Daily Thrifty Tips - May 8, 2007

Volume Six, Number 90, May 8, 2007 (Read It Online) Here's today's featured request: Making Eggs in the Microwave How do you microwave an egg to eat? Marjorie from Michigan Post Feedback Here 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: Having Fun At The Fair Mother's Day Candy Bar Bouquet Mother's Day Flower Plate Sparkie The Dog Today's Tips: Hot Caps For Delicate Seedlings Boycott Gas On May 15th Inspired By "Little House on the Prairie" Lindsay Olive Information Webpage Use Bags From Cereal For Camping Remedies for Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Clean Rugs With Vinegar Turn Hot Water Heater Off When Leaving Keeping Track Of Prices From Store To Store New Requests: Removing Hair From My Upper Lip Making Eggs in the Microwave Grass Stains on Denim Can Human's Catch Worms From Dogs? Pledge Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner Reviews Cleaning a Parquet Floor Gray Marks on a Porcelain Sink Making Candied Walnuts Cleaning Smelly Socks Staining Window Frames Feeding an Overweight Cat Painting a Metal Door Natural Snake Repellents Cleaning a Brass Chandelier Cleaning Outdoor Furniture Cushions Getting Rid of Wet Carpet Smell Pet Urine Stains On Hardwood Floors 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: Having Fun At The Fair We had a great night at the fair! By Laura from Orlando, Florida These rides are just toooo much! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48955889.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mother's Day Candy Bar Bouquet Take candy bars and wrap with professional candy wrappers as I did, I sell these glossy wrappers but you can do something similar with your computer or gift wrap and lettering. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56171026.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mother's Day Flower Plate This is a little bit harder craft for older kids to make for Mother's Day. It's inexpensive but very pretty. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63444550.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Sparkie The Dog Sparkie is 4 years old. He was rescued in August 2005. He loves to play with his toys. He is my baby, the best thing I ever did was to adopt him! By Sparkie from Huntington, WV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86352061.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: Hot Caps For Delicate Seedlings Make a mini greenhouse or "hot cap" for your tender vegetable transplants, using plastic one gallon milk jugs. Simply remove and discard the cap and cut the bottom out completely following the natural square shape of the jug. I use a very sharp pointed knife to make a nice clean, even cut. Place the jug over the transplant, pushing down just enough to press the bottom about 1/2 inch into the soil. Use some soil mounded slightly all the way around the outside bottom to anchor the jug in place and keep it from blowing away. I have used these to give a good start and some early protection to all kinds of vegetable transplants. Generally, I use them to protect plants from days or nights that are either too cool or windy, or if there is a heavy damaging rainfall. I use a large tomato cage or two set right in the garden to conveniently store the jugs after removing them. That way, they are handy to put right back on when needed. Using these mini hot caps have allowed me to get tender plants out in the garden and rooted sooner than I could if I waited for perfect weather conditions. By Linda from Hamlin NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25875443.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Boycott Gas On May 15th Hi, I was reading the gasoline tips and thought I would pass this along. Did you know if just 7 million people did not buy gas on one selected day, it would cost the oil companies $20 billion dollars on the average, based on the cost of filling up your tank at $30.00. Please read the following I am an avid blogger. I have been receiving tons of email from fellow blogers and regular email. It seems they are trying to organize a boycott across the United States on gasoline. The date I have received is May 15th 2007. They are asking everyone to not buy gas on that day. My sister is a truck driver and she emailed me that the truckers are going to participate. If this goes well they want to pick one day each month and a specific gasoline company and boycott it on that day. Those that are participating are hoping to force the oil companies to lower the cost of gas and to push the focus on alternative green fuel. I, for one am behind this 100%. We as a nation can make a difference and be heard. This our planet and our environment. By Venis from Berea, KY Editor's Note: Because this won't really cut the amount of gas used, it may shock them a little but the next day or days will make up for the amount of gas not purchased on the 15th. If everyone picked one day a week where they didn't drive either by replacing your normal trips with public transportation, carpooling, biking or walking, it would have a much bigger impact. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62386365.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Inspired By "Little House on the Prairie" "Believe it or not, Charles, I think you're the richest man in Walnut Grove." "Nels, I know I am". It all began with that one episode of "Little House on the Prairie". Newly married and sucked into the culture of the 21st century, I was exhausted and getting sick. Every evening it was another activity, another errand to run, and another credit card charge. I had no time to even think about what I was spending, how I was eating, or how I was living. I had lost myself amidst the noise. I was taking Tylenol and Advil to numb the back pain I was experiencing due to my life pace. I didn't pay attention to how many and what it might do to my body. As I watched Charles Ingalls and his family pull together to get out of debt, it lit a spark within me that would not die. I saw a way of living that was different than my hectic life, and I wanted it. I began to research ways to get out of debt and to spend less. All along, I was getting sicker still. I eventually had to quit my job. Thankfully, we had our credit cards paid off by this time. But I'd have to say we were as poor as the poor Ingalls'. With God's help, and after an operation to remove my destroyed gallbladder (due to abuse of pain-killers), I began to steadily improve. My husband and I learned the most valuable lesson of our lives during this rocky time. We learned how to do WITHOUT, (even a refrigerator, at one point) and to trust God like the Ingalls'. Now we are debt free at the age of 31, except for a small 15 year mortgage, and a small car loan on a used car. But - we are not only debt free, but we are free indeed. AmySue from Pittsburgh, PA Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97043344.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Lindsay Olive Information Webpage Here's a link to a Lindsay olive webpage. If you mouse over the pictures of the olives, it will tell you about that olive, it's properties, and what it goes best with. I found it informative. http://www.lindsayolives.com/olives101/index.html# By U*u*U from TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85574686.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Bags From Cereal For Camping I save the bags from empty cereal, they are super to use to take camping to use as bowls, or cereal. When used, fold up to carry home to discard. They are also handy when small children come to visit to use for snacks. Fold over the top and cut a small circle. When the top is lifted, you have a small handle for the little ones to carry. By Peggy from Cortland, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87355037.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Remedies for Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Spring through fall are prime seasons for poison ivy and poison oak. Stop the itching, spread and blisters with these home and natural remedies: Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46907601.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Clean Rugs With Vinegar When washing area rugs and carpets in your home, eliminate the carpet detergent once in awhile and instead fill the tank with hot/warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Carpets tend to build up a lot of soap residue which should be removed occasionally as it actually attracts dust and dirt which sticks to it. Vinegar helps remove it and also works to reduce carpet odors. By Pattie from Bridgton Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45691013.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Turn Hot Water Heater Off When Leaving This is a money saving tip. I shut off my hot water heater upon leaving my house. When I get back home, I flip the breaker switch back on and have hot water in less than 10 minutes. No one is here to use it and it saves big on the electric bill. By Judith from Huntsville, AL Editor's Note: This sounds like a interesting tip. I know that shutting down your water heater is often recommened if you are leaving for a prolonged vacation. One thing you should do regardless, is make sure that your water heater and pipes are well insulated so that the water retains more heat as it stored in the heater and travels through the pipes. There may be a safety concern with turning on and off a gas water heater regularly. With either gas or electric, you may want to call your utility company and see if they can see any safety problems with this tip. It should be pretty easy to track whether this is saving you money by comparing your current power bill to the previous years. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80181197.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keeping Track Of Prices From Store To Store I usually buy EAS low carb protein individual beverages at Sam's, but occasionally see them on sale at the grocery stores. Then I stand there, trying in vain, to recall the price paid at Sam's. I solved this by writing the Sam's price on a piece of low stick masking tape and stuck it on the divider for my coupon holder. Of course, the Sam's price may change, but it's a guideline to see if the grocery store sale price is a good deal in the meantime. You may think that this is extravagant, but a protein beverage in the car is a lot less expensive than a fat filled trip to a local fast food joint when I am out and about. In case you are wondering, the Sam's price for EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control, as of last month (March 2007) was $26.88 for 24 cans at 11 ounces each. By Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86199284.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Friends of ThriftyFun Dear Webby's Humor Letter Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter. Webby now has a blog, read his latest newsletter as well as back issues here: http://webby.com/humor/blog/ More Information: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Removing Hair From My Upper Lip How can I remove hair on my upper lip? Can you suggest any tips to overcome this problem sitting in the home? Bujji from India Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98421604.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Eggs in the Microwave How do you microwave an egg to eat? Marjorie from Michigan Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77238418.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Grass Stains on Denim How do I remove grass stains from denim? Cathy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57604711.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Can Human's Catch Worms From Dogs? What's are the chances of a human catching worms from a dog? Amanda from Louisa, Kentucky Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65589048.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pledge Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner Reviews Has anyone ever used the new Pledge Multi-surface Floor Cleaner on laminate floors? Nila from Valparaiso, Indiana Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27265858.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning a Parquet Floor I just moved to a new house and I never had a parquet floor before. I vacuumed the house but I can still see some dust, and I need to clean it. I heard water is not good for wooden floors, can someone please help me with some advice? Kate Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78466284.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Gray Marks on a Porcelain Sink How do you get the gray mark out of your kitchen sink. My sink is just a year old and the marks are getting worse. I use cleanser but it doesn't budge them. Please help. Jean from Banning, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56788494.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Candied Walnuts My Candied Walnuts are seizing up! I got a really simple recipe for spicy candied walnuts, for my salads and snacking. I made a small batch the first time and really liked them, they came out with that hard crack type shell. I tried another recipe that the sugar crystallizes on the nut, didn't like it so much. So I made the regular size batch and it didn't work out that well. I used everything the way I was supposed to but the caramelized sugar/cayenne/salt/oil mixture seized up into a candy type stuff. Now don't get me wrong, this spicy sweet candy pieces are good, but I want it all over my walnuts! What happened? And what can I do different next time? Michawn from Morgan Hill, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67224727.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Smelly Socks I hope someone can tell me what I can soak my sons cotton socks in. He is a lifeguard and his socks always get wet. I have been getting him to put them in a bucket with water and laundry soaker overnight but when I go to do the washing they still smell awful (like swamp water!) so I still have to wash them separately. I have also tried bleach in the water but it bleaches the color out of the black/blue soles of the white socks. Would something like vinegar help? He alternates between three pairs of shoes so they get to dry out fully between wearing. Kat from Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73572432.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Staining Window Frames I have 4 large windows on the front of my house that take a beating from the afternoon sun. The part of the window frame closest to the window, about 1" has all the finish gone and needs to be re-stained. Does anyone have any tips or advice on the easiest, most efficient, and most cost effective way to do this? Mary from Homer, AK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20050701.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Feeding an Overweight Cat My cat is slightly overweight and I would like to put it on a healthy and balanced diet. I'm not sure how much food to give her daily and what food might be the best. Does anyone know? Jay Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14709835.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Painting a Metal Door How do you paint an Exterior Metal Door? On the the Inside and on the outside? Mary from Homer, AK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18632004.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Natural Snake Repellents I have just about given up the love of gardening because of the abundance of snakes I come across. Any suggestions? Hardiness Zone: 7a Kathy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75838259.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning a Brass Chandelier I am looking for a fast and easy way to clean a brass chandelier. Susan from Newnan, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50105965.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Outdoor Furniture Cushions I just got out my lawn furniture and the cushions are so dirty. I tried so many different kinds of cleaners and nothing seems to work. Can someone please tell me what I can use? They look black very awful. Thanks in advance, Angel from Newville, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95037673.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Wet Carpet Smell My toilet overflowed in my apartment (for about the millionth time) and got to the carpet right outside my bathroom. My room smells funky now. Is there something I can do to help rid the funk? The carpet is like, 20 years old so that's part of the problem. Replacing it isn't an option. I feel like that's my landlord's responsibility (that, and fixing the toilet). I just want the smell gone before I have a bunch of visitors this weekend for graduation! I've left towels on top of it to soak up the moisture and its almost dry. Will the vinegar/baking soda mix bleach the carpet? LPT from Athens, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf180895.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pet Urine Stains On Hardwood Floors How can I get pet urine stains from a hardwood floor? Betty Lou from Arkansas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf877224.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.