Daily Thrifty Tips - May 4, 2006

Gardens Alive

$20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive!

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Sweetly scented of spring, these sachets filled with lavender and tied with a ribbon are lovely to slip into a drawer for freshly scented linen or lingerie.

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Coco is our 1 year, 1 month old Chocolate Lab. I got Coco from a friend that raised labs. She was born March 24, 2005 and I got her April 21, 2005. I know it was early for her to leave her mother but my friend had run into financial problems.

She likes to aggravate my other dogs. She's just a big puppy right now and plays all the time. They love it when she's sleeping.

After having her for a year now, I don't know what I'd do without her.

By Penny Stoehr from Ipava, IL

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Because our yard is 2 steps down from "The Path Garden" and we had to pile dirt (sand bags) up to keep the rain from flooding the back yard. So we just built the planting area like a raised bed. I needed a support to step down to the path. Here is what we came up with. A pipe in the ground with a little cement to make it study. Then we put a clay pot down over the pipe and filled it with plants. I put an old plastic apple over the pipe for a handle. It is leaning some now because kids destroyed the first pot/flowers and tried to pull the pipe out. But I guess they weren't strong enough to get it out. Anyway hubby hammered it back in the ground. Don't laugh, It still works.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark,Ca.

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If you want a less expensive way to get some "foam" on your coffee or cappuccino at home, just whip some warm milk in your blender until it's frothy and top your drink with it!

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Learning some calligraphy (just simple italics) has really come in handy over the years. I got a book and practiced a bit and then started using sets of colored felt-tipped calligraphic markers - they last a long time if you take care of them. I didn't know how useful it would be to be able to make handprinted signs, labels, and so on. You can also write out decorative mottos and longer inspirational quotations to set around the house to inspire you and your family. (And your overall penmanship improves, too!)

By pamphyila from L.A., CA

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My husband has the bachelor habit of putting up nails or screws to hang things on in closets, in the walls of the boat, and on the side of furniture! It seems strange - but doing that rather than hanging real hooks can be a good idea sometimes - the holes are small, for example, and in a closet won't betray a renter and you can easily put nails on the sides of inexpensive furniture to hang towels and so on and they don't really show, the way hooks do.

By Pamphyila from L.A., CA

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This is a simple and cheap face scrub that helps get rid of blackheads. Make a paste with oatmeal and water and apply it liberally to your face. Let the paste dry completely and then rub it off with your fingers. As you remove the oatmeal you will also remove any dead skin. Lastly, rinse your face with warm water.

By ThriftyFun

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This summer after you mow your lawn, don't worry about raking up the clippings. They actually add nutrients to the soil!

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Locate which plank is squeaking and sprinkle some talcum powder in the cracks. Let it sit for a while so the talcum powder can work itself between the cracks.

By ThriftyFun

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Did you know that American's spend more than 2/3 of their monthly food budget on stuff they really do not need, stuff that is not healthy for them and overpriced products? If you are one of these people, you may be wondering what it is that is so bad that is getting into your cart. To help you to save money at the grocery store, you will want to make sure to follow these rules from the start. If you follow them, you will cut your budget down considerably.

• Don't go without a list. If you walk into the grocery store after a long, hard day at work, you are tired, not thinking clearly and you will pick up things you do not need and should not waste the money on. Before you go, write out a basic menu for the next few days to a week. Buy only the items on your menu. You can cut your budget in half like this in many cases. Just stick to the list.

• Don't shop when you are hungry. This is a subconscious game your mind is playing. If you shop when you are hungry, you are more likely to actually spend more, even 50% more!

• Walk the walls at the supermarket. You will find the produce section, the deli, the meats and the dairy section lining the walls of your supermarket, in most cases. Avoid heading down those costly aisles of prepackaged foods and over priced items. You can find just about everything you need around the walls. If you avoid those middle aisles, you can save 25-75% of your budget, depending on what you normally purchase.

• Keep the kids at home, or entertained. If the kids can not stay at home, why not have them busy. Bring along a doll or a book for them to look at. If they are busy, they are not asking for various things they do not need.

• Shop for loss leaders. These are the products that are on sale that the company is taking a loss on to sell you. Make sure to purchase only things that you really do like and use. You do not save money on a coupon of something you will never actually use.

One of the biggest ways for you to save money on products of all sorts is to have a price book. Purchase a small pocket notebook and write in the prices of the products you purchase. Then, jot down next to it the price that you pay regularly, on sale and at various stores. This way, you can easily spot when something really is a bargain and when something really is only being advertised. This can also help you to select which supermarket to visit too.

Taking the time to follow these tips can help you to save substantial dollars at your local supermarket. If you take just a few minutes to plan, you can have more money at the end of the month. For most people, the food budget is the single most important item to cut down on a budget to have more funds. How can you save?

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I grew up in a family of 4 children, a stay-at-home mom, and a father who didn't make a lot of money. We had everything we needed (thanks to the constant sacrifices of my dear mother) but I did wear a lot of boys PJs inherited from my older brother and cousins. As an adult, I now shop in thrift stores and, if I can't find what I need, I may resort to the discount stores like Marshalls, TJ MAXX and Ross.

Thrift store shopping is like "big-game hunting" for me with the "thrill" is finding the best quality clothes and household items for the fewest dollars. As a child, I used to say that when I grew up I would be rich and hire someone to break in my shoes for me. Thanks to the thrift stores, this hasn't been necessary, and no blisters!

Claudia from MD

Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml claudlamm@yahoo.com

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When you get new crayons, wrap them with some masking tape. They will be less likely to break but still can be sharpened.

By ThriftyFun

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I need to get rid of fleas. Most remedies from the vet are beyond my budget. I have a cat and a dog. Does anyone have any suggestions that are a bit less expensive side?

Nelwyn from Bunkie, LA

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Does anyone know of a plant that will repel biting gnats and other annoying insects?

Brenda from Central Arkansas

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I would like to know if anyone knows how to make sugar cubes? My DH only likes to use the cubes and they can be expensive.

Thanks for your help.

Pico from ST. PAUL, ALBERTA

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My DD has a toddler bed with a crib size mattress, the kind with plastic sealed around it, and the mattress has some small tears in it. When she wet to bed some of it seeped into the mattress and now her whole room smells. Is there a way to eliminate or get rid of this smell without replacing the mattress? I don't want to purchase another mattress, as i will be replacing bed with a twin bed this summer. Thank you in advance for any and all advice on this!

jmz2005 from Illinois

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I am in need of an olive/cherry pitter. I have looked many places and searched on the internet but can not seem to locate one. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I should search?

Thanks,
Karifl from Florida

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Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to get rid of or prevent kidney stones? My Chiropractor of all people is who found that I had a kidney stone! After that I went to the emergency room because I have no insurance. They ran all kinds of expensive tests (over $2000) and said "You have a kidney stone and a gall stone". They gave me 3 prescriptions for pain pills and sent me home! It's no wonder people get addicted to pain killers!

That was last August and I have been in pain since then. The only thing that seemed to help was drinking cranberry juice. I found the next best thing at Wal-Mart - concentrated cranberry pills. They worked for a while but now the pain is back even when I take the pills. I'm on my 4th bottle now and take 6 cranberry pills a day. I still have a lot of pain. Is there anything that would help besides pain pills?

luv2craft from Normalville, Pennsylvania

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I have just seen a couple of roaches in my kitchen and 1 in my bathroom. Actually, my cats pointed them out to me. What can I use that won't be harmful to my cats? I have seen the suggestions to use boric acid but also know that it would be toxic to them. Does anyone know of any way to get rid of them that won't be harmful to my pets?

Thanks in advance

Missy from Memphis, TN

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I can no longer read the answers to problems in your e-mails, it's all mess up. I use to be able to read it and I always enjoy the answers and helpful hints but I can no longer read them because of the mixed up letter. Please fix this for me so I can enjoy the e-mails again.

Barbara from La Porte, IN

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I have 2 boys and 2 male cats that just got fixed. There are black marks on my carpet through out the house. One cat decided to spray everything and the cat that would only go to the bathroom outside has been forced to stay in. I've cleaned up a lot of messes. Since they have been fixed, one has quit spraying but the other has not. When I see him sniffing around, I lock him in the bathroom with the box. It seems to be geting better.

I can't take the smell or the stains any longer. The items I have on hand are Oxy Clean, Vinager, proxcide, anomia, alcohol and baking soda. The black stains are deep. What mixture can I use to to take care of all of this? Any help would be great.

Thank you in advance.

Greeneyes021071 from Orange County, CA

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Remember the little nut cups that were plastic and were given as a favor at ladies luncheons? Does anyone have any idea how I could make a similar one or a way to decorate a little cup to make it an attractive favor. Thanks a million!

Mitzi from DeLand, FL

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My soon to be 14 year old daughter wants to have her birthday party at home - again. Last year we had pizza, they hung out and after the boys left, the girls watched movies during the sleep over. This year my daughter wants the same. About 8 girls and 6 boys. Any suggestions for activities? They may not want to do anything that I plan, but I want to have a few things available. Pictionary maybe? Thanks for any ideas.

Ann4 from Mint Hill

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I need some ideas in getting blood off a nylon shower curtain. I have a son who is slightly careless with his insulin shots and gets spots on the curtain. I have tried pre wash, wash, etc. but no luck. I really like the curtain, but the stains are unattractive, to say the least!

CayC from Green Cove Springs, FL

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How can you make a homemade shower/bath mesh pouf?

Thanks.

Amy from Peoria, IL

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I have a yard full of red ants; what can I do? I hate to have to pay the high for the cost of most commercial insecticides.

Nelwyn from Bunkie, LA

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My son has a female hamster. Her cage smells so bad eventhough I clean it frequently. It smells after the first 24 hours. Any ideas?

Linda from Richmond, VA

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To all those who knit... I need slipper patterns! No crochet patterns please, just knitting patterns. This is for charity.

Poopsey from Victoria, Canada

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I overcooked some frozen yum cha in the microwave - burnt it actually. Woops! Now I can't get the smell of burnt chinese food out of the microwave. Any suggestions please?

KJP from Australia

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When we had a family of 7 with regular visits from friends I thought nothing of using 5 saucepans to prepare a meal but now it is just my husband and myself I resent washing up all those pots. Has anyone got any good one pot recipes suitable for two oldies? We like to include meat or poultry and veggies.

Alinci from Australia

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Something is eating my tomato plants, leaves, stems, stalk and all right down to ground. What could it be and how can I prevent it? I do live 10 miles from town.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

br8769 from NM

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My husband and I recently found out that we are expecting. We are currently renting a 2-bedroom home from from a couple in our church and cannot afford to purchase a home of our own. My mom's cousin is offering us a complete Winnie the Pooh crib bedding set that includes a lamp, but we are not allowed to paint, etc. What can we do to decorate the white walls and make it seem more like a nursery? Also, any other childproofing, toy/supplies buying, or the like tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Jeggie from Elberton, GA

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