Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 155, October 18, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Yesterday we published a TF News with Halloween Tips in it. If you aren't a subscriber to the TF News and want to check it out, you can find a link to the newsletter in the More Reading section.
I am sure people will be looking for costume ideas leading up to Halloween. If you have any frugal or clever costume ideas please submit them on the contest form.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Enter the tip contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Lavender Pillow Stocking Stuffers
- "That Sausage Stuff"
- Putting Shoes On The Proper Feet
- Clean Up While Traveling
- Coffee Grounds and Egg Shells
- Runs in Stockings
- Microwaving Potatoes
- Pineapple Sauce for Ham
- Sample Time at Warehouse Stores
- Lemon Juice Potato Tip
- Dry Storage on a Boat
- Stuffed Green Pepper Tip
- Smash Nuts for Baking
- Other Uses for Coffee Filters
- Crispy French Fry Tip
- Baked Potato Tip
- Cooking Cabbage
- Caramel Apple Salad
- Out Of This World Pineapple Cake
- What to do with Plastic Grocery Bags
- Cleaning Dry Erase Boards
New Requests:
- Scratch Marks on Cream Leather Sofa
- Homemade Christmas Card Photo Ideas
- Sour Smelling Clothing
- Tar on Car
- Everyday Shower Spray
- Computer Parts Bug
- Healthy Treats for Halloween
More Reading:
- Make Christmas Gift Wrap With Kids
- ThriftyFun News October 16, 2004 - Halloween Tips
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If you are looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem,
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Today's Tips
Lavender Pillow Stocking Stuffers
Today I harvested my lavender and put together about a dozen pieces in each bunch and tied them together with a piece of string and hung them in my garage to dry well. I will then remove the little pieces and use them in small pieces of cloth that I will sew into little pillows. They smell really nice and make great "stocking stuffers".
By joesgirl
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"That Sausage Stuff"
This recipe is one my mother taught me, except I kicked it up a notch. The name of it may sound odd, but that's only because she didn't know what else to call it. The "core" recipe is very simple, and I've added some extras at the end that I use often to make it healthier and tastier, and requests I've received along the way. Have fun with it!
Core recipe:
1 bag of frozen cubed potatoes (keep frozen until cooking time)
2 - 4 polish sausage links (the big, long kind. These are precooked.)
In a stock pot, get the potatoes started cooking on medium heat in either a little cooking oil or bacon grease. The stock pot won't be full by the time you're done (unless you're cooking for a group). While that's going, cut the sausages into "coins" and add to the potatoes.
Extras to jazz it up:
*celery, sliced
*carrots, chopped
*salsa
*sauerkraut (warmed and served on the side, as not everyone likes it)
*minced and/or powdered garlic, incorporated with the sausage
*tomatoes, chopped
*green onion, sliced
When everything is hot, cooked and mixed together, serve with homemade cornbread.
By Melissa
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Putting Shoes On The Proper Feet
My kindergartner was having trouble figuring out which shoe goes on which foot, so I tried the following, and she has had no trouble since. Here's how it works.
Determine which hand is dominant. In my daughter's case, she's a "rightie". So, I took her right shoe, drew a big red star on the inside of her shoe, right on top of the size number, where her heel rests in the shoe (so that, when on, her heel is on top of the star). I made sure the marker I used was permanent, a Sharpie is what I used, but any permanent marker will work.
I then explained to her that the shoe with a star in it goes on her right foot, which is on the same side of her body as the hand she writes with. Like I said, after I did this, she's had no more trouble putting her shoes on the correct feet, and she feels empowered because she can do it herself.
This will work for "lefties", too, except the star should be in the left shoe instead of the right.
By Melissa R.
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Clean Up While Traveling
When traveling with children I do this to avoid stopping all the time and save money on wipes. Before we leave I get at least 2 wash cloths and soap them really well but don't rinse them. I put them in a ziplock baggie. Then I get 2 more wash cloths and dampen them with plain water and put them in another ziplock baggie. When the kids or I need to be cleaned up I am prepared.
By ldonston
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Coffee Grounds and Egg Shells
Don't throw away your coffee grounds or egg shells, instead as you turn the potting soil in your house plants, add the grounds and shells for healthier house plants. This can also be used in vegetable gardens for larger crop yields.
By ldonston
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Runs in Stockings
A tip I learned from college days: If you get a runner in your nylon hose, don't throw them away! Just cut off the leg with the run and throw it away. Save the top and the good leg. When you have two tops and legs wear them together. No one can tell you are wearing two parts!
By MB in WY
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Microwaving Potatoes
When baking potatoes in your microwave; scrub, then rub them with a bit of oil or butter. Then place in a brown paper bag to microwave. You'll see how much better they turn out!
By Marian
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Pineapple Sauce for Ham
I had a recipe to make a sauce for a ham that I was going to serve this evening for dinner. Just before making it I realized that it called for apple juice (which I did not have). Time being of essence I made a sauce out of what I had.
I took a large can of pineapple chunks and drained the pineapple juice into a small sauce pan. I opened a container that I thought was raisins but it turned out to be currants. I added about 1/2 cup to the juice. I then added 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 Tablespoons of corn starch. Using a whisk I mixed until it started to get a bit thickened and then I added the pineapple chunks in.
This was served in a nice gravy bowl with a lovely small ladle. It was really wonderful and very mild and added a nice colorful touch to the ham. I received lots of compliments.
By joesgirl
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Sample Time at Warehouse Stores
Are you a member of B.J.'S, Costco or Sams Club? If so try to do your shopping at about 11:30 AM. In the food section they give out samples of all kinds of interesting new products. This past week I was offered and accepted pizza, fettucine alfredo with shrimp, buffalo wings, granola, gourmet coffee and cheesecake. It was enough of little "tapa" that I didn't need to have lunch when I returned home from shopping. And the best part was that while I was snacking I was walking those big long aisles.
By joesgirl
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Lemon Juice Potato Tip
A few drops of lemon juice in the water will whiten boiled potatoes.
By Peggy
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Dry Storage on a Boat
If you have items in a boat that must be kept dry (registration, etc.), vacuum seal them.
By Nancy Wall
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Stuffed Green Pepper Tip
Use greased muffin tins as molds when baking stuffed green peppers.
By Peggy
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Smash Nuts for Baking
I re-use bread bags to crunch nuts. I hated getting out the chopper and having to clean it when I was baking cookies. I just measure the amount of nuts I need and pour them in the bag. I grab a can of veggies or soup and crunch the nuts. All I have to do is pour the nuts in the batter and throw the bag away. It's free and no extra clean up.
By Debbie
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Other Uses for Coffee Filters
Use coffee filters for many things other than making coffee. When my grandkids come to visit and have snacks little cut up apples or pretzels or whatever I place them in the coffee filter. Also if I am mixing a small amount of something like cinnamon and sugar I shake it gently in the coffee filter. I'm sure you can think of many other uses. I only buy them when they are on sale. This sure saves me from washing dishes for little things.
By joesgirl
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Crispy French Fry Tip
Let raw potatoes stand in cold water for at least a half-hour before frying in order to improve the crispness of French-fried potatoes. Dry potatoes thoroughly before adding to oil.
By Peggy
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Baked Potato Tip
Potatoes soaked in salt water for 20 minutes before baking will bake more rapidly.
By Peggy
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Cooking Cabbage
When cooking cabbage, place a small tin cup or can half full of vinegar on the stove near the cabbage. It will absorb the order.
By Peggy
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Caramel Apple Salad
Ingredients:
1 box instant butterscotch pudding
1 small can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
1 cup mini-marshmallows
1 cup Cool Whip
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
2 Granny Smith apples (cut into bite-size pieces-peel may be left on)
Directions:
Mix together pudding mix (dry) and crushed pineapple including juice. Fold in marshmallows, peanuts and Cool Whip until well blended. Add apple pieces and mix until coated.
By Judy Zielinski
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Out Of This World Pineapple Cake
CAKE INGREDIENTS:
1 Box Yellow cake mix
1 Can Mandarin Oranges + juice
3 Eggs
1/3 Cup Oil
Mix above items together and pour into 3 greased & floured pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
FROSTING:
1 12-oz Cool Whip
1 Can Crushed Pineapple (small can w/ juice)
1 Box Instant French Vanilla Pudding
This cake tastes great and quickly disappears!
By C W Connor
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What to do with Plastic Grocery Bags
Do you sometimes accumulate too many plastic bags from the supermarket? Donate them to a place where children are being baby sat such as a daycare center. They are great to dispose soiled diapers in.
By joesgirl
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Cleaning Dry Erase Boards
WD-40 is great for cleaning permanent marker from dry erase boards.
By Lisa T.
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Other Active Topics
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Tip Contest
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New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on October 31st.
Enter the contest!
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
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New Requests:
Scratch Marks on Cream Leather Sofa
I have got a kitten who has left claw marks on my cream leather sofa, Please can you help me with any ideas on how to cover marks.
My sofa is 4yrs old and still looks brand new as I keep it covered. but some how the kitten has marked it. Please help.
Kind Regards
Kelly
View Article: Click Here
Homemade Christmas Card Photo Ideas
I am looking for ideas for a funny photo Christmas card. Every year our family has had a ball posing for these. We always make them funny, but I have run out of ideas this year.
Last year, we went to the edge of the woods, my husband wore a red sweat suit with a santa hat. He is disabled in a wheelchair so we decorated it up like a sleigh. We have two daughters(then 5 and 7). We three each had brown sweat suits on and reindeer antlers on our heads(bought at Wal-mart). We took red garland and draped it from my husbands wheelchair, to me sitting on my knees, then to my 7 year old on her knees, then to my 5 year old on her knees, and her nose was painted red like Rudolph. It turned out to be the cutest card yet. Our friends loved it. I was afraid they would think we were a little crazy. I set up the camera on the tripod and would have to run to get in position which made everyone laugh for a really good photo.
The year before that we took pairs of adult size jeans, stuffed them with filling, safety pinned rubber boots to the end of them, then posed my two girls infront of the Christmas tree laying down on their bellies. We just put the fake legs on top of theirs and pulled the feet over their shoulders to look like their legs were twisted over their shoulders. It was hilarious, and on the inside of the card we wrote Merry "Twistmas". You couldn't see their own legs and you wouldn't believe the people that asked us how they did that(like it was their real legs twisted over their shoulders!)
The year before that we wrapped large boxes in colorful wrap, cut a hole in the top just large enough for the girl's heads and cut out the bottom. They simply "put their boxes on" and we put a large bow on top of their heads, posed them in front of the tree and it was a cute and fun Christmas photo.
So this is a problem. How do I top these? We have gotten more elaborate every year. Our friends have said they can't wait to see our next Christmas card. If anyone has any ideas for funny photo Christmas cards, I would appreciate it. I hope you can use my ideas for your family fun.
Lori in Mississippi
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Sour Smelling Clothing
I have sour smelling towels and t shirts. I have tried everything: laundry odor eliminator, color safe bleach, extra fabric softener, extra fabric sheets, and small loads, immediate placement into the dryer.
Please help me!
Rachel
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Tar on Car
Does anyone know what takes tar off of cars? I recently got a little bit on mine & can't remember what I read about it. It was a non-chemical/toxic solution.
Thanks!
Vicki
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Everyday Shower Spray
I need a recipe for an everyday shower spray. Thanks!
Beth
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Computer Parts Bug
While browsing craft sites I saw a picture of a winged insect or bug made of recycled computer bits and parts. I have spent hours looking for that site again. If you know of any such place I would so appreciate your help.
Thanks,
Karen
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Healthy Treats for Halloween
I'm looking for healthy treats for Halloween. Because of things needing to be wrapped or tamper proof and wanting to give something nutritious, I'm at a loss what to give out. Does anyone have any good ideas?
Marianne
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
More Reading
Make Christmas Gift Wrap With Kids
By Abigail A. Beal
Christmas is coming! We all know what that means....a busy time for families & lots of presents to wrap. If you are looking for a fun craft idea for your children - why not make Christmas gift wrap with them? They will have fun making it, and then can wrap their gifts for friends and family in it! Some of these craft ideas are suited for younger children, and others will appeal to older children.
View Article: Click Here
ThriftyFun News October 16, 2004 - Halloween Tips
View Article: Click Here
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