Daily Thrifty Tips - April 24, 2007

Volume Six, Number 80, April 24, 2007 (Read It Online) We are working on creating a Cinco De Mayo section on the website. Do you have any party tips for recipes to share for Cinco De Mayo? Please submit them here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml This week's Saving Money On newsletter is about Saving Money at Restaurants. Do you have any tips to share? Feel free to post your ideas here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15919301.tip.html 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: Standing Baby Craft Strawberry Pot Side Table Backyard View The Coloring of Dakota and Huskies Today's Tips: My Frugal Life: Live Like Good Ol' Grandma Breakfast Casserole Free Crochet Patterns Online Call To Save Wal-Mart's Fabric Department Product Review: Oxyclean Save Change For Family Vacation Save Money By Recycling Tips For Surviving Power Outages Peanut Butter And Jelly Quesadilla Look For Free Stuff Old Fashioned Hard Boiled Eggs All-In-One (Scanner Copier) For Printing Extra Sheet Music New Requests: Fundraising Ideas Rings Under My Eyes After Switching to Contacts Bittersweet Not Blooming Honeysuckle Foliage Dying Mark From a Hot Paper Plate Luau Party Game Ideas Garlic Butter Chicken Pizza Shopping Bag Made for Produce Star Theme Dance Keeping Track of My Mileage Putting Together a Clorox Ready Mop Using Bubble Bath as Soap Dog With an Ear Infection Bad Smelling Baby Clothing Knifty Knitter Doily Painting Laminate Countertops Recipes Using Canned Salmon Grease Stains on Leather More Reading: Cultivating A Natural Garden 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: Today's Photos: Standing Baby Craft Here's a craft for making a figure that looks like a baby wearing a straw hat. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26740838.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Strawberry Pot Side Table Use a strawberry pot as an inexpensive side table on your deck! First plant small vines or other trailing plants in the holes of the pot. Fill the rest of the pot with soil then cover top of the soil with small pebbles and cover the top with a small glass table top. By Chanon Landenberg from Knoxville, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52312911.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Backyard View This is my backyard view every day. Does it get any better than this? By Peggy from Cortland, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62867634.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print The Coloring of Dakota and Huskies As many of you know, I have a darling husky named Dakota. But he didn't always look how he does. When I first got him he was mostly all tan with some grey spots but as he's grown his fur has changed into silver, black and white (he still has some tan parts). I have met someone recently that had said he paid extra money so he could get a red puppy instead of a grey one and guess what? Her fur eventually turned grey a few months after buying her! So, I recommend getting any colored husky, don't be picky. They're all wonderful! Jessamyn from Honolulu, HI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72613260.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: My Frugal Life: Live Like Good Ol' Grandma Cut those expenses in half, redirect your disposable income, decrease your stress, change your spending habits, live a thrifty fun life well below your means and budget now to be financially free later. Recently I have been trading thrifty and fun ideas with many families that are struggling to regain control of their money and allow it to work for them instead of always working for it. Most of these ideas, we learned in school. But when applied to our grown-up lives, they can and will make a difference. Try to remember why it was, and is, so nice to go visit good ol' "Grandma"; worn comfortable furniture, fresh local produce, homemade meals, real tea or coffee, photo albums, time to read and plenty books to choose from, family art on the walls, comfy quilts/afghans, real sugar, places to hike, sled riding, ice skating, bible studies, mushroom hunting, wood to whittle, picking wild flowers, clipping coupons, picnics to enjoy, kites to fly, people to chat with, board or card games to play, crafts to make, cakes to bake, photos to take, leaves to rake, habits to break, birds to watch, and not to forget, those local events; fairs, cook outs, fishing holes, quilting bees, church potlucks, softball, pool parties, campfires, and family reunions. So here is a large list of things that each of us could/can change in order to be more like the place we remember and save lots of money in the process. Staci from Amanda, OH Editor's Note: Staci has also shared a big list of wondeful money saving tips. Read the complete essay (including tips) here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73844084.tip.html 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/tf73844084.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Breakfast Casserole Ingredients 1 lb. bulk sausage 4 hard boiled eggs 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup flour 2 cups milk 1 can creamed corn 1 cup soft bread crumbs 6 oz. grated Swiss cheese 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup small onion, finely chopped salt and pepper to taste Directions Brown sausage and drain. Make white sauce with butter, flour, milk and corn and simmer about 5 minutes. Add sausage, stir to blend. Slice eggs. Layer eggs, sauce mixture and cheese in a sprayed casserole dish. Top with bread crumbs and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Best if you let set in refrigerator overnight before baking. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39936526.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Free Crochet Patterns Online I saw several people on here asking for patterns for crocheting and knitting patterns. I ran across this link that has hundreds of free ones so thought I would pass it on. http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/ By Mythi "Though miles may lie between us, we're never far apart, for friendship doesn't count the miles, it's measured by the heart." Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85836424.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Call To Save Wal-Mart's Fabric Department I was told by a Wal-Mart employee that it might be possible to save the fabric department if everyone would call 1-800-WAL-MART. and tell them how valuable that department is to all of us that do crafts which require sewing and notion supplies. I hope that this saves a much needed service. By Cairene from PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98248602.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Product Review: Oxyclean Product: Oxyclean Manufacturer: Orange Glo International Cost: $6.00 I couldn't live without this stuff! It has gotten all kinds of stains out of my two kids clothes, including poopy stains, spit-up stains, tomato sauce stains, grass stains, etc. It is also great for making your whites really white. It comes in a large bucket and lasts a long time too! All you have to do is let your clothes soak for a few hours/or overnight and then throw them in the wash. Walah! By thriftymomof2 from Pasadena, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86923741.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Save Change For Family Vacation We save our change from one year to the next to take a vacation at Christmas to Pigeon Forge, Tenn (Dollywood). We rent a cabin for 14 of us, we've done this for 5 years and go ice skating and snowbowling. We have a wonderful time with family. By Eve from Mableton, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97603609.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Save Money By Recycling Call your nearest garbage drop off to save money! I know some states pay for garbage through taxes, but for those of you who pay by bag, call the garbage facility in your area and ask about recycling. Usually they take recycling for free with a bag of trash. Once you get into it, you will realize most of the things you throw away are able to recycle. Cut your garbage bill in half (or more). You can recycle almost everything: plastic (bottles, bags, jugs), Paper (newspaper, magazines, etc.), metal (cans mostly). That leaves you with leftovers (compost), junk mail (make a pinata), old clothes (cleaning rags), broken electronics, toys and "stuff". Save the earth and your hard earned money! By Starchild from Lamoille County, VT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65638472.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips For Surviving Power Outages A few months ago, our whole area was without electricity for nearly 15 hours. My husband and I made it fine. We had oil lamps, matches, lots of blankets, and partially prepared meat and vegetables in the crockpot that we were able to transport into a metal baking dish and finish cooking on the BBQ grill outside. We stayed home the whole time. Some of our fellow church members went to various stores, casinos, and other establishments for meals, warmth, etc. One way to check to see if your electricity is on at your home when you're away is to call your home, if your answering machine picks up, the power is back on. A fellow from church told us this. By Terri from NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81693736.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Peanut Butter And Jelly Quesadilla This is best if you have a quesadilla maker appliance. Put one tortilla inside the appliance. Spread peanut butter and your favorite jelly, jam or preserves over the tortilla. Top with remaining tortilla. Bake according to appliance directions. I find the corn tortillas give the best flavor. Do not fill too full, as the insides tend to flow outside! Good snack or even dessert. And watch out! It's hot! By Cay from Green Cove Springs, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49478240.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Look For Free Stuff Watch the "free" category in the classifieds, also the same with "FreeCycle" if it's in your area, via e-mail. You never know what some folks are offering for free. All you have to do is be one of the first to show up and haul it off. We've got in on free firewood (on 2 different occasions, 1 we took and another time for some friends). Another time, we got some free flower bulbs: Cannas, purple Irises, etc. Who knows what you might get in on! By Terri H. from NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67063608.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Old Fashioned Hard Boiled Eggs I just want to say something about this "newfangled" idea of cooking eggs. All the sites, papers, etc. now claim that you are to bring the eggs to a boil in the water and turn them off and let stand for 15 to 17 minutes. You know ladies, I have been boiling eggs for 43 years. So I tried this way, several times. I ended up with eggs that are not done. When I was 19, I learned to hardboil eggs by boiling them for 10 minutes, at least, at a full boil. My eggs were fine and I never had underdone eggs for years and years. So now, I try to keep up with the times, and I end up with 4 dozen undercooked eggs! And, no I did not cook them all together. I will go back to my regular cooking method which has always worked for me. Thank you for letting me sound off! By Bonnie from Martinsburg Editor's Note: Thanks for posting this! It's always nice to know what works and what doesn't work for people. I checked a few of my cookbooks and didn't see any instructions for cooking eggs in this "new-fangled" way. They were in agreement to start the eggs in cold water and bring to a boil. Then you can either continue boiling for 8-10 minutes or reduce the heat to a simmer (still steaming) for 10-15 minutes. Has anyone else had any experience with the "right" way to hard cook eggs? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11049901.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print All-In-One (Scanner Copier) For Printing Extra Sheet Music We brought an extra copier/scanner to the choir room of our church. It really comes in handy for last minute copies of the music! By Pamphyila from Los Angeles Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20237126.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: Fundraising Ideas My class is planning a trip to Malawi in June 2008. As sports leaders we will be teaching/helping out in some P.E. classes. But before we go we have to raise the money to get us there. Altogether we need to raise about £10,000. We have been thinking of ways to raise the money but so far haven't got anything. I was just looking for some good ideas/ways to raise this sort of money! lilme2k7 from uk Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70013967.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Rings Under My Eyes After Switching to Contacts I have been using glasses for years and I have now switched to contacts. The only bad thing is the rings under my eyes. Are there any remedies for making them fade away or make up tips to cover up? Sana.m from Durban, South Africa Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52776805.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bittersweet Not Blooming I bought Bittersweet at a reputable gardening shop and planted it. It has been three years and had grown wonderful with lots of leaves and vines but no blooms. Does anyone know why this happens and what I can do to get the Bittersweet to finally bloom? Hardiness Zone: 5a Pattie McIntyre from Bridgton, Maine Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54857201.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Honeysuckle Foliage Dying I have long established honeysuckle growing on east facing fence and in early spring it appears very healthy, then much of foliage dies off. Any help as to why? By Maurice from Cambridge, England Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58652158.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mark From a Hot Paper Plate How do I remove a burn mark on a wood dining room table? We put down hot food on a paper plate. Thanks. Brenda from Providence, RI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47016957.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Luau Party Game Ideas I'm having my 13th b-day party on Friday and it is a Luau theme. I am having 8-10 of my best friends over from 7-10. The problem is, I have absolutely no idea what games to play! If you have any ideas for me please respond! Maggie from Macungie, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40359394.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Garlic Butter Chicken Pizza How do you make garlic butter chicken pizza? Jean from Columbus, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49187475.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Shopping Bag Made for Produce I would like to purchase a bag to fill with my produce from the super market. I don't want a solid bag. Rather I would like to purchase a string type that has lots of holes in it so the produce can breathe until I get it home. Can anyone help? I live in Massachusetts, about 20 miles north of Boston. Thanks. Joesgirl from Beverly, Massachusetts Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45426450.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Star Theme Dance I am looking for specific ideas for an 8th grade end-of-middle school dance. We have decided on a Star theme - under the stars, or wish upon a star. I want to use metallic color balloons. Otherwise, we don't really know what to do. All you creative people in this group, can you help with ideas? Especially with how to make giant stars, and how to use them in decor? I love reading tips here and have used many of them. Thanks. Tere from Austin, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17010303.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keeping Track of My Mileage I drive a lot for my job, but only get paid for mileage if I am filling in for another worker. I don't get paid to travel to my regular clients homes. I was wondering if anyone knows of any free downloadable programs I can use to track my mileage for tax purposes? If anyone knows of something I can use for this I would really appreciate it. TIA. jmz2005 from illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56690168.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Putting Together a Clorox Ready Mop My Clorox Ready Mop came with no assembly instructions. Can anyone tell me how to put it together? Maggie from Ft Myers, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31662289.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Bubble Bath as Soap Does anyone know if bubble bath can be used as liquid soap? I don't take a lot of baths and I'd like to use up the bottles of bubble bath I've received as gifts. Maryeileen from Brooklyn, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37280369.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dog With an Ear Infection I need a home remedy for My 8 year old male Siberian Huskies ear infection, we don't have the money right now to get him into the vet. I have seen some of the home remedies helped with several ailments for dogs. Does anyone have one for ear infections? I don't want to see him suffer anymore, I feel terrible for him. Please help! Amie from Houston TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27556968.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bad Smelling Baby Clothing How do I get bad smells out of baby clothing? Monkeesmama from Florida Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85903761.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Knifty Knitter Doily I am looking for Knifty Knitter patterns for doilies. Judy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35699856.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Painting Laminate Countertops How can I paint laminate counters? Diane from Cutler Bay. FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf999197.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipes Using Canned Salmon I'm needing recipes using canned salmon. Any help will be appreciated! Thanks for your time. Terri from NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf554580.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Grease Stains on Leather How do you get grease stains off leather? Judy from MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf163353.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: More Reading: Cultivating A Natural Garden By Ellen Brown One of the most prevalent attributes common to natural gardens is that they work with - not against - nature. The design has the appearance of a garden that happened naturally instead of a planned, sculptured look. Natural gardens also house native flora that thrives with relatively low maintenance, and embraces nature by providing a haven for wildlife. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21323835.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.