Daily Thrifty Tips - October 14, 2009

Here are the contest winners for the contest that ran from September 26, 2009 to October 2, 2009. Thank you to everyone that took time to share something.

Pet Contest Winner

Amelia the Cat
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11836660.tip.html

Photo Contest Winner

Christmas: Crying Children Photo Card
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22446835.tip.html

Recipe Contest Winner

Gooey Gummy Candy
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78969704.tip.html

Tip Contest Winners

Use Vinegar Instead of Dryer Sheets
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61095040.tip.html

Remove Batteries From Disposable Cameras
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98182567.tip.html

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Update Mailbox With Shelf Paper

A simple way to redecorate your mailbox without spending a lot of money is with peel and stick "shelf paper" available almost anywhere.

I sized my mailbox with a piece of folded newspaper so I didn't even have to get out the slide tape or write down dimensions! Because the width of the paper was about 1/4 inch less than what I actually needed to cover the box from end to end I left it that way and also left the ends uncovered. All I needed (then) was the length of the peel & stick + overlap for the bottom.

Because I used an "off brand" of paper and it is known to not stay stuck, I reinforced it with wide mailing tape. All I needed the scissors for was to do a little trimming around the flag and I even did a little bit of patchwork where I cut too wide.

We will see how long this lasts! Please let me see your own mailbox updates!

By melody_yesterday from Otterville, MO

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Little Indian Maiden

This cute costume doesn't have to cost you anything if you have supplies on hand, except your time

Supplies:

• Old sheet (flat) preferably white
• Markers
• Scissors
• A few old pair of pantyhose or nylons (6 legs total)
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• Assorted makeup
• Feather

Instructions:

Lay the sheet out on a flat surface. Take one of the child's dresses or nightgown, and draw around it leaving about 4 inches on all sides, plus leave much more length at bottom and sleeves, for cutting fringe.

Sew all seams or use machine if you have one. I used a long shoelace at the neck to lace up making the neck hole a little bigger. Decorate the dress with markers as you would like.

Take the nylons or pantyhose (6 legs) and make two braids using (3) legs for each one, tying off at top and bottom. I made a headband from part of the sheet scraps, to fit child's head and sewed the braids onto each side of it. Then I sewed a feather onto the back of the headband. Makeup the child's face as you would like.

This costume is adorable and doesn't have to cost you anything, except your time.

By Dianne from Indianola, Iowa

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Jayda (German Shepherd)

Jayda is 14 months old. She is a German Shephard. Jayda was a gift for my daughter's 15th birthday. Jayda loves running around playing with her friends. She's a very happy and playful pup! She brightens our day. She is truly loved by everybody she meets.

By tammymarie from Old Bridge, NJ

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Shiba (Shiba Inu)

Shiba is an almost 2 year old Shiba Inu that I got about a year ago. She likes to walks and romp! She looks like a fox, and for as young as she ism she listens pretty well and is smart! We have had dogs her age or pups that were very difficult and stubborn to train. Her tail also curls on her back like a bun!

By Felicia from Columbus, OH

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Nino (Yorkie, Poodle)

Update: Voting for Nino was not working, for some reason. Because of this, we have decided to repost him as a featured pet.

This is Nino, Spanish for little boy. He is 4 years old and a Yorkie-Poodle. I got Nino when he could fit into the palm of my hand. He was just a few weeks old and the ad in the paper said I was getting a purebred poodle. Whew, were they ever wrong! No curly poodle hair or long poodle ears. What a pleasant surprise my baby turned out to be!

Nino is a total lap dog. He loves to be with his mamma whether it be going for a ride in the car (of course, he has to sit on my lap the entire time), sitting and literally staring at me while we're watching a movie or tv, or refusing to leave my lap while I type on the laptop (even right now...he's helping me write this). Of course, I always fall asleep and wake up with him by my side. He's simply happiest being with his mamma!

I will say that Nino is not only a healthy and loved pet, but one of the happiest dogs I've ever known! I can honestly say I've never seen a dog smile so much. He wears a constant grin and always inspires me to remember how wonderful life is, especially because he's in it :)

By Organicals from Phoenix, AZ

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Keeping Halloween Safe

Did you know that 4 times as many children ages 4-15 are killed on Halloween evening as compared to other evenings of the year?* Falls are another leading cause of injury on Halloween. Follow these safety precautions an keep safe on this SCARY night.

Children should:

1. Travel in groups and be accompanied by an adult

2. Go only to well lit houses

3. Never enter a home, remain on the porch

4. Carry a cell phone for emergencies and KNOW their home phone number

5. Bring treats home to inspect them prior to eating

6. Avoid flowing costumes that could be ignited by a flame or pose a tripping hazard

7. Avoid costume accessories with sharp edges that could cause injury if you were to fall on it (replace a plastic sword with one made of foam)

8. Have their name, address and phone number on the INSIDE of their costume in the event of an injury (use an address label on the hem of the costume and at the back closure)

9. Use flashlights

10. Cross streets at crosswalks whenever possible. Do not cross between parked cars

11. Avoid crossing unfamiliar yards which could have unseen fences, holes or pets

12. Consider face painting instead of masks which impair vision

Parents should:

1. Supervise children under age 12

2. Prepare homes for ticker-treaters by clearing sidewalks, porches and lawns

3. Keep pets indoors until the festivities have quieted down

4. Use electric candles in pumpkins or place your pumpkin inside a window

5. Inspect all candy before allowing it to be consumed. Throw away any home-made treats unless you know the people who have made it. Throw away unwrapped candies or wrappers that are not intact.

6. Drive slowly and carefully

Have fun! Be Safe

By skibum1910 from Prospect, KY

*Editor's Note: This statistic appears to be true regarding pedestrian deaths. Scary, nonetheless.

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Keep Old Vacuum Tools

I keep all the old vacuum tools from all of my defunct vacuums, if I don't give them away. Most tools are interchangeable, an extra extension wand or hosing will really come in handy.

By Bailey from SW Michigan

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Layered Nut Gift Jar

For a gift, get a clear jar and layer different types of nuts; like almonds, cashews, pecan, Brazil, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds. Seal well and cut a round or square piece of cotton fabric, place on seal and tie with a ribbon. Makes a good gift.

By Dorty from SA

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Seasonal Flag Care and Tips

I like to display one of the larger decorative banners on the flagpole on my porch for all the seasons, holidays and occasions. They're nylon, nearly indestructible, and can be washed in the washer when they get dusty. But after a season or two (especially the summer ones), they become faded and the vibrant colours aren't as nice. Here are a few idea for dealing with your seasonal banners:

• First, when your banner is still new, Scotchguard it. Buy a can of Scotchguard just about anywhere, and spray both sides. It will protect it from most of the elements ( besides sunshine ), and make it easy to wipe off various things, but doesn't help much if birds like your flag.

• I purchased a number of skirt hangers to keep them organized. Each holds six, and can be hooked together. By hanging the different banners from the clips, I can hang them in the coat closet, and quickly see 12 flags at a time.

• When they begin to lose their bright colours and you want to replace it, but have become attached to the faded ones and can't bear to throw them away, you can enjoy them a little longer. They're pretty large but lightweight, so I washed one that I was very fond of, and put it in the picnic basket. I use it as a tablecloth on the concrete tables at rest areas. Lots of folks have come over to our picnic to comment about it, and we've met some nice people. And of course, if something should be spilled, it can be wiped right off - the Scotchguard helps, but so does the fact that it's nylon - or can be tossed right in with your laundry.

• At picnics and family reunions, it can be spread across all the dishes of food while everyone is eating - to keep out flies and dust.

• It can be placed under a group of potted plants that have been gathered together for watering while on vacation, to protect the floor.

• And in case of emergency, if you should be keeping one in the back of the car, you can use it to spread on the ground by the car in the unfortunate instance that you have to crawl underneath, or change a tire.

• You can spread one over the leather seats of a car when it's been baking in the sun, and is too hot to sit on.

By Lady Eleanour from The Rocket City

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Repairing a Broken Key

Here's a nifty idea to repair a broken key - the ones with a circular shaft. File a flat on the end and use an electrical strip connector as shown in the diagram:

• http://www.gwsupplies.co.uk/niglon thermoplastic 12 way connector strip

They are quite cheap to buy, and you can cut off any length you need.

It works a treat and saved me from buying a new key!

By richardpeeej from UK

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Dry Eraser to Remove Permanent Marker

My name is Shannon and I have found an amazing, magical, cleaning assistant. You see, I have an almost 3 year old at home who loves to get his hands on permanent markers and color on things he shouldn't. Like my antique coffee table and 2 end tables that happen to be solid wood and my favorite cherry stain color. Today, I found 3 more "drawings" he had been hiding from me all in permanent marker.

Now, I do drawings and art projects that require me to use such markers and I have them in EVERY color you could possibly think of. This time he had gone to far, he drew on all three of my tables, HIS cherry stain sleigh bed, his cherry stain dresser AND our RENTED white walls.

Frantically I called my mother to ask her what to do. She told me that at the hospital where she works at; when someone accidentally gets permanent marker on a solid surface where it doesn't belong, they just take a dry erase marker and go over the permanent marker and it comes right off. I then explained that I had NO idea how long it had been there and that it was in all different colors; but all she said is it won't hurt to try.

She said to use any dry erase marker color you have, it doesn't matter. Scribble over the permanent marker and then wipe it away with a paper towel, cloth or whatever you have and, "POOF", it's gone. She also told me that when I use it on the white wall it might leave a hint of the dry erase markers color but all you need is a wet rag or something to get that off.

To my surprise, IT WORKED! ON ALL THE SURFACES! It almost makes me want to draw on things with a sharpie just for fun. So I guess grandma saves her grandson yet again from one of his goofy mistakes.

By Shannon

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Use It Up, Wear It Out, Fix It or Do Without

I have a little money saver here. With the recent down turn with the economy, I now live by different rules. Use it up, wear it out, fix it or do without. I have never had new furniture and what I had, I got second hand when I got it and it was all busted down. It wasn't even worth giving away. I got new furniture and put the old furniture in the dining room.

I then started cutting it up. The stuffing in the pillows that you lean back on and the stuffing in the arms. I took out and put in a garbage bag to save it. I'm going to make some throw pillows for the living room and the bedrooms to match. Tomorrow, I am taking apart all that wood and am going to build me some shelves.

The material that is no good so I am going to burn it in my trash barrel. I guess the only thing that I can't use are the metal springs. (unless someone else has some ideas on this). If ya'll ever find yourself in this situation, find uses to it around the house. Hope I've helped someone else.

By Beverly from Havana, Arkansas

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Use Microfiber for Swiffer Pads

Use microfiber car cleaning cloths in place of Swiffer sweeper pads. At approx. $5 for 10-12 washcloth sized cloths, you can't go wrong. They fit right into the sweeper's holder, and are reusable. Simply toss it into the washing machine after using both sides.

By IzzyTheTerrible from Tampa, FL

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Fleas on My Cat and Her Kittens

My cat and her kittens have fleas. The kittens are only 3 weeks old. The kittens are crying on and off. Do you think that the fleas are harming them so much that they are crying or is it something else?

By Kita from Philadelphia, PA

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Odor Coming from Piano Keys After Tuning

I have a Hallet and Davis upright which is 2 yrs. old. I had it tuned about 1 month ago and have since noticed a foul smell coming from the keys. This is something that was not there before.

By Nancy from Cumming, GA

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Paint Colors to Coordinate With Blue-Green Carpet

I want to paint my walls but all of my carpet is blue green. What color should I paint my walls without everything being brown or tan?

By Tracey from Alma, GA

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Turpentine Odors on Fabric

Does anyone have advice on how to remove turpentine odors from fabric? My son-in-law accidentally put cloth soaked in turpentine in my washing machine full of towels. Now I can't get the smell off them even though they have now been washed 3 times with soap powder and conditioner!

By Carol from UK

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Emerson Microwave Stopped Working

I have an Emerson microwave that recently became only a big kitchen timer for some unknown reason. The cook function will not work. I unplugged it a couple times, once for over an hour, thinking that it would auto-reset but it didn't. What happened? How can I fix it?

By Melody_yesterday

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Short Hair Styles

What is a good short hairstyle?

By Gray from Denver, CO

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Will Fleas Harm a Newborn Baby?

Will fleas harm my newborn baby?

By Kita

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Kenmore Freezer Not Automatically Defrosting

We have a 3 year old Kenmore French door refrigerator with a bottom freezer. The automatic defrost cycles don't do enough. The fan runs continuously when the doors are closed. After a few months the fan makes a racket and we must again defrost it manually. If we use the icemaker we must manually defrost more frequently. How can I fix this?

By Neil from Dallas, TX

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Snuggie Vs. Slanket

What is better a Snuggie or a Slanket? The Slanket is very expensive but I heard it is better quality. I am thinking about Christmas gifts but want to get gifts that are good for everyone. Thank you.

By Ann

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Product Review: Snuggie

Product: Snuggie

Manufacturer: Snuggie

Cost: $14.99

Is the Snuggie a product that keeps you warm in the winter? When you wash it does it pill or shred? Does it cover you in the back and do the sleeves get in your way when you are doing something? I want to give it as a gift to an overweight gentleman who is 5' 10". Will it cover him behind his back? Thank you everyone.

By Ann from US

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Uses for Old Coffee Cups

I like like to find some other uses for coffee cups.

By Nicole

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Bra Strap Pads

Has anyone any ideas about how to pad bra straps to reduce tendon irritation on the shoulders? Maybe some kind of silicon gel pad or something to spread the load?

By Nicola from Geneva

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Cat with Hairballs

I have a 15 year old cat that is having a terrible time with hairballs. I have switched to wet food thinking he might be able to get it down easier and keep it down. Should I still be giving him dry food too? He still throws up, but not nearly as much. Sometimes he will come up with a hairball that is 3-4 inches long. He won't eat the food if I put hairball medicine on it. Poor baby.

By Phyllis

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Keeping Dogs Off Lawn

How do you keep small dogs from pooping on your lawn?

By Mike from Drumheller, AB

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6 Year Old Having Frequent Accidents

My 6 year old daughter is having accidents almost everyday. We thought it was a medical problem, but the doctor says no. We tried counseling due to her being adopted, but that is not working. I thought it might be an attention getter, due to her having a younger sibling. We have tried everything. We need some help. Any suggestions?

By Stephanie from Dayton, OH

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Motor Oil Stain on Upholstery

How do I remove a motor oil stain on upholstery?

By Jose from Monterrey, Mexico

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Home Remedies for Fleas

Does anybody have a frugal way to remove fleas from a home and animals that is safe? We have a Yorkie (about 3 lb) and a cat that is a lot bigger. The fleas came home on us from my parents' home and infested our home. I'm trying to control two homes. Any ideas?

By Kim from Quincy, MI

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Selling on Ebay

I keep hearing that if you want to sell successfully, you need to find your "niche" on what to sell on eBay. For those of you that do sell on eBay, how did you find your niche? I'm trying to sell and I seem to be floundering. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

By Karen from Charleston, SC

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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.

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Singing the Praises of Mystery Shopping

As a one income family, I wanted to write about something I wholeheartedly believed in, and that is mystery (secret) shopping. For those of you who are reading this and have yet to give it a try, delay no more! So what is mystery shopping?

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