Daily Thrifty Tips - May 24, 2007

I hope everyone is having a great week and I hope you enjoy today's tips.

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Kitties in the Winter

One frosty morning, four of our five farm cats were lined up on the steps waiting to be fed. They are, from the top down, Zoey, Beauty, Alphie and Max. Zoey is the mother or grandmother to the others. She showed up one day as a stray. She stayed out in the feed storage barn for about six months, cleaning out the mice there. Finally she let my husband pet her, and gradually she moved closer and closer to the house until the other cats would let her eat with them. She has been a ferocious hunter, feeding not only her kittens but everyone else's, too. She loves to be cuddled, but absolutely will not let us doctor her.

Coreen in Rupert, ID

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A Nana's Joy

This is Abby with her purple chair and visor to match!

By Jackie from Norton, MA

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Chicken Wreath

If you have a friend who likes chickens, here's a perfect gift.

Materials:

• Wooden Chickens
• Fence
• Acrylic Paint
• Grapevine Wreath
• Artificial Flowers
• Ribbon
• Artificial Eggs

Instructions:

Just take some wooden shaped chickens and fence. Paint them with acrylic paint and let dry. Hot glue onto a grapevine wreath then glue some flowers of your choice and a decorative ribbon. You could add some fake eggs if you like. This is a very fast and pretty gift.

By Sandy from Bluff City, TN

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Bread Closures For Cleaning

Those little square plastic tabs that are used to close bread bags are wonderful for scraping baked-on food from casserole dishes and pots and pans (including those non-stick teflon pans). They don't scratch! I even use one on the surface of the stove if things have spilled and have gotten hard and crusty. It's also a great way to clean a glass top stove. Use and toss. There's always more where that one came from.

By Carole Ann Lee from Portland, Oregon

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Save Unused Ramen Seasoning Packets

I read your list of recipes for using ramen noodles, and I was quite disturbed to see that more than one reader had suggested that we "throw out" the seasoning packet when preparing her recipe. I want to tell readers not to throw them out!

Those packets can be used to season plain rice, used like bouillon to make broth when you are sick, made into a broth with water and thickened with corn starch or flour to make a quick gravy or stew base for left over meat (match packet flavor to meat flavor), et cetera.

These are not just "seasoning packets," they are BROTH without water! They are even good to put into a disaster kit or to carry along when survival camping, because they only need water and the salt and fat in them can help to nourish someone (maybe even a pet) until help comes.

By Elisha

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Add Scent To Your Vent

While talking to my kid brother yesterday on the phone, he told me about an idea he had tried. I changed it a little bit and am going to share it here. It is an inexpensive way to add scent to any room without candles or expensive sprays.

Take a clean sock and douse it with your favorite after shave or cologne. Take the cover off the vent in the room you wish to use this in and attach the sock to the grate with twist ties or such. Replace the vent cover and every time your furnace kicks on, scented air will waft into the room. This could also be done with potpourri if you wanted by filling the sock partially. The nice part of this is that you can change the scent easily and as often as you wish.

I am using this idea as it is better in my house not to use candles a lot. I have an overly curious cat that likes to get too close to the flame sometimes.

By Chris from Oshkosh, WI

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Rebates From Walgreens

I get free stuff from Walgreens. You pay first then submit rebate forms monthly. Great way to try products for no cost. Just a note, I always keep a photo of my receipts just in case there is a problem. I have gotten quite a few free items from this. They do send rebates.

By Carol from Massachusetts

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Knitted Espadrilles

This was posted on another list as a great example of "green knitting". It uses inexpensive yarn and old flip flops to create an awesome new pair of Espadrilles! Very cool!

• http://floofle.blogspot.com/2007/04/yay-recycling.html

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Products Being Thrown in the Garbage

I want everyone out there to know this... I am also going to try to contact the main company office. I was in Big Lots yesterday when a clerk was marking a whole cart of name brand tooth paste and throwing them into another cart. I ask them what they were doing with this, as I thought they were marking it down.

To my HORROR, they said they were throwing it away. I said, please don't tell me that, do you know how many people could use? Well, they said, it was out of date toothpaste. I told them that that was truly a sin, it should be given to a shelter, the Rescue Mission, someplace like that.

What in the world is wrong with the system, when we have so many people in need and companies are authorizing wanton destruction of usable items? I don't know that I will shop there any longer. If the company has that much money and so little sense, they certainly don't need anymore of my money.
Thanks for listening and please pass this along.

I am sure his happens with lots of things all the time, it just was right in front of my eyes and I could not ignore it.

Bonnie from Martinsburg

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Longer Life for Decorative Candles

Keeping large pillar decorative candles forever. When I buy a decorative pillar candle I burn for a little bit until I can fit a tealight candle inside. This way, I just have to replace the tealight and the expensive decorative candle keeps its shape and it's cheaper to buy tealight candles.

By Carol from Massachusetts

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Freshening Stale Bread

Freshen stale bread by brushing the top with water, wrap in foil and bake 325 degrees F for 10 min.

By Suebowman

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Sticking Drawers, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors

Rub the runners of drawers and windows with paraffin wax or an old candle and they will slide more easily. This also works with sliding doors that are hard to open and shut or squeaky.

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Buy Asian Spices and Products at an Asian Market

Don't buy your Asian spices and products (soy sauce, peanut or sesame oil, tofu, chile paste, etc.) at the grocery store. You'll pay anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 less by going to an Asian market.

Becky

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Flat Ground Cover

I would like to plant a ground cover that stays flat on the ground so we do not have to cut or mow. I would love to do it once and never again. Actually this is an un-gardening request. Anyone have any ideas?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Linda from Brooklyn, New York

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Koolaid Pie

I've heard about a recipe for Koolaid pie and was able to taste a piece while living in GA. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Any idea where I could get the recipe?

Thanx for the help,
Jessica

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Glasses With a Broken Bridge

The bridge of my glasses is broken near right lens and nothing seems to hold it together. Is the situation hopeless?

Aaron from Kalamazoo, MI

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Recipes for Someone With Colitis Disease

Colitis Disease? A friend came to visit me over the long weekend and informed me that she had Colitis. She could not eat anything with Fibre. We live on fibre. I asked her how she copes? Very difficult as even Doctor cannot help her with recipes and what to avoid, etc. Does anyone know of a site or any delish recipes that I can send her. Thanks!

Terry from Nova Scotia, Canada

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Removing Bird Droppings From Fabric

I hung my brand new 6oo count Egyptian cotton sheets to dry yesterday, and when I pulled off my bottom sheet I noticed a bird had left his mark! I have tried to scrub it out but it seems not to budge. I have not washed it yet. I am hoping you have a great tip for removing bird droppings off fabric!

Thanks,
Sabina from Murci, Spain

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Uses for Egg Shells

I am looking for uses for egg shells.

Thanks,
Dianne from Bandon, OR

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Bachelorette Party Ideas

I am throwing my best friend a bachelorette party. We want to make it a night out. gentlemen's clubs are common but what about the ladies. Any one know where to go for a fun night out?

Chikpea from Riverside, CA

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Cleaning Windows That Are Difficult to Reach

I have 4 picture windows on the front of, and on the top story of my, 1 1/2 story, house, that do not open. I can not reach the bottom without an 8 ft. ladder and reaching the top is almost impossible. Is there an easy way to clean windows by spraying them with a hose? A home remedy would be most preferable if possible. Any suggestions?

Mary from Homer, AK

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How do you remove spots from windows?

How do you remove spots from windows? Not sure if it's hard water or just staining from never being cleaned.

Suzanne from Swansboro

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Growling Pitbull Puppy

I have a seven and half week old blue pit puppy and today he started growling at me. So I turned him up side down to show him that I'm alpha and he got more mad and tried to bite. How do I prevent this?

Dale from Colorado

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Restoring a Rusty Washboard

I just came across an old washboard and it is in very good shape except the scrub part it is very rusty, I don't know if it is made out of aluminum or tin. I would like to display it but I would like to try and restore it somehow first. Does anyone have some suggestions? How can I remove the rust?

Jean from Banning, CA

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Labeling Mason Jars

What is the best way to label mason jars so that when I wash the jars the label does not come off? Also, I'd prefer labels that aren't too costly and, if possible, eco-friendly. Any ideas?

A from Maine

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Dog Scratching But I Don't See Any Fleas

My dog is acting like he has fleas, but I do not see any. He has white tan fur, and I should be able to see them (I would think). He keeps acting weird and looking at his tail and behind, and stands up and then sits down fast to see what is on him. He has a major fear of bugs. He is now hiding under my computer desk and shakes. I changed his food over 2 weeks ago to Moist N Meaty, because he is so picky. He is acting weirder then normal lately. Any ideas? Could it be the food? He itched before, that is not new. But the hiding and acting like things are crawling on him is so sad.

Lisa from Westland

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Grape Soda Stain on Carpet

How do you get grape soda stains out of carpet? I tried oxy clean, Tide, carpet shampoo, nothing is working!

Pamela from California

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Removing Sharpie Marks on a Refrigerator

How do you remove sharpie marks from the refrigerator?

Jennifer from Springfield, LA

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Preventing Furniture From Sliding

Can anyone suggest what I can do to stop my furniture from moving when people sit on it. In my family room I have Pergo flooring and of course no rugs and when anyone sits on the furniture it tends to slide around. What can I do to keep my furniture in place? Taking any and all suggestions!

Thanks,
Adele from Blford, New Jersey

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Reconditioning A Dry Erase Board

How do I recondition a dry erase board?

Pran

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Scuff Marks on White Leather Shoes

How to get beige sole marks off white leather shoes?

Christina

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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.

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