Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 26, January 26, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
This week's TF News is going to be about Eating Healthy Frugally. We recently received this request from a reader who is looking for strategies for eating healthy without spending a lot more money.
"I have the hardest time being frugal when it come to healthy eating. It seems chips and other unhealthy foods are much cheaper then healthy foods. I have had people say that is not true but this is how I look at it: If I buy a bag of potato chips at Aldis it will cost 99¢ and will allow about 5 treats. Where as, if I buy 5 apples for 5 treats I am now paying anywhere from $1.49 - $1.79 per pound so it comes out to usually $4.00-$5.00. I dont see that as being cheaper. I know in the long run it is cheaper but I want to know how people stay frugal when it comes to healthy eating now, not in the future. That is a topic I would like to see covered.
Thanks for listening to my little rant."
- Frugal
If you have some advice to give Frugal and any strategies that have worked well for you, please submit them on the contest form.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- Always Anchor Your Child's Play Set
- Lady (English Setter) and Amanda
Today's Tips:
- Homemade Frozen Bouillon Cubes
- Cleaning Out The Refrigerator
- Hanging Clothes in the Winter
- Have a Late Christmas
- Turn off the Cable
- Leaner Hamburger
- Feeding My Toddler
- Organizing Shoes
- Save Your Grocery Receipts For Future Rebates
- Interesting Trail Mix
- A Rose Bush - For The Person or Couple Who Have Everything
- Making Shoes Last Longer
- Removing Odors from Plastic Containers
- Making Your Own Flavored Yogurt
- Snack Mix
- Molten Chocolate Cakes
- Easy Cheese Stuffed Chicken
- Classic Turkey Sandwich
- Uses for Junk Mail
New Requests:
- Smelly Cast Iron Pot
- Candle Wax on Suede Skirt
- Ideas for June Wedding Centerpieces
- Repairing a Hole in a Chest of Drawers
- Valentine's Day Ideas for Long Distance Relationship
- Removing Tar From Upholstery
- Gnats In Room With Guinea Pigs
- Decorating a Tanning Salon (Mexican Theme)
- Aluminum Can Airplanes
- Cleaning Diamond Earrings
More Reading:
- Saying 'I Love You' for Less
- Things You Can Learn from Your Dog
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
Always Anchor Your Child's Play Set
Always anchor your child's play set in deep concrete or you might have this problem!
Our neighbor had this beautiful play set & pool for their children. All of the kids in the neighborhood loved to go to their house. One evening after dinner we had a West Virginia wind and this is the result.
- Ellen
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Lady (English Setter) and Amanda
This is a picture of our little fur faced daughter, Lady and a dear friend's daughter, Amanda, when she was about 6 months old. Lady and Amanda are best buddies. Lady is a 6 1/2 year old full blooded English Setter and she is a real love sponge! She loves people better than anything in the world and just soaks up the attention.
She also enjoys running out in the back yard, playing frisbee and ball. We have had her since she was just 3 months old. She truly is like a daughter to us.
BTW, don't let anyone tell you that English Setters are hunting dogs, ours is the greatest pet in the world. She is gentle and loving and very sweet. She has black and white spots like a dalmation but her hair is very long (12 inches in some places) Her fur is so soft and she weighs about 65 pounds.
Ellen
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Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Homemade Frozen Bouillon Cubes
Make your own bouillon cubes.
Make a strong stock of whatever you wish (chicken, beef or vegetables). I let it stew in the crockpot for an extra long time to get all the flavors out.
After it's cooled off a little bit, spoon the stock in ice cube trays and freeze. After it freezes, pop out and put in a zip lock bag. Label if you're going to make more than one kind.
Next time you need a bouillon cube, grab one of these ice cube bouillons from the freezer. One batch will make you a lot and will last for a long time. So much cheaper than store bought and so much healthier.
By pookie
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Cleaning Out The Refrigerator
Tips for cleaning out the fridge. Post your ideas.
When cleaning out the refrigerator I put all the stuff to be thrown out into those Walmart bags that we all collect. I always double or triple the bags and put into the kitchen garbage. This keeps for at least one day while I continue to clean and also put any garbage from meals into the can. I then can wrap up the whole kitchen trash and add the bathroom too, which I also put the walmart bags into.
By RoseMary
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Hanging Clothes in the Winter
In the winter time you can still hang your clothes to dry if you have someplace to hang some clothesline or rope. I have two rows of clothesline hung in my basement and I love to hang my clothes to dry after washing them. I use an inexpensive fabric softener and leave them down there overnight to dry. In the morning I just fold them all and put them away. It's also nice because it helps put a little more moisture in our house. We do not have a humidifier and the air gets pretty dry so this really helps with that, too.
By Robin
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Have a Late Christmas
My friends and I had our Christmas on Jan. 14 so we could go to all the after Christmas sales. We are all in college and money is tight.
By Katie
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Turn off the Cable
We're all victims of the latest reality TV show. Un-numb yourself and eliminate the cable! Disconnecting cable television reconnects people to the actual world and refreshens avenues of intellect and communication. By reading books, walking the dog, gardening, or just being outside enjoying nature we reconnect with ourselves and the world around us improving our mental and physical health through our lifestyle.
By SJ Weiss
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Leaner Hamburger
I have been buying cheap ground meat to save money BUT my husband just got a not so great cholesterol test result back. Instead of paying 3.00-4.00 a pound for 96/4 lean meat, I have been boiling the hamburger meat draining it, boiling a second time, then frying in the frying pan for recipes that have crumbled hamburger meat in them. By the time the ground meat hits the skillet, it has hardly any fat in it. The boiling water takes most of the fat with it when you boil it.
I have even convinced my husband that hamburgers don't have to be in patties so we can get the benefit of the boiled meat that is crumbly, we just put a little ketchup in the crumbled meat so it will stick and put it on the bun then add condiments on top of that.
By Annie
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Feeding My Toddler
My toddler eats a lot of the same foods we eat but when it comes to peaches, apples, sandwiches, meats, and some veggies, they are still to tough or too much for her to chew. Instead of buying store bought veggie chunks, fruit chunks, and meat sticks that are soft, we slice whatever we are having, then we take a pizza cutter and cut it into toddler bite size pieces.
By Annie
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Organizing Shoes
Here's an idea to make it easier to find your shoes - label the end of the boxes or clear plastic boxes with kind and color of shoe. Then stack neatly in your closet, (above or below the racks). It saves valuable time searching.
By DiAnne
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Save Your Grocery Receipts For Future Rebates
Save all your grocery receipts in an envelope for several months instead of just tossing them away. I would find a rebate a week or two after I purchased an item and even if I had the upc I had already tossed the store receipt. So now I keep them just in case a refund or rebate comes along for something I've purchased.
By Judy
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Interesting Trail Mix
I keep a big glass jar in my kitchen cabinet and whenever I have a handful of cereal left in the bottom of a box, a few pretzels left in the bag, or raisins, chips, marshmallows, peanuts, whatever, I toss them in the jar. Now I always have an interesting trail mix available to give as snacks for the kids... and they love it!
By Judy
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A Rose Bush - For The Person or Couple Who Have Everything
A nice gift for, say, a 25th or 50th wedding anniversary, is a rose bush from the garden shop. They come in a large variety of names (and colors, of course) that can be chosen to describe almost any relationship. Browse through the rose bushes this coming spring and acquaint yourself with the different names. They range in price from $10 to $45 & up. Mentioning the connection on the greeting card helps explain your choice.
By Val D.
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Making Shoes Last Longer
To make your shoes last longer, put a thin piece of rubber on the bottom of the soles. You can have a shoe repair person do this. It will help them last longer and should help you have better traction, especially in icy, cold climates!
By Robin
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Removing Odors from Plastic Containers
To take nasty odors out of a plastic container just stuff a crumpled piece of newspaper into the container after you have washed it and put the lid on. The next day all you have to do is wash the container again and the nasty odor will be gone!
By Robin
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Making Your Own Flavored Yogurt
Ok, this is probably obvious and common knowledge to everybody but I JUST discovered this. You can make your own flavored yogurts by buying the largest cheapest container of PLAIN yogurt and adding fruit preserve to it. It really cuts down on the cost (and sugar if you choose).
I add about 1 tbs of strawberry preserve (or any other flavors you want) to 1 cup of plain yogurt. I use Smuckers low sugar preserves to cut down on sugar even more. My husband likes it sweeter so we add one packet of sugar (or splenda if you choose) to his.
Try this and you'll never buy pre-mix expensive yogurt again! :)
I would strongly suggest that you not get grape preserves. Grape preserve, we have found, does not mix well with yogurt or oatmeal. Strawberry seems to be wonderful. I will try peach and apricot next!
By Pookie
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Snack Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 box (18 cups) Rice Chex (generic is fine)
- 8 cups popped Popcorn
- 3 cups Mixed nuts
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 2 t. baking soda
- 2 cups of each kind of chocolate chips or other candies.
Directions:
Whatever desired.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease large roasting pan. Mix cereal, popped corn, and nuts in roaster. Combine brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and baking soda (mixture will foam up). Pour evenly over cereal mixture, stir to coat evenly.
Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely in pan, stirring frequently to break apart mixture.
Stir in chocolate chips/candies. Store in an airtight container.
Note: The original recipe was for half this amount. The doubled version fills a large roaster. You can use peanuts instead of mixed nuts and chocolate covered pretzels with the chocolate chips, if desired. I like adding more candies (Different kinds of M&M's are especially good, as is candy corn in the fall.) The best thing about this recipe is that it's so flexible. Just add to suit your favorites!
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Molten Chocolate Cakes
Ingredients:
- 4 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 6 Tbsp. flour
- 1/2 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped topping
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter 4 custard cups or souffle' dishes. Place on baking sheet.
Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on high 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar until well blended. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks.. Stir in flour. Divide batter among prepared custard cups. Bake 13-14 minutes or until sides are firm but centers are soft. Let stand 1 minute. Carefully run small knife around cakes to loosen. Insert cakes onto dessert dishes. Serve immediately, each topped with 1 T. whipped topping.
By Robin
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Easy Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
- 2 medium zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 pkg. Stove Top Stuffing Mix for chicken
- 1 cup finely shredded Italian style Five Cheese Blend by Kraft
- 2 pkg. chicken quarters
- 3/4 cup honey barbecue sauce
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in medium saucepan on medium heat.. Add zucchini and onion; cook and stir 2 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. STir in stuffing mix and cheese until well blended. Carefully insert fingers between the meat and skin of each chicken quarter to form a pocket. Fill pockets evenly with stuffing mixture. Place, skin sides up, in large roasting pan. Bake 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Brush with barbecue sauce. Bake an additional 4-10 minutes or until heated through.
By Robin
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Classic Turkey Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 2 slices sourdough bread or whole wheat bread
- 1 Tbsp. Miracle Whip Light Dressing
- 1 lettuce leaf
- 2 thin tomato slices
- 5 slices Deli Style oven roasted turkey
Directions:
Spread one of the bread slices with dressing. Top with lettuce, tomato, and turkey; cover with remaining bread slice.
By Robin
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Uses for Junk Mail
Ideas for using junk mail in a productive way. Post your ideas!
I wanted to teach our dog to bring in the mail after we went for our walk but I didn't want her to carry the "good mail". I let her carry in the junk mail and she thinks she's somebody. If she drops it in the dirt, mud, slobbers on it, it's no big deal, it was going in the trash anyway.
Jenny from KY
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Other Active Topics
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Tip Contest
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New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on January 31st.
Enter the contest!
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
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New Requests:
Smelly Cast Iron Pot
When our mother passed away, we cleaned out her home, inside of the oven we found a cast iron pot in which she had fried fish and never got a chance to clean . It is a beautiful cast iron pot which I do not want to throw away but despite my efforts in cleaning, it will not shed the fishy smell. Do any of you thrifty readers know of a way to clean smelly cast iron. It had a top to it and was covered for who knows how long. Trina
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Candle Wax on Suede Skirt
I spilled candle wax on a suede skirt. How can I get this off? - Jenny
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Ideas for June Wedding Centerpieces
I am getting married in June of 2005 we don't have a lot of money for our wedding like most people. I am looking for ideas for the tables with flowers and candles. I have a few ideas myself of what I would want what I need to know is how to do it at a very low cost
I love some of the ideas i have read on here about using floating candles and i think that is something I might want to do and the glass with flowers on it also. My colors or pink and lilac with silver ribbon and those are the only colors I want to use. I am having to do all this on my own. My soon to be mother-in-law lives a hour away and so does my family. Ihave a friend that is helping me out as much as she can but if anyone has ideas please feel to give me your ideas. Please help me out on this. Christin from louisiana
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Repairing a Hole in a Chest of Drawers
How do you repair a hole in a chest of drawers? Any suggestions? Isabella
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Valentine's Day Ideas for Long Distance Relationship
Hey. I'm having difficulty coming up with something meaningful for Valentines Day for a very special girl. We are college age, and in a long distance relationship. We have been dating for well over a year, and nearing two, so we have used many ideas already. The trouble comes in with the distance. I cannot be there and I'm financially tight with being in school.
I'm trying to tailor something to her, and want it to be as meaningful and personal as possible.
Any assistance would be great! Things she likes: dogs (pugs), softball, orange tootsie pops, helping people.
She is an extremely caring person, family oriented, laid back.
Hope this information helps! Thanks!
-Douglas from Tulsa
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Removing Tar From Upholstery
Can anyone give advice on removing a spot of tar on the fabric seats of my car? Wanting to show my daughter the color, I put a sample shingle of our to be installed new roof on the car seat. Not wanting to get gravel on it, laid it right side up. Unfortunately, there was some tar on the back.
Thanks so much.
Marilyn in Florida
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Gnats In Room With Guinea Pigs
I have guinea pigs and I gave them some pineapple about 2 wks. ago. I started getting gnats and was using a flying pest spray on them. I would spray the entire room after removing my piggies and let it sit closed for an hour or so. Well, no more pineapple since my piggies don't eat it but my gnat problem has increased about 10 times more than before. How do I get rid of these annoying things w/out harming my piggies and how can I prevent it. I don't understand because my piggies have very clean cages and they eat all veggies. I have removed all fruit from the cage since they don't like it. With no fruit, what are they after?
Leila
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Decorating a Tanning Salon (Mexican Theme)
I have hit a decorating dead end. I own a tanning salon and I am in the process of adding another room for airbrush tanning. So because of the solution overspray situation I need to stick with a dark color. I have decided to go with a Mexican theme. Dark brown (terra cotta) color or green walls? I've already purchased some Mexican theme wall prints. I'm not sure if I should texture paint the walls. I also need some ideas for more unique decorating ideas to pull the theme together. The room is 9'-10' w/no windows.
Thank you in advance for any replies
Sunchic
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Aluminum Can Airplanes
Years ago I received an airplane made from aluminum soda cans. Does anyone have directions to make these? The airplane is getting old and I would like a new one, but haven't seen any for sale.
Thank you so much.
Sandy
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Cleaning Diamond Earrings
Does anyone have any ideas for cleaning diamond earrings and pendants? They're a little small to clean by scrubbing with a brush and they just need to have soap residue/body oils removed. Would soaking them in bathroom 'scum remover' harm them?
Thanks a bunch!
Lee-Ann
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More Reading:
Saying 'I Love You' for Less
By Gary Foreman
This is for the frugal romantic. Last Valentine's Day I had $8. I went to the local grocery store and bought gladiolas (the cheapest flowers I could find - but very beautiful). I cut red tissue paper into hearts to look like rose petals. I also bought strawberries and grapes. I got out all the photos of the two of us and taped them to the wall in a trail leading to the bathroom. The bathroom walls were filled completely with more pictures. There was also a bath drawn waiting for his homecoming and fruit to feed him. It went over very well!
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Things You Can Learn from Your Dog
1. Always be happy to see those you love.
2. Approach each day and each new experience with enthusiasm (even a walk).
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