Daily Thrifty Tips - January 11, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 8, January 11, 2008 (Read It Online) Next week's Saving Money On... newsletter is about Saving Money on Jeans. Do you have any tips to share? Submit them here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf676022.tip.html Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Our Winter Wonderland Craft: How to Make a Diaper Cake Bottle Cap Sun Angel (Rottweiler/Labrador) Today's Tips: Attach Microfiber Cloths To Cleaning Bottles Make Rules for Next Christmas Now Have Them Pick Their Own Gift From Thrifty Finds Styrofoam Pin Cushion Drizzle Quick Breads With Chocolate Store Ornaments In Christmas Tins Keep A Running Tally Of Medical Expenses Through The Year Wash Laundry In Cold Water Hang Soap Pieces At Outdoor Spigot Joke of the Day New Requests: Cleaning an Old Wedding Dress Ladybugs in the House How Do We Help a Friend with Metastasized Cancer? Magnetic Toilet Bowl Cleaners Treatments for Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) Does a Dog Door Help or Hurt When Potty Training a Puppy? Getting Rid of Ticks in My House Cleaning Carpets Without a Vacuum Need Advice on Creating a Special Diet Home Remedies for Dog Joint Pain Using a Pumice Stone on Porcelain Toilet Bowl Replacing Trim and Molding in a Mobile Home Cleaning Microfiber Furniture Decorating a Cloudy Mirror Cleaning Plastic Bead Curtain Recipe for Elvis Gooey Peanut Butter and Banana Cake Removing Paint from a Leather Couch Removing Beads that are Super Glued to a Camera Debbi Meyer's Green Bags Speech Ideas for Receiving an Award at Work Toilet Bowl Cleaner Brush Stuck in Toilet Cleaning Stuffed Animals With Music Boxes Laundry Detergent Stain on Carpet Recipe for White Pie Coffee Stain on White Leather Lounge Raspberries Advice Strawberries Advice Recipes Using TVP More Reading: Drugs.com Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! 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: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml Today's Photos: Our Winter Wonderland New Year's Eve we got 6 inches of snow mixed with rain. It created havoc driving, but it sure left us with a beautiful picture outside for days. This photo was my view on January 3, 2008 from my computer room window. It was a sunny morning and just so pretty I quickly grabbed my camera and took this. By Teena from Wawaka, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39497649.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: How to Make a Diaper Cake Diaper Cakes are all the rage as a baby shower gift. Here are instruction on how to make one for half the cost of buying one. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26393346.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bottle Cap Sun Bless your garden with the warmth and good cheer of a benevolent sun. I used pounded bottle caps, copper nails, and remnants of copper flashing I'd found in the garage. In time, the copper will oxidize and the bottle caps will rust. My plaque will then be bathed in a patina reminiscent of turquoise, terra cotta, and red clay, imparting a festive feeling to my garden. By Laura from Long Beach, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90432849.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Angel (Rottweiler/Labrador) Angel is 6 years old and is a Rottweiler and Labrador, mixed. We previously had two other dogs that were the same breed as Angel and they had puppies. She was in one of those litters. She loves to chase lizards and fetch her chewy toy. And she loves to be brushed. We rarely call her Angel, because we have made so many nicknames for her. But her most popular one is Reese, like the peanut butter cup. Her colors are black and a brown that resembles peanut butter. She is a big, lazy dog who loves to chase lizards. But she is really nice and doesn't like taking baths that much, but loves the feeling afterward. When you come outside to play or give her treats, she bounces up and down on her front feet and she looks like a deer. And, best of all, she is a cute and loving dog. By Taylor from Kissimmee, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75056971.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Attach Microfiber Cloths To Cleaning Bottles Like many others, I have discovered the glory of microfiber cloths and I use them everywhere and have been for years. One tip that has really helped to eliminate the use of paper towels, is to use a rubber band and attach a microfiber cloth to each one of my cleaning bottles. Now when I go to clean the windows, I grab the can, cloth is attached, throw the rubber brand on my wrist, and clean away. After a few cleanings, I throw the cloths in the wash and replace them with clean ones. Easy! By Jules from Amesbury, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54348494.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Make Rules for Next Christmas Now Start new rules for Christmas gift giving... now! Now is the perfect time to discuss with family and friends that maybe it's time to rethink gift giving for the 2008 Christmas. In our opinion, Christmas is for the young children and once they reach 20 years old, cease to exchange gifts among every family member. Have each family only exchange gifts within their own family. Sure saves time and money, trying to figure what to buy! Merchants may not like this! I think everyone may be relieved; discuss the subject now, not when Christmas is approaching. See what happens. This has worked very well in our family, for us it is the great-grands, others it is grands, cousins, nieces and nephews. Everyone in our family enjoys this. Our children and grandchildren came up with this idea/suggestion about 4 years ago, we were in agreement too! Everyone in the family only buys gifts for our great-grands. Also, we have a heavily decorated interior Christmas house with trees all over the house and lots of white decorative lights! Kids love i, it's gotten to be a tradition! :o) It has always been the tradition that everyone comes to our house for Christmas dinner. It is truly a stress free festive time of year for everyone. By Syd from Dunkirk, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39780644.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Have Them Pick Their Own Gift From Thrifty Finds I am a cybergrannie and it is difficult to choose gifts for my children and grandchildren. I buy clothes and odds and ends from yard sales, thrift stores and church sales and sort these out in a small room set aside for this purpose. I have a rack for hanging clothes and shelves for folded clothes. I try to sort by size but this is not necessary. At Christmas and when anyone's birthday arrives, they get to go into this "special" room and pick out whatever they like. They all tell me that they love this idea and I never have to worry about giving something they do not like or have to return. I have been doing this for several years and never had anyone go away empty handed. As a bonus, I spend about 1/3 (or less) amount of money as in the past. Hope someone can use this suggestion. I have never heard of anyone doing this before. By Cybergrannie from Belleview, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44251387.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Styrofoam Pin Cushion Take a piece of styrofoam or packing foam and attach this to your sewing table, sewing machine, or wall behind your sewing area with a piece of double sided tape. The packing foam works great as a pin-cushon and you'll always have a convenient place to store your pins when you sew! A sponge will also work in a pinch, but it won't attach easily to your table or wall. In place of packing foam, you can also use foam board or a piece of foam insulation, but I like to use a piece of the foam that WAS used to pack new electronic items, like printers or DVD players. By Cyinda from near Seattle Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46488056.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Drizzle Quick Breads With Chocolate Spruce up your quick breads for a party or gift platter by slicing it into small "fingers" then drizzling with melted chocolate. I melted about a cup of chocolate chips with a teaspoon of shortening in the microwave. If you don't have piping tools for icing, just put the chocolate in a ziploc baggie and snip the corner off. Use different flavor chips to go with different kinds of bread. By Christine from Spanaway, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11690404.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Store Ornaments In Christmas Tins I collect a lot of tin cans with Christmas and winter scenes and sit them throughout the house. Well guess what? A light bulb came on and, this year, I stored ornaments in them and packed them in a tote labeled "tree". I store all my Christmas stuff in storage totes and label them: Village, Tree, Outside Decorations and Inside House Decorations. My Mom taught me this. By Angie from WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81272544.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keep A Running Tally Of Medical Expenses Through The Year I keep a running record of medical expenses by family member throughout the year. I start l/l and end 12/31. At the same time, I tally each cost on a cumulative basis. At the end of the year, I have it. Total medical costs for income tax preparation. Easy... and it works By Sheila from Boynton Beach, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70271608.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Wash Laundry In Cold Water Wash all your laundry using cold water. There are some great detergents now on the market especially made for cold water. Also, at the beginning of the rinse cycle ,put in half a cup of a water softener such as Calgon or Borax. This makes the detergent work even better and eliminates the need for fabric softener. You will see the difference in your clothing and also your electric bill! By Marilyn from Colfax, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34337092.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Hang Soap Pieces At Outdoor Spigot A great use for those little extra bits of bar soap is to take a mesh sack (I use the ones avocados or onions come in) and fill it with the extra bits of soap. Hang it on your outdoor spigot! It's great in the summer when you need to wash your hands after doing yard work. Hope it helps! By Jules from Amesbury, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14934376.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day Tony was staying with his grandmother for a few days. He'd been playing outside with some other kids for awhile when he came into the house and asked her, "Grandma, what's that called when two people sleep in the same room and one is on top of the other?" She was a little taken aback, but she decided to just tell him the truth. "It's called sexual intercourse, dear." Tony just said, "Oh, okay," and went back outside to play again. A few minutes later he came back in and said angrily, "Grandma, it isn't called sexual intercourse, it's called bunk beds! and Jimmy's mom wants to talk to you." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Cleaning an Old Wedding Dress How can I get a 30 yr old wedding dress white again? Bee from LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf655354.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ladybugs in the House Does anyone know how to get rid of ladybugs? We have lots of them in our house! Thanks! Tricia A. Farnham, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43597760.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How Do We Help a Friend with Metastasized Cancer? My friend has been diagnosed with lung cancer, metastasized from the breast. She has refused all Chemo and radiation. I know this has nothing to do with being thrifty but what do we do? She is single and used to work as a Realtor. The only family she has are her friends. There are 4 of us plus the patient. We are exhausted and she had surgery on Jan 8th. She is still in hospital. Her lungs are full of tumors. I don't know what to do and/or how to help. We are supporting her as best we can but what does that mean really? Sandy from Baltimore Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38045829.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Magnetic Toilet Bowl Cleaners Do Magnetic Toilet Bowl Cleaners really work? I have hard water stains and scale in my toilet bowls that is difficult to get out, even with a pumice stone. Jenny from Nevada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69291910.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Treatments for Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) I have been wearing a night guard for Bruxism (grinding teeth) for 20 years. Even with the guard and 2 or 3 vistis a year to a great dentist, I have sore teeth and gums. The doctor suggests I see an ENT for further advice. If you have had treatment for Bruxism, I am very interested in hearing about it as far as techniques used and success. Lola from Dallas, Tx Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47755775.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Does a Dog Door Help or Hurt When Potty Training a Puppy? My four-month-old puppy has a 98% success rate eliminating outside, thanks to the dog door. My only worry is that she isn't learning how to hold it (or developing a big bladder) and that she isn't learning how to let us know when she has to go (for times when we will be at friends' houses, who don't have dog doors)? I'm wondering if I should block the dog door and train her the regular way, to be sure she knows how to hold it and how to let me know when she's got to go, and then allow the dog door once she is thoroughly trained. Lucy from Orange County, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24997507.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Ticks in My House I live in Central Florida and am battling ticks indoors and out. We have a large Shephard and a 2 year old daughter. We have professionally sprayed a number of times. I have had my dog shaved and dipped. He has a flea collar and we use Frontline. I am going crazy! Emily from Central, Florida Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89913560.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Carpets Without a Vacuum How do I clean my carpet if I don't have a vacuum cleaner? Claudia from Englewood, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62672159.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Need Advice on Creating a Special Diet My husband is suffering from a bad case of gout. The gout has gotten really bad (in his ankle) and he is trying to combat it with his diet instead of taking the meds his doctor prescribed because of the health risks involved with the meds. He has just recently been told that his cholesterol level is super high and now he's on a special diet for that. He also suffers from diverticulitis. With the gout, diverticultis and high blood pressure, we can't seem to find any foods that that are okay to eat for all 3 conditions. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Linda from Alabama Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89347643.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Home Remedies for Dog Joint Pain Are there any home remedies for dog joint pain? Rhonda from Pennsylvania Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94349643.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using a Pumice Stone on Porcelain Toilet Bowl I have a porcelain toilet bowl and we have well water. I read the replies on here about pumice stones but won't they hurt the porcelain bowl? My bowl has a light stain to it. What about Bon Ami or Comet? Matt from PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77522651.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Replacing Trim and Molding in a Mobile Home We live in a double-wide and the trim needs to be replaced! Does anyone have any experience with the Styrofoam crown molding? I would appreciate tips on using it as well as trimming baseboards and door facings in the mobile home. Beth from Lexington, OK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15822032.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Microfiber Furniture How do I clean a spill on microfiber couches? Mallory from Philadelphia, Pa Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf544599.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Decorating a Cloudy Mirror I would like some help decorating an old cloudy mirror. I still want to see myself in it. I was thinking about a paint design. Any ideas? granniegityergun from Rochester, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90061266.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Plastic Bead Curtain I have the colored plastic beads hanging in a doorway between the kitchen and living room. I am looking for a way to clean them while hanging as they are very old. I used to take them down and put in the bathtub, but they and I both are too old for that now. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have already tried spraying them with vinegar with newspapers underneath to catch drips to no avail. Betty from New York Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92832287.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipe for Elvis Gooey Peanut Butter and Banana Cake Where can I find the recipe for Paula Deen's Elvis Gooey Peanut Butter and Banana Cake? Bob from Clearwater, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15669110.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Paint from a Leather Couch How do you remove paint from a leather couch? Terri from Mpls, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88481865.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Beads that are Super Glued to a Camera My daughter super glued beads on her new digital camera. I have tried finger nail polish remover and goof off with no luck. Ruby from Philli, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89386589.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Debbi Meyer's Green Bags Has anyone purchased Debbi Meyer's Green Bags? I've read mixed reviews. Mindy from Oregon Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12986708.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Speech Ideas for Receiving an Award at Work I will be receiving an award at work soon and would like to express my thanks to my coworkers. I am very shy and would like to know what to say after receiving the award. I am looking for something quick and short. I read in a book that the 2 words "thank you" is really all that is needed. Can you advise? Onesummer Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63805695.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Toilet Bowl Cleaner Brush Stuck in Toilet I have the sponge end of a toilet bowl cleaner brush stuck in my toilet. How can I unclog my toilet? Vanessa from Montreal, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74227526.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Stuffed Animals With Music Boxes How do you clean a stuffed animal that has a wind-up music box inside? Josephine from MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44873851.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Laundry Detergent Stain on Carpet I am looking for a solution for a carpet stain, this happened when a 2 year old poured 1/2 bottle of laundry detergent on the carpet (blue color)? Please help! Deb from Nashville, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57407473.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipe for White Pie About 10 or so years ago Mr Food had a recipe for a white pie. Mostly egg whites I believe but it was so good that we called it Angel Food. I have lost the recipe. It is not on his site and can't find it by searching. Anyone know what this pie is? Anyone have a recipe for something similar? Graycrab from Monticello, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98641290.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Coffee Stain on White Leather Lounge I have an old coffee/tea stain on the arm of my white leather lounge, and although Napisan has worked well on the rest of the leather this stain won't budge. Faerie from Cremorne Point, Sydney Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55490786.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Raspberries Advice I desperately want to grow raspberries but last year when I bought several stocks, they QUICKLY died. I think it might be due to lack of water or some heat issues during the summer... but I'm not positive. I have been told that berries in my area is REALLY hard to pull off. Any suggestions? Hardiness Zone: 5a imama2many from UT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79508371.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Strawberries Advice I want to do strawberries and planted about 50 tiny starter plants. Within a few weeks I found an ant hill and a few weeks later, most plants were dead. My neighbor told me that I wont be able to grow strawberries because of the ants? Any suggestions? Hardiness Zone: 5a imama2many from UT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71596716.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipes Using TVP I have 6 kids and I need to start trying to shave my grocery bill even more. It has been suggested that I consider supplementing meat recipes with TVP (textured vegetable protein). I remember my mom using that as a kid, but not very much. Are there any recipes that I can use. My kids range in age from 11 yrs to 5 months old... so these recipes need to be kid-friendly, fast, and "discreet" (haha)... meaning I don't want my kids to suddenly become picky-eaters because of something "weird" they find in their food! Any help? Thanks in advance! Imama2many from UT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55382031.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! 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: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml More Reading: Drugs.com You want information on drugs; e.g., an old tube of ointment you don't know about? See http://www.drugs.com By AG from Guelph, On Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52505401.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.