Daily Thrifty Tips - May 31, 2006

Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

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Uno is my 4 month old Boxer. I bought him from a newspaper ad.

At this point he likes to tear up the house! He also enjoys his walks.

He is a wonderful companion in spite of his antics!

By Diane from Elmira, NY

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Always provide music and food for your plants. A balance of diluted 20-20-20 is the best mix for plant food. Nitrogen, Phosphoric acid and Soluable Potash in a 20-20-20 mixture is the best for indoor and outdoor root and leaf growth and if you combine that with gentle Mozart music played from a speaker in the back yard, you will be well rewarded. By Joseph Raglione from Laval West, Quebec

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Do you purchase a latte everyday on your way to work? Ordering a latte every weekday adds up to $650 over the course of a year. If you are looking for ways to save and cut corners in your budget, cutting out the daily latte by either making your own or ordering a cheaper beverage could amount to significant savings over the course of the year. Use The Frugalator on the right to determine how much you could save each year by changing morning beverages.

Some Cheaper Alternatives!

• Buy Drip Coffee... $1.00
• Make Your Own Latte... $.75 (Price using quality coffee, organic milk and flavoring syrup. Does not include price of Espresso maker.)
• Make Your Own Drip Coffee... $.25 (Price using quality coffee. Does not include buying your own coffee maker.)

Saving Money on Equipment

• The best place to buy rarely used espresso machines is garage sales.
• Shop around, you can find a quality coffee maker, new, for less than $30. If buy one used, check inside the tank for mineral deposits and run a mixture of 1/4 vinegar and 3/4 water throught to remove any deposits.

Save Money on Coffee

Coffee prices fluctuate as the price of coffee beans go up and down. For big savings on coffee, consider roasting your own in a hot air popcorn popper. It's surprisingly easy to roast your own, just be sure to do it outside. Susan (from ThriftyFun) and her son even wrote a book about!

We are creatures of habit, especially in the morning, change your habits and the savings will come easy.

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We moved from FL to WV in Jan 06 after going through 2 terrible hurricane seasons. One tip I can offer is to get a generator if you can afford it (buy it in off season) It will save a lot of heat and discomfort if you are forced to stay inside without electricity for an extended period of time. To run the generator, get 4-5 gasoline cans, fill them before the storm and store carefully outside. A generator will at least provide you enough power for air conditioner, refrigerator and lights.

By Sally from Charleston WV

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Geraniums are peppery flowers that look great frozen in ice cubes. They make a nice garnish for a martini made with pepper vodka. A few blossoms also look nice next to a big peppery hunk of roast beef.

Tip By Hope Mason
http://www.lulu.com/spiritbooks

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When my kids (5) were younger, and we were going to my mothers for a visit, I made a packing list. This was to make sure I took everything we would need. I marked for each child how many clothes he/she would need, such as 4 pair underwear, 3 t-shirts, also toys, etc. I also did this for my clothes, too. That way I did not forget anything as I checked off the list as I packed. This also worked in reverse, in packing to come home, I would check off the items on the list to make sure we didn't leave anything at grandma's.

By Linda from Bloomington, Illinois

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Recently, we were the victims of my husband being put on salary and consequently losing overtime (meaning a monthly loss of income to the tune of over 1,000 plus dollars.) I had to scramble around to get my medication. Researching online, there is a website, http://www.freemedicinefoundation.com,that provides a years worth of my cholesterol medication for $5 (costs $110 a month in the store, $1,320 worth of medication for $5!).

If you are a lower income family, read their website to see if you qualify, or call them on the phone number provided to check, you can get it. Even if you have insurance (which we do) but don't have co-pays on medicine (which we don't), we qualified! It is really easy. I just took the form to the doctors office and had them sign off on it and faxed it in. The $5 measly fee is for administrative costs. Thank God for this medicine or I would be doing without!

By Lori from Marion, AR

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You can save a lot on flowers by using your head. Flowers of the SEASON are going to be your best buy. Even better, if you have any kind of flower or farmer's market around. Get as close to the grower as you can, and avoid florist's surcharges. And don't forget that BEDDING plants with blooms can be charming in containers as table decorations, and have the advantage of being able to be PLANTED elsewhere after the wedding is OVER. (Ditto larger blooming plants, like big containers of lilies.)

By pamphyila from Los Angeles, CA

Tips for saving money on flowers. Post your ideas below.

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My family raves over the different cookies I make now. Catch the name brand cake mixes on the loss leader sales at 68 cents or less. Put any flavor mix into the bowl and mix in 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. I like to throw in 6 oz of chocolate chips, and sometimes a couple of tbsp of brown sugar. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 min or so.

Every single cookie I have whipped up, they eat them up like candy. Much better than store bought ones, and a hundred times easier than totally by scratch ones, and cheaper. Today I used the BC butter pecan mix and added the chocolate chips. They raved over them, tasted a lot like a fantastic slightly different version of a chocolate chip cookie. I am disabled so this makes me happy because I can get in and out of the kitchen and makes the family happy too!

By Lori from Marion, AR

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A few years ago, I was out a job from my third oil company layoff, and decided to move from Houston to Galveston to get away from big city blues. That saved me a lot right there - moving to a smaller city, only an hour away! But there were fewer jobs here, all vastly lower paying, so I had to economize. Here are some of the things I did:

1. Air conditioning is a must for 6 months of the year, a 1 bedroom apartment with a den can cost up to $200 a month to cool. I bought a $75 cooling fan with a water wick that rolls from room to room (Target has these) and gradually installed flat fans in windows. These are portable and cool about 700 square feet by up to 12 degrees F. I also noticed that tourist shops on the Strand here use over-door fans with a blast-jet of air as you're coming in and leave their doors wide open all summer. It circulates the humidity at the door and cools that store about 10 degrees.

My peak cooling season electric bills are now only about $60-$75! I just use the A/C during really sticky, still periods to cool down the place and rid the humidity so the fans work better.

Also, gradually replace overhead and outdoor lights with those coiled energy-saver bulbs - try your $1 store for deals.

2. Boil a chicken weekly with nice herbs. Remove the skin and feed it to pets. Make a generous salad, or several, or chicken casseroles and eat throughout the week. (For a family, it might take 2-3 chickens.)

3. Buy minimal, basic cleansers: Ammonia, bleach, baking soda, and a good detergent. There's not much you can't clean with these few things.

4. Go to a thrift store and buy up junky old fabrics for rags to save on paper towels.

5. Create a coin jar and watch it grow. I last counted mine at $40! Also, set aside $5-$10 a week when you can in an old cookie jar or other hiding place. That will grow fast too.

6. Haunt any local consignment shops, dollar stores and thrift stores, as well as garage and yard sales, often. You would not believe the beautiful wardrobe I've assembled doing just this, and I have found many useful housewares in good condition, too. I almost never buy anything at full price anymore!

7. Get a bike and do short local errands that way (attach baskets, of course!) You'll get good exercise and save a bundle on gasoline, as lots of start-and-stop short hops really consume the most gas.

Finally, keep a notebook documenting how much money you save doing these things as a morale-builder. Once living frugally becomes a habit, it's almost a hobby, it's so much fun. My house (and liquid bank account) have never looked better!

Barbara Saunders from Galveston, Texas

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Does anyone know how to get rid of those pesky small flies or fruit flies?

Becky L. from West Palm Beach, FL

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Can you get a lilac branch to root in water? I have a 6 foot branch in a 5 gallon pail with rocks and water. Will this work?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Rose from Clinton, Maine

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My granddaughter left her bright pink chapstick in her pants pocket. (Colored clothes load). It wasn't discovered until the load had already been dried (in the dryer). Is there any way to get pink chapstick stains out of colored clothes that have already been through the dryer?

Sure would appreciate any help you can offer!

Carol from Chicago, IL

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I bought 2 beautiful all weather leather vintage handbags by Dooney & Bourke and wallets from ebay. I did not know, but the owner was a smoker. I get a migraine from the smell. I love these items, there are in excellent condition. Could someone help me out by telling how I may remove the cigarette smell permanently.

Thanks!
Jamie from Garden Grove, CA

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Anyone know of a recipe for laundry detergent for the new front loading washers. They call for HE formulas (low sudsers and high efficiency).

Thanks,
Cathy

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I have two skylights in my living room that let in way too much heat this time of year. Since I don't have an air conditioner, I would love inexpensive ideas for covering my skylights to make it cooler in here.

Mysti from Colorado Springs, CO

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Does anyone have a homemade lawn fertilizer?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Jamish from Ransom, Kansas

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I am looking for some inexpensive, nutritious meals that are easy to prepare for college students or other young people living on their own for the first time.

Kathryn50 from Ohio

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Hello and thank you for any advice you give in answer to this. My electric bill is about to go up and up higher here in Maryland. I want to hang something on my porch that will block some of the sunlight but not the breeze. I have a screen door on the porch so of course i still want it available. I have looked at the banners and flags online but they are expensive. is there something or some material I could use to just buy and tack it up on my roof? I am already hemming white cotton to hang on the windows just to block out some of the sun. it has been very hot here today and I haven't used the AC. In the past I would have but I don't want to pay for it.

Sandy from Baltimore, MD

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How do you make press board shelves look better? I've tried contact paper and it won't stick.

Arizelda from Seattle, WA

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Can your passport be taken away if you default on student loans? Can defaulting on student loans cause you to be denied for a change of citizenship to Australia?

Misty from Kentucky

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I was wondering if anyone could tell me how I can clean a throw rug so the rubber backing doesn't come off?

Thanks!

Wendy from West Allis, Wisconsin

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I have worms eating the leaves on my crabapple tree. How can I stop them?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

jt_luves_dn from Syracuse, NY

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I want to know if anyone knows of any online stores that allow you to pay COD with a personal check or that will allow to buy now and pay later. Without bill me later they seem to want to reject me and my credit is fine.

Meravbohr from MS

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My husband bought a washing machine and it wobbles and turns across the floor. Hubby says it is from putting clothes in there unevenly. But I showed him that it did it when the machine was EMPTY! When you open the lid while it is spinning, you can see that the barrel is rotating unevenly even with nothing in there.

What could be causing this? It is a Fridgidaire Gallery washing machine. We can't really take it back, can't find the receipt.

Paula from USA

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I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on the best way to get my lace curtains white again! Can they be put through the washing machine or is hand washing recommended?

miz_macoo from Albany, Western Australia

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I am having a 13th birthday in September. I am having it at a local hall and, of course, it's a dance party but I don't know what else to do. What if they get bored of just dancing and this party has to be PERFECT. I was thinking of doing a mini fashion show during the party but I don't know if people will like that. I need to know what to do! Please help!

Thank you,
Marie from Seattle, WA

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I am looking to get a new cell phone -- either a tracfone or a prepaid one. What have you found that works the best for you? I recently canceled my phone because I never use it and this would only be used for a few minutes each month.

Thank you!
Mindy from Redmond, Oregon

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What can I put on my morning glories to keep the bugs and insects from eating them. Some pesticides will burn them as they are so delicate.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Thanks,
Angelheart from Clyde, TX

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I have some white shirts with stains that stain removers can't get out. I am looking for a homemade stain remover for whites that doesn't contain bleach.

Thank you!
Mindy from Redmond, Oregon

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Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

More Information:
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Interesting Facts or History:

Ted Geisel (Dr. Suess) was born and raised here and Mulberry Street is still here !

Home of the Basketball Hall of Fame!

Springfield is home to four colleges including Springfield College and only minutes from UMass, Amherst College, Smith College and others.

Springfield is centrally located at about 30 minutes north of Hartford, CT, two hours west of Boston and about three hours from NYC.

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Kids are notoriously hard to please when it comes to eating, but not anymore! This dish combines two childhood (and adult) favorites for sure success anytime!

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Computers are costly items, and repairing one can be even costlier. Over time machines begin to run slowly and acquire "bugs." Are these normal results of a time-worn system, or can they be the product of computer abuse? Maybe it's time to begin some new habits.

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Cats are carnivores. That means the bulk of their dietary needs are satisfied by eating meat.

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