Daily Thrifty Tips - May 25, 2006

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Pockets is my 3 year old Yorkie. I got him from a friend.

He loves going for walks and loves the outdoors in the summertime. I can ask Pockets to show off for someone and he does this perfect little circle until I tell him ok that was very good.

By Estalene Chappel from Andrews Indiana

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Lady is my 11 year old Terrier, Beagle, Husky.

I was working at our local library and I went out to the big book return outside and when it was opened there were 4 puppies in the box. One of them was Lady.

She likes to go to Grandma's, go to McDonald's, play with all her toys and go for walks.

She taught herself how to dance as one of her tricks.

By Beth H. from Lima, OH

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My first career was as a musician. Despite some good breaks and a substantial amount of business success, music was basically a hand-to-mouth existence. So I learned to manage on the little money that I had.

I also got bitten by the environmental bug. I accepted the goal of reducing my personal impact on the environment as much as possible. "R" number one is Reduce, so I learned to do without. It's amazing how much stuff you actually don't need when you look at it objectively. I don't have a garage full of trinkets that I don't need, want or use, because I never bought them in the first place.

"R" number 2 is Reuse. When you used something a second time, you reduce your environmental impact by 50%. Using a shopping bag twice has far more environmental benefit than a lot of people produce in a lifetime. I shop at garage sales, Goodwill and the local ReUse Centre regularly. Buying a jacket from Goodwill or a book from the ReUse Centre reduces the impact on the environment by 100% because these items will not go to landfill.

"R" number 3 is recycle. I'm not a fan of recycling because it requires absolutely no change in lifestyle. In my opinion, recycling doesn't work. It's too easy to put garbage into the blue box and expect someone else to deal with the problem.

Today I am a stay-at-home father, freelance writer and part-time college instructor. I don't have to live a frugal lifestyle, but I do. I have a young daughter who has to live on this planet for the next 60, 70, 80 years or more. She may choose to have children and her children might have children. I would very much like future generations to have healthy air to breath, clean air to breath and unpolluted land to live on. Besides, I'm cheap!

Richard Best from Oakville Ontario Canada

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I wanted to update you in regards to my previous request "Caring for a kitten". Unfortunately I have some very sad news. My baby "George" passed last evening around 11 pm. He really gave a valiant effort with his will to survive, along with the tender loving care he received from me the past few days.

One of the guest posts, "susanna" made a very important suggestion to me as to bathe George ASAP for there was a fatal anemia contracted from fleas. Well I took your advice and bathed him in baby shampoo and much to my horror he was infested with them. He began a spiral downhill from there. He was gone within hours.

My boyfriend was so kind to step in as he saw my grief well up. He sweetly talked to him, encouraged the little guy, and insured him he was loved very much. We will have a small burial for him this evening. I can honestly say that we did all we could for him. He was blessed in a way that many kittens never are that were in his same situation. He had a few beautiful days full of love and affection, along with good eating's that was provided for him.

The Wal-mart kitten bottle and kitten powdered milk worked wonderfully. Again. I want to thank all of those who were kind enough to help us in this time of need. Many blessings to you and yours. Oh yea, you may wonder about the name George. Well we have an older kitten we named Gracie. So here we had George Burns and Gracie Allen as so it seemed. Bye for now.

LorisZoo from AZ

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Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt on the fleshy side of the lemon half. Rub over the rust stain and watch it disappear.

By Marnita from Cumming GA

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This game is good if the mother already knows the name of the baby. Fill a bag with a full set of scrabble tiles (or tiles from two games if you have a lot of guests.) Pass the bag around and have each guest withdraw one tile. Keep passing the bag around in a circle with each guest withdrawing tiles until one guest wins by being able to spell the new baby's name.

Tip by Hope Mason, author of How To Throw A Baby Shower
(http://www.lulu.com/spiritbooks)

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If you're an eBay user, this might be a helpful tip. I used to buy things on eBay only occasionally, but after my son was born a few years ago, I started to buy more, usually for him. I also started selling things around my house that I no longer use, and stumbled upon a great thing--my own "free credit" on eBay!

How it works is this--I have a Paypal account, and when I sell something, people usually pay by depositing the money in my account. What I do is let the money keep building in my Paypal account, and then turn around and use it as "credit" to buy things for my son on eBay.

I did this for Christmas, and got probably about 60-75% of my gifts from eBay, without having to spend much cash at all! (A real blessing since we were short on money at that time!) Right now, I'm using my "credit" to buy most of my son's summer wardrobe. It's a win/win situation. I get some things cleared out of my apartment, and in turn I'm able to get things I need or want for my family, without spending cash!

By Lisa from Kenosha, WI

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Almost any cake or pudding looks great garnished with dark or white chocolate curls. Simply use a paring knife to slice the curls off of a chunk of chocolate that has been cooled in the fridge in a while. White or dark chocolate curls look great on bed of whipped cream on hot drinks such as caffe lattes or hot chocolate.

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

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How do you get rid of an armadillo?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Meg from Thomasville, GA

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We have had a couple readers write in because they are concerned about preparing for hurricane season this year. If you have any tips on how to prepare for what could be an active hurricane season, please share them below. Ideas that are inexpensive would be most welcomed.

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I am in need of recipes for making good and different gifts.

Darcey from Kalmazoo, MI

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I have never colored my hair before but I think I would like to. I want to do it at home with a product that is not permanent. I do not want to have dark roots showing. My hair is dark brown with reddish highlights and I would like to make it a little lighter than what it is now.

Can anyone suggest a GOOD product that won't dry out and ruin my hair and leave my hair with a good color and in nice condition?

Thanks,
Michelle

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I have planted my tomatoes twice during the past week. Each time some animal has cut the tops off about 4 inches above the ground. He usually eats the tops and leaves the stems sticking out of the ground. What is doing this and what can I do about it?

I want to plant again but this is getting expensive. Please help!

Hardiness Zone: 4b

Sanddd from Minnesota

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I want to lay a porcelain tile in my loft condo over a concrete floor that has been sealed with MMA -- methyl methacrylate. The tile setter says the adhesive manufacturer will not warranty the project until removal of the MMA, e.g., sandblasting. This would be expensive and prohibitive in my living space. Is there an adhesive for porcelain tile out there somewhere that will work over the existing MMA-sealed floor? What is it, and where can the tile setter get it? Is it warranted? Thank you for your feedback.

Reese from St. Louis, MO

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I am trying to grow cantaloupes. The plant is growing and has blooms. When can I expect the actual fruit to show. Also will it come from a bloom? Your help is appreciated.

Joe from Texas

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I am looking for salad recipes that don't need to be kept in refrigerator all the time (no mayo type).

Darcey from Kalmazoo, MI

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I've just managed to melt a big lump of plastic on my electric hob. The bulk of it I have removed but the remainder is proving difficult. Any suggestions what to do?

Nickyire from NZ

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I started some plants from seeds in peat pots and repotted a couple in larger pots. Now I notice some leaves have big chunks missing. I am looking for bugs, all I see is tiny black spots about the size of pepper granules. When I go to the store to find a spray to kill bugs, I am overwhelmed at the variety of things available, the knowledge you are required to have of the exact insect you are dealing with, the toxicity of the products, the expense. Does anyone know of something cheap you would already have around the house that would kill these mysterious bugs and give my little plants a break?

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Dust Bunny HK from Denver, Colorado

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What do I clean my laptop screen with?

Sam from Riverview, FL

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A friend has been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration of the left eye. Could someone please help with practical ideas on how to live with this condition?

Gurth from South Africa

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I have a spackeled dry wall celling and it is stained yellow. How do I clean off the celling without damaging the spcakle?

William from South West Michigan

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I don't know if any of you have ever tried Long John Silvers Individual slices of Pineapple Cheesecake but it is to die for. What I was wondering is if anyone can find a copy cat recipe to make it. I would be very grateful. If you haven't tried it, you have to, you will LOVE IT!

Mandi from Erie

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My aunt drinks "International Coffee" drinks which come in those nifty little square tins w/ plastic lids. She hates throwing them out, but just can't think of a clever use for them besides storing nuts and bolts. Let's be real - she only has so many nuts and bolts. ANY IDEAS?

CarlaJS from North Yarmouth, Maine

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Does anyone know how to patch a full size inflatable bed mattress successfully? Duct tape has slowed the leak, but the mattress has a flocked or velvet vinyl top, and air is seeping from under the layers of duct tape.

Marieve from Charlottesville, VA

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Spring cleaning does more than spruce up the house after a long winter. It allows people to take stock of their belongings and hopefully reevaluate their spending. By forcing yourself to look at where your money is spent, you become aware of where it can be saved.

In the Kitchen

It's easy to overspend at the grocery store, and food shopping is draining on a person's finances to begin. Yet, a quick spring cleaning of the pantry will allow your family to see where those food dollars actually go.

Start counting. Count the boxes of cereal and bags of snacks that are opened. Are there more than two of each product? Mom's old rule of finishing one box before opening another is valuable. There is an illusion that by opening two or more boxes of cereal or bags of chips more variety offered. Yet, all it does is allow taste buds to choose their favorite snack and then leave the other to go stale. Count how many pantry items have expired or gone stale. You're spending money to replace these items. Instead, purchase some bag clips to keep things fresh, or save even more money by using clothespins to hold bags tightly.

Into the Closet

Inventorying the clothes closet and setting up rules will help to save money in the long run. First, eliminate clothes that haven't been worn in the past six months or season. Eliminate clothes that don't fit regardless of the weight you're planning to lose or aren't loved. Your closet should be filled with clothes that you love and make you feel good. Anything else needs to go.

Once the closet is cleared of excess, it's easy to see where there are "holes" in the wardrobe. Focus on purchasing to fill these holes rather than to build upon areas that are already overstocked. Shop for interchangeable outfits that mix-and-match. Not only will it save money, but it will save space as well. Also, avoid the current fashion trends that will disappear in a season and opt for more practical items with "in-the-now" accessories.

Make Room for the Car

Does the car actually fit in the garage? Garages tend to be the areas which accumulate the most unneeded items. Follow this steadfast rule and your car will have its home again: use it or toss it. If an item hasn't been used in the past year, it doesn't need to stay. Keep this rule in mind while shopping as well to avoid the impractical gadgets that take up time and space.

Build shelving upwards in any storage area and organize like items together. Storage works best in totes such as Rubbermaid which protect and organize items. Label each tote with a permanent black marker, and label all four sides. This type of organization will eliminate purchasing doubles or replacements for seemingly lost items.

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Campfires are a great way to sit back and relax. They offer not only a way to cook food while camping, but also serve as a backdrop for casual conversations, s'mores making, and the telling of ghost stories. Kids and adults alike love them.

Campfires are surprisingly easy to construct especially if there is already a fire pit to begin with. If one is not available, try to find a flat area or rock to make the fire pit. The site should be at least eight feet from any bushes, trees, or flammable objects. Create a u-shaped perimeter using large rocks or wet green logs. When completed, place a flat rock at the rear of the pit. This will act as a chimney and help direct smoke up and away from the fire.

Next, place kindling in the established pit or newly created one. You can do it any way you prefer. I have seen some people swear by the tepee method (that is leaning twigs against one another to make a teepee shape) while others highly recommend layering. That is when a person puts down paper and kindling and alternates direction with each layer.

After the kindling is set and you have a small fire going, you will want to start adding firewood. You should look for dry hard wood that is all roughly the same thickness. Do not use wet or green wood. It will not burn well and will cause the fire to smoke. Be sure to distribute the firewood evenly throughout the fire pit.

If you plan to cook over the campfire, wait until the coals are mostly white and flames have died down before coving the pit with a grill. Push up the coals so that they are higher in the back and lower in the front. This will create a high and low just like using a stove. Alternatively, you can use the coals to cook up a good soup or chili. Just set a cast iron Dutch oven directly into the coals to create the perfect meal.

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Travel Destination: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Country: United States

Expensive But Worth It:

Dollywood! Not an inexpensive place, but for all that there is to see and to do, it is well worth the money!

Seasonal Information:

They have a special Christmas celebration at Dollywood, too. I recommend that you check that out, too!

Inexpensive Lodging:

Motel 6! Inexpensive, clean and comfortable, just like they advertise!

Robin from Washington, IA

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Oily Skin:

If you have oily skin, you can spend a lot of money applying store-bought products three or four times a day to fight it. Or, you can try some of these natural remedies and tips:

• Wash your skin in hot water. Cold water doesn't dissolve oil very well. Use good warm water!

• Rub a wedge of lemon across the oily parts of your face as a natural astringent.

• Don't buy soaps especially made for oily skin. Popular Ivory soap works very well - the trick is to lather well and wash often. Also, consider a more-drying regular soap, such as Safeguard or Dial.

If your hair tends to be oily, here are some suggestions on natural products to use to counter that tendency.

• Buy clear shampoos - there is less "goo" in them to stick to the hair.

• Leave shampoo on the head longer - for at least five minutes - to get the full effect of the cleaning agents.

• Mix equal parts of witch hazel and mouthwash together. Rub the liquid into the scalp with a cotton ball to eliminate the oils.

• Mix the juice of two whole lemons into a quart of water. Use this lemon juice mixture to rinse your hair.

• Use beer (yes, beer) instead of gels to style the hair. It works very well and won't add any extra grease, lotion, or oil to the hair.

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The day moms dread all year long has arrived: the last day of school and the first day of summer vacation. To help moms keep their cool by helping their kids chill out, here are some recipes from www.LivingOnADime.com.

Snow Cones

• Crushed Ice
• 1 pkg. flavored drink mix (flavor of your choice)

Mix drink mix half strength according to directions. Chill 1 hour. Just before serving, crush some ice. You can use either a snow cone maker or put some ice cubes in a plastic bag and pound with hammer. Pack ice chips into cups, pour chilled drink mix over the ice and serve. You can also use fruit juice boiled down to half with food coloring added. Apple juice: green or red food coloring Grape juice: purple food coloring

Frozen Grapes

• Grapes (as many as you can get on sale)

Wash and separate the grapes. Drain and put on cookie sheet. Freeze. Store in freezer bags. Give to kids as frozen treats. Note: Do not thaw; grapes become mushy when thawed.

Frozen Bananas

• bananas
• skewers (optional)

Cut bananas in half crosswise. Insert skewer in the thicker end. Place bananas on a tray and place in freezer. When frozen, move to a plastic bag and keep frozen until ready to use.

Toppings

• yogurt
• nuts, finely chopped
• peanut butter
• applesauce
• melted chocolate
• coconut
• wheat germ

Allow bananas to thaw slightly. Put toppings in small bowls. Dip banana before each bite. Eat plain or roll or dip into any of the toppings. Use the wet topping first so the others will stick.

Play Dough

• 2 cups flour
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp. cream of tartar
• food coloring

Mix together all ingredients except food coloring in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture gathers on the spoon and forms dough (about 6 minutes). Dump onto waxed paper until cool enough to handle and knead until pliable. Store in a covered container or plastic bag. Add food coloring for different colors. Makes about 2 pounds.

Let them have some creative in the pool out back with these finger paint recipes.

Finger Paints

• 1 pkg. unflavored gelatin
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup cold water
• liquid dish detergent
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• food coloring

Dissolve gelatin in 1/2 cup water. Set aside. In a saucepan add cornstarch then slowly stir in 1 1/2 cups water until well blended over medium heat. Cook until it boils, becomes smooth, thickens and turns clear. Add gelatin mixture and stir well. Pour into containers and add a drop of liquid dish detergent. Add food coloring until you get the desired shade. Store covered in the refrigerator 4-6 weeks.

Easy Finger Paints

• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups water

Mix in saucepan and boil until thick. Then pour into a jar and add food coloring until the desired shade is achieved. Store covered in the refrigerator.

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