Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 83, July 14, 2004
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Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Sizing Down a Costume for a Child
- Use Wallboard Joint Compound as a Dimensional Paste in Crafting
- Save Money Using a Wood Burning Stove
- Store Breakables in Beer Boxes
- Using a Drink Mixer to Make Baby Food
- Longer Lasting Razors
- No Moths Without Using Mothballs
- Watching the Scanner
- Featured Feedback: RE: Saving Money on Candles
- Featured Feedback: RE: Looking for Ideas for Beer Caps
- Today's Recipe: Noodle Casserole and Ginger Noodes
New Requests:
- Recycling Styrofoam Packing
- Removing Super Glue from a Wood Table
- Roof Moss from Asphalt Roof Tiles
- Dog with Chronic Ear Infection
- Cat Pee! Aaaaargh!
More Reading:
- Packing Made Simple
- Enough Auto Insurance?
- 7 Steps for Eliminating Your Debt
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Today's Tips
Sizing Down a Costume for a Child
When you are sizing down a costume for a child, have them try on the costume for fitting inside out and with the shoes (if any) they will be wearing with the costume. After they have the costume on (still inside out)
mark where the seams for the intake will be. For some of the seams I have actually used hook and look tape in the garment in order to reuse the costume for an older child by using it in place of a sewn seam.
By Am Bain
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Use Wallboard Joint Compound as a Dimensional Paste in Crafting
Here's a way for crafters to save money. I use wallboard joint compound as a dimensional paste in crafting. You can buy it at hardware or home improvement stores. At Lowe's I bought a 3 lb. container for $2. I stirred oatmeal into it and used it for Santas hair and beard, you could also use cornmeal for a textured effect for snow. You can take a knife and frost it over stencils to emboss. When it's dry it can be sanded. It can be used in many ways, and costs far less than dimensional paste at craft stores.
By Valerie
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Save Money Using a Wood Burning Stove
We bought a wood-burning stove second-hand, and got free wood from timber offcuts chucked out by truss-roofing builders.
I boil up pots of water and have the kettle running. This has saved up to 30% on our electricity bill, especially for dishwashing and floor washing! Kettles are fast-boil these days and take a lot of power.
I even have a flat iron with the cord cut off and heat the iron on top of the stove!
One of the best investments we ever made - and so warm and welcoming, too!
By Leonie
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Store Breakables in Beer Boxes
My family used to run a restaurant/bar and we got TONS of beer boxes. By using the boxes with the dividers inside (used to keep the glass bottles from breaking) to store Christmas ornaments we had a thrifty yet extremely practical way to protect glass ornaments and other breakables!
By amylizmc
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Using a Drink Mixer to Make Baby Food
Making your own baby food is super easy, not to mention thrifty, and nutritious, too! I found a handheld drink mixer left over from my husband's "powershake" days. I use this to blend whatever I have cooked for the rest of the family at mealtimes. I haven't found anything that can't be blended this way, although some things need a little water added! The handheld mixer is much easier to clean than a food processor or regular blender/mixer, and the preparation time is about 1 minute!
By amylizmc
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The following 3 tips are from our archive.
Longer Lasting Razors
The cost of getting blades for my husband's razor was getting exorbitant until I remembered a tip I read (somewhere :) ) after each use, store the razor head upside down in about 1/2 inch of alcohol, just enough to cover the razor edge thoroughly. For whatever chemical reason, it keeps the blade from getting dull quickly. We used to buy 20 blades at a time, and he would go through them in 8-10 weeks! Ouch! When he started using the alcohol, he has made those same 20 in a pack last a year or more. And, he has to be careful because his skin is so sensitive! It has been amazing! Try it!
Jo Ann
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No Moths Without Using Mothballs
Put whole cloves in pockets of woolen coats or in bags with sweaters when storing for the off-season. They prevent moth damage and leave a spicy aroma. Also place them in dresser drawers with socks and everyday work clothes.
Mary
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Watching the Scanner
When checking out at the grocery store, make sure to pay attention to the scan price of each item. I have caught plenty of overpriced items simply because the store did not change them to the proper price in the computer system. Paying attention will ensure that you don't let them make money this way.
Samantha
Ed. Note: Shopping Studies have shown that scanner pricing can be wrong and usually to the benefit of the store. Most often the mistakes are made with new sale items or marked down items.
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Featured Feedback: RE: Saving Money on Candles
Soy candles burn almost twice as long as parafin wax candles. Also, they don't have the carcinogens as regular candles, and helps out the farmers to boot! I only use the soy because you get more burn time for your buck, and the rest is just "gravy"! :)
By Chris
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Featured Feedback: RE: Looking for Ideas for Beer Caps
Buy an inexpensive wooden coffee table or dining room table. Attach wood strips around the edges the depth of your bottle caps. Glue them in place all over the table inside the wood strips, and then fill in the gaps with tile grout. You will have a solid surface table with a neat top. You can make a smaller one on a wood base the same way to use as a hot plate or trivet in your kitchen.
By QueenBeeCrafts
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Today's Recipe: Noodle Casserole and Ginger Noodes
Editor's Note: These recipes were submitted in response to a recent request "What to do with 40 boxes of pasta?". There was no name attached to these recipes but thank you to whoever submitted them.
Here are 2 recipes that are easy to prepare and are really tasty and different. Both can be served as a side dish or entree when served with a salad:
Noodle Casserole (or Kugel):
Ingredients:
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup melted butter, divided
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 pound egg noodles, cooked and drained
1 cup raisins (optional)
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Butter a 9 x 13 x 2" baking dish.
3) In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, melted butter, sour cream, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
4) Pour mixture into prepared pan
5) Bake for 45 minutes or until set.
Ginger Noodles
(Although there are some "special ingredients" in this dish, it is so frequently requested in my house and at get-togethers that I have no problem using them up frequently.)
Ingredients:
1 pound spaghetti or linguini noodles
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp fresh ginger
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup dark sesame oil
1/3 cup sugar
1 red pepper, diced
1 cup broccoli florets, cut in small pieces
1/2 cup fresh bean sprouts, optional
Directions:
1) Cook noodles and drain or pat until very dry.
2) Sprinkle with soy sauce and let absorb for 3 minutes.
3) Blend ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar in blender or food processor.
4) Add vegetables to pasta, then pour other ingredients over all and mix.
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Tip Contest
Submit a thrifty tip and you might win...
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.
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New Requests:
Recycling Styrofoam Packing
I am in the Atlanat Metro area, and looking for someplace to recycle styrofoam packing material. William Young
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Removing Super Glue from a Wood Table
Would anyone know any tips on how to remove super glue (used for fake nails) can be removed from a wood table, without sanding down the whole thing. Thanks, Samantha R
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Roof Moss from Asphalt Roof Tiles
I was wondering if anyone knew how to remove Moss from my asphalt roof tile. I remember hearing about a laundry detergent but I can't remember whitch one? Laura From BC
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Dog with Chronic Ear Infection
Hello! My Basset Hound has chronic ear infections! He's taken antibiotics and medicated powders. I don't know what to do for him! Does anyone have a home remedy to heal or prevent ear infections? Thank you!
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Cat Pee! Aaaaargh!
Please help me! I have a 4 year old male cat, neutered, who has decided to pee on my couch instead of in his litterbox. Each time, I clean the couch with vinegar and wash the blanket/pillow/etc that he has hit, and the smell goes away but a few days later more pee appears.
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More Reading
Packing Made Simple
By Bridget Messino
As the summer months draw near, families across the country are making their final preparations for the highly anticipated house move. Homeowners who are moving on their own (as opposed to a corporate relocation where an employer is paying all the bills) find themselves with the dilemma of whether to do the packing themselves or contract out this huge task.
View Full Article: Click Here
Enough Auto Insurance?
By Gary Foreman
How do you figure out how much car insurance you really need???? I would appreciate any help in this area. Thanks. Debbie
View Full Article: Click Here
7 Steps for Eliminating Your Debt
By Scott Bilker
Many people may say that shedding debt is common sense: "Pay for everything in cash and don't incur any debt." Yeah, sure, easily said when you have a household income of 70 to 80 thousand (and no kids). Obviously the best way to handle your finances is to pay for everything with cash. Not everyone has that luxury.
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Thanks
Susan
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