Daily Thrifty Tips - July 17, 2006

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Beautiful sunrise in Sunset!

By Joyce from Sunset, Texas

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I used a small old garden fence to organize my craft desk. I attached hooks and used wires to attach items. I also used small flower pots to store tiny tid bits. I strung my ribbons on a strip of leather and hung that above the fence.

By wyoKrista from Laramie, WY

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Birdie is 8 years old and is a mixed up kitty. I adopted him. He likes to lounge for fun.

Birdie loves to stare at the birds around the house. He sits in this bird bath everyday and just watches the day go by. I have to keep the bird bath dry...just for him.

By Rebecca from Richmond, VA

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When I plant my roses, I always add a fresh whole unbroken egg to the planting hole. The roses love it!

By Karen from Pensacola, FL

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With growing boys, I have had my share of well-used blue jeans. Here are a few things I did to get one more use out of them:

I cut the picket out (still attached to the jeans) and used a hole punch to put two holes in the top, then put yarn through the holes and hung in the kitchen for a bread tie holder. I also used to hold recipe cards, thread and those small objects that just seem to accumulate in the junk drawer - and often poke you in the finger!

I have also attached magnets on the back with super glue and used on the fridge for a note pad and pen.

I also cut the legs off and duct taped the bottom together and used the bag to tote garden tools around.

By Renee Klevenhagen from Slatedale, PA

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About using fans - It usually cools off at night - so use that to your advantage and have fans running at night to bring in the cooler air. Then you can use your air conditioning only during the day.

Be aware of the patterns of cross-ventilation of your home or apartment. My apartment, for example, has an updraft in the front hall, so the cool air circulates better if I keep the front door open. I have put a lacey curtain on the open door for privacy, and to reduce bugs, etc. Also, I have fans in almost every window to help circulate the air through the apartment. By doing this nights, it avoids the build up in heat I would get without the circulation of air.

Of course, it helps that where I am the air is cool at night - but try to become sensitive to how you can use similar strategies and you will save on air conditioning bills. (I did this in church at my choir rehearsal tonight, placing fans in just the right places, and managed to cool down the place much more efficiently and quickly than usual.)

By Pam from Los Angeles

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My mum showed me how to save on gas. She is all about maximizing the uses of ovens and other appliances. This involves some planning, but saved me $110.00 in 8 months!

She said that I would have to make my oven multitask, should I use it. If I baked a cake. she told me to mix up a batch of cookies and muffins and , so that the oven was packed to its capacity. If I bake a pizza, I usually pour my marinara sauce and pasta sauce in a large pan or a cookie sheet and leave it in the oven after I turn it off. The oven gradually cools down and by that time my sauces are very well cooked. Incidentally, there are no spatters on the stove or the back-splash to clean up this way! One time I opened the oven after I turned it off and placed our plates. The guests were so happy with the warm plates.

Note to readers: This is just a direction to explore: you would have to customize it. You get the picture. Always plan ahead and use up all the heat. If nothing else, put a bowl of water with vinegar or baking soda in it and the fumes will leave your oven smelling clean and fresh! Do write back if it works for you and tell us how you have used your creativity to maximize the oven's potential.

Caution: You would have to pair foods so that their aromas do not clash. No vanilla wafers after pot roast...

By chlorophyll from Racine, WI

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I always use a broom, whenever I wash the bath tub. I sprinkle Comet (or spray scrubbing bubbles, etc.) then sweep all the residue away. The broom not only prevents me from bending to scrub but gets a good cleaning as well. I was helping a friend clean her house one time and asked for the broom to do the bathroom. When I brought it back to her, she was amazed how clean it was and how fast I did the bathroom! I've always used a broom so never thought of it as special until she did!

By Janet from Bangor ME

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Everyone loves the powdered ranch dressing mix. Well, I have the recipe! I was lucky enough to have all the ingredients on hand. I actually like it a little better than the store bought.

Ingredients

• 1/2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. MSG. (optional)
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp. onion powder
• pinch dried thyme

Mix dried ingredients together in small bowl.

To Prepare

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• Ranch Dressing Mix

Directions

Whisk mayonnaise and buttermilk together. Add Ranch Dressing Mix. Mix together. Refrigerate. Mmmmmmm!

By cookiemom1 from Gilmer, TX

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I take multiple medications and usually sort them out into a pill carrier every two weeks. However, I have one pill that I take twice a day at different times than my other meds. This pill I take an hour before breakfast and supper. I take it when I first wake up. Sometimes I had trouble remembering if I took the afternoon dose because the times might change if I had taken a nap or been out for awhile. This has not been a problem since I got the idea, after taking the afternoon dose, to turn the bottle upside down... If it is upside down, I know I have taken it. This could work for any med taken directly from the bottle each day.

By Linda L from Bloomington, IL

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I have 2 pairs of shoes that I really love but the straps that go around my heel will not stay on my heel. I have tried to tighten the strap but that doesn't work. The shoe fits fine except the strap will not stay put. Help!

Sheronda from Winter Haven, FL

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I would like a recipe for dishwasher rinse agent.

Thanks,
Carol from Anderson, IN

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Maybe this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it. My son got white spray paint on his good jeans. I think that they have been washed and dried one time since. Is there any way to remove the white paint stains from his jeans?

AnnMel from AR

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I am looking for an easy glaze donut recipe for a bread machine.

Thanks,
Tamara

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What are some ways to recycle/reuse empty clean pudding cups? I am talking about the Hunt's Snack Pack pudding cups. I usually have 2 empty ones daily. I have thought of a few ideas to reuse a few but otherwise have just been recycling them on trash day.

Does anyone have any good uses for them?

Debbie from IL

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I am looking for a recipe. It is a white gelatin salad, creamy and smooth, no fruit, but has an almond flavoring to it. It's not too sweet, and I think it's called a Swedish cream molded salad. Does anyone have this recipe or one similar?

Thanks!
Brenda from Greenville, AL

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I recently purchased an old Vanity Mirror. It is absolutely beautiful, but we have tried to clean it endlessly, but can't seem to get rid of some of the "dark-color" streaks. Any suggestions would be most-appreciated.

Thank You!
Fran from Farmingdale, New York

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Does anyone know a good company or industry that might be a good source for free or cheap recycled plastic 55 gallon barrels that would make good rain barrels?

Thanks,
Deb from Lawson, MO

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I am looking for a recipe for red beans and rice that is comparable to Popeye's Red Beans and Rice.

AnnMel from AR

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So many of us are looking at fat grams and calories. I'm trying to calculate individual servings. If I take the nutritional value of the whole item, and divide it into pieces, would I come up with an approximate amount of calories and fat grams that would be in that single serving? Let's assume something had 650 calories and 30 fat grams. If it made 10 servings, would the 1/10th have 65 calories and 3 fat grams of fat per serving? Or is there a factor(s) missing in doing a calculation of this type? It sounds like it should be easy, but does fiber, carbohydrate, and sodium become a factor when it is broken down? Boxes and containers have the individual serving information but someone has to come up with that information from somewhere. I'm a Weight Watcher and like to cook. I want to make dishes I can eat and tuck the rest away for another day. I have plenty of cookbooks so I am looking for a solution to some favorites. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Karen from Buffalo, NY

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Can anyone recommend a fast growing, nice looking tree that I can plant in August and have it live thru the winter? We recently lost our 30 year old willow and it has left a huge hole in our front yard.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thanks,
Betty from Slate Hill, NY

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I wonder if anyone has some good ideas for removing stains on tupperware? Some of my tumblers got stained, probably from sitting in dirty dishwater too long. I hope there is something I can do besides pitching them!

Thanks,
Debbie from IL

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I am wondering how to remove a very strong chemical rubber smell from the rubber soles of shoes (made in China). I have tried wrapping in a bounce sheet and putting in sun.

Anna from Milford, CT

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What can I use to carry pocket sized Kleenex tissue in while it's in my purse. I have to keep tissue in my purse for allergies. However, it seems to get torn and dirty and usually ends up in the bottom of my purse. Any advice on what I can carry them to keep them clean and intact?

Carmen from GA

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Does anyone know the proper way to set up a TV antenna? I would like to free myself from the Dish Network. We have an antenna and a turning device. What type lines will we need to set it up? What connectors will be needed, etc.? Any general help or instructions will be appreciated.

AnnMel from AR

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Other uses for the waffle iron? I read somewhere about making grilled cheese sandwiches. Anyone got a great waffle recipe while you're at it?

Paula in GA, USA

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How do you clean a very large cushion, specifically a Mamasan cushion? No stains, just want to freshen it up. I would love to wash it, but not sure it will dry.

RMS from Suffield, CT

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I would like to know if anyone knows how to shrink leather boots?

John

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I have dill planted in my garden and I was wanting to harvest the seed for making pickles. What is the best way to go about harvesting the dill seeds?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

LIz from Tolono, IL

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I am trying to locate directions for knitting a little girls sweater with Cinderella on it that was in Mary Maxium catalogs a while back in size 6 to 8 or I can adjust the size.

Betty from Waupaca, WI

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Postage rates climb every few years, and although $0.39 doesn't seem like a lot consider that three envelopes equals over $1 postage. Multiply that times twelve friends whom you're inviting to your summer picnic and it's costing nearly $5 in postage alone. A family's yearly spending on postage could add up to $100 or more just in letter mailings. Consider the postage that is spent on on-line or catalog purchases as well as parcel items that are sent via carrier. Instead, there are ways to curb that postage spending.

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Selecting High-Quality Fennel:

• Leaves: Immature fennel leaves should be harvested in the morning after the dew has dried. Look for dark green leaves, free of disease and damage from insects.

• Seeds: Harvest seed after it has started to dry within the pod, but before the pod has fully opened.

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