Daily Thrifty Tips - March 7, 2006

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Lola Hardy will be 3 on March 30, 2003. She is a Lab/Cattle dog mix. She was adopted from the Paulding Animal Shelter.

She likes to swim, do tricks (she loves going through agility obstacles), laying around on the couch, playing with all her toys.

Lola has no clue that she is a dog.

By Niki from Hiram, GA

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Levii is about 7 months old and is part Siamese.

I got him from a family, whose home I visited, whilst picking up my daughter's step children. He was somewhat ill and seriously mistreated. I offered the lady (if that's what you can call her) 50 pounds for him and told her that if she sold him to me then I'd not go to the RSPCA. (I did though.) I then nursed him back to health.

He plays with anything small and chaseable... usually destroying anything which gets in his way. So far I have lost two vases, several cups, some ornaments, lots of cigarettes and too much to list!

His character is loveable when bed time comes around and in the evenings. The rest of the time he's a live wire, vocally intelligent which is probably due to the Siamese part of him (he asks for food and water and lets me know when the litter tray needs attention.) He is supposed to have pedigree breeding on his fathers side but it's not proveable. All of which is totally unimportant cause he's my baby and that's what counts.

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This is Paul's cat, my friend. All the words have been written by him. I wanted to enter him as he is the most striking cat I have ever seen. (Notice the M he has on his forehead too?) Isn't he beautiful? I hope i will meet him myself soon.

By Monique from Somerset UK

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Cleaning an oven a much detested job can be made easier by following these steps. Use the self cleaning procedure if available. Never keep any racks in while using the self cleaning setting as they discolor and no longer shine.

I place all the racks in a large landscape bag with 1 tablespoon ammonia and close bag tightly immediately so no air is enclosed in bag. Allow to remain overnight and in morning remove and use a brillo pad. Most of the burned on gook comes off with ease.

By Sylvia Segel from Oceanside Ca

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The best thing I have ever done is move back in with my mother. For six months, while my family was between houses, we moved back in with my parents. During this time, I observed how my mother, a wonderful housekeeper, kept her house so spotless.

She only works at 20 minutes intervals. For example, after supper, she would put the dishes in the sink and clean off the stove. Then she would take a break. Later, she would go back and rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Then, she would take another break. Later, she would go put some laundry in.

I have taken my mother's unspoken advice and have found household chores not to be so daunting now.

By BarwickJ from Ottumwa, IA

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I use rubbing alcohol for all kinds of cleaning jobs, full strength or diluted (I prefer full strength.)

For most cleaning jobs I keep it in a trigger spray bottle. I use it for cleaning glass and mirrors - it evaporates too NO STREAKS! It is the only thing I've found that will clean the hairspray build-up off the bathroom counters and the wall (won't hurt the wall paper either). Use it to clean and shine appliances, etc.

In the winter it works well to melt the frost on the windshield when your in a hurry! (I even add some to the wiper fluid tank in the car) - won't hurt the paint either.

I shine my stainless steel sinks with it and hundreds of other things too. Diluted with a squirt of dish soap and water it can be used to mop the floors - nicest of all it kills those nasty germs and it's not expensive!

By Pat K from Athens, AL

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Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

By Carolyn from Raleigh, NC

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I'm wondering what silly wonderful memories any of you have of your early days of relationships? I know there must be many. We have one that we remember and we still re-create it, if you will. This may not be that funny but it still makes us laugh.

When we were first married and in the service we shopped at the commissary, the Military grocery store on base, we couldn't afford much considering we lived off base and rent was high! Plus we lived on $548 a month total. We ate a lot of macaroni and cheese and spaghetti, oh and round steak (better known as bologna). And we drank kool-aid.

Our treat was to buy an already made Angel food cake in the package. It was about $.69, expensive at that time! But we were so excited to have that Angel food cake that we would always open it, break chunks off and have it all eaten before we got home!

These days we make our own Angel food cake leave it on the counter and break chunks off to eat. Every time my husband and I do this we just smile as we remember the old days, 40 years ago. This may not get any response from others, but it was fun to share and remember.

Thanks if you respond.

Ariela from FL

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I enjoy organizing and my most helpful tip I use in the kitchen. When I buy can goods I store them in the pantry in Alphabetical order. All of the canned Beans go first followed usually by the Corn and then the Greens etc. When it's time to repurchase cans I only have to look at the section that is low to know what I need to replace. When I reach for a can of beans I never have to sort through the pantry I just go to the first section on the shelf and there they are. Same with my spices, they too are in abc order. It works GREAT !

By Connie A. from Tennessee

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I made this for my mom, who has 14 grandchildren.

• Take a white full apron.
• Using permanent paint markers,
• write on the top portion "If you feed them, they will grow" [or other title, such as "MeMe's garden"]
• On the bottom of the apron, draw a garden with different flowers in a row.
• On the stem of each flower, vertically, write the name of one grandchild and top with a daffodil or tulip blossom.

My Mom has used, washed and even bleached her apron and the colors remain true!

By Terry from Tallahassee, FL

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Last week I received what genuinely looked like an email from Paypal stating my account had been violated. It advised me to log on and renew my information to make sure it was current. I smelled a rat. Called Paypal - emailed it to them - it was a fake and they had that particular false web site already shut down. Never give out this kind of info as legitimate organizations will never ask you to reveal it.

By Joan in CT from Seymour, CT

Editor's Note: Being the Spam magnet that I am, I get many of these every week from Ebay and Paypal. The important thing is to never login by clicking in an email from any bank, credit card company, Ebay or Paypal. Go to the site directly to login. Once you have given your information to one of these sites, they have it. If you should do this, make sure to go to the regular site and change all of your usernames and passwords.

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I am trying to decide how to paint my bedroom. I have a comforter that is pastel green with pastel pink and pastel blue flowers with darker green stems. I don't know if painting the room the pastel green would be too much green. I also was thinking about some type of faux finish maybe using both pastel green and pastel blue. Any ideas?

Nancyz from Commerce Twp., MI

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I have lost the formula for making liquid soap from Dove Soap Bars. Can anyone help me with this?

Thank you!
Annie from Cotati, CA

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I would like to know the best way to get seeds from a pine cone, and the best way to make the seeds grow into a beautiful pine tree? I would like to help these trees have a comeback in my town because years ago a lot of pine trees died. What and how can I grow these tree to live and grow well?

Thank You,
david19664

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Does anyone have a welding cap pattern that they could share with me? A printable pattern would be awesome.

Thanks!
Mary from Panama City Beach, FL

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A few days back we moved into a townhouse and discovered mice droppings in the kitchen cabinets. I am having sleepless nights, as I have a five year old and an infant daughter. We have put glue traps inside the kitchen cabinets and in the bathrooms. But much to my horror today I found droppings in my daughter's (upstairs) bedroom.

The glue traps have been in place for the past 6 days but with no success till now. I haven't seen the mice but I keep finding the droppings. Can anyone please suggest what I can do! I saw some products on the internet like shake them (powder - has fox urine) or ultra sonic devices, rat zappers. It's so confusing. I am willing to try all of them as I need these critters out of my house. Any kind of advice will be highly appreciated.

Rachna from CA

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My steam iron has a see-through window for the water reservoir, and slime has grown in it. I have filled and emptied it many times to try to remove the slime, but it is very stubborn! Is there anything I can use to dissolve the pieces of slime. Occassionally bits break up and can stain clothing by coming out with the spray or steam.

E Girl from NSW Australia

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How can I stop my female staffordshire bull terrier from using the house as a toilet during the night?

Debbie from UK

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How can I stop my female staffordshire bull terrier from eating her own and other animals feces?

Debbie from UK

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I have gotten myself in a bind and don't know how to get out. I owe a lot of money for my property tax. I also owe lots of other little bills that add up to big bill. Does any body have any recommendations, insights, etc.? I have applied online with CCCS (Consumer Credit Counseling Services) and am waiting for their call. i have called the 2 churches I have been affiliated with currently. 2 friends have gone over my bills with me, very embarrassing. So I figure i might as well tell everyone.

Thank you,
Sandy From Baltimore, MD

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We have "a lot" of little ants in the yard. Many of them are at the base of my trees, shrubs and plants. I am looking for something that will get rid of them and not harm my plants. We also don't want to use anything that will harm our dog or cat, deer or other little animals. Thank you for any help you send.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Jodi From Gary Texas

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Is anyone worried about using teflon pans? I heard or read something about danger using these pans.

Gen from Kansas

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Those flavored liquid coffee creamers are wonderful but does anyone make their own? Seems there must be some way to reduce the cost. My favorite is French Vanilla. Thanks in advance for any help.

Lady Claire from Buffalo, NY

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I was given a rather nice gas stove with a small window in the middle of the oven door to see inside while it is baking. This window is not able to be seen through very clearly. What do I use to clean it? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. Also, if you have or know someone who has used that method successfully.

Thanks, everyone.
Angellface from Seymour, CT

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St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt: I need suggestions for a St. Paddy's Day Scavenger Hunt for a 7th to 12th grade girls church group.

Pattie from Fort Worth, TX

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I'm looking to find out where I might be able to find Iridescent lace. I have the direction by Debbie on this site for making the ivy bowl centerpieces but I've run into a problem with finding the lace. Can someone help me?

woody2 from Boston MA

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I need some ideas for centerpieces for my daughter's First Holy Communion. I don't want to have balloons, but something original but not too expensive.

Casey from Bayside, NY

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I have been looking for a cleaner called Grease Relief that we have always used on our clothes to get the grease stains out, but cannot find it anywhere! I can't even find the manufacturer to contact them. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Is it even still made?

Cjhabel from Quad Cities, IL

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My mother used to make her own ketchup. She only believed in using French's spices and I seem to think it was a ketchup recipe by French's. Would anyone have that recipe or one similar toit? I remember I never cared for the smell of it while it was cooking, but the taste was awesome. She then canned it in pint jars.

Tami from OH

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I have a cat who is 2 or 3 and she has started peeing on our dirty clothes. She has done it before once or twice but now it's getting to be every other day in the same spot. I've washed all of our clothes 2-3 times now and I can't get the smell out! This last time she pooped on the clothes also! What should I do? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Alicia from Downers Grove, IL

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My son is getting married this summer. He wants a luau themed rehearsal dinner, very fun and relaxed. I know I can order decorations from some of the web sites but does anyone have suggestions for things we can do, music we can play, decorations, and (most needed) food suggestions? You are all wonderful in my book, thanks!

Jenjen from Richmond, KY

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