Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 86, April 1, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Contest winners for the latest Tip and Photo Contest have been
chosen. This is a random drawing from all the valid entries submitted.
The winner of the tip contest is Terri H. Terri sent in 33 entries during the
last half of March. There were 269 total contest entries during that
period. Congratulations Terri!
The photo contest winner is Tammy. Tammy sent in photos of
Buttercup her Pekingese puppy. Congratulations Tammy! Her entry was chosen at random from 61 entries.
With those contests ending we are starting two new contests, both with new prizes. For the tip contest we are now giving away a $50.00 gift certificate (in the past it has been $30.00). That contest will end on the 15th of this month. You can enter the tip contest here:
Tip Contest!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
For the photo contest we are giving away a Digital Camera! Due to the expense of the camera will be running this contest over two months. For information on the camera we are giving away visit the Photo Contest page here:
Photo Contest!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Thank you to everyone that has been submitting tips to our contests and thanks for reading,
Susan
Enter The Photo Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Enter The Tip Contest:
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Frugal solutions to everyday problems: Submit a request...
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- Tootie (Unknown Breed)
- Making Costumes
Today's Tips:
- Check Your Wiper Blades
- Gas and Oil Additives
- Baby Oil for Shaving
- Mechanic and a Surgeon Joke
- Saving Energy in the Kitchen
- Whiter Teeth
- Preventing Identity Theft - Locking Mailboxes
- Removing Blood from Fabric
- Killing Insects On Natural Decorations
- Music for Calming a Puppy
- Saving Money on Long Distance Phone Fees
- Comforting Puppies and Kittens
- Shining Chrome Bathroom Fixtures
- Teaching Your Children About Money
- Washing Machine Touch Panels Wear Out
- Instead of Jet Dry
- Computer Infections - Removing Spyware From Your Computer
- Decorating Candles
- Stretching Butter With Olive Oil
- Keep a Spare Mower Blade on Hand
- Maintaining the Lawn Mower
- Healthy Ranch Dressing
- Banana Bread II
- Maintaining your candles & candle holders
New Requests:
- Ideas For A 40th High School Reunion
- Hot Fudge Recipe
- Rust Stain on Bleached T-shirt
- Drying a Mattress Cover
- Working Long Hours - Dealing With Pain in Feet, Legs and Lower Back
- Brown Water Stains on Fabric Wall
- Smoke Smell in Wood Cabinet
More Reading:
- Frugal Springtime Fun With Kids!
- Book Shelf Decorating Idea & Tip
- Fitness for the Busy Family
- Mix Perennials into Your Garden for Staying Power
Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make
11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures
of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
Today's Photo Contest Entries
Tootie (Unknown Breed)
Meet our dog Tootie. He's a stray dog my wife found deep in our back
woods recently. She doesn't normally pick up strays, but she said
that this dog kept staring at her like he was trying to say something.
Actually, the dog makes me feel uncomfortable because all he does is
stare at me all day long. Anybody want a dog?
By Chuck
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Making Costumes
When making a costume, I have found the best place to get strange clothes is the Thrift Stores, and also have a husband willing to dress up in anything you buy. Enjoy the picture!
By lee anne jones
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a Digital Camera! You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Check Your Wiper Blades
Check your wiper blades on your vehicle periodically. If you don't watch, they'll separate and the next time you turn them on, they'll scratch your windshield.
By T. H.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Gas and Oil Additives
To get better fuel mileage on your vehicle, use a gas additive.
If your vehicle starts using a lot of oil. There are oil additives on the market that will stop it. The best we've found is Lucas.
By T. H.
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Baby Oil for Shaving
In cold weather when my skin is especially dry, I shave my legs and underarms using baby oil instead of soap or shaving cream. It makes my razor last forever, and my skin is super soft. Also works on faces for the guys! One caution: Be careful if using the baby oil in tub or shower, as it does make for a slippery surface.
By Truerblue
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Mechanic and a Surgeon Joke
A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle when he spotted a well-known heart surgeon in his shop.
The surgeon was there waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the garage. "Hey Doc, can I ask you a question?"
The surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle.
The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So, how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?"
The surgeon paused, smiled and leaned over, and whispered to the mechanic...."Try doing it with the engine running.."
By Terri
View Article: Click Here
Saving Energy in the Kitchen
Using Leftover Oven Heat From the Oven
After I'm done using my oven and have turned it off, I leave the oven door fully open to help warm my kitchen in winter months. Some of that warm air drifts to other rooms on the main floor of my house.
By truerblue
Editor's Note: If you have curious pets or little children, you will just want to open the door a little ways.
Read More Ideas: Click Here
Whiter Teeth
Tips for whitening your teeth. Post your ideas.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Preventing Identity Theft - Locking Mailboxes
To eliminate the chance that identity thieves will tamper with your personal mail, consider a mail box that locks, or a mail slot in your front door which drops the mail inside your home.
By Truerblue
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Removing Blood from Fabric
Tips for removing blood stains from clothing and other fabric. Post your ideas.
Need to get fresh blood out of fabric? Dab the spot with rubbing alcohol before putting through the wash. My nurse friend gave me this tip when I got blood on a new bedspread and it worked perfectly.
By Laura Coleman
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Killing Insects On Natural Decorations
Whenever you bring any natural stuff like pine cones or twigs into the house to use as decor, put them on a foil lined baking sheet in the oven at 200-250 degrees for 30 minutes to kill any hitchhiking insects.
By Linda
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Music for Calming a Puppy
Is your new puppy crying and keeping you up at night? Put on some lullaby or calming classical music and you and your puppy will have sweet dreams. I have fostered 70 puppies in the last two years and this works!
By Laura Coleman
Post Feedback: Click Here
Saving Money on Long Distance Phone Fees
Tips for saving money on calling long distance. Post your ideas!
Post Feedback: Click Here
Comforting Puppies and Kittens
Want to comfort a puppy or kitten going through separation anxiety? Get one pair of mens socks, fill one with rice (not instant) and sew shut, then cover with other sock. Put in microwave for 3 minutes (until warm) and place in a "C" shape in puppy/kitten crate.
They will curl up to it like it is a mommy and the rice holds warmth for a few hours. When it gets dirty slip off the cover sock, put it in the wash, and then put it back on. I use this trick with my foster puppy and kittens.
By Laura Coleman
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Shining Chrome Bathroom Fixtures
Shine chrome bathroom fixtures with a little baby oil. It helps them look clean and shiny longer.
By Laura Coleman
Post Feedback: Click Here
Teaching Your Children About Money
This is for those with kids in the 'tween years.
My daughter couldn't understand why daddy's pay while it sounded like a lot when you said the total, really wasn't.
Say the total is $300. 'Well, MOM! that Jesse McCartney CD is only 16 dollars!' she may say.
This is what I did:
I got out the Monopoly money, made $300 in 50's 20s and 10s. and one 100.
I told her the weekly expenses, groceries, gas, water bill, electric bill etc. I told her to give me the amount for each bill, taking away from the $300 she had.
When I got done, the amount that remained was considerably less. I said, 'Now, the rest is for your lunch money, and things we don't figure for. I explained that incidentals almost always come up, and what was left had to last until next pay day.
She was at the age at that time (14) to understand what the point I was trying to make. She did not like it, but she understood it.
Seeing is believing. Just telling them sometimes just isn't enough, but SHOWING them often pops that light bulb of understanding.
By Kris
View Article: Click Here
Washing Machine Touch Panels Wear Out
Someone had mentioned giving the clothes washer an extra spin at the end to get rid of water, thinking that it would lessen drying time. Figured I'd better mention that I used to do just that, and wore out my electronic panel. The repairman said that the electronic finger tip touch panels are not as durable as the old twist and turn dials. An expensive lesson.
By Holly
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Instead of Jet Dry
In place of Jet Dry in your dishwasher fill the reservoir with white vinegar. It does the same job everything sparkles!
It's also much cheaper!
By cori
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Computer Infections - Removing Spyware From Your Computer
Is your computer running slowly or having a slew of pop-up ads popping up all the time, even when you're not on-line? It is probably infected with spyware or adware. These are programs that one can pick up in the course of surfing the web and downloading programs. Spyware spies on your computer use and reports back to its programmer and adware plasters ads on your screen. If you're having these problems there are three FREE programs you can use to clean off your system.
1) Spybot S&D at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
2) Ad-Aware at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
3) a beta (test program) at Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx .
The Microsoft program will only work if you have a legal copy of Win 2000 or XP.
Each program catches things the others don't, so it's best to get all three. (It's free, after all!) If you keep them updated and scan your system regularly, you'll find that your computer runs much faster.
(I don't work for any of these companies, but I am a Librarian. We use these programs on our computers regularly and they really help keep our computers functioning.)
By Kathleen K.
View Article: Click Here
Decorating Candles
I love candles. When I am decorating for an event or a holiday, I like to use candles. I always have a bunch of cheap white candles lying around. I like to spice them up with some glue and glitter. I use white school glue and paint the sides of the candle with it and then roll it in different colored glitter, depending on what I need. It's cute and it looks good too! Great centerpiece!
By Kiera Blonquist
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Stretching Butter With Olive Oil
You can stretch your butter by making it into a butter spread. Use 1 cup warm water, 1 cup light olive oil, 1 tsp. granulated lecithin (let water and oil mix and found at health food stores.) 1/2 to 1 tsp. salt according to taste. Let butter soften first. Mix water, salt, and lecithin granules. Add oil and butter cut into smaller pieces. Blend together with mixer until smooth. Store in smaller containers in fridge. Will harden with refrigeration but is very soft if left out. Good Luck
By Carol Monson
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Keep a Spare Mower Blade on Hand
It doesn't hurt to keep a spare lawn mower blade on hand. Just in case you happen to run over something that might bend the one on the mower (Example: Maybe your wife or kids are doing the mowing). You might need it on a holiday when all the stores are closed.
By T. H.
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Maintaining the Lawn Mower
If you live in dusty areas, change your lawn mower's conditioner every time you mow. This will help preserve your mower.
By T. H.
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Healthy Ranch Dressing
\Ingredients:
- 1 carton firm low fat Tofu
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
- 1/2 & 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
Directions:
Blend all together in blender. Store in refrigerator.
By Carol Monson
View Article: Click Here
Banana Bread
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup margarine or butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 3 ripe bananas
- 2 cups flour
Directions:
Cream sugar and margarine. Add eggs and cream again. In blended add milk, soda, and ripe bananas. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture of bananas into the sugar, margarine and eggs. Mix. Stir in flour and mix. Grease the bottoms only of a loaf pan and fill with mixture. Let bread rest in pan for 20 minutes before baking. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bread is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Bread may be wrapped in foil and frozen.
By Robin
Banana Bread II
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed banana
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tsp. soda
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup sour cream or buttermilk
Ingredients
Combine butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in bowl until thoroughly mixed. Add mashed bananas, cream or buttermilk, flour, soda, and salt. Beat until blended. Bake in greased pans in 350 degree oven until knife blade comes out clean or center springs back.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Maintaining your candles & candle holders
By Bijou in Texas
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your candles and candle holders without a lot of fuss:
- Always cut the wick of the candle to 1/8 of an inch before lighting and allow the candle to burn long enough so that the hot wax extends to touch the candleholder on all sides. This will ensure that the candle burns down evenly which will maximize the length of time your candle will burn. Cut the wick every time you light your candle.
- Keep your candle away from drafts. Drafty areas will cause the wick to dance back and forth. Smoke will then emit from the wick and could cause soot stains on your candle holders.
- Always make sure you use the appropriate sized candle for the holder. Never, for example, burn a votive candle in a tea light holder. This can cause glass or crystal holders to break from excess heat.
- Do not ever use anything that wasn't meant to be a candleholder to burn a candle in/on. Again, this could cause breakage or even explosion.
- Burn candles down as much as possible to eliminate the need to rid your candleholders of excess melted wax.
- Remember that the longer you let melted candles sit in a holder, the more difficult it will be to remove the wax.
Save yourself the trouble by taking care of the problem straight away. As soon as you notice that the candle has burned down to a point that you won't burn it anymore, snuff the wick and allow the wax to become solid.
Place the holder in the freezer. Placing the cup/holder upside down is ideal.
After about 10-15 minutes you should be able to take the holder out, give the holder a little smack on the bottom with the palm of your hand and the candle should pop right out.
If it does not pop out and/or if you have waited a while before trying to take the wax out of your holder, take a wax scraper or a butter knife and begin to cut into the candle in a straight line. Before you have gotten halfway down, the candle should pop right out.
* Those rubbery washable butter knives they sell at the supermarket are ideal to use to protect your holder from nicks and scratches.
- In order to maximize your candles and protect your property you should always read the labels! Burning a pillar candle is very different from burning a candle that is contained in a glass jar.
- Also remember to keep candles out of the reach of pets and children. Wax isn't easily removed from some surfaces and fires that could result from misuse can be disastrous!
Good luck and happy burning!
Bijou in Texas
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Other Active Topics
Be sure to check out our active topics page to follow the discussion.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest Prize! Now a $50.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $50.00 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 April 15th.
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.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/syndication.html
New Requests:
Ideas For A 40th High School Reunion
I am on the planning committee of our 40th high school reunion. We have got the basics done but we want to do some great unique things done by ideas from other reunions that went over well. We need prizes, decorations, name tags, music, photos, unique things done that was a big hit at your reunion. Break the ice tips, anything your class did to make it a great reunion.
I must add we are on a very tight budget! Please let me hear from all to make our reunion that will be talked about with fond memories afterwards. Thanks now for everyone that takes the time to help.
Carolyn from Arkansas
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Hot Fudge Recipe
Does anyone have a recipe for hot fudge sauce from scratch?
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Rust Stain on Bleached T-shirt
I bleached a discoloured white cotton T-shirt and it came out beautifully but a small section was resting on a knob in the sink and now its rusted. I tried vinegar and more bleach on that area but no luck. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Carala
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Drying a Mattress Cover
I took off my mattress cover this morning to wash it. I threw it in the regular laundry like most people. I didn't keep the washing directions. It has a protective plastic lining. My question being, can I put it in the dryer? I don't have heat control so it is always hot air, is it safe or will it melt?
Angie
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Working Long Hours - Dealing With Pain in Feet, Legs and Lower Back
I work long hours and have a lot of pain in my feet, legs and lower back. Basically, I hurt all over! I wear insoles in my shoes (not custom), and take ibuprofen for the pain. Does anyone know how to manage my pain without so much over the counter medicine? Quitting my job is not an option.
Thanks :)
Aeromama
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Brown Water Stains on Fabric Wall
What is the best way to remove a brown water stain from a fabric wall that is inside the cabin of a boat? I've tried some cleaners using a Little Bissel green machine without any affect.
Larry
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Smoke Smell in Wood Cabinet
I am trying to find a way to remove a smoke smell from my grandmother's wooden dining room furniture. It was made in 1962 and she and my grandfather smoked heavily. The wood is not coated with polyurethane so I am nervous about using harsh cleaning products. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!
Allison from Kingsport, TN
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make
11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures
of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
More Reading:
Frugal Springtime Fun With Kids!
By Cyndi Roberts
Spring is on the way, and that means the kids are going to be ready to play outdoors more. But the time always comes when every mom hears "I'm bored!" Be prepared with these ideas to beat boredom before it begins!
View Article: Click Here
Book Shelf Decorating Idea & Tip
By Kathy Burns-Millyard
If you have book shelves in your home, and lots of books, you've probably discovered that bookends don't always keep everything in order. Sometimes your collection of books on the shelf are just too much for the bookend to hold.
View Article: Click Here
Fitness for the Busy Family
By Alyice Edrich
Who has time for an hour long exercise session these days? With the demands of a career, children, after-school activities, volunteer positions, housework, errand running, and preparing meals, it's no wonder we slack off on exercising.
View Article: Click Here
Mix Perennials into Your Garden for Staying Power
By Kathy Burns-Millyard
Perennial plants and flowers stay around for more than just one gardening season. Some of them bloom again for only about 3 years, while others will continue to bloom for many years to come.
View Article: Click Here
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