Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 175, November 7, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Vaseline Hairball Remedy
- Hanging a Picture
- How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar
- Homemade Lavender Heat/Cool Packs
- Strategy for a Must Have Toy - Buy It Early
- Using Newspaper Clear Sleeves (Plastic Bags) When Knitting
- Ornaments from Argo Clay
- Gifts for All Ages - Picture Frames
- Buy Gift Bags at a Dollar Store
- Saving Steps in the Kitchen
- Lower Your Heating Cost
- Always Ask for Gift Boxes and Cards
- $5 Gift That Helps Teach a Child About Money
- Gifts for Elderly Friends
- A New Use for Hair Conditioner, Shaving Your Legs
- Check Register Tip - Round Up
- Elegant Beaded "Skirts" for Champagne Flutes or Wine Glasses
- Ran Out of Envelopes? Use Junk Mail!
- If you get a raise, put that money in savings.
- Christmas Tea Party Menu and Tips
- Pre-teen and Teenage Game Party
New Requests:
- Wishing Well Ideas for Baby Shower
- Removing Odor From Leather Jacket
- "In Memory Of" Gift Ideas
More Reading:
- Make Sure Your Holiday Charity Contribution Counts
- Things You Can Do Now for a Simpler Christmas in December
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Today's Tips
Vaseline Hairball Remedy
If your cat suffers from hairballs, here is a cheap, useful remedy. Just give him a teaspoon of Vaseline every 2 weeks and the problem should be alleviated.
By Robin
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Hanging a Picture
Having trouble hanging pictures when you have the hooks on the back? Here is a solution, take a piece of tape (masking or scotch tape) and stick it to the pack of the picture. Now put a pencil mark on the tape where you need to put your nail or screw. Now take the tape off of the back of the picture, and put your tape on the wall and you have your marks, put nail or screws in and your ready to hang your picture remove your tape. You can put a level on top of tape to make sure it is level or you can just eye ball it.
By Sassy
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How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar
If you run out of confectioners (powdered) sugar. Take granulated sugar and pour in blender, and blend until it is powdery. You can do a cup or 2 at a time. Now you have confectioners sugar.
By Sassy
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Homemade Lavender Heat/Cool Packs
Ingredients:
1 part Lavender flowers
1 part eucalyptus buds
1 part buckwheat seeds
1 pouch fashioned into two sections
Directions:
Sew fabric into two equal sections leaving ends open. Divide ingredients into either end and sew shut. For stress headaches heat in microwave for 30 seconds. For migraine headaches place in freezer and then apply as necessary.
By Suzanne S.
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Strategy for a Must Have Toy - Buy It Early
If there's a "Must Have" toy on your child's Christmas list that you've decided to purchase, here's a strategy to make sure it's under the tree Christmas morning.
I buy the high priority, must have toys now before the holiday rush. Store your receipt in the bag with the toy. If the toy goes on sale in the next 90 days (Christmas is only 47 days away), you can return the full priced toy, as long as you have the receipt, and purchase the discounted toy. If the sale is at the same store that you purchased it at full price, take your receipt to the Customer Service desk and ask for a price adjustment. The store will usually do it. If not, explain to them you will return the full price toy and re-purchase it at the sale price. This creates more paperwork and uses more manpower for the store than a price adjustment.
Using this strategy, the kids' Christmas wishes come true and you save money.
By Cheryl from Missouri
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Using Newspaper Clear Sleeves (Plastic Bags) When Knitting
I use the sleeves when knitting or crocheting to place a skein or ball of yarn to keep clean and free from snarling. They are clear sleeves in my locality and easy to choose the color needed. Also use them to save leftover yarn for easy visibility.
By Elles
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Ornaments from Argo Clay
I make Christmas ornaments out of Argo clay. I then fix a gift basket or bag with the ornament and paints. I also, include the ornament hangers.
Kids love painting them. They can give them as gift or keep themselves. They last for years.
Argo Clay Recipe
Need: 2 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of Argo cornstarch, 1 1/2 cups water, saucepan.
Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. The mixture will look like mashed potatoes. Let cook. Then form clay into shapes (example snowmen, etc.) I also roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter to cut out ornaments. I place them on a cookie sheet for a couple of days. When they are dry, I package them.
By Jean Sterling
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Gifts for All Ages - Picture Frames
I have so many gifts to give, to people of all ages. I buy picture frames, silver, brass, wooden, leather, etc when they are on sale. I always have a gift on hand. This saves shopping and paying the regular price.
By Jean Sterling
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Buy Gift Bags at a Dollar Store
I have discovered The Dollar Store as a place to buy gift bags. I keep a drawer in the guest room dresser full of them. They are dollar for the large ones and some are 2 for a dollar. I have even gotten 4 for a dollar. No more paying two to five dollars for gift bags.
By Jean Sterling
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Saving Steps in the Kitchen
I always hang an empty plastic grocery bag on the top cabinet drawer handle below the sink, which is next to the stove. That way, as I empty packages or cans of food, I put the empty containers into it. I don't have to take extra steps walking to where my large kitchen trash container is located. At the end of the night I take the bag off, tie the handles and drop it in the larger trash container. Saves many extra steps and time.
By Gladys Hill
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Lower Your Heating Cost
If you are going to be gone away from home, more than 8 hours, set thermostat 4 to 6 degrees lower in the winter. It can save you about 7 to 10 % in heating costs.
Install inexpensive switch plate and outlet gaskets between outlets and exterior walls. About 2% of heat loss in home can occur through switches and outlets on exterior walls. Using caulk and weather stripping spaces around windows and doors, will prevent loss of energy from escaping around them.
By Gladys Hill
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Always Ask for Gift Boxes and Cards
When I buy an item at a store, I always ask for a free gift box and card. Even if the item I purchase is something for me. I store them until I need a gift box for articles that I had made or purchased at a backyard sale.
By Jean Sterling
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$5 Gift That Helps Teach a Child About Money
I give children money: a dollar bill, 4 quarters, 10 dimes, 20 nickels and 100 pennies. I then teach them about money, showing them that the change is equal to the dollar bill.
By Jean Sterling
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Gifts for Elderly Friends
IT IS NOT easy to find a gift for elderly friends and relatives. I give them stationary, a ball point pen and stamps.
By Jean Sterling
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A New Use for Hair Conditioner, Shaving Your Legs
If you run out of shaving cream, or if you have purchased a hair conditioner that just doesn't seem to work for your hair, use it as a shaving cream! It works wonderfully. The razor will glide over the conditioner and your legs will be left smooth and with a close, smooth shave.
By Patty L
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Check Register Tip - Round Up
Whenever you write a check, round up when you record it in your register. For example, if you write a check for $72.35, round up to $73.00. Not only does this make it easy to add and subtract, you will end up at the end of the month with a bit of bonus money. You can keep this in your checking account for a cushion to prevent bounced checks. Or you may put it into a savings account. Or just use it for a special treat you otherwise would not be able to enjoy.
By Kathy Y.
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Elegant Beaded "Skirts" for Champagne Flutes or Wine Glasses and Appetizer Picks
Anything beaded is really hot right now and I wanted to come up with something new and exciting for a couple of newlywed couples for christmas. Here is what I did.
For Beaded glass "Skirt"
Supplies
- 1 package of beaded trim
- 1 package of small elastic
- 1 bottle of Aleenes quick dry glue
- or a needle and thread
I measured where I wanted the skirt to ride on the glass and cut my elastic to fit. Then I cut the beaded trim just a little bit bigger. I glued the elastic to the trim and then glued the trim together in a circle. Aleene's quick dry dries quickly enough to be almost dry in 5-6 minutes so I slid the "skirts" on to the glasses to keep their shape while drying. I did not stretch the elastic I used it more as a piece to stiffen the trim.
Beaded Appetizer Picks
These look really elegant and are very easy to make. I had a ball making these and Pounding surely released some stress.
Supplies
- 1 Hank of 16 gauge wire (Purse handle wire)
- 1 spool of 20 gauge wire
- 2 packages of essentials beads the flat kind (This makes 12 picks)
- 1 small hammer
- 1 block of 2 by 4 or small anvil
Cut the 16 gauge wire about 8 inches long, with the hammer flatten about the first 1/2 to 3/4 inches. Slide on the bead. Take the 20 gauge wire and cut off about 8 inches in the center of the wire make some loops or squiggles in the wire. Now pound the design in the center flat. Wrap the top of wire to the top above the bead and the bottom half below the bead to secure it. Now pound the rest of the wire below the bead flat. These are perfect for cheese and fruit or those tomato grapes to be served on.
Now to finish off the set I went to Walmart and in their open stock of dishes I bought one clear dinner plate and 4 small salad plates. I figure I spent total about 15.00 dollars for the set and I am sure that it would have been much more expensive out of a catalog. Now my newlyweds have a great set for entertaining another couple on New Year's Eve or any other fun occasion. I was also able to get the champagne flutes at Walmart for about $1.00 per glass.
By Debra in Colorado
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Uses for Junk Mail
Most junk mail or used envelopes can be reused by carefully taking them apart, turning them inside out and then re-sticking them with paste or tape. Especially helpful when you run out of envelopes.
By SharonP
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If you get a raise, put that money in savings.
If you get a pay raise, or a bonus, pretend you didn't get it and continue to live within your previous budget. Put the extra money into savings every month.
By Kathy Y.
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Christmas Tea Party Menu and Tips
Here are some easy ideas for a Christmas time Tea Party. Serve hot spiced teas (Celestial Seasonings have some great ones), Cucumber Sandwiches are traditional tea party fare but take it one step further for Christmas and try some of these easy sandwiches...
All tea party food should be kept bite sized. Try pumpkin bread with honey nut cream cheese, or zucchini bread with cream cheese and orange marmalade mixed in. White bread with thin Deli Turkey with Apricot preserves or dijon mustard. Cream cheese with a little blue cheese mixed in with roast beef on party rye bread. Vegetable cream cheese on onion roll cut into small pieces.
For sweets you can have small squares of fudge and divinity decorated with the small christmas ornaments that they sell to decorate a small tree. Fancy decorated cookies go well here too. But they can be as simple as sugar cookies with some sprinkles on top.
Decorate your table with a small wreath in the center you, don't want anything to tall as you want your guest to be able to see each other when talking. The center of the wreath is a great place to put those special Christmas figurines you have, Or short candles and pine cones. Place mats can be made with Christmas cards sandwiched between to pieces of clear contact paper and edged with those special paper scissors. Place a special tree ornament next to each settings as a remembrance of your party for your guest to take home. Have a Great time!
By Debra in Colorado
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Pre-teen and Teenage Game Party
Pull out those Board games and set each game up with its own table. Monopoly at one, Yahtzee at another, etc. Decorate the room with Big playing cards drawn on poster boards. Dice and game pieces can be made the same way and hung from streamers. You could also take these shapes and make coasters for the tables.
Plain red or blue tablecloths could be decorated with plain stickers arranged to look like chess squares or backgammon. You could have a group game of bingo with prizes to win or play a trivia game.
Refreshments could include root beer in bottles and Submarine sandwiches cut into manageable sizes with chips and pretzels at the tables for in-game snacking.
By Debra in Colorado
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New Requests:
Wishing Well Ideas for Baby Shower
I am looking for frugal ideas on how to make a wishing well for my daughter's baby shower. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Betty
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Removing Odor From Leather Jacket
I purchased a leather jacket last winter and it has been in the closet since. I recently took it out and it has a terrible odor. Any suggestions on how to get the odor out? Thanks,
Joni
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"In Memory Of" Gift Ideas
My brother died back in December of 1976 as a newborn. (We have no photos of him or any personal memory items from his birth.) For the past few years I have started the tradition of getting my mother something (usually a tree ornament) in the memory of him on his birthday. As most americans, I am broke around Christmas time. I want to make his birthday special for my mother, but need some tips on some inexpensive, but special gifts. Any ideas?
Barbara Floyd
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More Reading:
Make Sure Your Holiday Charity Contribution Counts
By Sherri Allen
As the holiday season approaches, many thoughts turn to helping those less fortunate. In fact, surveys have indicated that over 50 percent of all donations to charity are made between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's important, however, that you don't make charitable contributions indiscriminately. By following a few precautions, you can ensure your generosity provides maximum benefits for the people and organizations who need your help.
View Article: Click Here
Things You Can Do Now for a Simpler Christmas in December
By Nancy Twigg
Every year do you wish for a less stressful holiday season? This year, don't just dream about a simpler Christmas. Make it a reality by taking action. Consider these positive steps you can take in October to ensure a less hectic, more meaningful Christmas celebration in December:
View Article: Click Here
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