Daily Thrifty Tips - June 5, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 110, June 5, 2008 (Read It Online) We are starting to run low on recipe submissions. Do you have any recipes to share with the ThriftyFun community? Feel free to submit them here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml Every week, one recipe submission wins a $25 prize! 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: Properly Socialize Your Puppy Craft Project: Father's Day Gift Bags Save Boxes and Cans for Craft Time Craft Project: Fun Slogan Doorknob Signs Today's Tips: Use Dental Floss to Repair a Sail Cardboard Pop Cases for Drawer Dividers Disposable Camping Toothpaste Moving Furniture Around Your House Clean Your Area Rugs at The Car Wash Vinegar Marinade To Tenderize Meat Reusing Every Bit Of Jar Candles Nonfat Cookies and Muffins Celery Substitute Tips For Baking a Flat, Even Cake Joke of the Day New Requests: What Should We Do With a Truck That We Can't Afford? What Discarded Items Are Beneficial to Plants? Does Table Waste in Compost Attract Animals? Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds Eyeliner Tips Freezing Milk Looking For Homemade Clay Recipes Removing Candle Wax Dye From Carpet Recipe for a Homemade Weedkiller Are Sage Seeds Edible? Removing WD-40 Stain from a T-shirt Can You Soften Hairbrush Bristles? Removing Lime Build Up on a Faucet Chihuahua Puppy Poops In Crate Removing Permanent Marker From Leather Painting a Counter Top Getting Rid of Glare on a Laptop Screen Do You Need to Plant Strawberries in a Strawberry Pot? Cleaning Recipe for Siding Using Baking Soda in a Swimming Pool Can You Eat Cherries from a Weeping Cherry Tree? Using Grass Clippings That Have Weed Killer On Them Cleaning a Jet Tub Essay About Children Growing Up Pit Bull Puppy Keeps Peeing Inside 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: Properly Socialize Your Puppy Proper socialization is one of the key factors in raising a well-behaved puppy. By meeting all types of dogs in all types of situations, your puppy will be well-adjusted and will learn that they should not bite hard. By Julie from San Francisco, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39310970.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Father's Day Gift Bags Create a special gift bag for Dad and fill with homemade treats, something salty and something sweet, for a gift he'll love. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53107259.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Save Boxes and Cans for Craft Time Start a new habit. Rinse cans and flatten boxes for a week and put aside until you have "craft time". Even if you try it for a couple of days, if you have a large family, everyone could use 1/2 hour or an hour every couple days to sit together and catch up and while doing so - do a few simple crafts - such as mine. A little paper and glue or tape to transform the items into something better. Always have those few precious "little somethings" to send cookies in or aid you while you organize your junk drawer of scraps and snippets. And they are only a couple minutes at hand! These could even be wrapped in newspaper and the kids can help with the stickers, markers and glitter! Yesterday's soup cans, tomorrow's treat tote. Yesterdays cig boxes, tomorrow's desk mates! :) By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45182248.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Fun Slogan Doorknob Signs Most kids love to make their own doorknob signs and decorations. But these fun foam signs also incorporate a sense of humor into the craft. Instead of just putting their name on the sign, encourage the children to think of a slogan that they want others to know about their room. By sorting through foam letters, they can help hand/eye coordination and spelling. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67820618.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: Use Dental Floss to Repair a Sail Like an old-time sailor, I took needle and thread and mended a rip in the sail of our boat. The needle was a heavy-duty one from the drug store - and the THREAD was DENTAL FLOSS. It fit through the needle and because it was WAXED, it slid easily through the sail cloth! I do recommend using dental floss for canvas repairs - as waxed heavy duty thread is hard to find nowadays. And in the case of the sail, the floss being white helped the tidiness of the repair (we then put sail tape over it, too.) But the goal was to keep the rip from going into the body of the sail - and as they say, a stitch in time saves 9! By Pamphyila Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48089854.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cardboard Pop Cases for Drawer Dividers I found a great use for cardboard from pop cases or 12 packs, I use it to make dividers for my drawers, such as my "junk" drawer. I open the box so I can lay it flat, then I cut strips for the length i want, then i cut slits about 1/2 way down where I want to section it off, and insert another strip making "pockets" to put things. If it I need to adjust it no problem, it doesn't cost me anything to make a new one. By shellbell from Omaha, NE Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86780407.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Disposable Camping Toothpaste When I go backpacking and don't have one of those tiny travel tubes of toothpaste, I'll make my own so I don't have to cart the large tube of toothpaste with me. I simply take a piece of Aluminum Foil and fold it so it's doubled then squirt a line of toothpaste on it, then I fold the aluminum foil up and seal the edges by folding and pinching them, then I fold over each end several times then put this in a zip-loc baggie. When I want to brush my teeth, I just unfold one end and press on the bottom. By JLS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10766961.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Moving Furniture Around Your House Since I have a bad back, I bought this little saucers that can be found at Walmart for moving furniture. You lift a small corner of the entertainment center up and slip one of these saucers underneath to each corner. These saucers come in all different sizes and all round. They have a smooth side and a rubber side. Put the smooth side down on the floor with the rubber side up. You can rearrange your living quarters in less than 10 minutes with these. These are great. Otherwise, I would have to wait for my husband to get home to move furniture around the house. This way, I can surprise him each time he does come home. Now, he hid them from me because I tend to move furniture a lot. I believe I got them in the furniture or hardware section at Walmart. Good luck! By Bonnie from Norman, OK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18462894.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Clean Your Area Rugs at The Car Wash Take your area rugs to the car wash to get them super clean! I have done this numerous times with a helper and a truck, and know others who do the same. It's amazing to see the dirt run out off the rug! Then roll them up and load them onto the back of a truck. At home lay the rugs out to dry on the grass or on a sturdy fence. By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51019382.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Vinegar Marinade To Tenderize Meat Use 2-3 Tbsp. of vinegar to tenderize meat. I add to my favorite marinade or, if I am not using a marinade, I mix 1/4 cup canola oil, 1/2 cup water and 2-3 Tbsp. vinegar (you can also use red wine vinegar but it takes 5-6 Tbsp.) By Lisa from Waynesville,NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88790181.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Reusing Every Bit Of Jar Candles I buy scented candles in large and small jars but noticed that once they are almost used but simply won't stay lit any longer, I felt it was wasteful to throw away. Now I wait until the end of the candle and while the wax is still melted and pourable, I put it in my electric liquid potpourri unit and turn it on. The leftover candle will scent your home for days! I like to get every last drop for my money! I clean and save the fancy jars with tops to make bath salts in. Just wrap the outside with a creative ribbon and beaded charm and add a scrapbooking tag and you have a lovely gift for a last minute event. By Pattie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99988895.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Nonfat Cookies and Muffins When baking I like to leave out the oil, shorting and butter. Instead I add an equal amount of canned pumpkin, apple sauce, plum or prune baby food or put some canned unsweetened plums through the blender to puree them. I also keep out additional fat and calories by spraying my cookie sheets and muffin tins with Pam instead of using shortening or butter to grease them. If you add a pureed fruit or pumpkin to cookies, muffins and most cakes it will not change the taste, but will replace the calories of the fat with vitamin rich fruit and your favorite recipe will still be just as moist as before! By Cyinda from near Seattle Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89073363.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Celery Substitute If you are in a pinch because you are out of celery, here is a substitute: Substitute chopped cabbage (for the crunch) and add some celery seed or salt (for the flavor)! By Carol from Landisville, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85030608.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips For Baking a Flat, Even Cake This is in response to baking a flatter cake. All you have to do is either torte the mound off, torting means to cut the cake in several layers or just the top or in half horizontally (not up and down). Or just turn over with the cake bottom up after cooling about 10 minutes, you will have a perfectly flat cake all the time. If you do not want to use the wet rags around your cake pan, (this only works with round, square or oval pans, character pans have to many corners to put wet towels around), put a Pizza stone in the bottom of your oven. Try to keep it away from the pilot light, like putting it on risers. If you have an OLD oven, the pizza stone will help to keep an even temperature in an uneven oven. If you put a pizza stone in your oven and it breaks, leave it there and get another one, this will increase the chances of better - even temperature also. Source: This information comes from the years of baking cakes for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, etc. and from teaching cake decorating. By Mary from Atascadero, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78118062.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day A man stopped at a florist shop after work to pick up roses for his wife. As the clerk was putting on the finishing touches on bouquet, another man burst through the door, breathlessly requesting a dozen red roses. "I'm sorry," the clerk said. "This man just bought our last bunch." The desperate customer turned to the other man and begged, "May I please have those roses?" "What happened?" the first man asked. "Did you forget your wedding anniversary?" "It's even worse than that," the second man confided. "I crashed my wife's hard drive." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: What Should We Do With a Truck That We Can't Afford? We are upside down on a truck. We need to relieve ourselves of this monthly payment. It is too much for us to handle. Is the best way to turn in the truck and make monthly payments on the remaining balance? Does anyone have any ideas? Robyn from Woodstock, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70603224.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Discarded Items Are Beneficial to Plants? Are banana peels, eggshells and coffee grounds really beneficial to plants? Are there any other discarded natural items that can be helpful? Hardiness Zone: 7a Sheila from Olive Branch, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44528688.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Does Table Waste in Compost Attract Animals? If using table waste in the compost pile does it attract animals to feed from it? I am concerned that table waste will attract mice, rats, raccoons, etc. If so it seems that this would give the critters access to the vegetables in the garden as well. Stephen from Kansas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53579139.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds How can I keep my cat from going to the bathroom in my flower garden? Any ideas? He has a litter box in the garage and does use it when the weather is bad. Sheila from Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60749016.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Eyeliner Tips I am looking for an eyeliner look for the inner rim that doesn't run or collect in corners of my eyes. Kim from Michigan Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf714761.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Freezing Milk Can whole milk be frozen if I leave some head space? Dori An from Belvidere, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55021238.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Homemade Clay Recipes Anyone have a recipe for salt based play clay or porcelain cornstarch clay? Granny Gnome from Oregon Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49809015.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Candle Wax Dye From Carpet How can you get candle dye off the carpet once you remove the wax? jxp Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32369460.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipe for a Homemade Weedkiller I need a homemade weedkiller that will get rid of burdock, stinging nettles and bull thistles. Our farm is getting overrun with this stuff and my back is aching from digging and pulling all spring! Hardiness Zone: 4a Beverly from Barre, VT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48885613.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Are Sage Seeds Edible? Both of my sage plants bloomed. What's now left projecting from the plant are dried up stalks with little black seeds in brown seed heads/capsules. I am familiar with using dried sage leaves from the grocery store, but not the seeds. Are they edible? How to prepare for cooking? Hardiness Zone: 8a Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11224267.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing WD-40 Stain from a T-shirt I used WD-40 to remove a grease stain from a t-shirt. Now the WD-40 won't come out. What will work to remove the new stain? Connie from Imperial, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15555358.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Can You Soften Hairbrush Bristles? I was given a pocket bristle Mason and Pearson hairbrush for my 21st birthday 26 years ago, and it's served me well over the years. It's the only brush I've ever had that has brushed my hair just the way I like it; not too hard, and not too soft. And it gives it lots of body. I've bought two other M and P brushes which are exactly the same over the years, but both feel too hard and the pneumatic pad feels very rigid. They sort of 'scrape' through my hair rather than brush it. I've emailed the M and P company to ask if there's anything I can do to soften the bristles, but have had no reply. Does anyone have any tried and true tips for making my new brushes feel more comfortable and softer? I'm prepared to get another brush if I have the right recommendation! Perhaps the boar and nylon bristles together would be better? Thanking you in anticipation. Virginia from Canberra, Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92937899.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Lime Build Up on a Faucet I have really bad lime build up on faucet in the guest bath tub. Any suggestions to remove it? Judy from San Angelo, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19004049.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Chihuahua Puppy Poops In Crate I have a 4 month old female chi named Bella. I'm having some problems with her pooping in her crate and making a huge mess when I leave her in there to go out for a few hours. She doesn't go poop in her crate when it's bedtime. I am currently training her to eliminate on wee pads, which by the way is working great. It seems like it only happens when I leave her alone in the house. She poops even if she pooped just before I put her in the crate. I've tried making half the crate her bed and the other half were she can go on the pad, but when she poops she is making a mess because she tearing or scratching the heck out of both the pad and her bed. I bought a doggy play pin and I tried to leave her in that but she climbs out of it. HELP!! christine0305 from Lynn, Ma Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26178411.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Permanent Marker From Leather How do I remove permanent marker from leather? Heeda Lee from Chicago, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70152590.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Painting a Counter Top I would like info on painting a counter top. What kind of paint to use etc.? Pauline from Winnipeg Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61259314.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Glare on a Laptop Screen I would like to work outside on my laptop, but the screen glare prevents me from seeing anything. I could get an anti glare screen, but would prefer a "kitchen remedy" that costs nothing. Thanks. Mary from Kensington, Maryland Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55524072.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Do You Need to Plant Strawberries in a Strawberry Pot? Do you need a strawberry pot to plant strawberries in or can a standard Terra Cotta pot do? I'm new at gardening, but in todays' economy I'm trying to build a garden (cheaply) to depend on rather than buy produce. I need help! Hardiness Zone: 10a Geatina from North Fort Myers, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94213020.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Recipe for Siding Looking for recipe for cleaning siding, mold, and bug stains. melcave_78 from Charleston, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16270559.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Baking Soda in a Swimming Pool I am told you can use baking soda in the swimming pool to keep the water clean and not use chlorine. Does anyone know how to use just the baking soda? Diane from Columbus, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82850166.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Can You Eat Cherries from a Weeping Cherry Tree? I've got a weeping cherry tree. It's beautiful and doing well, but for the first time since we've lived here, (7 years), it's now got fruit on it! I assume cherries are normal on a weeping cherry tree. Did I never notice them before, or does it generally take years to become fruit bearing? And can i eat them? Thanks. Debbi Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86359480.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Grass Clippings That Have Weed Killer On Them I like to use newspapers and grass clipping in my vegetable garden for mulch. I would like to know if I can use grass clippings from a lawn that has been treated with a weed and feed or crabgrass preventer. If I can, how long after being treated can I use them? Hardiness Zone: 5a Bonnie from Avoca, NE Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30585088.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning a Jet Tub How do I clean a jetted tub? Shirley from Danville, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26765026.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Essay About Children Growing Up Does anybody recall an essay/opinion written by a man, about how children should grow up experiencing things that teach them certain characteristics, traits, lessons to live by. Not "Children Learn What They Live". I have had it forwarded to me in emails a couple of times but it's gone now. I thought it was a pretty good piece and would like to read it again. Ann from MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52871638.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pit Bull Puppy Keeps Peeing Inside I have a pit bull puppy, she is about 6-9 months old. We have had her for close to 2 months and she just can't seem to learn to pee outside! We don't have too many problems with her pooping inside just peeing. I believe she may have some kind of bladder problem, she has even started peeing in her cage at night. I'm afraid to take her to the vet because she is illegal but I can't handle her peeing. I don't want to make her become an outside dog, she's way too affectionate. She hates being outside and being alone. What can I do? Jess from Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23649804.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 Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.