Daily Thrifty Tips - September 4, 2008

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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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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Coffee Container Bird Feeder and Clothes Pin Holder

Here are two tips for the less handy among us.

After making one cut into the handle of a popular coffee can, I ended up with a weather and bug-resistant container for my clothes-pins. One for each line, just slide it as you hang out the clothes. Thinking about it now, connecting the lid with a piece of string would keep it handier than picking it off the ground.

Inspired by this, I took my trusty steak knife and carefully carved an opening in the corner of another can. And I twisted a small hole into the handle to accept the screw hook. Now the birds have another alfresco dining spot.

At least now I'm not tripping over empty containers I knew could be used for something.

David H. - Cheboygan, MI

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Craft: Old Window Themed Art

Our master bathroom had no windows and I wanted something in there that made me feel as though it did and looked pretty to match my floral theme. I like to free hand paint so I bought an old wooden 2 pane glass window which I bought at our local salvage place that recycles, it cost $2. I repainted the outside of the frame white then I took a sharpie marker and freehanded on my design (from the back side, all the painting is done on the back side glass. I think it gives it a sharper look in contrast but the other side or other way is just as pretty too)

I then tacked an old piece of antique white lace to the back as though the curtains were closed. This gives it a pretty backing to see and also makes your painting scene a more pop out look in contrast. I then glued little tiny clay flower pots with silk babies breath, little rose buds and ivy inside then and glued those to the outside widow seal in one corner.

You can use these old windows in so many ways for this idea. Even if you do not free hand paint, you can use a stencil for your scene and stencil it on with paint and stencil brush or use the rub on designs which come in so many design themes (at Walmart, craft stores or on ebay sells for $1-$4). You can even glue items like the clay pots or any size silk flowers to either side for a realistic 3D look.

I have even taken chicken wire and tacked it to the back side half way up and then filled the space with things that match your theme like shells for a beach scene, little wooden apples for a country scene. You can glue on your old vintage memorabilia you have kept like lace gloves, ticket stubs pearl necklaces, handkerchiefs, old pictures, etc. Its a great way to display them. And you can run fake ivy vine up the sides off the pane for an interesting look as well. Have fun with it and give a room with no window a view your own!

By Julie from TN

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Get Wedding Flowers Locally

The florist bill can add up very quickly, rather than spending a huge amount of your wedding budget on centerpieces check out the local farmers markets and neighborhood gardeners!

For our August outdoor wedding, we picked up large potted mums in our wedding colors for only $2.00 each. For the same amount we would have spent on one centerpiece from the florist, we were able to buy 30 mums which we randomly placed throughout the yard and around the "altar".

For each of the tables in the reception tent, we bought glads and various other flowers from an elderly lady in our neighborhood. Including the vases we picked up from the dollar store, our centerpieces only cost us $30.00. Be sure to buy a bouquet and chat with any neighborhood growers the previous season and mention you are interested in using their flowers at your wedding. We did and she surprised us by reserving a special area in her garden just with our colors!

By Dominique from Kalamazoo, MI

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Dakota (Husky/Shepherd)

Dakota is 14 months old and a Husky/Shepherd mix. I got him from a swap shop radio 14 months ago.

He likes to act like a toddler, loves to play in the morning. He speaks, sits, rolls over, shakes and loves kids.

By Don from Indiana

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Craft: Hugs and Kisses Basket

I was wanting a small inexpensive thank you gift for the young girl who had helped me at physical therapy. So, I came up with this "hugs and kisses basket". I had the container left from buying my husband some nuts and bolts from Dollar Tree. The only thing I had to purchase was the candy. There's plenty left over for more "baskets".

Materials

• Plastic container with lid and handle. (These come stacked in two containers topped with one lid. There is a picture showing these.)
• Plastic or Acrylic Paint, black and white.
• Round piece of poster board to fit top of lid. I used black.
• Paint marker.
• Small piece of ribbon.
• Craft glue
• Hershey's Hugs and Kisses (about five each)

Instructions

Clean the container well with soapy water and allow to dry. Paint botton of container with white paint. I use a sponge, it gives it a more textured look and you don't have to worry so much about it covering.

When white paint is dry make black dots by dipping a pencil eraser in your paint and pressing firmly onto surface. Set aside to dry. If you are not using plastic paint, you'll need to spray the container with some sort of clear sealer.

Write "Hugs and Kisses" on your round circle of poster board with the paint marker. Allow to dry. Glue this to the top of your lid. Tie on ribbon.

You can add shredded paper as a filler or fill the entire container with kisses.

By Artlady from Edmond, OK

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Sturdy Book Covers

Use your left-over wallpaper to cover your kid's books this school year. Wallpaper is sturdy, lasts, and it's also a way to make use of what you have.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Use PayPal Instead of Credit Cards

I am really trying not to use credit cards for spending. I have a PayPal account. So every week I put money into my PayPal account. It can be 2, 3, 10 dollars or more. This way, when I come across something I want to purchase on-line, I can just pay for it from my PayPal account. It's also neat to treat it as a savings. For example if you put $10 a week in the account for 52 weeks, you will save an easy $520 at the end of the year you start savings.

By Kathy from West Hartford, CT

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Recycle Paper Napkins For Cleaning Up Grease

I recycle my paper towels by using them to soak up grease and other liquids that I put in the trash. At mealtime, my husband and I use paper towels for napkins. I felt it such a waste to throw all these paper towels away so I started putting most of them in my recycle bag hanging in the kitchen. Whenever I need to soak up grease, I grab the used paper towels.

After unplugging my George Foreman grill, I place a big wad of wet paper towels in the grill while it is still hot. It softens the stuff that is stuck to the grill and makes cleanup much easier.

To catch the grease drip from our Holland Grill, I put paper towels in the bucket. It beats having to clean that bucket. We even cook sausage and bacon on this grill. When doing this, it takes a lot of paper towels to absorb the grease but I don't have to worry with having a container full of grease to dispose of.

Whenever I fry and have grease left in the pan, I soak it up with paper towels, tie them up in a plastic grocery bag and put them in the trash.

By Betty from North Carolina

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Chair Caddy

Make a chair caddy! This is a craft idea for home schoolers, or younger children who spend most of their day in the same classroom at the same desk. It will help keep them organized. You can also make a version of this for your sewing chair.

First, measure the chair back. Make a square of heavy duty fabric (denim works great) with the bottom open - similar to a square pillow case. Slip it over the back of the chair to check the fit.

While on the back of the chair, pin on pockets (good way to recycle some old jeans). Make sure you have pockets sized to hold pens, pencils, glue, erasers, rulers....You may chose to make your pockets out of the heavy duty clear vinyl (sold at Wal-mart in the fabric department). * Note: Pockets go on the backside, not where you lean your back.

Remove from chair, sew pockets on, and place back on chair and fill.

This will help keep students or seamstress organized.

Source: I made these for my preschool years ago and kind of forgot about them. But now, my family home schools, and my daughters and I are making these for the backs of our chairs. It seems the smaller school supplies always fall out of their cubbies or get on the floor and stepped on. This will put an end to that!

By April from NW Missouri

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Frugal Meals for College Students

As a university student, I often founds times tight despite not being one to party like everyone else. I could just never understand why everyone always had money and I was often broke and pinching pennies for groceries. However, when I left school debt free and they spent years paying back credit cards, I was the one laughing!

Here are a few of my university student meals that I still love!

Curried Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• Any short pasta (I used elbow macaroni)
• Fresh stirfry mixes with peppers, broccoli, baby carrots, etc. (I bought these on clearance and usually cost under $2.00)
• Miracle Whip (I bought store brand)
• Curry powder (Which you can get at a bulk store or bulk section of your local grocery)
• Salt and Pepper

Directions

Cook a desire amount of pasta (rinse underwater if you will serve cold). Semi cook vegetables (al dente) (let cool if serving cold). Mix miracle whip, curry powder, salt and pepper to taste. Mix together and enjoy either hot or cold!

Another Good Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• Canned pink salmon (without bone) (1 can usually makes 2 servings)
• Macaroni
• Tomato
• Onion
• Celery and carrot, if you have it on hand
• Salt, pepper
• garlic (optional)
• Miracle Whip

Directions

Cook pasta (rinse with cold water and strain). Dice tomato (about 1/3 cup per serving worked for me). Dice to desired size onion and other vegetables and garlic. Mix together salmon, pasta, vegetables and add Miracle whip to desired consistency. Salt and pepper to taste. Best enjoyed cold.

A Good Sandwich!

Ingredients

• Cubed pork (I always bought the cut offs from the deli and you can usually get 5+ pounds for under $5)
• Onion
• Peppers (if available)
• BBQ sauce (store brand original fine)
• garlic (if you have some)
• Hotdog buns

Directions

Brown pork, add in onions, peppers and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent. Add in enough BBQ sauce to properly coat everything. Let thicken (about 2-3 minutes). Serve on buns.

A Good Way To Stretch A Meal

Not sure if it has already been posted but:

Buy cheesy Hamburger Helper. Buy the cheapest box of mac and cheese you can find. Cook both according to directions, adding onion to hamburger during cooking and a drained can of mushrooms. When cooked, combine and enjoy.

By Madaine from Nova Scotia, Canada

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Use Your Bread Machine as a Rice Cooker

It's not thrifty or FUN to have to throw away pot after pot of scorched, gummy, or undercooked rice. But that's just what I was doing time after time trying to get a decent pot of rice cooked. Good rice eluded me! I never cooked a pot of perfect rice on the stove, never, not once. But I did discover something that has worked for me and maybe it can work for you too.

My bread machine that I use almost everyday has a bake only feature that lasts one hour. One day I wondered if I could utilize that setting to steam rice, kind of like those expensive rice machines. I put one cup of rice and two cups of water in the bread pan, fashioned a lid from heavy duty aluminum foil, tucking it around the edges of the pan, and set the machine to the bake setting. It worked! I had made perfect rice for the first time in my life! Was I happy!

Now I have discovered that 2 cups of rice and 4 cups of water is optimum for my machine size and I have rice leftover for another recipe. And if I'm careful, I can reuse the foil lid for batch after batch of rice. I let it dry and fold it up and put it in a drawer. I've even diced cooked chicken, and raw celery, onions and carrots and cooked it all in chicken broth the same way. I love my new 'rice cooker.'

Source: My own rice cooking desperation!

By Susan from Omaha, NE

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Bluejean Bag

Take an old pair of bluejeans and lay them flat on a table, using some heavy scissors cut both legs off right at the crotch area.

Now turn jeans wrong side out and then take them to your sewing machine and sew across the legs closing the cut off area. When you turn it rightside out, you will see you have created a bag.

Using the cut off legs, cut enough material out to make two handles to sew onto the waistband. You can now decorate your jean bag with buttons, rhinestones or put a bandana through the waistband as if it were a belt.

Another idea is to cut off the back pockets leaving the bluejean fabric connected to the pocket. Now make two holes at the top of the pocket and string a shoestring through there to create a handy pocket to wear around their neck. Use for phone, pen and paper, whatever you need.

By MsMolly from Box Elder, South Dakota

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School Lunch Tips

Tips on school lunches from a pre-K teacher:

1) Invest in cold packs. You can get these at dollar stores. Paired with a thermal bag, the foods you send to school with your child will be protected.

2) Don't over pack. Our kids aren't allowed to trade foods, so what they don't eat is wasted.

3) Pack healthy foods. Kids really don't eat those little packaged lunches as well as they do last night's left overs! If you don't send sweets, they'll eat the good-for-you foods.

4) Again hit the dollar stores for plastic containers you can reuse instead of plastic bags or foil.

By Linda from Fort Smith, AR

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Store Craft Paints Upside Down

This may seem obvious and simple but I didn't think of it for sometime, so maybe others haven't thought of it either. I have a lot of bottles of craft paint. I store them in a plastic shoebox type box that has a lid. I put my paints in upside down. This helps to keep all the pigment from settling on the bottom of the bottle. You then do not have to shake it down to the opening every time you use it. It also helps to find the color you are looking for because the paint has already coated the bottom of the container. Simple but helpful.

By Artlady from Edmond, OK

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Craft: Star Wars Light Sabers

We did this along with water fun outside. We made light sabers out of pool noodles and PVC pipes. Of course we chose red, green, and blue (pink for a few girls that came). I cut the noodle into 3 pieces or 2 and then took a long PVC pipe that I bought at Lowes and cut it into 9 pieces. Stuck the pipe into the noodle and there you have it.

By Tami from Indian Trail, NC

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Murray Riding Lawnmower Won't Turn Over

We have a Murray 14.2 HP 42 in. riding mower. It has run quite well for two years.
While cutting today I stopped to move debris, putting the mower in Neutral but inadvertently not disengaging the cutting blades so when I stepped off, the mower shut down like it's supposed to do. The problem is, now it will not start/won't turn over. I just hear a tiny click when the key is turned to start. Is there a "Kill" switch that has to be released or some other problem? Many thanks.

Dave

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Uses for Paint Chip Samples

I am looking for ideas to use the paint chip cards from Home Depot and Menard's. I have seen them folded and used for other things but lost the information.

Lost from Elmwood Park, IL

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Cleaning Nicotine off Walls

I know someone out there knows the answer to this. We are moving into a place where the person was a heavy smoker. I need to know how I can clean nicotine off of walls without ruining the paint. I am not sure what kind of paint it is, but knowing our landlord, it is cheap paint. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions for this.

Janice from Illinois

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Reviews Of Laminator Plus Solution

Has anyone every used Laminator Plus laminate solution?

Maria from Houston, Texas

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What Is This Plant?

Can anyone tell me the name of this plant. It has 3-4 tiny lavender flower spikes on it once a year.

Vi from Moorpark, CA

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Planting an Eastern Redbud Tree

I have an Eastern Redbud which produces multiple seedlings in the summer. This year I decided to save a few of these trees, which are only a few inches tall. I put them in separate gallon sized pots with nice, fertile soil. They are doing very well and growing new leaves often. I live in Ohio and we tend to have crazy weather, so who knows what this year will bring!

How I should handle these trees through the winter and when should I put them in the ground? I am afraid to transplant them too soon because I don't want them to freeze and die this winter but I also don't want their roots to be confined to the pot!

Does anyone know how fast the roots grow or how long they might be able to withstand being potted? Would it be best to move them to larger pots and keep them in the garage by a window for winter or just put them in the ground?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Katie from Dayton, OH

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Heat Mark on Leather Sofa

My grandson left his hot cup of tea on my leather sofa and it has left a white ring. How can I clean it?

Debbie from Doncaster, UK

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Fixing Matted Down Carpet

My carpet is really matted down in some places where we walk. How can I fix it?

Kristen

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Reusing Cleaner Spray Bottles

Can anyone tell me how to properly clean out old spray bottles so that I can reuse them? I mean bottles that window cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, Fantastik, etc originally came in. I've started making some of my own solutions with eco-friendly components and don't want to have to dump my savings into new bottles. Can it be done safely?

Susan from Columbus, OH

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Looking For All Knifty Knitter Patterns

Where can I find all the patterns for the Knifty Knitter? Thanks.

Loretta

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Website With Opened Package Discount

I once visited a web site that sold items discounted because the package had been opened. I was looking for sheets at the time. Anyone familiar with this site? I never bookmarked it. Thanks.

Jo from NY

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Ideas For Fellowship Tea

Need ideas for a Fellowship Tea for Courtesy Ministry. We have had Rainbow Teas for 5 years and need fresh ideas. I have heard about Five Doors to Heaven Tea. Any suggestions?

Katherine from Atlanta, GA

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Apples Has No Leaves

I have an apple tree that I planted from the seed of an apple. It looks more like a small bush right now, it stands about a foot tall. It was doing fine then it got to be about 110 degrees and I couldn't get enough water in it. The leaves dried out so I took them off. Now the stems are about 12 inches high and bare but green. Do I cut the stems down. There are a few green leaves on it. What do I do?

Hardiness Zone: 6a


Jamish from Tribune, KS

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Planting A Calla Lily Outside

I would like to purchase a calla lily plant for outdoors. I live in zone 6 and do NOT want to have to bring the plant in during the winter. Is there a calla lily plant for my zone that can be left outdoors? How would I protect it from the elements? Thank you.

Jo

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Jelly Is Too Thin

My jelly is too thin, can I recook it? If so, how?

lil lavorato from Lakeside, Ca

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Disposing Of Old Tires

I am trying to get rid of 19 old tires. Does anyone know where I can take them in Ohio?

Tiffany from Loudonville, OH

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Recommendations For Body Wash

My boyfriend works on an oil rig. Does anyone know of any good body wash and shampoo?

bean311 from Minot, ND

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Sleeveless Shift Dresses

Does anyone know where to buy comfortable sleeveless dresses for wearing around the house? Carol Wright sells some house dresses but they have the shirring around the chest and I don't like those kind, they're not comfortable. I'd like to find a store that sells just a straight shift dress that doesn't have all that stitching in the top of the dress. Thank you for any suggestions.

Christy from Balto, MD

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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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How To Turn Your Job Into A Telecommute
By Claire Bush

Working from home makes sense for more workers as the cost of gas continues to rise. Telecommuting, whether for a few days a week or a month or even full time, is an option for many office jobs that your firm may consider if it's presented in the right light. Here's how to turn your gig into a stay at home position.

Before you approach your boss, inquire at your company's human resource office about an existing telecommuting policy. If no official policy is in place, check with co-workers or those in other departments to find others who are working from home.

If you haven't already done so, set up a home office with computer, internet connection, telephone and fax, or draw up plans including cost and timeframe, to do so.

Lay the groundwork for a discussion by preparing a written recap of how much money and time you spend commuting. Break it down into a daily, weekly and monthly amount. Advertise the potential benefits to your employer by listing how this time and money will be better invested in your productivity at home. Don't forget to emphasize the quality of life factor. Less stress due to fewer hours in traffic will make you a more efficient and happier employee.

Suggest a "wait and see" period of 30 to 90 days, or test the water by telecommuting one or two days a week. Offer to check in by phone, email or conference call at regularly scheduled intervals.

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