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Vol. 7, Num. 229, November 24, 2008 (Read It Online) The day after Thanksgiving, we are going to publish two Saving Money on topics. The topics are blow. Do you have any advice to share? Saving Money on a Christmas Tree Saving Money on Christmas Ornaments Thanks for reading, Susan
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If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information:
My daughter brought this home from preschool. It is a learning game with left over candy from Trick or Treat. Paper, Skittles, candy corn and a stapler. Draw a handprint turkey on a plain piece of paper. Write on each slip of paper: 1 skittle, 2 skittle, up to five and then the last strip is gobble gobble and they can eat the candy. Great counting game and fun too. Coloring with crayons would be fun too.
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Rate It: Craft Project: Handprint Turkey Art Use paint to make this handprint turkey instead of tracing. Add a few details to the turkey and some fall leaves and you have a beautiful work of art to display at Thanksgiving time.
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Rate It: Sweetie (Golden Retriever) and Honey (Bloodhound) Sweetie is 7 months old and a Golden Retriever. Honey is nine weeks old and a Bloodhound. Sweetie was a Mother's Day gift and Honey was an Anniversary surprise for my husband
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Rate It: Craft Project: Turkey Coloring Holder This colorful turkey will make a great addition to your kids table at the Thanksgiving meal. What a fun way to add a coloring activity to the day.
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Rate It: Nikkidog is 5 years old and a Black-Mouth Cur. We adopted Nikki from some friends who had several dogs. Nikki prefers to be the Queen of the castle and doesn't want to share her throne
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Rate It: Craft Project: Crocheted Heart Ornament I used a coarse, almost sisle yarn for this, as it gave it a wonderful country feel. You can use any yarn you like. To make it fast, I suggest two strands and a size "N" hook.
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Rate It: Freeze Chopped Onions to Avoid Waste If you like cooking with chopped or diced onions but don't like spending extra money buying prepared onions, try making your own. Wash, peel and chop the onion to your preferred fineness. Place in a plastic storage bag and toss in the freezer. When you're ready to use them, there's no need to thaw first. Just remove the amount you need from the bag. This is a great money-saver for me, since we buy the three-pound bags of white onions but don't always use them before they spoil. (Note: I don't recommend freezing onion you're going to want to eat fresh.) Happy cooking! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58707708.tip.html
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These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!
Install a Programmable Thermostat Last year we replaced our old thermostat with a new programmable one. Since we're here, and awake at different times, we've not set it for basic times to run, so we just hit the buttons when we walk by. It's quicker to shut on and off than our old thermostat. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf418774.tip.html
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Rate It: Spend money at your local Library to help them a little bit! I have been getting my copies there logging into my mail account from their computer. I send things I want to print to myself and save in a folder labeled "PRINT". Later when I have several things I really want I make a trip downtown to the library (parking is limited so this is sometimes awkward), and run my copies : 10c for black/white and 25c for color. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37948545.tip.html
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Rate It: Make a Habit of Returning Cart from the Parking Lot I really don't think this is a tip. It's more of a suggestion for all of us to help where we can. I was at Walmart yesterday. I've made it a habit to pick up a shopping cart that's wandering around, and loose in the park lot, to use in the store. As I was going in, I noticed one of the employees was out trying to collect stray shopping carts. If each one of us would pick up a stray cart on our way in, this in turn would save on paying these employees to do the job for us. It takes so little time and you were going to get a cart anyway. So, why not? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13088826.tip.html
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Rate It: Use Sales Ads at a Competing Store Use Sale Ads to your advantage. When one store has a sale that is really good, they will often run out of stock. Take the ad to a competitor and they will often price match for you. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48325453.tip.html
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Rate It: Do It Yourself Exfoliating Scrub! Grab a tupperware dish; large or small, depending on the amount, that you make. Add fine white sugar, in about half. then combine, baby oil. I bought mine a local dollar store ($2). Make sure that the sugar is completely covered. Stir in well, and feel free to add more sugar or oil if you don't feel the consistency is right. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71592477.tip.html
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Rate It: Leave Shower Water in Tub to Harvest Warmth To save on heating fuel in the winter, insert the drain plug in the tub when showering and leave it in afterward until the water is cool. It adds warmth as well as humidity to your home. It's such an easy thing to do! Do not do if you have little ones around who could get into the tub. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68866062.tip.html
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Rate It: Convert Your Fall Display Into a Christmas Scene I always set up a fall display, which also included an old rocker. I thought what a waste of pumpkins and hay after Thanksgiving. So after that holiday, I removed the leaves and fall flowers. My pumpkins were of different sizes, so I stacked them in the chair, spray painted them white, give eyes and nose and a top hat, voile, snowman! The hay I took the spray foam from a can, and covered it, to give it a smoother finish, and then spray painted it white. Added some Christmas Flowers and greenery, and bows, and some fake packages over the whole display. Which last through the holidays. No waste! This was in Florida, it was the only snowman around! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28340483.tip.html
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Rate It: Using Dentures for Dish Detergent This may seem outrageous, but I have had success. With baked on casserole pans, fill your sink with hot water. Make sure your baking dish is submerged and drop in some denture cleansers. They are safe for food pans and they will even pull some stains off the surfaces. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64699566.tip.html
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Rate It: Cut Fabric Softener Sheets in Half If you use fabric softener sheets in your dryer, tear each sheet in half and use a half sheet per load. A half sheet provides enough anti-static treatment for a full load of clothes and you'll get double your money's worth. In addition you only put half as much trash in the landfill. Even better, instead of putting the used half sheet in the trash, place it in the toe of your out-of-season shoes to reduce odor, keep out dust and spiders, and keep the shoe's shape until the next season. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf676490.tip.html
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Rate It: Party Idea: Garden Themed Potato Bar Fill an oval tin ice bucket with hot baked potatoes. Use different containers such as a decorative flower pot to hold shredded cheese, use the flower pot saucers to hold the bacon bits or another condiment. To disguise the containers of sour cream, butter tubs, use a colorful napkin to wrap the outside of the containers, tie with a piece of raffia or colorful ribbon. Use your imagination for holders for the condiments (flower pots, a hollowed out baked potato sitting on a corn on the cob holder). You could use miniature garden tools for utensils for the condiments of the potato bar. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12935986.tip.html
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Rate It: Use Cottage Cheese as an Easy White Sauce The white sauce that is used in au gratin potatoes, homemade macaroni and cheese, and casseroles cooked by "foodies" can be remedied by one ingredient: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21994187.tip.html
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Rate It: Use Plastic Floral Tubes for Cut Flowers If your children are like mine, anytime I cut fresh flowers, they ask to take a pretty bloom to their teachers. Rather than trying to keep the stems moist by wrapping them, use a plastic floral tube. You can purchase several for a dollar at the floral counter in your grocery store. The small plastic tubes hold water and have a rubber tip the stem slips into, making them spillproof. I have also used these at recital time on bouquets that will be out of water for a few hours. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44443073.tip.html
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Rate It: Harvest Food From Mother Nature As many here have gardens, or at least potted plants, I was wondering the other day; Why not take advantage of the biggest garden around? Mother nature abounds in pure, wholesome foods, and all we have to do is step outside and receive it. And not just berries or nuts either. From the humble blue violet crawling along your walk-way to the wild rice growing along the fence next to a field, nature is showering us with plenty of extra food stuffs. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95154587.tip.html
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Making Cakes to Sell During the Holidays I am thinking of making homemade cakes for sale during the holidays. Does anyone who does this have ideas for pricing? I plan to make pound cakes, carrot cakes, red velvet, chocolate and caramel. Maybe others. Does anyone have any suggestions or other good tips? Thanks! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38143389.tip.html
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Rate It: New Ideas for Prepping and Cooking Corn Dose anyone have any different ways of preparing and cooking corn? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56838735.tip.html
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Rate It: Incorporating Pets Into Christmas Cards Photos I was looking at the Christmas card photo ideas on this site and loved them! I always do a photo card for Christmas but this year I need some help. I have two dogs named Frank and Beans. I want to incorporate them in the picture with me and my husband. Does anyone have any cute ideas or a play on words with their names and somehow related to Christmas? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34324588.tip.html
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Rate It: Lights for Glass Block Decorations I am so discouraged as I still cannot find the white, one ended Christmas lights for the glass blocks. I have gone to Home Depot, Wal-mart, the Dollar Store, Michaels and Canadian Hardware to no avail. Help! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52514296.tip.html
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Rate It: Ice Maker Supply Tube is Freezing Up The refrigerator's ice maker supply tube keeps freezing up. I turned down the thermostat but the supply tube is still freezing up. Please help. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33050159.tip.html
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Rate It: Insulating Exterior House Foundation Is there a cheap/temporary way to insulate an exterior stone foundation? It's a 110 year old house, it has cold floors and drafts! We will be insulating the house in the future but for right now we need to keep out the cold. Our house temp is currently 17'C and dropping, the room temp is 21'C. The outside temp is -28'C with the wind chill. Our winters can drop to -45'C with wind chill! We need help now! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93504662.tip.html
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Rate It: Removing Water Ring from Marble Table How do you remove a glass water stain from a marble table? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50133866.tip.html
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Rate It: Preventing Frequent Dust Build-Up I am so frustrated by the amount of dust in our home. It is open and large in square feet. I wipe down surfaces to only find them dusty soon after. I would like to know if this is something others battle with? Our furnace filter gets changed as needed yet surfaces accumulate dirt with too frequent buildup. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24306516.tip.html
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Rate It: Breaker Tripping After Having Cable Installed I just moved into a new house a couple of weeks ago. It was pre-wired for cable. I had my cable installed last week. Ever since they installed the cable my breaker for my bedroom is tripping intermittently. I had the electrician at my house. He said unless something happens when he is there he cannot find the problem. Is there anything I can do on my own to try and solve this problem? I had it trip 3 times this morning and it is getting very frustrating! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98027171.tip.html
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Rate It: Trailer is Having Power Problems My husband bought a trailer in Feb. 08 and there was an outlet in the living room on one wall only that didn't work, the rest did. The living room light didn't work. He didn't worry about it for months then one day the light worked and so did the outlet. We recently bought a heater and I had it plugged into that outlet. It has been on that outlet for a few days and it worked and so did the light. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10124174.tip.html
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Rate It: How soon can I make fudge to freeze for Christmas? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69397157.tip.html
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Rate It: Making Gravy Mix Taste Homemade How can I spruce up a gravy mix to taste "homemade"? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85628885.tip.html
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Rate It: I lost a cake recipe that used an orange cake mix, peach pie filling and maybe sour cream. Does anyone have this recipe and be willing to share it with me? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16160685.tip.html
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Rate It: Jet Dry Has Gelled in Dishwasher I just moved into a house which has been vacant for a while. The problem is that the Jet Dry in the dishwasher (which is fairly new) has gelled, due to it not running for a while. I've tried pouring vinegar in there and that's not helping. Any ideas? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28085856.tip.html
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Rate It: Hard Water Stains in Plastic Water Jug I have a plastic water jug that I keep filled in the refrigerator. I have noticed that it has a white hard water stains in it. I tried filling it with vinegar and baking soda and rice and shaking it, but that didn't do the trick. How can I remove this white film from the inside of the jug. It has a small neck. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84343278.tip.html
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Rate It: Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Balls Does anyone have a recipe for Peanut Butter Balls that call for graham crackers? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31484611.tip.html
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Rate It: What kind of dog is this? I'm pretty sure it's a mix but what?
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Rate It: Growing Food in the Fall and Winter I would like to ask Kathleen from Dothan, Alabama what and how she grows produce in the off season months during fall and winter? I am an amateur gardener and would like to learn more about growing year around. Hardiness Zone: 9a Jimmy from Gulf Breeze, Florida Editor's Note: Jimmy is referring to this post in yesterday's Happy Garden newsletter. It's a great question. Does Kathleen (or anyone else) have any advice to share? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93539388.tip.html
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Rate It: Computer Pages Advancing Automatically How do I stop my computer pages from automatically advancing? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42892412.tip.html
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Rate It: Can tiramisu be frozen? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70633681.tip.html
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Rate It: I am looking for a recipe for a pastry which is a ball shape like an 'aebleskiver', but a pastry dough rather than a pancake dough. I want to use it with a cream filling for hors d'oeuvres. Thanks. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28417144.tip.html
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Rate It: Crust on Homemade Bread is Hard I have tried to bake my own bread. I use a bread maker to mix the dough. It rises once in the machine. Then I take it out, knead it and let it rise again. When I put it into the oven and bake it. But it doesn't come out right. It gets really crusty. It smells wonderful but is inedible. What am I doing wrong? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54605688.tip.html
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Rate It: My outlets don't grab any two prong devices like for my Apple laptop. They just fall right out. Any suggestions? Do I need to replace the outlets or is there something i can do to still use the outlets? Thanks for the help! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87309926.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone know if your high school graduating class should have money for reunions setting somewhere within the school budget? My high school did fundraising for things like prom, and I am not sure if the left over $$ goes to the school, or if I can start a class reunion get together without tapping into my own pocket. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18274845.tip.html
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Rate It: Hard Water Spots on Granite Counters How do you clean hard water stains from granite kitchen counters? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16718203.tip.html
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Rate It: I have a banana plant with spots on it. What would you recommend? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45762432.tip.html
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If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information:
Stocking Stuffer Savings
Sometimes it's the little things that cost the most; stocking stuffers fall into this category. Rather than spend a fortune on small but expensive gifts, be creative and find some great savings on tiny tidbits. It makes it more fun for everyone.
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Rate It: We have had so many great photo ideas submitted that we have broken this into two articles. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59394516.tip.html
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Rate It: Candela Recalls Candles Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Sold Exclusively at Anthropologie Stores Hazard: The candle flames could flare up out of the tin container during the burning of the last half inch of wax, posing a fire and burn hazard.
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Rate It: ImagiPLAY Recalls Bead Maze Toys Due to Laceration Hazard Hazard: The trees on the toys can detach, exposing a metal screw. This poses a laceration hazard to young children.
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Rate It: Near Strangulation of Child Prompts Recall to Repair Window Blinds by Green Mountain Vista Hazard: The black-out roller shades and insulated roman shades have a continuous looped bead chain that when not attached to the wall or floor, hangs loosely by the blind, posing a fatal strangulation hazard to children.
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Rate It: Strangulation Death of a Child Prompts Recall of Roman Blinds; Sold Exclusively at IKEA Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck in an exposed inner cord on the backside of the roman blinds.
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Rate It: Brownie's Third Lung Recalls Air Compressors Due to Drowning Hazard Hazard: The air compressor's components can fail, which could cause a stoppage of air flow. This poses a risk of drowning to users. ![]()
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