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Hello,
In the ThriftyFun News we published over the weekend we had some tips and recipes for cooking cool in the summer. You can find links to those articles in the More Reading section. If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed in a future issue of the TF News you can recommend it here: Click Here
We have a packed newsletter today. 9 new requests have been posted since our last newsletter so be sure to check them out.
Hope all our American friends had a happy 4th of July.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
More Reading:
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Today's Tips
To really cut years off your mortgage, make an extra payment a year but do it this way. Say your mortgage payment is 1200/month. Divide that by 12 ($100) and add that above and beyond that monthly payment. It will cut thousands in the life of your mortgage! By Marie
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Inexpensive, Portable Fingernail Polish Remover
For an inexpensive, portable fingernail polish remover try filling an empty film canister with a trimmed pink foam roller pad drenched in fingernail polish remover. The hole in the center of the foam pad is perfect finger size. Buy the large bottle of polish remover at the dollar store and you can refill the canister several times very cheaply. By Cheryl
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Save every scrap of gift wrap. It will always be good enough for decoupaging something. Be sure it has no bits and pieces of tape on it, otherwise, it can be used as underliner if not on the final side of what you're making. Tissue paper makes beautiful decoupaged backgrounds for cut-outs of paperdolls, flowers, and other things. Have Fun and Happy Crafting. By Julia
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Make Vegetable Broth with Leftovers
Keep a gallon size freezer bag in your freezer, and as you cut off tomato ends, carrot ends, have leftover onion tops or celery, place them in the bag.. When the bag is full, pull out and make up a batch of vegetable broth, use as a base for soup or to flavor foods like mashed potatoes! Just a tip, strongly flavored veggies like broccolli or peppers are not as good for broth, save those separately for other uses. By Suzanne
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Remove Scratches from Toilet with Comet and Bar Keeper's Friend
This tip is for anyone who has scratches in their toilet (like from a snake, etc.). This is so easy and so inexpensive! Use Comet Cleanser, Bar Keeper's Friend or similar brand and sprinkle into water. I usually sprinkle maybe 1/8 cup. Let sit for several hours. You do NOT have to scrub or touch it in any way!! The scratches will magically disappear! I don't know how but they do with NO effort on your part. I do not know if this works with Soft Scrub or similar products. I have only tried Comet and Bar Keeper's Friend. By Kathy
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The following four tips are from our archive.
Give each child a cheap briefcase; you can often find these for next to nothing at Goodwill and consignment shops. A briefcase is better than a duffel bag or grocery bag because it limits the amount of stuff and makes a great personal desk. Thus ends the tales of "my sister won't share!" and other such comments. - Amy (Aunt of Two)
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Give old plastic grocery bags to your local animal clinic. Ours always appreciates having a bag to put medicines and food in that clients come in to get.
By Bryan
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Salt for Setting Dark Clothing
When you wash dark clothes for the first time - use cold water and put salt in the water. The salt helps set the color. When I want to brighten dark clothes after they have been washed several times, I repeat the procedure (salt in cold water when washing). Lou
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Featured Feedback: RE: Borax for Fleas
I had a huge infestation of fleas and an alternative to Borax is iodized salt.So far that has been the only natural remedy that has worked for me on my carpets.
By Kendra
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Featured Feedback: RE: Strategies for Family Togetherness
Eating together is a great start! One thing we do at dinner is we have a "special plate". It is obviously different from the rest of our plates. I bought it at Dollar General for $1. We take turns starting with the youngest. At the start of the meal, we go around the table and each person has to say one thing they love about the person who has the special plate. Even my husband and I get a turn with the special plate! Its incredible the things I have learned that my husband and children love about me and it helps the kids to get along better too! The times when we eat out, the kids comment how they miss having the "special" plate. Of course if its someone's birthday or they bring home an A from school, win a special award, etc., then they get special plate that night and we go back to the age progression the next night. It really has instilled in all of us the importance of letting others know how important they are to you, and how much you love them.
By Jill
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Featured Feedback: RE: A Savings Challenge
My mom always says "It's the little things that get you." when it comes to purchases. If you haven't already done this, write down every penny you spend over a 2 - 4 week period and you are sure to find something you could eliminate and instead put those few pennies into savings. For example, don't eat out for a month. Or limit video rentals, beauty purchases, etc. I have 2 sons and we decided to purchase hair clippers for $12. The price of one adult haircut. Two years later, we are using the same clippers for my husband and both sons for every haircut! I'm convinced, "It's the little things that get you!"
By Jill
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Today's Recipe: Cucumbers
By Jennifer A. Wickes
The History of the Cucumber
Cucumbers have been around for thousands of years. It is believed that they originated from either Thailand or India. They are from the gourd family, and considered a fruit.
What varieties are there?
English cucumber or Hothouse cucumber can grow up to 2 feet.
How to choose a cucumber?
Cucumber season is from May to August. Choose a firm cucumber with a smooth brightly colored dark green skin. Avoid cucumbers with soft spots or shriveled areas. The fruit is long and cylindrical, with a mild flesh, edible seeds and a dark green skin. This skin does not require peeling, unless it has been waxed. The cucumber is usually eaten raw, like in salads. Smaller cucumbers are used for pickles.
How do you store a cucumber?
Store whole cucumbers, in a plastic bag in the refrigerator up to 10 days. Wash thoroughly before using. A cut cucumber can be refrigerated if tightly wrapped for 5 days.
Spices
anise seed, basil, caraway seed, chervil, chives, cilantro, cumin, dill, fennel, marjoram, mint, mustard, paprika, parsley, saffron, savory, tarragon, thyme, turmeric
Equivalency
1 medium cucumber = 1 1/2 cups chopped
Herbed Cucumber Salad
4 Servings
Prep 0:10 Cook 0:00 Stand 3:00 Total 3:10
In covered jar, combine Butter Buds, vinegar, sugar, thyme, and tarragon; shake well. Place sliced cucumber and onion in glass bowl. Add dressing and mix well. Chill several hours to marinate. Serve on lettuce leaves.
Source: Cumberland Packing Corporation
Thai Fresh Cucumber Salad (Taeng Kwa Brio Wan)
6 Servings
*Note: The book says to peel the cucumbers only if they are waxed and even then leave on a few strips.
In a bowl, generously salt the sliced cucumbers. Allow sitting for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine the other ingredients. Squeeze out as much of the cucumber juice as you can, by wringing a handful at a time in a double layer of cheesecloth or a dishtowel. Twist until you can extract no more juice. Combine the squeezed cucumbers and the sauce in a serving bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master
Copyright 2001 - Jennifer Wickes is the editor at "Cookbook Reviews" and "Cooking With The Seasons", which has been voted to be one of the Top 100 Culinary Sites on the Internet! For more information about Jennifer Wickes or her columns, please go to: http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/CulinaryJen
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Tip Contest
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Elegantly Frugal Costumes: The Poor Man's Do-It-Yourself Costume Maker's Guide
This wonderfully practical book literally shows you how to make costumes for plays, pageants and musicals at the lowest possible expense! Over 150 detailed illustrations work with the easy-to-follow text to walk you through every step of the process. Just about every basic period is covered: Biblical to Medieval, Renaissance, Angels, the Fabulous Fifties, 1800s to World War I, The Roaring Twenties and more. Many helpful hints on making or buying realistic period theatrical costumes on a shoestring budget from cast-offs, donations, scraps, and other easily-obtained materials. Also included are "special effects" costumes, helpful hints for getting into and out of costumes, and a glossary of costuming terms A book that will pay for itself with its first use.
New Requests:
Dog is Losing its Hair & Request for Flea Remedy
What's the best home remedy to get fleas off my dogs, and what can i do about them losing their hair? Charlotte
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Yellow Leaves on a Weeping Willow Tree
I received my seedling of a Weeping Willow tree while it was still cold here near New Orleans so I planted it in a large pot. We've been having so much rain, I haven't been able to put it in the ground yet. I've noticed that a few of the leaves have turned yellow with small brown spots on them and some of the green leaves have those spots as well. Do you have any idea what could be causing this or could it be that it needs to be taken out of the pot and put in the ground? Help! Dale from Louisiana,
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I would like to plant some Weeping Willows but would like to know how fast the roots grow and if I have to be concerned about proximity to a septic bed? Also, how far apart would be a good distance to plant and how many feet per year do they grow? Thanks for any info. Ed
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My mother used to make a recipe of pickle that was called Ginger Strip Pickles. She used an entire jar or box of ginger for this recipe and very large cucumbers. You had to spoon out the seeds and pulp then cut the cucumber into strips. Does anyone have this recipe? It if very strong, and hot with ginger even though it is sweet too..very, very good and different. Thanks, any reply greatly appreciated. I have her old recipe but am unable to read portions of it enough to tell what size of container of ginger to use. Thanks in advance, Linda from Emporia
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What are your favorite summer cooler recipes?
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How can I get white shoe polish off a black motorcycle jacket?
I picked up the most perfect fitting, broken in black motorcycle jacket for FREE at the flea market last weekend; only thing is, someone decided to get creative and took what looks to be white shoe polish to it...the fringe, the belt, the epaulets. I want to save this jacket, please help! Thanks! Julie from California
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I want to buy my son his first guitar. He'll be playing it in band so I want to get something that will keep its tune. I don't want to go to the store without a good idea on what will work well for him. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Dan
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Greasy Finger Marks on Stained Wood Doors
Can anyone give me a solution for greasy finger marks on a stained wood door? George
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I have this pink stain as a ring around the top of my water line in my toilet bowl. I have tried bleach tank drop ins with no success. Is there an effective tank drop in for these stains? I don't like those kind that hang on the side of the bowl and i don't like scrubbing those stains away every day either! Dengo
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Painting a Church Room to Create a Children's Room
I am the director of the children and preschool departments. I have been given a room specifically for children's church. I get to pick the colors it is to be painted. My thoughts have been a blue with blocks of color in yellow and green. I want a few notches above a pastel but not jewel tones. Any other ideas or such. Any comments on my color selections? The blue would be a little lighter than the sky on a cool clear day. I really envision this room being used for more than one program and I don't want murals on the walls themselves as I can paint murals on old sheets and canvas for different programs and "mood" builders or backdrops. Debi from Kansas
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More Reading
Frugal Indoor Fun
By Nancy Twigg
Now that the weather is so cold, the kids can't go out and play for long periods like they can in the summer. This means more hours to fill with fun indoor activities. Although the temptation may be to entertain the family by spending money (going to the mall, renting movies, visiting a fast food restaurant or arcade), there are ways to keep the kids busy without draining your pocketbook. Here is a list of indoor activity ideas that are all either completely free or cost very little.
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Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups
By Kathleen Wilson
Most of us spend a good deal of time in our kitchens these days, and it's not just for cooking. More homes are being built with the kitchen as the hub of the home, and even if you're on a tight budget, that shouldn't stop you from making it a pleasant and personal place to be!
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Summertime Salads
By Arleen Kaptur
Summertime-the living is easy-or it should be ! Meals are lighter, and usually taken outdoors. Appetites are not receptive to hot, heavy food and cooking time should be at a minimum. So what's the solution - when you come home after a day's work, or time out with the family at the beach or the zoo? You want something quick, tasty, cool and refreshing, but it should satisfy those hunger pangs. Summertime salads - fit right into summertime activities and fun.
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Stay Cool: Use Appliances other Than the Range and Oven
Limit the use of the oven as much as possible. Try to cook food in the microwave, rice cooker or slow cooker.
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Stay Cool: Cook Corn and Kabobs Outside
Get into the habit of grilling outside. Grilled meat and vegetables taste fantastic when prepared well and you keep the heat outside.
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Stay Cool: Salads and Cooking Cool
Eat meals that don't require a lot of cooking, like salads or burritos. Try these vegetable salad burritos.
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Make smoothies or juice from concentrate to stay cool.
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Pickle Green or Passionate Puce? How to select the right color for your room!
By Pamela Cole Harris
Did the yellow paint in your room seem like a wonderful, sunny choice two years ago, but now reminds you of two day old eggs? Is the harvest orange seem trendy? The dusty plum seem elegant? And did that certain shade of green that seemed restful yesterday seem faintly reminiscent of moldy algae? Then it is time to find the right color for your room!
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Cleaning Your Home Office or Computer Room
By Stephanie Davies
Your home office can be the central business center of the home, and oftentimes with all of those papers and documents, it may be hard to focus on where to get started, or exactly how to clean.
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Susan
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