|
|
|
Hello,
I hope everyone had a great weekend. We have a great newsletter today. Lots of interesting tips and 20 new requests. Please browse the requests to see if you have any advice to offer.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Enter The Photo Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Enter The Tip Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Frugal solutions to everyday problems: Submit a request...
http://www.thriftyfun.com/add.ldml
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
More Reading:
Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make 11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
Today's Photo Contest Entries
This picture was taken from my Lanai and I used it on my 2004 Christmas card. This is our first winter in Florida and I love to take sunset pictures. They are never the same and they give me such a feeling of peace and beauty. My tip is be creative anduse your digital pictures on cards (such as for the holidays) and share the beauty with your friends and family who live far away.
By Di
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Replacing the Non Skid Feet of Sleepers
My son received several pairs of hand-me-down footed sleepers. They still had plenty of wear in them but the feet had worn out the non-skid part. I didn't want to cut the feet off the sleepers so I took a fabric pen and put a squiggle on the bottom of each foot. It worked like a charm, my son no longer slips and falls on non-carpeted floors.
By Amanda
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
If you have never seen a Shar Pei before, the first impression might just as well be that of a kind, though independent, even arrogant clodhopper. Indeed, these dogs are often arrogant with strangers. And of course, this makes people think that Shar Pei is smarter than it looks. But under the mask of arrogance and indifference hides a mischievous soul of a natural-born clown. It is in domestic surroundings that these dogs reveal their true character, their numerous faces and aspects of mood. Each of them is truly individual and a great wonder to discover. This is what makes Shar Pei so capable of true and loyal friendship unlike many other pets.
By Tatiana
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a Digital Camera! You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
We recently purchased a new computer. While this has been like a new toy to us, it has tied up our phone line and we've missed all kinds of calls. My sister (who had tried to call for the majority of 2 days told me to check with a company called CALL WAVE (http://www.callwave.com). They send a flashing signal at the top of your monitor when a call is coming in. This is hooked up with your phone carrier and will only cost me a little over $2 a month.
The only inconvenience is you have to let your most frequent callers know the toll free number they have to try if the regular phone number is busy. Small price to pay for an extremely helpful service.
By Sharon Shearer
Post Feedback: Click Here
With regular doses of aspirin - every two months - indoor and outdoor plants will grow more, bloom better and have fewer fungus and pest problems. Aspirin prevents plants from producing a substance that hastens aging or wilting.
To make one gallon of aspirin solution:
Dissolve a regular strength, uncoated aspirin tablet in one cup of water. Discard one quarter cup of the solution, then add enough plain water to make a full gallon.
Lawrence in Mich
Post Feedback: Click Here
Using and Storing Vanilla Beans
If you split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, discarding the shell or hull. Add the seeds to your dishes or beverages for flavor. Vanilla beans can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Tightly secure the beans in plastic wrap before putting in an air tight jar.
By Terri H.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Relieve Itching of Mosquito Bites
With a Q-tip, dab straight ammonia on individual bites. Helps relieve itching and is one of the ingredients in the product Afterbite.
By Tori
View Article: Click Here
If you "paint" the inside of an ice cream cone with melted dipping chocolate, it will prevent the ice cream from leaking out of the bottom of the cone and it will also keep the outside of the cone crispy. Add the step of putting a little extra chocolate around the rim of the cone and roll in chopped nuts or sprinkles for an extra fancy and tastier cone.
By Joan Anderson
Post Feedback: Click Here
When dusting items with little crevices, I use a clean dry paintbrush reserved just for dusting. Works great in small spaces.
By Truerblue
Post Feedback: Click Here
When we got married, I put one of our wedding napkins, which were printed with our names, wedding date and designs, into a pretty picture frame to have as a remembrance of our wedding. This, too, can be done for the bride's parents, for in-laws and for other guests.
By Terri H.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Another Laundry Stain Remover Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix well and pour in a spray bottle for all kinds of laundry stains.
By truerblue
View Article: Click Here
Relieve Itch from Poison Ivy and Poison Oak
After washing the area with soap and water, wipe down that area of the skin with a mix of 1/2 chlorine bleach and 1/2 water and rinse with water. Helps to remove the plant oil that creates all that itching.
By Truerblue
Post Feedback: Click Here
Try your hand at making your own vanilla extract. Take a clean jar & pour into it 3/4 cup. vodka & 1 split vanilla bean. Seal the jar & allow to stand for six months, before using.
By Terri H.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix Contents together and let it sit overnight, for a good nights rest. Repeat As Much As Needed
By Niki Loken
View Article: Click Here
Saving Money on Your Wedding Cake
Inexpensive Wedding Cake... I did a lot of research and calling to save money on my wedding. I almost had a heart attack when the first bakery called me back and told me it would be $1300 to serve cake for 350 people. This was not in our budget. I finally, after more then 30 calls, found a small family owned bakery.
I cut a cake out of a magazine. It was 4 tiered stacked round cake with a scalloped edge and a lace look on each layer. The cake itself served about 200. We did the rest in sheet cake which was precut and each individual piece was decorated.
They included the anniversary 6 inch cake for free and there was no extra charge for filling. We had 6 different flavors total. All in all, with delivery which was an hour away, our cake was under $350!
By Laura
If you have any more tips for saving money on a wedding cake, feel free to post them.
Post Feedback: Click Here
I read an article in Ann Landers from a girl who said she was always too busy to take time out for a visit for her Mom. It says; "One of these days will never come because Mom has passed away. For the very first time in her wonderful, unselfish life, she was the one who didn't have time for me. Time has a way of slipping away and before you know it the tomorrows are yesterdays. If I could encourage just one person to stop, no matter how busy, and find an hour to visit their Mother, it will be the best gift I could give Mom. And it will be the best present your readers could give theirs." I'll miss her forever. If there was one piece of advice I'd give your readers from my own personal experiences with my Mother it would be to take time out for Mom. In loving memory of my Mom Kathryn G. Shearer
By Sharon Shearer
Post Feedback: Click Here
Removing Stickers or Tape from Windows
To remove stickers or tape from windows, I find that if you add heated vinegar to a little spray bottle and apply a bit, it will remove the glue in no time at all.
By Marlene Harvey
Post Feedback: Click Here
This Is Great For Small Seeds!
Ingredients
Directions
Dissolve cornstarch and water in saucepan
Put pan over heat and stir so mixture wont get lumpy. When the mixture begins to boil and thicken remove from heat and let cool.
Cut paper towels lengthwise in one-inch-wide strips. Using a ruler mark with your pencil the recommended spacing between plants.
When the cornstarch has cooled, spoon into freezer bag. Force the mixture into one corner of the freezer bag & snip the tip. Squeeze the bag to place a dot of cornstarch at every pencil mark on paper towels.
Place your seeds at every dot of cornstarch, let the seed tape dry for an hour or so.
Roll up and store in plastic bag until ready to plant.
When you are ready to plant, cover tape with soil and water thoroughly!
By MARIANN
View Article: Click Here
We made mini soap kebobs tied with ribbon for our bridal shower. You can buy a big bag of glycerin soap cubes and melt them in the microwave. You can add colors and fragrance after melting. We poured the melted soap into a pan with wax paper on the botton. Let cool for a few minutes then roll the thin soap layer, jelly roll style, and cut 1" slices.
Make several different colors. Thread onto skewers and top with ribbon or raffia. We put them in clear gift bags, available at all craft stores and tied with raffia. Really cute favors. A little of these soap cubes goes a long way. You could also go to your local dollar store and buy glycerin soap bars already scented and colored.
Pictures at www.pocketspa.com.
Amore
Post Feedback: Click Here
Homemade Diaper Disposal Systems
Instead of paying top dollar for the diaper disposal systems, I created my own by lining a trash can with layers of grocery bags. Each time I change a diaper, I tie the grocery sack. At the end of the day I tie the last one (with all of the others inside) and take it out. For older kids (with stinkier diapers), I've found that adding a little Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the grocery sack helps.
By Anne Sampson
Post Feedback: Click Here
Show The Babysitter Appreciation
A special thing you can do for your babysitter is to take them out to eat and do something special and fun once a month to show appreciation for the love and attention they give your child/children when you cannot be there. Teenagers especially enjoy this! Take them with your whole family and have a wonderful time!
By Robin
Post Feedback: Click Here
I STRESSED OUT over wedding favors for our guests when we were getting married. I thought about getting traditional favors, like tiny picture frames (that the men don't care about) and tiny trinket boxes (that men don't care about) and everything else under the sun that would be left behind by the men attending our reception, and of course some women (I'm guilty of that).
Because we were going to have so many guests (220 people) I decided we'd do something edible. Cookies were going to cost us $5.00 per guest at first, then I talked her down to $3.00, then I thought I was out of my mind with 220 people coming that were going to eat all that money we were going to spend! They were already getting chocolate dipped strawberries, and of course the cake!
We finally decided that we were going to donate what we were going to spend on cookies, to a charity on behalf of all our guests at the wedding. However, only a charity that doesn't take out administrative costs and 100% of our donation would go directly to the cause. Choose which ever charity you'd like.
We went with a charity where we could pick exactly where we wanted the money to go. (ex. a pig for a family, AIDS care for children, telephone for a family, pre-natal care for expectant mothers, and many other things to choose and in specific countries). We printed how much, to what country, and what we wanted this money to buy, and framed it for all the guest to see what others got.
The priest read out everything before the blessing of the meal, just in case some didn't see the frame at the seating table. There was a louder applause at that, than after he said "You may kiss the bride"!
By HDBoston
View Article: Click Here
Ask Stores About Specials Mailing Lists
You should ask your favorite stores about whether or not they have a mailing list that gives some notice about upcoming sales that are available. Some will have some for select customers so it pays to ask.
By Robin
Editor's Note: This is a great tip. We shop at our local Fred Meyer because they have great coupons that they distribute in the Sunday paper. We stopped getting the Sunday paper so we had to get the coupons at the store. The problem is that they run out of the coupons at the store. I went to their website and sent an email to their corporate office and they put me on the mailing list. Now I get the coupons by mail every Saturday and don't have to pay for the Sunday paper to get the coupons.
Post Feedback: Click Here
If you have trouble with sweaty palms, a squirt of antiperspirant/deodorant to them will help alleviate the problem.
By Robin
Post Feedback: Click Here
Spice Up Your Coffee With Cinnamon Stick
If you want to spice up your coffee or give it a little different flavor without expensive flavored coffees, just put one cinnamon stick in the pot before you brew your coffee.
By Robin
Post Feedback: Click Here
You can seed a cucumber very easily by slicing it in half and scooping it out of the center with the tip of a teaspoon.
By Robin
Post Feedback: Click Here
Cream Cheese and Maple Sausage EASY Stuffed Mushrooms
Here's an excellent recipe for stuffed mushrooms I accidently found:
Ingredients
Ingredients
Clean mushrooms and pat dry. Hollow out mushrooms with a spoon and discard stem and musroom scrapings. Ground the sausage in a fry pan. Add brick of cream cheese to fry pan with sausage and mix together. Season mixture with desired amount of salt and pepper. Stuff the mushrooms.
Bake 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Cook time varies depending on size of mushrooms and your range.
By HDBoston
View Article: Click Here
Ingredients:
Directions:
Steep all tea bags in 4 cups of almost boiling water for 5 minutes. In a gallon sized container, mix the orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate, and sugar. Add to that the steeped tea and approximately 10 1/2 cups of cold water. Stir well and chill. Serve over ice with lemon and orange slices for a garnish (optional). Stir often.
By truerblue
View Article: Click Here
Crush 24 graham crackers.
Mix with 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter and press in 9x13 pan.
Mix 2 beaten eggs, 3/4 cup sugar and 8 oz. cream cheese.
Pour over the crust.
Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Cook 2 cups pumpkin, 3 eggs yokes, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1 Tbsp. cinnamon until the mixture thickens.
Remove from heat and add 1 envelope plain gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup cold water. Cool.
Beat 3 egg whites, adding 1/4 cup sugar.
Fold into the pumpkin mixture. Pour over the cooled baked crust. Add Cool Whip or whipped cream before serving.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Ingredients:
Directions:
Prepare one recipe graham cracker crust. Press most of it in a 9x13 cake pan. Whip 1 cup whipping cream, fold in 1 cup marshmallow creme. Add 1 cup or more fresh sweetened raspberries or drained canned raspberries. Pour this mixture into prepared crust. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Chill thoroughly.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Ingredients:
Directions:
Dissolve sugar and yeast in water. Add flour, meal and salt. Mix well. spoon into greased, long loaf pan. Let raise until higher than edge of pan. Bake 1 hour at 375 degrees. Remove from pan and brush with butter on all sides. Cool and store in plastic wrap in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Adding a little garlic powder and dill weed improves the flavor.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Ingredients:
Directions:
Thaw bread dough and roll out in rectangle for like cinnamon rolls. Do not roll too thin, try to keep at 1/4 inch thick, on floured surface.
Cut bacon in small pieces and fry crisp with onion. If using real bacon, drain fat from pan, but do not wipe pan out. Place bacon/onion mixture in bowl.
Squeeze moisture from thawed spinach and place in bacon frying pan with garlic. Heat through really well. Place that mixture in bowl with bacon. Add 3/4 pkg. Kraft Monterey Jack/Colby shredded cheese along with 1/2 pkg. Parmesan, stir together well.
Spread out over top of dough and proceed to roll up like cinnamon rolls, rolling tightly and bringing ends in so it does not remain open. Bake on cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until dough is done.
Slice into desired pieces and serve warm. Even if you don't like spinach you'll love this one. Also good served with a soup for a complete meal.
NOTE: When rolling up dough, moisten edges with water to make a good seal and place on pan, seal down, when forming dough.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In 9x1 inch round baking pan melt margarine in oven. Remove; stir in next 5 ingredients. Arrange biscuits in syrup mixture. Bake 15 minutes or until biscuits are well browned. let stand in pan 5 minutes. Invert onto serving plate. Makes 10 servings.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
My Daughter's favorite:
8 oz cream cheese
1cup white sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
8 oz cool whip.
Mix with mixer and pour into a Graham cracker pie shell.
By Sharon Shearer
View Article: Click Here
This is an OLD recipe!
3 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) UNSALTED butter,at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 9" round cake pans.
1. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl at medium speed till smooth
2. Add eggs,beating till smooth. At low speed, alternatelybeat in the flour mixture and milk. Beat in vanilla. Scrape into pans,dividing equally.
3. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on racks for 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile prepare ICING: Melt 1 stick UNSALTED butter over low heat. Add 1 cup DARK BROWN sugar and 1/4 cup milk. Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve. Remove from heat and COOL. Beat in 2 cups powdered sugar to milk mixture until smooth, Frost and stack layers of cake.
By Sharon Shearer
View Article: Click Here
Great gift for the holidays or serve with cream cheese and ritz crackers.
6 large RED bell peppers
1 1/2 teaspoon crushed hot peppers
1 1/2 cups white vinegar 6 cups sugar
1 bottle CERTO
Puree half of peppers and vineger in a blender. Repeat with the other half. Put this in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add CERTO and cook about 25 minutes. Pour into jars. Refrigerate till used.
By Sharon Shearer
View Article: Click Here
Be sure to check out our active topics page to follow the discussion.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest Prize! Now a 2 $25.00 Gift Cards
In our contest we are giving away two $25.00 Gift Cards (we will
select to winners at random) 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! This contest ends on April 30th,
2005.
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
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/syndication.html
New Requests:
Hi, about a week ago I started blowing fuses on a particular outlet and I discovered the outlet would move when I pulled the plug in and out. I went to shore up the outlet a bit and found that after some pulling and tugging, I had a short somewhere in the outlet box. Since I didn't have enough wire to work with inside the box and the wiring is inaccessible except by opening up the wall, I opened up the wall, put in a junction box behind where I assumed the short was, and rewired things. However, to my dismay, I found that I was now only reading 12 vac on my outlet (both across hot and neutral and hot and ground)! Help! - mgulker
View Article: Click Here
Can anyone out there give me some ideas on using up left over pound cake? I found this site a couple of weeks ago, and just love it. So many thrifty ideas. I hope I can be of help to someone in the future.
Maangle
Post Feedback: Click Here
We have decided to have a disco party for my daughters 6th birthday. Any great ideas out there? Where can I get a disco ball? Party favors?
Sherry
Post Feedback: Click Here
Painting Over An Asbestos Ceiling
I recently painted my asbestos ceiling with silver paint (usually used for aluminum). The result was a patchy multi toned deep silver coloured ceiling that made my room look dark. I'd like to paint it over with an emulsion gloss. Do I need to sandpaper it or use a primer first?
Pam in Malaysia
Post Feedback: Click Here
I need some good ideas for patio material, I have a large area to cover, so I have to find something cheap.
Monica from Georgia
Post Feedback: Click Here
Newpaper Ads on Leather Car Seats
I accidently left a few newspaper ads on my leather seat in my car, baking in the hot sun. I have tried everything and nothing works including after shave, alchohol, nail polish remover, bleach. I am desperate. I have the ads permanently on my seat. Please help get my new car back! Thank you in advance. Christine
Post Feedback: Click Here
Need Producer of Broccoli Rubber Bands
Can anyone help me find suppliers for the broccoli rubber bands. I am planning a project for cub scout day camp and need serveral hundred of them. If anyone can help me find the producer I would appreciate it.
View Article: Click Here
My daughter wants a horse themed party. But all i can think of is pin the tail on the horse, and horseshoes. What kind of "meal" can i serve to a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds as well as parents? She will be 7 and her cake will most likely be home made rather than store bought. please help. The birthday is june 12th.
Sue
Post Feedback: Click Here
I'd love to know how you can rid a bathroom shower once and for all of mildew problems. After its gone I'd like to know what to put on the shower wall that will prevent its coming back. SURELY there's a product for this.
MamawKC
Post Feedback: Click Here
Anybody ever use the temporary tattoo paper? What kind, did it work?
Madison
Post Feedback: Click Here
Please tell me how to clean my down jacket. I don't have a dryer. Any tips? I already washed it and possibly made a mess, the feathers are all stuck together.
Carole Demry
Post Feedback: Click Here
I manage a wallpaper store and I want to know about projects that i can do with some of the unused border or wallpaper. Such as making fans with a border and adding lace, beads, etc. Does anyone have any prior experience doing something like this?
Tina Gainer from Panama City Bch, FL
Post Feedback: Click Here
I was just given the task of making the 7 Seniors on our soccer team their gift from the team. The last few years other girls on the team did this. I would love some ideas, please. Thank you for your help.
Kelly S.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Removed Drywall Paper with Wallpaper
I just bought a house that was built in 1975 and attempted to remove the wallpaper in the kitchen using Dif. I have only taken down a ceiling to floor strip 2' wide, but parts of the drywall paper pelled off with the wallpaper. has anyone else made the mistake and if so, what did you do to correct it? zc
Post Feedback: Click Here
I have been working on a queen size quilt and not sure how to tie a quilt. Do I knot the corners of each block which are 9 in blocks? Any suggestions? Thanks
Deedon
Post Feedback: Click Here
A little while ago I had made "strawberry syrup" made with white syrup and adding Kool-aid or jello to it. When I wanted to make it again I had misplaced the recipe. Does anyone have this? Thanks
Grammy24
Post Feedback: Click Here
I'm turning 11 on april 19th and I'm going to have my party next weekend and I need party ideas soon. i think I am going to have a sleepover but I don't khow what to do.
Mary
Softball freak
Post Feedback: Click Here
Repairing Holes In Laminate Countertop
I have 2 knife stab holes in a 9 month old laminate kitchen countertop. Can they be repaired? Should it be replaced? Should I have a piece of butcher block installed? Any suggestions? Thanks,
Mary
Post Feedback: Click Here
We would like to screen in our own front porch. It is an old fashioned front porch with cement and brick railings. If we could screen it in, it would make a great place to sit outside. But I can't find instructions. Have any ideas?
Cindy from Michigan
Post Feedback: Click Here
Music Themed Centerpieces and Favors
My fiance and I are very musical people and we are looking for ways to incorporate our love of music into our wedding. I am looking for ideas of centerpieces or favors. Please help!
Megan from WI
Post Feedback: Click Here
Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make 11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
More Reading:
How to Control Poison Ivy
By Marilyn Pokorney
Poison ivy is found throughout southern Canada and most of the United States except Alaska and Hawaii. It is readily found along road sides, fences, railroads, and streams. But it can also be found in your own back yard. It is planted there in bird droppings from the birds who eat the berries of the plant.
View Article: Click Here
Tips on Introducing Two Cats
By Kathy Burns-Millyard
Adding a new member to your feline family is usually more exciting for you than your current cat. Even though they are solitary by nature, most cats eventually learn to accept or at least tolerate newcomers. Because they are very territorial, the way you go about introducing the new cat to your existing cat can mean the difference between success or "cat-astrophe."
View Article: Click Here
A Very Close Call
By Maria Gracia
Steve is a stock broker, working on Wall Street. He catches the subway at 7:00a each morning and works a full and stressful day, trading for his clients.
View Article: Click Here
Let others know that you like this Ezine:
Vote For the Daily Thrifty Tips
More Stuff
Coupon Swap!
Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users:
Seed Swap!
Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users:
Tip Contest!
Submit a tip and enter our contest.
Submit a Request
Frugal solutions to everyday problems.
Search ThriftyFun!
Use Google technology to search ThriftyFun.
Like ThriftyFun on Facebook
