Daily Thrifty Tips - May 30, 2006

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Yesterday two ladies came to my door thanking me for the garden. One told me her husband had died 4 weeks ago and would it be all right if she planted a rose bush in his memory in the garden. I told her yes, it is your garden, too.

Before Planting in November 2004

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, Ca.

Editor's Note: When preparing these photos for publishing I recognized the pathway. GGVi had sent me pictures before she planted and said she planned to work on it. It certainly is beautiful! And what a wonderful thing to do for your neighborhood.

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Nature's Gift

By Nancy from Cranston, RI

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Beanie Bummy is my 16 month old Boston Terrier. I bought Beanie at a reputable Pet Store that buys from local breeders, not puppy mills.

She likes to chew on the cats. Beanie is my BABY! She is always right next to me, loves her cuddles, and sleeps all the way under the blankets!

By Samantha from Pittsburgh, PA

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Stuff small red tomatoes with pesto or olive paste to make an interesting garnish for hot or cold pasta dishes. Small red tomatoes stuffed with blue cheese and nuts are a nice compliment for a salad made of watercress and field greens.

Tip By Hope Mason
http://www.lulu.com/spiritbooks

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Here goes my life. I try to save everywhere I can. I shop at thrift stores for necessary items. I give a lot to thrift stores, because clutter will increase your cleaning by 50%. Plus, clutter makes me unable to function properly in my environment.

I try to cook many meals at once. I will cook spaghetti, meatballs, and maybe chili. It has all the same ingredients, but you get three meals in one. I try buying store brands instead of major brands, and try to keep good snacks for my kids. Oatmeal, grits, beef jerky, pretzels, Jell-O, etc. I also like the dollar days at Albertson's, and Wal-Mart will match all sale papers. If I have a coupon for an item I already use, I use it. I do not use for items that are more expensive even with the coupon.

We eat a lot of vegetables and fresh fruits at my home. We do not buy soda pop, only water, juices, and occasionally Gatorade. Especially at restaurants, we get water with our drinks unless it is free with a kid's meal.

We buy from the dollar menus at fast food restaurants, get water, and share the dollar fries. For local restaurants, we find out the days where kids can eat free with a parent. Also the Entertainment book is a buy one gets one free book. You can get one at Entertainment.com, it also makes a great gift, in the middle of the year, and they have sales for the ones that came out around August.

I have ceiling fans in most rooms to help keep our home cool. I have heard, and it does work, if you keep your automatic fan on your A/C on all the time, it keeps it cooler for less. I just have not gotten over the noise yet. I will try it at night, when I am sleeping. I have recently tried putting blinds and thicker drapes at my home to keep the cool air in, and keep the hot air out. I live in LA, it is very hot here. I also go around and repair any cracks and holes that the inefficient construction workers missed. I also use low wattage, energy efficient bulbs in my house.

I buy a lot of our grooming supplies at the Dollar Tree or Dollar General. An antibacterial ointment will be $3.00 to $6.00 at local store or $1.00 at Dollar Tree. Band-Aids are also $1.00 there. I love the health food stores and love to find the healthy alternatives to medicine.

I love clearance racks at stores; I buy items for the next year. I have what I call a gift box in my closet, it is up high so the kids cannot get to it. When I come across a new item in great condition at thrift stores I buy it and add to gift box for later. I have girl dress up sets for $4.00, a $20 Cinderella clock for $4.00 and $20.00 jewelry boxes for $4.00 in my gift box right now. I also have a 70 dollar digital Batman camera that I found for $7.00.

I love silverjewelryclub.com. They give away free, real silver jewelry. You only pay 5.99 for shipping, and if you want up to a 20 inch chain, sometimes you can add 3.00 to get one with a necklace pendant. I have bought retail items that cost 59.99 to 69.99 for only $6.00. I just bought my niece an amethyst necklace and chain for 8.99. She loves purple. It is the only gift that my brother-in-law said, "save this in a safe spot".

Giving items that are valuable or useable for birthdays is a great idea. Example, for a creative child, a small unpainted item, Michael's has them for $0.99, then you can get paints and you have a gift that will entertain and last longer than a toy that can break. Also, my kids love the disposable cameras, and you can get a photo album to go with it for a great fun lasting gift. My son loves to look at the pictures he took himself. I have found doll furniture that can be stained and painted for 0.99 cents at Michael's. For family members that have everything, I try to get creative. I also make my own soap and bath salts.

I made a family book, I gave questionnaires to the family and then everyone got a book with everyone's information. I put name, address, email, phone, favorite colors, favorite memory, favorite food, hobbies, etc. Then I had the children "Describe grandfather using the letter S", if it is a main gift for grandfather, or "If your grandfather was a car, what kind would he be?" I gave the grandfather the copy that had special notes, the rest of the family got all the other information and a calendar with the family's birthdays and anniversaries all written in. One less thing to do for the New Year. I also had a family list of birthdays and anniversaries at the end of the book.

We love to read, I go to addall.com and find the books for cheap. It gives you a list of who has the book and how much plus shipping. It takes all the time out of shopping for the cheapest item. You can go browse book stores and then go order it online. Also, when you are finished with it, you can sell it on Amazon or half.com and get some of your money back.

I go to the matinee features at the theater, it's always cheaper. You can rent movies from the library, but you have to be the type of person that brings it back on time. I am not that type of person. I try to keep up with the free admission events in my local area. I have a year's family pass to the zoo; we can go at anytime for free.

We only use one car, it is cheaper.

I love to get old wood furniture, repaint, or re-stain the nicks or blemishes on the item. It is easier than it seems. I just got a great all wood dresser; I lightly sanded it and painted it. The dresser was $14.99 and the paint was under ten dollars. It looks great and has lots of value.

I like Fred's, Sam's, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Wal-Mart for items. I try to get items before I need them. Also, when we do need or want something, I pray, then I start looking for the item at thrift stores and soon I usually find it. Our TV was going out, I was shopping at Target and saw they had a clearance sale on TVs. They were out of the cheapest one, so I asked if I could get the display. He said yes and I even got a discount with it. I got a $169.99 27 inch TV before taxes for only 109.00 with taxes.

My husband loves telling everyone how much the new TV cost us. My family is always amazed that I get stuff for so cheap. They give me lists when they need something; I bought my mom humidifiers for $3.50. I hope my life will inspire or help someone.

By Danielle

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Now that so many nice faux ponytails, and hair scrunchies and so on are available, you can CUSTOMIZE them and have them better match your hair by highlighting them with colored hair spray or use the hair crayons, streaking mascara-like pens. I match the piece to the dark blonde low lights of my hair color and put in strawberry blond highlights/streaks to better match my own hair. You can also do this with wigs and other synthetic hair pieces.

By pamphyila from Los Angeles, CA

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Sam and Edith were 85 years old, and had been married for sixty years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies.

Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade. One day, their good health didn't help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven. They reached the pearly gates, and there an escort was waiting to show them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold and fine silks, with a fully stocked kitchen and a waterfall in the master bath and their favorite clothes hanging in the closet. They gasped in astonishment when he said, "Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now."

Sam asked how much all this was going to cost. "Why, nothing," their companion replied, "remember, this is your reward in Heaven."

Sam looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever-built on Earth. "What are the greens fees?" grumbled the old man. "This is heaven," the companion replied. "You can play for free, every day."

Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic desserts, free flowing beverages. "Don't even ask," said their companion to Sam. "This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy."

The old man looked around and glanced nervously at Edith. "Well, where are the low fat and low-cholesterol foods, and the decaffeinated tea?" he asked. "That's the best part," the companion replied. "You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like, and you will never get fat or sick. This is Heaven!"

Sam pushed,"No gym to work out at?" "Not unless you want to," was the answer. "No testing my sugar or blood pressure or..." "Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself."

Sam glared at Edith and said, "You and your crappy bran muffins. We could have been here 15 years ago!!"

By Terri from NV

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Preparing for hurricanes. The only good thing about hurricanes is that there is a warning and time to get prepared. I moved to RI in 1953. In '54 we were hit with Carol. My last hurricane (so far) was Bob in 1991. Here is how I prepare to evacuate. Pack as if you are going away camping for 3 days. Then add what you wouldn't want to lose if your house is gone when you come back (Mostly important , records.)

By Pam2cats from RI

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10 ways to reuse an empty needle nose plastic glue bottle.

• 1. Paint it and use it for a tall building in a model city.
• 2. Refill with paint use to write poster boards.
• 3. Refill with water used to clean artist brushes.
• 4. With water, use as a squeeze hand exerciser.
• 5. Fill with pellet or BB's, use it a running hand weights.
• 6. Fill with sand, glue top on and use them for a indoor bowling game with small rubber balls
• 7. A sandbox toy
• 8. From cap to tip, a weighted bottle holds at least 20 CD's
• 9. Create stamp molds on bottom of bottle using glue
• 10. A rubber band, straight pin and sewing needle holder

By Mr. Thrifty from Shermans Dale, PA

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"Satin" prom dresses, bought at a thrift store, provide great material to make rice roses (those pretty roses that hold rice or bird seed for the grand exit). Directions on how to make the roses are available online. They are very easy to make. The dresses with lots of puffy layers are usually the least expensive (because no one wants to wear the style anymore), but have the most material.

By Laura from Coupeville, WA

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Everybody's noticed the wide variety of hair styling products sold commercially in the stores. They range in price, and some are quite expensive. You can make your own hair products for a lot less, and they are better for your hair because they don't contain alcohol or other chemicals which can dry hair.

Styling Gel

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin (available in grocery stores)
• 1 cup of warm water

Directions:

Mix the gelatin and warm water together and pour it into a jar. Refrigerate the jar to allow the gelatin to thicken. Take the jar out of the fridge when needed and apply to hair as normal for styling.

Tip: Clean and save an old squeeze top bottle and use it for the styling gel. It'll make it easy (and less messy) to squeeze out the amount of gel needed.

Deep Conditioning Treatment

The simplest recipe for make at home deep hair conditioning!

Simply work mayonnaise into your hair. Wrap your mayo-covered hair in a towel or cover with a plastic cap and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Wash twice to remove all traces of mayonnaise. Your hair will feel like you've just gotten a salon treatment!

A similar method uses honey instead of mayonnaise. Mix one-half of a cup of honey with a similar amount of water and spread into hair. Cover as above, and allow to sit for 20 to 30 minutes. The honey naturally conditions and shines the hair shaft. Again, wash twice to remove all traces of the honey.

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How can I make my own weed killer?

Salmonfly from Rochester

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I've seen a list somewhere of "needs" to give to a bride before the wedding, a few items were bottled water, snack, deodorant, breath mints, etc. I can't find the list and my son is getting married next week and I'd love to make up a basket for my "new daughter". Can someone help me find this list ASAP as I only have 1 week!

Thanks,
Cjbw

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How can I get rid of a colony of big, bumbling bees that have invaded our porch between the ceiling and roof?

Fritz from Bivalve, MD

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I always pay my credit card off monthly. I don't have any "perks" with this card. What card has the best perks offered? I don't fly! I also like paying by direct debit from my checking account.

Thanks,
Brenda Catherman from Port Matilda, PA

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How can I clean my Coach Purse other than using their product?

azleeann from Phoenix, AZ

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Is the pickle juice from pickles good for a puppy? Also, what can a dog eat and not eat? I am taking care of my sisters dog and I need to know this stuff!

rhindy from Hartford, NY

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I have a white Dooney and Bourke tassel tote purse and its really dirty, almost yellow. What do I use to clean it?

Lisa from Springfield, IL

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I am looking for a substitute for washing soda. Mdfcool from Wake Forest, NC

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I must have hard water. My clothes never smell clean. I don't want to put in some fragrance, it has to be the water. I need a filter or something. Anyone have any ideas?

NYYankee from NY

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I want to paint my sons bedroom Ohio State colors. Red, black, grey, and white. He has a red bed spread with the white black and grey emblem on it. What should I paint his walls? Should I paint two walls one color and the other two walls another color?

Thanks,
Bridget from Ohio

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I have dozens of barely worn EXPENSIVE professional suits, outfits, cocktail dresses, etc. The problem is, every consignment shop states they will not consider anything older than two years. This clothing is so classic, so tailored, similar clothing is shown often in New York Times ads. Does anyone have any bright ideas on how not to just dump clothing?

Thank you,
Janet54304 from Green Bay

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Has anyone has any tried washing flip flops in the washing machine? Did it work? Was it a tragedy? I am too lazy to wash them by hand and I've always wondered if the washing machine works?

Thanks,
Harleychic From SLC, UT

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Ideas for inexpensive beverages you can give your kids. Post your ideas.

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Has anyone found a good DISTRESSING RECIPE for colored inks for stamping old timey designs?

Create-Or-Bust from Fort Lauderdale, FL

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Can I grow vanilla from cured beans and is the south India climate okay for growing vanilla?

Anuradha Sawant from Mumbai, India

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My 12-year-old has a problem with sweaty palms and feet. This has been a problem since she was a baby. At 12 she is embarrassed by the problem. She constantly has to wipe her hands while writing, drawing, using the computer, etc. She is unable to wear most sandals and some styles of shoes because of the build up of moisture on her soles. Does anyone have a solution to her problem?

ddavisgray from Texas

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Once a dog is cured from the parvo virus, does the dog still carry the parvo virus germ?

Tracey from Roxboro, NC

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My 6 month old puppy hates his crate. He cries every night when we put him in it. He has gotten better though. He now only cries for 5-10 minutes (as opposed to an hour). I thought dogs were supposed to like their bed. We have never used it for punishment, we put his favorite toy in there with him and a few treats. If he needs to go out in the middle of the night, sure enough, put him back in the crate and all you here is crying and whining. Any suggestions?

Katie from Albany, NY

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Does anyone know where I might be able to find free or really cheap clothing patterns? New patterns are a bit expensive and, although some people can use a pattern several times, mine seem to fall apart after the first use. They are discounted sometimes, but only the most god-awful ones. Are there any resources online? Or ways to extend the life of the tissue the pattern is printed on?

Thanks!
Squrl from California

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Someone at my workplace drew a huge line of blue pen on my light pink, leather Juicy Couture bag. I can't get it out. I tried hairspray, but it started to discolor the leather. Does anyone know what I can do to save it?

Thanks,
Allie from Ohio

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Eversave

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Country: United States

Low Cost Things to Do:

On the way to Tucson, we stop at the Dinosaur park, which is also next to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. This is a low cost visit (Probably no more then $10 for carload, unless you go to gift shop). Also, they sell pieces of the petrified forest in the gift shop, but you are allowed to get out of your car to walk around and take pictures. This is an especially great stop for kids.

Katy Wedepohl from St. Louis

Related Links:

• Petrified Forest National Park (National Park Service Website)
  "Petrified Forest National Park is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science. The park contains one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation, portions of the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of 225 million year old fossils."

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A farmers market is a fun and different way to shop! Bring the whole family for a morning of fun.

Finding a farmers market in your area may be as easy as checking the local newspaper. Otherwise, keep your eyes open while you're driving around town. You may spot a sign for an upcoming or weekly farmers market in your travels. If you have no luck with the paper or on the road, ask around! Somebody may know of a great local farmers market for you to discover!

Most farmers markets aren't just for farmers anymore. A lot of markets are open to all sorts of crafters. You'll find fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, jams and jellies, home baked breads and pies, hand made candy, flowers and plats, and even art, pottery, and other crafts.

Keep in mind that this isn't necessarily like a flea market - the prices may be a little higher because everything is fresh and hand made. I've bought amazingly soft hand-spun and hand-dyed yarn at farmers markets; the finished product was totally worth the price.

Some other tips for enjoying the farmers market:

• Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be doing a lot of walking.
• Wear sunscreen, even if it's a cloudy day.
• Take a walk around the whole thing first, before you buy anything. Not only is it good exercise, it saves you from spending all your money at the first stall you stop at!
• Plan your trip around a meal time and you can feast on fresh fruits and vegetables, home baked bread, and more!
• Most farmers markets are open in the early morning through the early afternoon.
• Larger farmers markets may be open multiple days, may offer a food court, and may have a wider selection of vendors.

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Are you looking for a way to have fun with your kid's right at home? Then consider having a jungle day in the backyard. There are many things that can be done in the backyard to turn it into a pretend jungle. You can take simple playthings and use a little imagination to create any environment desired.

You could start off by pretending the sandbox is a big sand trap that has to be crossed over to get to the river on the other side of the jungle. This river could be reached by a small stream which can be a water slide set up and ready for fun. Use it to glide down the stream to the waters edge which is simply a swimming pool waiting to be explored. You can place small toys and other objects in the pool and pretend you are finding exotic items in the river. This doesn't mean that you have to go out and buy a big expensive pool; just a small child's pool will do just fine.

Small trees and bushes can be part of the jungle and used to hide from the wild animals that lurk in the jungle. A jungle gym would be a great way to fly through the pretend tress to keep the excitement going. Once you reach the other side of the jungle you can end the adventure by engaging in an awesome water gun battle.

Remember that the whole point of this jungle day in the backyard adventure is to spend time playing with your child. You don't need big expensive toys to have a great time; all you really need is just a few items and a really good imagination. If you want to add play equipment to make this adventure a little more exciting you can always add different pieces to your backyard one at a time as your budget permits.

The most fun part of all is the fact that you and your child are playing and using your imaginations together. Spending a jungle day in the backyard is a great way to get closer to your child while having fun. It also provides a wonderful way to get plenty of exercise for the both of you.

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