Daily Thrifty Tips - May 19, 2009

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Drink Cone Funnel

This could also be in cooking, frugal living, and more.

This was rattling around in my daughters car, and I asked her what it was. She said it was from a Chuckie Cheeze drink cup.

Immediately my mind went into overdrive.

Funnels are so invaluable, I thought of pouring beads back into the tubes or other containers you need to store them into when done with your project.

Pouring cake decorations back into the container when done decorating cakes and cup cakes.

Pouring any liquid looser than catsup into something smaller.

Making smaller juice containers for trips and camping.

Just about anything you need to get from a larger container to a smaller one would work, wet, dry or granular.

N-JOY!

By Poor But Proud from Salem OR

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Keeping Clutter Off My Kitchen Counters

An old wicker shelf, a large cup-hook and some plastic bins help to organize all the miscellaneous "stuff" that winds up in the kitchen. Then distribute items once a day to their "proper" homes!

By Karen from Libson, OH

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Scenery: Myrtle Beach, SC

Serenity. This photo was snapped at sunrise at Myrtle Beach, SC. After all the fires they have recently battled down there and all the hurricanes they've survived, what a welcomed sight this is.

By Sandy from Elon, NC

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Gemma (Husky/Shepherd Mix)

Gemma is a 10 month Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix. We bought her from an ad in the paper at 6 weeks old. We wanted a shepherd cross and thought it was an interesting mix. She loves to swim anywhere (beach, lake, dam), run, chase sticks and rough play. Gemma is extremely intelligent, happy, playful and energetic.

By tc.lb from Newcastle, Aust

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Frugal Wrinkle Releaser

Instead of buying pricey wrinkle releaser, when the fabric softener bottle is almost empty fill it half way with clear water, shake and pour into a spray bottle. It works exactly the same was as the $4.00+ per bottle stuff in the stores. Use it for freshening clothes that don't quite yet need to be laundered or for quick wrinkle treatment. Works great!

By Sharon from Warrensburg, MO

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Protect Your Important Documents in Your Freezer

Protect your important documents (insurance info, car titles, warranties, etc.) by placing them is a zip lock bag in your freezer. Should a fire occur, they will not be burned.

Source: We've done this for years.

By GrannyGoff from Concord, NC

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Kids Car Games

Hitting the road with the kids means hours in the car listening to them complain about being bored. Well, never fear, the old games we used to play are still around and, to top it off, you can create some new car fun. Who needs the car video player or hand held games?

1. Get ahold of an old road map; you can typically find an old atlas at a thrift store or second hand store in your area.

   With the map you can help your children to learn the capitals of each of the states, then work on their alphabetizing skills if they are old enough. Have them list the cities in alphabetical order.

2. Do they want to be able to write down the information. Create a wipe board. All you need is a large old picture frame with the glass still in it, dry erase markers and a rag to wipe it clean. You can decorate up the frame with some old funnies from the newspaper or gift wrap that you have been saving.

   The kids can also play tic-tac-toe on the board, or the connect the dots game, they could even use it like a small lap table to eat off of.

   If you don't have an old one to use, or can't find one at the local thrift store, go to the nearest dollar store, you can find one for $1.00. Add on tax and it will be around $1.10 or so depending on your sales tax.

3. Hit your local thrift store before your trip and stock up on some little items that the kids can keep and play with in the car. For example, little toy cars can be driven on their little play table, how about some building blocks, you don't have to keep many in the car for them to have fun with.

   How about a craft project? The kids can learn how to bead, sew, and oh, so much more while traveling. Remember you have their full attention, use it to your advantage.

By TxBluEyes from Kerrville, TX

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Use Rice to Absorb Excess Moisture in Electronics

If you ever have the misfortune of dropping your cell phone accidentally in water immediately take it apart. Pat gently with paper towels to get the excess water off. Put enough rice in a bowl to cover the cell phone pieces and place plastic wrap securely over the bowl. The rice will absorb the moisture overnight! It may save you having to replace the cell phone!

Source: A friend!

By Pattie from Bridgton

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Keep a Sock Bag for Mismatched Socks

We're constantly losing one sock in a pair. I started keeping unmatched socks in a bag as I put laundry away. Every time I'm putting a load of laundry away, I check the unmatched sock bag in case I can find a sock to match the "new" unmatched socks. Sure enough, I'll be able to match up one or two pairs while two or three pairs of unmatched socks go into the bag. Don't ask me why the bag is growing but at least I'm matching some socks instead of throwing them out before I find their partner.

By Denise from Whitby, ON

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Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags

Our family has recycled grocery plastic bags as trash bags for years. We use small plastic trash container about 12 inch diameter and 14 inches high. We have one in each bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. We simply insert the plastic grocery bag in. Once the trash is full, we just remove the bags to the large garbage can outside the house.

This way you empty the trash more frequent, keep the house more sanitary and odorless. For the last twenty years, we have never bought the commercial garbage bags. Of course you can also find other uses for the bags.

By Peng from Seattle, WA

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Don't Let Your Dog Chew on Corn Cobs

I know some bigger dogs love corn on the cob, but PLEASE don't let your dogs eat the leftover cob! It doesn't digest in their stomach and if it gets clogged, he could need surgery to get it out!

Dogs also do not have the proper enzymes in their systems to digest rice. My vet always told me to give my dog peanut rice when he wasn't felling well, but then I talked to an herbalist who really knew about dogs. She told me that. Ever since then I don't give my dog rice or food with rice in it. He is a lot more active!

By ivorylov from Ocala, FL

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Product Review: Spray and Forget Roof and Siding Cleaner

This product is amazing! You spray it anywhere you want to remove algae and moss, or to stop it from to growing. Just put it into a garden sprayer, and spray it on once a year, then every time it rains, it binds with the rain and starts working. It's amazing stuff with no scrubbing required! It's called "Spray and Forget".

You can buy it at Home Depot. I use it on my mobile home, my garage siding and on our camper. I used to have quite the moss and algae problem, but no more! It also removes mildew, fungus, and lichen stains from roofs, siding, decks, brick, stucco, and other exterior surfaces with no scrubbing required!

• http://www.sprayandforget.com

By Cyinda from near Seattle

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Shoo Fly Jars in Every Room

Time to get those large glass jars out and fill them with crinkled up (very important) aluminum foil and water and then set them around to repel flies. It takes up to a day for them to notice they are there. Put it where the sun can catch it if you can.

Note: On cloudy days these don't work well.

By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN

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Preserve Fresh Bouquets for Potpourri

Last December our mother passed away and we received many beautiful fresh flower bouquets. After the service, my sister and I took all the flowers home, remarking how beautiful they were and what a shame they would die. I came up with the idea of drying the flowers and making potpourri out of them!

We did just that by letting the flowers air dry naturally. After a few weeks, we started collecting only the completely dry petals and leaves, leaving the others that were not quite dry yet alone to be checked on later.

We placed the dried petals in a big bowl that was uncovered and turned them weekly.

Finally when all the flowers had dried sufficiently, we sprinkled drops of refresher oil over all, stirred up good, and packed into decorative glass jars tied with a ribbon.

We then gave these jars out to family members this past Mother's Day in memory of our dear Mom. We chose a refresher oil of lilac as it was our mother's favorite but you could pick one that has special meaning to you and your family.

By Gypsygina from Oklahoma City, OK

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Putting Trim Around a Bathtub

I would like to trim out my tub/tub surround but don't know what to use or do. Any ideas?

By pat19731 from Sask., Canada

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Cleaning a Glass Top Stove

My flat top stove has circles around the burners from where I have put wet pans on them. Does anyone know a way to get rid of these?

By The Boys and Me from New Bern, NC

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Converting a Rental into a Condo

I own a duplex in the city of Montreal (RDP) and was thinking of converting one of the apartments into a condo. I would like to know if that would be a good idea?

By Jo40

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Cleaning NAFCO Brand Flooring

We have NAFCO brand luxury tile flooring in our home. The manufacturer wants us to use only their brand of cleaner (which is quite expensive). Does anyone out there have this type of flooring and have any experience with any other brands of floor cleaners? I don't want to ruin the floor using something else.

By rsrandr from Bell, FL

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Making Your Adult Children Feel Loved

What are some of the ways that you let your grown children feel loved, special and very much needed?

By butterflytouch

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Gift Ideas for Children in Another Country

I am looking for ideas for USA gifts for 5 yr old S. Korean students learning English. My son is teaching English in S. Korea. His students are so wonderful. I'd love to send them something personal from the USA that would be useful to them.

By tweety124 from Atlanta, GA

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Environmental Jobs in China

I work in an environment agency in a central city of China. I hope to find a part-time job at home which can improve my living. I would like a job that can push forward the environment enterprise in our province.

By superhuang from Changsha, China

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Paying Debt to Improve Your Credit Score

I was told that I shouldn't bother paying off my debts (other than student loans), because paying it out won't change my credit score at all. It will still be lousy, so I might as well keep my money. True?

By Bluesome from Tonawanda, NY

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Ink on Faux Leather

My daughter wrote on both of our brand new dark brown faux leather couches with blue ink. I was told to use hairspray to remove the ink and when I did so I created a huge patch that is now very visibly discolored and dull. How do I repair this? Please help. Thanks in advance.

By vvetrone from Niagara Falls, Canada

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Baby is Not Crawling

My son is 9 months old today, and he is still not crawling. It worries me. He has three older brothers (ages 1, 2, and 4) and none of them took this long. Although it seems that I don't put him on the floor as much for fear that the others will fall on him. Is there anything that I can do to kind of push him along and get him up to speed?

By The Boys and Me from New Bern, NC

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Murray Riding Lawnmower Won't Start

I have a Murray riding mower that won't start. It is not getting a spark. I have sanded the fly wheel and the magnets but no luck. The wires look okay. Any help would be great. Thanks.

By phoneman from Roanoke, VA

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Temperature Plug for George Foreman Grill #GGR200RDDS

I need the temperature plug for my George Foreman grill #GGR200RDDS.

By theboxer from Ocean City, NJ

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Displaying Clothes at Yard Sale

I have some clothing I'd like to sell at my yard sale. However, I have no rack, clothesline, or fence to display them on. What can I do or use to display my clothes?

Thanks in advance for the clever advice I'm sure I'll get from all of you!

By Bluesome from Tonawanda, NY

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White Haze on Colored Plastic Chairs

There is a white haze on my green resin chairs. How can I get rid of it?

By Shelia from Spotsylvania, VA

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Dye Transfer on Clothing

I wore a black polyester and elasthanne cardigan top over an orange linen knitted sweater and the black material bled all over the under arm area of the orange linen knit sweater. How do I remove this black staining? Any help you can give will be sincerely appreciated.

By bdtcsw from New York, New York

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Removing Dried Paint on Clothing

How do you remove dry paint from clothing?

By blackhawk1 from Aurora, CO

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Overheated Pot Changed Colors

I left my stainless steel pan on the burner with water boiling on high. I came back after a while and the water was evaporated. The pan was over heated and had turned a bronze color. How can I remove the bronze color on the bottom?

By rrmaike from CO

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Preventing Furniture From Sliding

I am looking for a product to stop furniture sliding on carpet.

Mark

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Trouble Potty Training a 4 Year Old

My daughter is 4, we have been having troubles with potty training. She is fine when it comes to peeing in the potty but won't poop in the potty. She would rather go in her panties. She will go hide when she needs to go. I end up fighting with her to try to go sit on the potty. I am not sure what I should do.

By Ashleysc from Canada

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Homemade Flea Treatment

I'm looking for a home solution for fleas, both in my house and on my pets. Any suggestions?

By deputyclerk from New Orleans, LA

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Selling Antique Furniture

I have some antique furniture that I would like to sell at the right price. I do not want to be ripped off. How do I do this?

By anner893 from Flintshire

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Mower With a Briggs & Stratton Engine Won't Start

I have a 14hp Briggs engine on my lawn tractor. It will not start, it has no spark, and has plenty of gas. I have checked all of the safety switches. I have actually jumped them out and still no spark. Where else can I look?

By skynyrd57 from PA

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Cleaning Vinyl Boat Cushions

I have white seats in my boat that are black now. I tried Mean Green, bleach, and other stuff. Nothing will make them white again. Any suggestions?

By darlooney from Carriere, MS

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White Heat Marks on Wood Table

How do I remove white heat marks off a black ash dining table?

By maurice0112 from Scotland, UK

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Wax on a Truck Bed Liner

How do I get wax/polish off of a pick-up truck's bed liner?

By helpmeplease!! from Ky

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Back2Life Machine Reviews

Is the Back2Life back machine worth the money?

By Kelsea from Salem, NH

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Hair Dye on Vanity Drawer

I have permanent hair dye color on my vanity drawer. How do I remove this?

By Marie France from West Chester, PA

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Paying for Wedding Guests' Parking Fees

We have rented an enclosed pavilion for our reception at a park. However the park charges $1.50 per car for an entrance fee. What is a "tactful" way to give our guests the money for the fee? I've asked if we could pay up front for a certain amount of people and was told they do not do that, that each car has to pay. I also thought about using organza bags and putting 6 quarters in them. Then placing a bowl of bags at the doors as people exit the church. Would that be too tacky? Please help!

By Brittsmama from Atlantic Beach, FL

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Decorating a Birthday Chair

Has anyone ever decorated a chair for the birthday person? If so what materials did you use? How did you decorate it?

By christineh from Clark Lake, MI

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Restoring an Old Trunk

I bought an old chest but don't know anything about it. I would like to restore it. It's quite damaged. Does anybody know what kind of chest it is, or where I should start?

By jane1971 from England Yorkshire

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