Daily Thrifty Tips - February 20, 2006

Coupons for Brand Name Items

Print brand name coupons and use them at your favorite store! Sign up to take advantage of over 81 money-saving offers inside.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/lk/print_coupons.lasso

Chopper is a 2 year old Beagle.

My husband found Chopper last summer at a construction site. Chopper had open wounds, major hair loss, and was full of fleas and ticks. After he gobbled up a cookie my husband offered him, we instantly had a new child.

We nursed him back to health and now, Chopper and our lab, Roxy, are best friends. They chase each other, wrestle, and fuss over each others toys. Chopper also likes to sleep wrapped up in blankets, when we let him, he'll sleep at the foot of our bed, in a ball, under all the covers.

By Elaia from Baton Rouge, LA

Post Feedback: Click Here

This beautiful perfume delight was grown in my own front yard this past summer.

By Laine from Valliant, OK

Post Feedback: Click Here

I see that everyone has a special child, or pet, so I wanted to show off my beautiful grandchild, who is a cheerleader for her school.

From a proud grandma.

By Lee from Columbus, Ohio

Post Feedback: Click Here

When I find a net recipe I'd like to try, I copy it to a blank Email and print. I then cut it to size and scotch tape it to the inside of my kitchen cabinet, where I'm not likely to forget that I was going to try something new, and it's right there at eye level when I'm ready for it. If I like the results, I tape it to an index card and move it to my regular recipe file.

By Doggy from TX

Post Feedback: Click Here

When I was cleaning my small appliances (toaster, can opener, coffee maker etc.) the other day, I noticed they were not shiny black anymore. After cleaning them I applied Armour All with a soft cloth and now they look like new! They are 5 years old.

By Kathie Lee from South Portland, Maine

Post Feedback: Click Here

I work in a nursing home and get Vaseline type substance on my uniform. It looks like a grease mark. To get it out of clothes use scrubbing bubbles to pretreat then wash as usual, gets stain out lickity split!

By Stardaze from Buffalo NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

To clean dingy grout, use the new 'White Out' which has a small sponge brush. It's ideal for grout lines and puts a waterproof seal over your grout, which will last a long time.

By Katjo from Dallas, Texas

Post Feedback: Click Here

After years of stuck fingers, I finally thought to take them out of the ziplock bags and put those corn cob "holder" handles in an empty clean pill bottle. Now they are still in the "catch all" drawer where they have been for 32 years and no more stuck fingers when I need to get them out.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, Ca.

Post Feedback: Click Here

A great addition or substitute for nutmeg in banana bread is cardamom. I did not have nutmeg once and used cardamom in its place and thought it was the best banana bread I have ever had.

By Stella from Port Orchard

Post Feedback: Click Here

Does everyone know that there is generic heartworm pills? Just ask your vet and you will be very pleased with the price difference between generic and name brand.

By edie from KY

Post Feedback: Click Here

This is my favorite home made cleaner is way cheaper and more powerful than any store bought I've tried (including the very expensive ones.)

I use it on everything EXCEPT WOOD AND PAINTED SURFACES. It is powerful enough to strip paint right off the wall. So, don't do it.

In a spray bottle mix:

1 pint of basic rubbing alcohol
1-2 Tbsp of your favorite dish liquid
2 Tbsp of plain ammonia

The best part of this recipe, is that it does not smell like ammonia and the dish liquid (I prefer Dawn Aromatherapy, any fragrance) mixed with the alcohol, has a clean floral scent that you know is disinfecting and germ killing.

By Rose from Maspeth, NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

Buy The Same Socks for the Family

In order to limit my frustration in matching socks, I ONLY buy the same brand over and over again. I have it written down in my wallet so I have the name and style with me when I shop. The same thing goes for my husband who is only allowed the same style white socks and black socks. We allow a few special socks to go with suits and slacks, but these are also of the same brand and can be easily matched by color.

No more problems with having 7 different types of white socks or black socks that mix with blue... and if one gets lost, there is always another to replace it!

By Danielle

Buy Different Socks for Each Person

Sorting socks on laundry day for my 5 boys and hubby is easy: everyone's socks are different. My youngest boy has colored socks, another boy has white socks with a green stripe on the bottom, another has white socks with a blue stripe on the bottom, another has only gray socks, etc. How glad I am that sock manufacturers make such variety! And all can be found at a large, discount superstore!

By Marilyn from Findlay, Oh

Post Feedback: Click Here

In a bowl, combine white corn syrup with unsweetened fruit flavored powdered drink mix such as Kool-Aid. You be the judge on how much drink mix to combine with the syrup. Make it as flavorful as you desire. Mix well using a whisk.

Adult supervision should be used when children are applying this mixture onto their foods, might be hard to get out of some fabrics or off some surfaces.

By Terri from NV

Post Feedback: Click Here

While lying on her death bed, a woman told her husband of 60 years that he could open the chest at the foot of the bed, which had been off limits to him all the years of their marriage. The old man looked inside and found 3 ears of corn and $100,000. With a puzzled look on his face, he asked her why she had 3 ears of corn in the box. The wife said "Well, every time I cheated on you I put an ear of corn in the chest." The husband thought to himself "60 years of marriage and she's only cheated 3 times. That's not to bad." He then asked "Where did you get the $100,000?" She replied "Every time I got a bushel of corn, I sold it."

By IMAQT1962 from ILLINOIS

Post Feedback: Click Here

Submit Your Tips and Photos!

Tip Contest!

To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml

Photo Contest!

To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml

Contest ends February 28, 2006

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

I work in a cafe, any clothes I wear get covered in grease. How can I get the grease out of my clothes?

Karen from Louisiana

Post Feedback: Click Here

I want to make the cupcakes feaured on the cover of the 2006 wilton yearbook. Has anyone made these? How do I decorate the faces? With candy melts? How do I get black candy melts. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I have never made candy before.

Thanks,
Lynn from Wisconsin

Post Feedback: Click Here

Ok everyone, I need your opinion. We are having a debate on sesame street's grover. Is he blue or purple? I say blue.

IMAQT1962 from ST JOSEPH, IL

Post Feedback: Click Here

My son-in-law purchased a used truck. It has a large stain on the floor board, and we think it is motor oil. It has the odor of oil, and we don't know how to get rid of the odor. Does anyone have a good idea how to reduce or get rid of the odor?

Lee from Columbus, Ohio

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am male and having my 25th birthday party soon and would like to plan a real fun and unusual party. Something really different. Got any ideas?

Cameron Famer from Adelaide, South Australia

Post Feedback: Click Here

How do you keep a cat from continuing to pee in the same spot and how do you remove the pet odor from the carpet?

Mary Avery from Calgary AB

Post Feedback: Click Here

I could sure use some advice! I'm planning a surprise party for my sis's 50th birthday. I'm planning to serve wine as the only alcoholic beverage and don't have enough wine glasses to go around. I really don't like the look of plastic cups. Is there any alternative besides buying dozens of wine glasses that I'll never use again? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Maggie from Virginia

Post Feedback: Click Here

I have been told that I can no longer have eggs (really high cholesterol levels). I love to bake and a lot of the recipes call for eggs. I know I can use egg whites only but have no idea how many to use them. If the recipe calls for 1 egg, how many whites do I use? Also, what about liquid egg substitutes? Are they good for baking or just for making scrambled "eggs"?

Thanks,
Darlene in Mississauga, Ontario Canada

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am thinking I would like a fireplace in my bedroom and do not want a real wood burning one, nor is it feasible. Do any of you have a gel burning or electric fireplace in your home and what are your thoughts? Do the gel ones put out any heat? If you have an electric one, do you have a fan heater with it? How economical are either of these? Would you buy one again, or think it is a waste of money?

Thanks for your opinions!

PrairieLady from SD

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am a Girl Scout Daisy leader (Kindergartners). We will be studying how to "Use Resources Wisely" very soon. For the craft portion of that meeting, I was hoping to make a flower pot by recycling some kind of a container (a milk carton, a soda bottle, a detergent bottle etc., not sure what to use). The girls could then decorate it using scrap pieces of construction paper, old buttons, bottle caps, etc. Then, for our "Make the World a Better Place" meeting, we could put potting soil and a plant or flower in them and deliver them to a convalescent home.

Does anyone know what recycled container I could use to create the pot?

Mergie from Hartford, CT

Post Feedback: Click Here

We have some water damage to some cupboards in our kitchen due to a leak under our sink. The leak is fixed, but the water damage is starting to come through the paint, it is starting to peel, and the wood is soft. You could put your finger through it. We don't have the money to replace the cupboards yet. I am afraid that if I just repaint it, even though the leak is fixed it will still peel. Is there a temporary fix for now?

Jackie from Detroit, MI

Post Feedback: Click Here

Upon my mother's passing, while going through pictures, etc. I found a pair of my baby shoes (from 1952). I'm not sure what they were made of, but probably satin. They are very stained, mostly because of age, I believe. Is there any way to clean them and preserve them?

Jo from Pensacola, FL

Post Feedback: Click Here

What solution do you use to clean albums? I have the soft applicator but don't know what to put on it.

Carol from Fairview, TN

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am looking for inexpensive costumes for ladies with a Camelot theme. Something to be used over a black turtleneck and black slacks. Maybe with a headpiece or a coat of arms theme. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Carlotta from Brunswick, Ohio

Post Feedback: Click Here

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a pattern to make your own nursing pillow (like a Boppy pillow). My four month old is starting to sit up by herself but needs a bit of help. The Boppy worked great with my older daughter for this purpose but it's way past repair and I'm thinking she won't want to share with her baby sister (my oldest still sleeps with HER Boppy).

Any suggestions or advice would be great!

Thanks in advance!
Rebekah from Michigan

Post Feedback: Click Here

I was given a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth's Syrup. I don't buy this type of syrup and am at a loss of what to do with it. I like thick syrup so I won't use it for pancakes. Does anyone have any recipes I could use it in?

Thanks,
Sandy from Baltimore, MD

Post Feedback: Click Here

I have a new black porcelain cast iron double sink. Does anyone know of a product to remove the hard water stains without scratching the surface? I know there is a product out there, but it has not surfaced yet. Help!

Nana Good from Albuquerque, NM

Post Feedback: Click Here

I need to know how to remove a tick. Do I just pull it out? My cat, Calvin, and I both thank you for the help.

fab4mom from Walker, LA

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am a member of a Middle School PTA that is looking for a new fundraiser for the school. Many of the ones used for elementary (movie night, popcorn Friday, puppet show/magician, etc.) just don't work at this age level (11 to 15). We have been doing some projects but only net about $200. Our bank account is slowly dwindling due to expenses and we need a money maker that will get at least $1000 profit.

We have lots of volunteers but would like to keep the work to a minimum (of course!). Catalog sales are done to death in our community and, personally, I dread seeing another one. Something unique would be great. Appreciation in advance for any and all ideas. Oh, yeah, the school has about 825 students, lots of active parents and a very supportive administration.

Melody from Tri-Cities (Eastern), WA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Coupons for Brand Name Items

Print brand name coupons and use them at your favorite store! Sign up to take advantage of over 81 money-saving offers inside.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/lk/print_coupons.lasso

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.