied them with ribbon to the bubbles. They were beautiful, personal, and a lot of fun. It took about 3 hours but saved around 50 dollars. It was like getting paid 18 dollars an hour!
By Margaret from Wilmington, Nc
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Making Candy When It is Raining
With Christmas coming so soon there are many who like to make candy. One tip that is very important, and depends much of the time on the climate where you live, is to not make candy if it's raining outside. Extra moisture in the air will not let it set up or harden the way it is supposed to.
By Robin from Washington, IA
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New Contest
Submit Your Holiday Tips and Photos!
Tip Contest!
To enter, visit:
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Photo Contest!
To enter, visit:
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Contest ends December 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
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New Requests
Washington Christmas Charities
I am looking for programs to help with christmas. I lost my job 1 week ago and have an 8 yr old girl and a 10 yr old boy. If anyone could send me the info that would be great.
Amy from Seattle, WA
Please post charities that offer help during the holiday season in Washington.
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Fleece Camping Blanket With a Hood
I am looking for a fleece blanket pattern. The blanket has a hood in the middle of the blanket on the side. I have found the same idea for camping but it is plastic and has no pattern. I have seen this idea for people who camp a lot or live in cold weather - you can use it as a throw or wrap yourself up in it with a hood for your head. I hope this description is sufficient enough. t
Thank you,
Carrell from Vacaville, California
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Rustic Looking Hangers
I am needing some rustic, farm-like ideas for a way to hang a window frame that has a quilt attached to it. You can see the quilt squares through the window panes. It is going to hang over the head of the bed.
Carol from Fairview, TN
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Makeup Stain on a Cotton Sweater
I have gotten makeup on a cotton sweater and cannot getit out. The sweater is black.
Jane from Vancouver
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Microwave Heat Bag
I am looking for instructions for making the bags that you can put in the microwave. The ones you use for aches and pains etc. What is inside and how do you clean them when needed?
Thanks,
PICO from ST. PAUL, ALBERTA
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Craft Ideas for Toddlers
Every year I do crafts with my kids as Christmas gifts for the Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles. This year I'm stumped. I have a 21 month old little girl and no idea what to do with her. I've been doing this tradition with my kids for 8 years now and now I can't think of anything! I also have a 5 year old and 8 year old boys, but have a few ideas on what they'll make! Any ideas for my baby girl?
Katja from Kountze, Texas
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Gardening in Florida
Finally the temps have cooled off here. I'm going to try to start my veggie garden and plan on doing some flower gardening also. I have so much energy now! Does anyone have any Florida gardening tips.
Hardiness Zone: 9a
Lorraine from Zolfo Springs, FL
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How do you make peanut brittle?
How do you make peanut brittle?
Joann from Ohio
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More Reading:
Coaxing Christmas Cactus
By Ellen Brown If your Christmas cactus blooms on the 4th of July, consider yourself lucky. Many people who grow them would settle for any blooms at all. If you're willing to follow a few simple rules, you can coax this shy cactus into blooming for you year after year-just in time for the holidays.
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