Daily Thrifty Tips - September 28, 2006

Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

More Information:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61219677.tip.html

BettyBoots is my 11 month old Pot Bellied Pig. I got her when she was 5 weeks old.

She loves blankies and has to be covered up when she goes nite nite or she will go steal a blankie and drag it to her bed to cover up.

She is spoiled rotten and loved so much

By Pam from Clinton, TN

Post Feedback: Click Here

• Tip Contest
  Submit a Tip or Recipe!

• Photo Contest
  Submit a tip with photo!

The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!

My Frugal Life
Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Contest Started!
• Frugal Travel Guides
  Submit a Frugal Travel Guide

Don't want to throw away your children's artwork? I cut up my 2 1/2 year old twins artwork they made on posterboard into bookmark size strips and laminated them. I then punched a hole in the top and added a piece of colorful yarn for a tassel and gave them to our friends and family so they can enjoy their artwork as well as use the bookmark. We have also framed artwork to give as gifts, grandparents love it! Our kid's artwork is displayed on their walls!

By Darcy in Indiana

Post Feedback: Click Here

Preparing for Freezing: Select recipes that can be prepared in advance. When preparing meals, plan for extra servings that can be packaged and frozen as individual meals.

Best Freezing Method (s): Cooked casseroles can be stored in the refrigerator until cool and then transferred directly into the freezer.

Suitable Packaging: Casseroles should be frozen in moisture and vapor resistant containers that are not be prone to cracking or breaking at low temperatures. Containers should provide protection against absorbing flavors or odors and should be easy to label. Suitable packaging for freezing casserole will depend on the method of reheating: oven-ready dishes with an airtight cover, freezer-grade plastic bags, rigid plastic containers or glass containers or heavy-duty aluminum foil. Microwave casseroles should be frozen in ceramic, glass or microwave-safe plastic container. To keep food fresh to the longest time, it's important to match the size of your casserole to the dish, allowing for 1/2 inch of headspace.

Maximum Storage Time: from 3 to 4 months at 0ºF.

Thawing: Casseroles should be thawed in the refrigerator, or in a microwave oven on a defrost setting.

Tips & Shortcuts: Line a baking dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil, fill with food and freeze it until firm. Remove the foil package, now in the shape of your baking dish, to free up your dish for other purposes until you're ready to reheat your casserole. Reheating will be faster if you freeze individual portions. Foods that are fried or have a crisp outer coating may need to be reheated for 2 to 3 minutes in a hot oven to retain crispness.

Refrigerating Casseroles: Store meat based casseroles in airtight containers for 3 to 4 days.

Post Feedback: Click Here

I learned this while I was working in a fast paced steak house.

Put your ice cream in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute to soften. It doesn't melt but it does soften enough to use your ice cream scoop!

By Laurie from Nevada

Post Feedback: Click Here

The chances are that someone will ask you to co-sign for a loan at some point. With a co-signer a person with no credit or bad credit can qualify for a loan that they wouldn't ordinarily be able to get. However, co-signing for a loan is not something that should be done lightly. If the loan goes into default, you will be held responsible for the debt and it can impact your credit rating. Only co-sign on a loan that you are prepared to pay off yourself if it is necessary.

Post Feedback: Click Here

If you have even a tiny yard with sunshine, plant a fruit tree! Fruit is only one of the crops you will get from it. Trees do a wonderful job of cleaning the air. They absorb the carbon dioxide from the air and convert it to food. The by product is oxygen!

They also shade your house. We planted three trees on the south side of our house, and their shade drops indoor temperatures by about 20 degrees. Of course, there's all that lovely fruit. It should be eaten fresh if possible, but a mature tree will give you extra. Freeze it, can it, dry it! Maybe even pickle it! Green apples, for instance, can be made into applesauce, but also pickled. (I don't have a recipe.) Apples make a fine dessert all by themselves. If you make a dip like the recipe following, they're pretty cool for kids to munch on. This one came from Diabetic Living, and it tastes just terrific:

In a cup mix 1 tablespoon milk and 2 tablespoons peanut butter. Then gently fold in 2 tablespoons light whipped topping.

Dip apple slices in it. Very satisfying!

Dried cherries are one of the latest gourmet fads right now, and I predict they'll last. You can dry them in the oven, or better yet make a solar dryer so you don't need to run up the power bill. Don't plant too close to the house, though. You could wind up cleaning rotten fruit off the roof. And avoid the septic tank and leach field because the roots could clog them up. If you don't have a lot of yard room, plant a Nanking or Hansen's Bush Cherry. Or even a hedge of bush cherries. They produce early and abundantly. They are beautiful! And the taste is pure cherry. They make excellent jelly, juice and wine. We like to mix the juice half and half with lemon-lime soda, but it's excellent by itself.

By Coreen from Rupert, ID

Post Feedback: Click Here

Fruit flies can be caught or trapped in an old jar with 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar and 2 drops of dish detergent mixed. They are attracted to this and you can throw them out.

By Mary from Lawrence, KS

Post Feedback: Click Here

Since I became weary in brushing our Persian cat over the many years, I became desperate to find a frugal solution!

Since her favorite place to go daily is into a spare closet to sleep a while, I realized that it is always only partially opened, about her width. AND since the INSIDE of the closet door has a long white wire rack on it that goes almost all the way to the floor... Hum-m-m-m, I wondered...You guessed it! I twist-tied the same nylon-bristled hair brush that I had become tired of using/cleaning so often, to the lowest and outermost edge of the rack just at her body height and guess what, IT WORKS.

She gets AUTOMATICALLY brushed on the LEFT side going in, and automatically brushed on the RIGHT side coming OUT... All I have to do is pull the mass of hair LIKE CLEANING A DRYER FILTER BASKET each time, AND TOSS into the compost of course, and I do this when I clean her litterbox near the closet, all at the same time! What a time saver and IS SHE A HAPPY KITTY! I've tried EVERYTHING in the past, from scratching posts to lint rollers and buttered paws. Although she's over-the-hill in age, she's still a little darling having been so sheltered, and she's as healthy as a horse, but no longer a shedding problem.

By Lynda from TX

Post Feedback: Click Here

If you're baking a pre-made frozen pizza or lasagna, near the end of preparation, toss an extra handful or two of shredded cheese or top as you please. Make it a bit more to your liking than serving it the way it looks on the packaging you bought it in. More appealing, more tasty.

By Terri from NV

Post Feedback: Click Here

Manufacturers don't like it, but I have success mixing hair products, like red shampoo with blonde shampoo to create a red/blonde. (Ditto with colored conditioner.) When stuck, I can mix color serum into my conditioner to keep the color from fading.

By Pam from Los Angeles

Post Feedback: Click Here

If you pet has soiled your carpet, use vinegar mixed with a tiny bit of water on the stain. That way, your pets smell gets removed and they can't smell their urine so they won't soil there again.

By Rachel from San Antonio, T.X.

Post Feedback: Click Here

I found something wonderful in the seasonal isle of my local Jewel. They just started to sell all the things you need for canning, and I came across Plastic freezer jars with twist on lids from the BALL corporation.

I have been making homemade fruit smoothies in large batch and putting them in these plastic freezer jars. What a time saver. They cannot be microwaved. I have one everyday so to get around the no microwaving part, my husband takes one out for me when he gets up at 4am. I get up at 7 and there it is ready for me to drink. They have a web site,

http://www.homecanning.com/usa/ALProducts.asp?CAT=479&P=2662

I just love this product, It's even great for sending in lunch boxes, nothing spills out.

By Laura from Berwyn, IL

Post Feedback: Click Here

Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.

More Information:
http://webby.com/humor

How do you get ink off a doll's face? It is a Bitty Baby American Doll. It has been on there for about a year.

Angela from Hermon, NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

If I declare bankrupt will my house get taken off me if the house is in joint names?

Kelly from England

Post Feedback: Click Here

My husband and I are budgeting for a cruise to Alaska next year. What is the protocol for tipping? Who do you tip? How much and how frequently? I have heard conflicting information.

Michelle from Lompoc, CA

Post Feedback: Click Here

How do I remove sap from my car without damaging the paint?

Mathew from Waterbury, CT

Post Feedback: Click Here

How can I clean and keep dust away on vinyl blinds?

Koko from Atlanta, GA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Our school does homecoming floats every year that "put down" the other team such as "grill the gators". We are the wildcats and this year we are playing the cowboys. If you could give me any ideas that would be great. Our school colors are navy blue and white and the other team's colors are blue and silver. any ideas and/or slogans.

Thanks,
Jennifer from Tampa, FL

Post Feedback: Click Here

I need an idea for a homecoming float. My team is the Vikings, we are purple and gold. The opponents are sturgeon bay, their logo is a ship.

Morgan from Green Bay, WI

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am throwing my sister a fall themed baby shower at the end of October and would love to hear some ideas that anyone has. My sister doesn't want a Halloween theme just fall colored scheme.

Thanks,
Deana from Savannah

Post Feedback: Click Here

I need help coming up with a theme for a school homecoming float. We are the Saints and we are going against the Wildcats. I am making a float for the homecoming parade with a bunch of juniors in my class but we need help with ideas.

Bree from Oakgrove, MN

Post Feedback: Click Here

What would happen if you used too much flea medication on a cat? I used a horrible generic brand on my cat yesterday and I will be buying advantage tonight. Can I put it on them or do I have to wait, if so, how long?

Patty from Landale, PA

Post Feedback: Click Here

My window cleaner sprayer just stopped working after working all summer. I tried hot water, vinegar, lime dissolver, and a needle. Do they just quit? The spring is fine, how do I know to just pitch it? Also, the sprayer for my glasses cleaner won't spray. It seems to be fine, nothing seems to be broken, but it still won't spray.

Marti from Gas City, Indiana

Post Feedback: Click Here

I can embroider, knit, quilt, needlepoint, but cannot crochet. My problem is I have one hand. My left. I have a thumb on my right. I am normally left-handed. I want to learn to crochet. Does anyone have any help for me?

Diane from Milwaukee, WI

Post Feedback: Click Here

How do you get the burnt smell out of autos after they have been on fire?

Debbie from Bland

Post Feedback: Click Here

How can I get 3 year old lilacs to bloom next spring? I have heard "work Lye in around them" have any of you heard the same?

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Paula

Post Feedback: Click Here

My washing machine won't spin on the colors cycle, it will spin on whites and delicates.

Beth from Nashville, TN

Post Feedback: Click Here

I have thirty year old baby clothing that has formula or food stains on it. It is mostly cotton. What can possibly be used to remove them?

Nance from Bloomington, IN

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am looking for reviews of TVs.

IvoH from Wayne, IL

Post Feedback: Click Here

Underneath the sink area smells rancid and musty. What should I do? I cleaned the trash can with cleaner. Any ideas?

Missy from Massillon, Ohio

Post Feedback: Click Here

We received a sleeper/sofa over the weekend and it is in good shape, but it has been stored in a basement and it has a musty smell. I have sprayed with homemade febreze but it stills smells. It is not noticeable until you sit on the sofa. Thanks for your help in advance.

Laurie from Webster City, IA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Yorkshire Terrier Peeing Inside House

My yorkshire terrier is almost 2 years old and he still goes to the bathroom in the house. He was doing really well with the pee pads when I moved to a new home where his smell was gone. That lasted for about two months so I decided to remove the pad and only use outside. He did just fine with that for a little over a month. I praised him and rewarded him with a cookie whenever he would go the bathroom outside.

Now he is slipping and going inside again. I kennel him when I'm not home and still praise him when he goes outside, which is very often (almost every 2 hours when Im home). It seems when he goes outside he doesnt even fully go. He will pee only a little bit, but on everything in sight. Any suggestions?

LGDRZAZGA from Buffalo, NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

I'm looking for advice on what brand of sewing machine is better, Singer or White? My husband sent me to a "school sale" and I bought a White heavy duty Serge and Sew. When I came home he brought out my anniversary present which was a Singer HD110 heavy duty machine.

He is very sweet and wanted to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. I have always been loyal to Singer but have heard that they don't get the best reviews lately. I have never used a White.

Anyway, now I'm trying to decide between the two machines. They seem to have the same capabilities so that doesn't help. I just need a very basic machine that is fast and will last a while. Please help!

Lisa H. from Lena, WI

Post Feedback: Click Here

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - I have a 4 day free trip there Oct. 29 to Nov. 1. What shall I see, do, buy, experience? Any help would be much appreciated. We are staying at the Vallarta Palace Resort.

Marlene from Larimore

Post Feedback: Click Here

I'm looking for a poncho pattern that involve 4 fleece squares that are connected using a crochet stitch.

Lucylou from Williamsport, PA

Post Feedback: Click Here

I'm a college student and am trying to set up a harvest moon autumn festival mixing in different cultural ideas (like Chinese mooncakes). I am planning on including different myths and rituals with each mooncake so people can share them with each other, and have a bobbing for apples section where they can then make their apple into a caramel apple. Do you have any other ideas that would work for adults too?

Jen from Santa Fe, NM

Post Feedback: Click Here

How do I clean my deep fryer?

Greg from Aylmer, ON

Post Feedback: Click Here

My washing machine leaves a ring of dirt after the wash is done, it also leaves dirt on the agitator and sometimes deposits scum back on the clothes. I have tried running a cycle with vinegar but it still does it. Any ideas?

Koko from Atlanta, GA

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am looking for banks that let you open a checking account with no minimum deposits.

Dominique from Belzoni, MS

Post Feedback: Click Here

How can I get crisco oil stain and odor form my sheets? I used them to "sop up" spilled oil, and I laundered them 2x's and they still smell oily and are heavy like its still soaked with the oil.

Ssoulsistah from Brooklyn, NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

I have 4 gallons of hair conditioner (from a sale at the beauty supply store) and 1 gallon of fabric softener. Can I dilute the hair conditioner and use it in place of fabric softener? Thanks for your help.

JuliettNY

Post Feedback: Click Here

My mother bought a Foley aluminum double boiler (item number 2251-50) a long time ago. The thickness of the metal is what she likes. She just asked me if the company is still in business and how to contact them if they are. Can you help?

Dusty from James Island, SC

Post Feedback: Click Here

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.

More Information:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Read More: Click Here

Coupon Swap!
Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users.

Seed Swap!
Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe