Daily Thrifty Tips - August 14, 2006

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I received this Family Tree hanging from our daughter on Mother's Day. The 3 large charms were included where I placed pictures of my parents, husband's parents and the middle one is of myself and husband. I purchased remaining blank photo charms from eBay and put our children and grandchildren in each one and tacked them on the hanging. This project took quite a while but I really did find it enjoyable.

By Carol

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Sherlock and Watson are 7 month old Mini Dachshunds. I got them in February. Sherlock is noisy has to check out everything. Only cuddles when he's in the mood.

Watson is cuddly always, so gets a lot of sleep. Very affectionate. You'll never need to wash your face or hand when you're holding him if he's awake.

By LRP from Lowell, MA

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When you are on vacation, your home is most susceptible to burglary. One trick to create the illusion that you are home is to put a few lights on a timer. Individual timers can be found at the hardware store. Program the individual lights to turn on for a while each night. It's also a good idea to have someone visit your house every couple days to make sure mail, newspapers, or packages aren't piling up.

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I was born with a gene that not everyone is born with - the Frugal Gene. I was coming up with ideas to save money and electricity as a kid. My clothesline across my room made of yarn didn't work real well, nor did my idea to turn off all lights and only use candles. I was a little extreme in my thinking and my parents thought I was nuts, but I've always had the bug.

Some of my best tips have to do with recycling or reusing things. I believe everything can be used at least 2 other ways than it's original use. And I reuse EVERYTHING!! Four of my best tips for reusing are:

1. Old clothing - becomes cleaning rags, quilting and crafting material, dress up costumes and stuffing for dog beds that can easily be washed.

2. Toilet paper and Paper Towel Holders - great for holding plastic bags, cords, ribbons, christmas lights or making elaborate works of art, rockets and alien ships by an imaginative 3 year old.

3. Broken Costume Jewelry - great for restringing to make new bracelets or pins, accents for scrapbook pages, gift packages, home made cards or costumes.

4. Extra Ruffles - I have made matching curtains to our comforters or shower curtain be removing the extra ruffles that are attached to the shower curtain or dust ruffle. These extra ruffles have been transformed into the perfect curtains.

The biggest challenge I have always faced is being the minority in my thrifty thinking. None of my friends or family are thrifty or frugal like me. They probably think I'm bizarre, but that's ok. There was never anyone to swap and share ideas with until now.

I love the challenge of saving money and reusing new items. I am now a SAHM and it would not have been possible for me to be home with my son, if I wasn't such a thrifty mom. Another great perk are the lessons my son is learning. We don't always need new stuff - just use your imagination to re-think it and re-use it.

Kim Kubisiak from Gloucester, VA

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Here is the easiest way I know to enjoy delicious corn on the cob. Leave the corn with the husk on it just like when you picked it and only cut the tassel end off. Lay the ear of corn in the microwave, uncovered. Cook 4 minutes per ear. When the 4 minutes are up, grab the corn (watch out, it is hot!) and pull the shuck off, butter and EAT! It is wonderful and too easy! The husks remove with no effort and there is no boiling, grilling, etc. Try it!

By Pam from New Canton, VA

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The secret to good decorating is to be bold and creative without ever being tasteless. Here's an idea which is unique enough to get attention, yet will never be out of place.

Instead of just flowers in a silk arrangement, use feathers! Feathers bring an added bit of texture and life to the standard silk flower display. Pheasant and peacock feathers will add height and drama. Bright colored feathers will make your display eye-catching and unique. To add softness to a bouquet, try ostrich plumes.

You may want to leave the flowers out and make your arrangement entirely out of feathers. An interesting container can serve as a wonderful starting point. Search for one with an animal skin motif. Duck feathers in a leather container will add a manly feel to any office or game room. Short feathers at the base, with spikes of pheasant plumes, create an attention drawing piece for a buffet or hall table.

Exotic feathers can add spice to a bedroom. Put them out with candles for a special night, and create a very romantic mood. You might even try a boa for yourself!

Look outdoors for feathers of local birds from your area. You can use these to make a statement about your love of where you've chosen to live. Take a walk in a nearby wooded park and soon you'll have a collection from local birds. Typically these are small feathers, yet they'll say "home" in a cute display on an end table.

Search the floral section of your favorite craft store for interesting natural items such as moss, twigs and dried seeds to add to your design. A skilled florist will help you change these elements into a stunning display for your home.

Don't be afraid to experiment. You're sure to draw interesting comments and with reasonable consideration, you'll add a stimulating look to any room.

By Melisa Verch from Matthews, NC http://www.DecorateMyHome.net

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I get a gift card at Walmart and when I do my grocery shopping, I add $10.00 on the card and I tuck it in my purse in a special place. You can get different designs. I do this the entire year and at Christmas, I can either use them as gifts or I can use them to buy gifts. It makes that time of year easier. You can also do it for birthdays etc.

The cashier told me they do not expire and they do not start charging fees off of the card. It can really add up over a year and you do not miss the small amounts. I buy one that looks like a gas pump for my son so he can use it for gas. I put it in his stocking at Christmas. They are newlyweds and money is tight and, after Christmas, it is especially tight. It also lists on your receipt the card number and the total amount on the card each time you add to it.

By MawMaw from Fort Worth, TX

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When you get the free pocket calendars from organizations and card stores (they should be coming soon), please put all your medical information for your family in one on the anniversary dates that are pertinent. You can give to your ex, grandparents, babysitter, and, of course, keep one for yourself. Note your families vaccinations, childhood illnesses and medical tests. This will be invaluable to medical personnel if you are not available to give the information and/or you are too stressed out to remember it. It does not take a lot of time, but putting down in a calendar all of the correct dates of immunizations, medication reactions, current medications, allergies, etc., can be really useful.

By HEATHER from BOSTON, MA

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Loofas make great inexpensive, environmentally friendly and multipurpose scrubbers. You can buy or better yet grow grow your own, then cut into 1 inch thick circular slices. Use these for washing dishes, scouring sinks, and other cleaning needs in addition to using them in the shower/bath. Hopefully you are using nontoxic cleaning products in which case you can simply toss the loofa slices into the compost heap when they wear out.

By Tawnya from Alliance, OH

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Frugal For Life

A great blog with posts about frugal living.

More Information:
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How do you realign paper cutter blades?

Sandy from North Hollywood, CA

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I bought a steering wheel cover a couple of months ago and decided this week to take it off. The only problem is that somehow it stained my leather steeringwheel cover! How can I get it off without messing up my wheel? Can someone please help?

Kai from Alabama

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I need to know how to clean a garbage disposal. I don't remember ever having one before, an easy homemade way. Thank you folks. You have always come to my rescue.

Jamish from Ransom, Kansas

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My dog and I love to walk by the river in the evening. However, the mosquitoes are terrible. Does anybody have a safe home remedy to repel mosquitos for my dog? And once she is bitten she scratches and scratches and seems miserable! Does anybody know a remedy to relieve her itching? We are also planning to walk away from the water and during the day when there are less mosquitoes.

Thanks,
Krista and Magic the Dog from Wyoming

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Tips for saving money on ground beef. Post your ideas below!

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When I use Tide detergent on beige colored clothes, I get mottled bleach spots. Is it the Tide, the beige? Can anything be done to even out the color?

Ronnie Friedman from Demarest, NJ

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My daughter-in-law has a kitten that loves to chew on phone wires, computer wires, etc. and they have had to replace some items because of this. Any suggestions to break him of the habit would be appreciated.

Jean from Charlevoix, MI

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I made beer can chicken on propane barby yesterday. It was very moist and tender however the taste was the same as regular chicken without the beer. Any tips for the next time?

Sharon L Martin from Canada

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How do you remove Brandy stains from car seat?

Grace from Dungannon, Northern Ireland

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How can I separate pictures stuck together without damaging them?

Yvette from Tyler, Texas

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I'm in the process of buying a new mattress and I just need some input on the ones really worth the money. What are they?

Jenny from Milwaukee, WI

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Can I grow a Daylily plant in pot to be kept indoors?

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Jenny from Milwaukee

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Please help me if you can! I am a paramedic in the wonderful city of West, every year we have West Fest but this is the first year our EMS is going to build a float for the parade. West Fest is a Czech tradition here and we are proud to be a part of it we just need help with theme ideas and what we should put on our float. HELP if you can! Thanks! Christi from West, TX

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I had a meatloaf recipe that was cooked in the crockpot. It was made with ground beef, stove top dressing mix, eggs and what else? Have misplaced the recipe and cannot remember the amounts. There is one on Kraft's site but it is not the one. The one I am looking far does not have BBQ sauce or tomato sauce in it.

TIA,
Opal from Dallas, TX

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Is anyone out there working on altered books? It is the art form I have chosen to display my talents. I would love to hear from others that share my passion.

Sherry from Berkeley, CA

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Is there an affordable place to host a child's birthday party in Chicago? (We want to bring our own food.)

Thanks!

Pam from Chicago

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I am thinking about using the homemade dry laundry detergent. Can you use it in cold water or do you need to mix it with warm water first before adding to the wash?

Lee Anna from Lafayette, IN

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I recently bought beige towels and wash cloths for my main bathroom. My problem is; after just a few uses and washings the wash cloths are becoming VERY dingy. I would appreciate any suggestions as to how to brighten them back up again. They were so beautiful, I didn't think of practicality... OOPS!

Judy from Birmingham, AL

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I am looking for decoration ideas for a "vintage wedding"?

Monica Oxford from Stafford, VA

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Does anyone know how to get rid of the musty smell that gets in old papers and letters?

Jaggy from Canada

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Selecting High-Quality Pumpkins:

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Ultimately it was an act of timing. At a time in my career when I was being "downsized" and the looming dread of losing $15,000 of income a year was getting closer, I took on a job of direct sales. Direct sales involves working for a company which sells its products through shows in a hostess' home. The more well-known direct sales companies are MaryKay, Tupperware, and Home Interiors, although there are countless others. For me the lure was the money that a consultant earns.

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