Daily Thrifty Tips - October 4, 2006

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Around October, I start buying gifts to avoid the December price crunch. It is difficult to hide presents from snooping children. I wrap each child's present in a particular wrapping paper, a type of secret code known only to me. I still hide them, but since they don't have names tags on them they're not as interesting.

By Carole from Clay City, Indiana

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I found a stretchy short sleeve shirt with 3 buttons at neckline that was stained and planned to throw out as material not good for cleaning. I turned it inside out, stitched across the bottom and then put the plastic grocery store bags inside. I placed it on clothes hanger. it looks good, more stable than plastic in plastic and holds many more than the ones you can buy for several dollars. Now I'm looking for a smaller one for small plastic bags, such as bread and produce.

By Annette from Lewiston, Maine

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Set aside $5 a week to buy the specific items each week. You will have a kitty set aside that you put the $5 in and you can't touch it for any reason but to buy the food storage item for that week. Put in the remaining change back into the kitty. Some things in the beginning are going to be cheap and then later will be more expensive. In order to pay for the expensive stuff later you need to keep the leftover money in the kitty. Weeks 38 and 44 you will have "off" to replenish the kitty.

Week 1: 2 cans tuna fish, 2 boxes salt
Week 2: 5 boxes of Macaroni and Cheese, 4 cans tomato soup
Week 3: 3 cans mushroom soup, 1 2.5 lb peanut butter
Week 4: one bottle 365 count multi-vitamins
Week 5: 4 cans tomato soup, 1 10 lb powdered milk
Week 6: 1 bottle aspirin (500 tablets)
Week 7: 1 100 lb container wheat
Week 8: 1 5 lb powdered milk
Week 9: 1 5 lb honey
Week 10: 4 cans tuna, 4 boxes macaroni and cheese
Week 11: 1 10 lb sugar, 1 box salt
Week 12: 4 cans mushroom soup
Week 13: 1 bottle 365 count multi-vitamins
Week 14: 1 100 lb wheat
Week 15: 1 box macaroni and cheese
Week 16: 1 5 lb honey
Week 17: 2 cans tuna, 4 can tomato soup
Week 18: 1 10 lbs sugar
Week 19: 1 100 lbs of wheat
Week 20: 2 10lbs of sugar
Week 21: 1 10lb powdered milk
Week 22: 1 can mushroom soup, 1 10 lb sugar
Week 23: 1 can tuna, 4 cans tomato soup, 1 10 lbs sugar
Week 24: 1 10 lbs sugar
Week 25: 2 cans tuna, 2 cans mushroom soup
Week 26: 1 100 lb wheat
Week 27: 3 10 lbs sugar
Week 28: 1 10 lb sugar
Week 29: 1 10 lb powdered milk
Week 30: 2 10 lb sugar
Week 31: 1 can tuna, 3 cans mushroom soup
Week 32: 1 can tuna, 4 cans tomato soup
Week 33: 1 100 lb wheat
Week 34: 2 cans tuna, 1 box salt
Week 35: 1 10 lb powdered milk
Week 36: 2 10 lb sugar
Week 37: 4 cans tomato soup, 2 boxes salt
Week 38: Stash $5 in the kitty
Week 39: 1 100 lb wheat
Week 40: 1 10 lb powdered milk
Week 41: 3 10 lb sugar
Week 42: 2 cans tomato soup, 1 10 lb sugar
Week 43: 2 cans tomato soup, 2 cans mushroom soup
Week 44: Stash $5 in the kitty
Week 45: 1 10 lb powdered milk
Week 46: 4 cans tomato soup, 4 cans mushroom soup
Week 47: 1 10 lb powdered milk
Week 48: 4 cans mushroom soup, 1 10 lb powdered milk
Week 49: 7 cans of tomato soup
Week 50: 7 cans of mushroom soup
Week 51: 2 10 lbs sugar, 1 box salt

By the end of the 52 weeks, you should have:

700lbs of wheat,
240 lbs sugar,
40 lbs of powdered milk,
13 lbs of salt,
10 lbs of honey,
5 lbs of peanut butter,
45 cans of tomato soup,
32 cans mushroom soup,
15 cans tuna fish,
10 macaroni and cheese dinners,
500 aspirin, and
730 multiple vitamins

They suggest adding 6 lbs of dried yeast and 6 lbs of shortening and this should be enough to sustain 2 people for a year. For every 2 people you have in your family add $5 more and double or triple the amount of whatever you are buying that week.

By Christi from Paducah, KY

Editor's Note: I searched and there is another version of this. Prices may be a lot higher for some items now (I know that honey costs a lot more.)

There is also a Morman version which is slightly different:

http://www.themormonchannel.net/tmc/1yrfor5.html

In any case it is always good to have food stores for lean times or emergencies. You may want to change what you buy but it's a good guide.

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A pumice stone rubbed across your dog's coat will gather all loose hair that would have ended up on your carpet. Up the hair gathering a bit by having someone point a blow-dryer on your pet while you're using the pumice stone. This works better outside for obvious reasons!

By Carole from Clay City, Indiana

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You can, make nice pinch pleated drapes from sheets. I used King sized sheets and made them floor to ceiling for a 22' opening. I bought the buckram heading sold by the yard at a fabric store and made my own pinch pleats. Looks professional. I did them unlined, but you could use another sheet to line them.

I bought my flat sheets from Wal-Mart. They were around $14.00 per sheet. Be sure you buy all you need at one time, even white sheets can vary in the whiteness! They can be dyed.

One king sized sheet yields 13 pleats allowing for space on either end. Need wider drapes, sew sheets together!

Don't use the pleater tape that you can sew on and buy the pins to gather them into pleats ... they are quick but do not look nor hang very well at all. Talking from experience.

I really should have know better, it's not like I didn't know how to make drapes! You can save a bundle making drapes that look custom made!

By Syd from Dunkirk, MD

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This year my daughter's Christmas presents will be bought with a theme in mind. At a recent Heritage festival she was introduced to the colonial style of using a wringer washer. The kids were allowed to scrub the clothes and hang them up on a clothesline. My daughter remarked that she could wash clothes all day long!

For Christmas, I will purchase an old fashioned wringer washer, an old metal tub, one prairie bonnet all at a second hand shop. I will purchase new for her the set of Little House on the Prairie books. The moral of the story is find something your child is very interested in and expand on the idea.

By Amylucille from Fremont, Ohio

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When looking for a fun new piece of artwork for your laundry room (or any room really), think outside of the ordinary. Take old patterns for clothes (50's, 60's and 70's styles are really neat) and frame the fronts. They are fairly close to standard sizes for frames and easy to trim down. Just frame and hang. When you get tired of one, switch it out! Easy and cheap, these are usually fairly easy to find in thrift stores and at yard sales.

By lifewithmadman from Little Rock AR

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To discourage squirrels from eating your garden stuff, you can make a paste of cayenne pepper and water and paint it on the leaves that they seem to attack or if you prefer you can paint the whole garden. The Paste is just made with a little water. This does work but your neighbors will LOOK at you a little funny if they see you "painting" your leaves. I know, I've tried it.

By Mary Ann Kieffer from Lawrence, KS

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If you have a frugal buddy (I have one who lives near a great independent dollar store.) - have them look out for new and interesting arrivals (and do the same for them, of course). Things in those stores come in waves and the the good stuff goes FAST.

By Pam from L.A., CA

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If you're into microwave cooking, you might already know this. But in case you don't, learn from someone who knows. Don't use any dishes with gold or silver metallic stripes or designs in your microwave. It'll spark and make your food smell funny, not to forget it'll change the silver or gold on your dishes to black. I did this shortly after getting married. It didn't hurt my microwave, but it sure scared me, as I was watching the dish spark.

By Terri from NV

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.

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

How do I clean the carbon from non-stick frying pans?

Brian from Australia

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We just brought a car and it had window tint on the back windows. How do I remove the residue left from the glue on the windows.

Dianne from Menasha, WI

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I am looking for directions to make an apron from a pillow sham?

Linda from Piscataway, NJ

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I have a black polyester skirt that is very fine but has outdoor white paint on it already went through washer. How do I get the stain out?

Cynthia from Asheville, NC

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How can I control white flies on my African Violets?

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Judi from Camarillo, CA

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Does anyone have any witty poems that I can toast my husband with on his big 5-0?

Melissa from Paris, France

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I am look for order Austrees. It's an Australian tree that grows fast and can be a private fence.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Betty Ann from Lumberton, NC

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I am looking for low carb recipes. Also, what are some tips to curb the appetite? Is there any foods that are tasty and almost carb free that can be snacked on through out the day? Any tips and ideas would be wonderful.

Vanet from Saugerties, NY

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Can you refreeze bread?

shortstuf21g from Canada

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My patent leather handbag and shoes has been in the closet for some time, it is now sticky. How do I clean it?

Pat from Kattskill Bay, NY

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I need ideas for a 40 year retirement party for a man.

Cookie from Missouri

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I am looking for feedback about Ionic breeze or some sort of air filtration device for an apartment.

Kelly from Indianapolis, IN

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Here's a real poser for you all. We left a car battery in the back of our minivan and it tipped over, probably several days ago. When we tried to clean up the mess, the carpet came up in fuzzy pieces. The worst part is that we were planning on trading this van in soon. I am trying to decide if I should just trade it in as is, try to patch the damage (most of the cargo area), replace the entire carpet or something else. Anyone have any experience with something like this?

Jess from Portland, OR

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I recently moved some heavy furniture in my living room. How do I get rid of the imprints in my carpet from the couch?

Marcie from Prairie du Sac, WI

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How do I get nail polish off a (brand new!) leather couch?

Lynn from Ortonville, MI

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Can you get wet paint out of a swimsuit? I have pool-side paint on a spandex suit.

Stephanie from Seattle, WA

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I need menu ideas for a masquerade party.

Roberta from Virginia

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How can you get rust stain out of colored clothes?

Amy from Pleasant Garden, NC

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I have recently been given a large amount of french fries. Other than the obvious frying them to make french fries or chili cheese fries any ideas of what I can make with them? I am talking about 2 cases of french fries like McDonald's serves.

Pattie from Warrens, WI

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I am looking for recipes for the holidays. What are your favorites?

Sharon from Poplar Bluff, MO

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This summer, something got at my hostas. It looked like a squash bug. We powdered them, but overnight, these little buggers ate the leaves off, right to the vein. They look so sick and just awful. Should I cut them back this fall? My patch was just beautiful until it got all chewed up.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Diane from Jefferson City, MO.

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Can anyone give me some tips on how to remove black skid marks from wood floors? Also how to cover scratches?

Jenny from Milwaukee, WI

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I have an English Tudor House built in 1937. I am trying to find out what the design is called that was put on our interior walls. I need to repair cracks and want to make the same design in my plaster. Anyone out there know what it is called?

Pelham Manor Cats from NY

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I'm looking for patterns for plastic canvas barbie doll furniture.

Tina from Canada

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My dog has been using the area under our apple tree as her toilet. Are the apples safe to eat?

Hardiness Zone: 10a

Kiki from Monterey, CA

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I'm not sure I like our new grout color - black with red tiles. Would it be possible to paint the grout with a bathroom/kitchen stain repellent paint? Or would it just peel off soon?

Thanks!
Kira from North Adams, MA

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I have well water and every time I wash clothes, especially towels, they smell musty after a couple of days. What can I do?

Rosy B from Sutherland, Virginia

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How do I get sour milk odor out of a down comforter?

Janet from Flagstaff, AZ

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I have a Magic Steam Press 7. It needs to be repaired as it went out on me two weeks ago. The only person that repairs these I found out passed away and No one else repairs them here. My husband repairs things really well if he has some kind of a repair manual to go by. It is a singer steam press. Please somebody tell me how we can get ahold of a repair manual and a place to order parts so my husband can repair it. I have been lost without it. It is only 3 years old and I love it. I would truly be indebted to you. Help and God Bless.

Angelheart from Clyde, TX

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I just redid my bathroom and the tub and sinks have slightly bluish stains by the drains. Is this from iron in my well water? Is there any product that would remove the stains without damaging the new tub and sinks?

LexieKG

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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

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