Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 170, November 2, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Velcro the Remote
- Quicking Mending For People On The Go
- Hand Sewing Tip - Thread Multiple Needles
- The High Cost of Baby Food
- Frugally Humidify Your Home in the Winter
- Problems Threading a Needle?
- Wintering Your Mower
- Free Kindling For The Asking
- Winterize Your Evergreens
- Shaving Cream Substitute
- Making Inexpensive Wreaths
- Quick and Easy Salsa Con Queso Dip
- Make a Keepsake Collection
- Shoulder Pad Angel Christmas Ornament
- See How Tangible Your Grocery Store Savings Are
- Easy Pumpkin Cream Pie
- Glove Note Hanger
- Amazing Swedish Meatballs
- Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Seven Ingredient Tomato Sauce
New Requests:
- Where to Get Plastic Snowflake Photo Ornaments
- Deodorant Stains out of Sweater
- Older Tot50 Stapler?
- 12 Days of Christmas Ideas
- Need Ideas for a Birthday Surprise Party for Hubby's 30th
- Removing Ink From Stuffed Animals
- Getting Musty Smell Out of Cardboard Boxes
- Haddock with Francaise Sauce Recipe
More Reading:
- Allergy Free Wedding Flowers
- Cut the cost of your wedding in half
- Protect Yourself From ATM Scams
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Today's Tips
Velcro the Remote
Put some sticky velcro on the remote, and the arm of the couch. You will always be able to find the remote once you train yourself to put it there.
By Linda
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Quicking Mending For People On The Go
Keep 2 needles threaded with black and white thread in your bedroom or bathroom. You can stick the needles into a bit of sponge or cork. Then when a button pops off you can sew it on quickly!
By Linda
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Hand Sewing Tip - Thread Multiple Needles
When starting a large hand sewing or needlework project, thread several needles when you begin. Then you won't have to stop and keep threading needles as you work.
By Linda
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The High Cost of Baby Food
When my daughter began solid foods, I was shocked at the price of jarred baby food! It is easy to make your own, and is much, much cheaper! There is a lot of info available on the specifics (it's not complicated). You can access this info at your local library, or do a web search. An example of the cost savings: I can get an entire pound of bananas on sale for less than the cost of a single jar of baby food bananas!
By Leann D
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Frugally Humidify Your Home in the Winter
To combat dry indoor air (without the expense of running a room humidifier), place old containers of water in or near your heat vents (if you have forced air heat). Do NOT do this if you have crawling / walking babies in the home! Also, even if you use your dryer to dry your laundry, consider drying towels, rags, etc by hanging in the house. Both of these measures will add back some humidity to the air.
By Leann D
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Problems Threading a Needle?
Do you have trouble threading a needle? Try holding the needle & thread against a contrasting background-a dark colored if you're threading a light-colored thread, and a light -colored surface if you're threading a dark-colored thread. It really helps your depth perception.
By joesgirl
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Wintering Your Mower
At the end of the grass-cutting season, drain both gasoline and oil from your lawn mower. Oil should be drained so that corrosive contaminants won't have all winter to damage internal parts. Evaporating gas will leave a hard, gummy scum in the carburetor and fuel lines and cause starting problems come spring. After draining the gas, run the engine to use up the dregs, then remove the spark plug & squirt a couple of shots of oil into the cylinder. Pull the starter cord a few times to distribute the oil inside the cylinder, and reinstall the plug. Finally, drain the oil out of the crankcase.
By joesgirl
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Free Kindling For The Asking
If winter comes and you still haven't gathered a good supply of dry kindling, see whether your supermarket will give you some of the waxed cardboard boxes that are used to ship fresh vegetables to market. Cut them into strips of convenient size with a utility knife. You'll find that 3 or 4 (3x4-inch) pieces are probably enough to ignite small logs.
But as a word of CAUTION, if you use too much you take the chance of producing a very quick, hot blaze that could trigger a chimney fire.
By joesgirl
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Winterize Your Evergreens
Evergreens, especially newly planted ones, can be damaged by winter sun and winds, which dry the foliage. Shield them with burlap stapled to stakes set 6 inches away from the plants on all sides. You can prevent them from spreading or breaking under the weight of snow by tying sturdy string around them.
By joesgirl
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Shaving Cream Substitute
Out of shaving cream? Let baby oil fill in. It'll lubricate the razor, keep stubs standing up for a clean shave, and won't dry out sensitive skin, as will soap or shaving cream.
By joesgirl
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Making Inexpensive Wreaths
I always check the thrift stores for vine or styrofoam wreath bases. Add any sort of decoration you have on hand. I gather dried, wild flowers, pine cones, dried seed pods and dried stalks from plants. Using hot glue, or a good all purpose glue, attach them to bases in in shape I want. Add a nice bow. At one time I even placed small gourds, a small corn cob with a small scarecrow to empty middle. Any seasonal item makes a nice wreath.
By Gladys Hill
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Quick and Easy Salsa Con Queso Dip
For get togethers and snacking
- 1 block velveeta cheese
- 1 jar (16oz) salsa
- 1 lb brown ground beef
Mix all ingredients together in a crockpot on low heat. Simmer until creamy and delicious. Serve with chips, guacamole, sour cream, and whatever else you desire. WARNING - this dip is addictive. If you're on a diet do not make it, you won't be able to resist it.
By Suzanne S.
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Make a Keepsake Collection
When my great granddaughter was born, I wanted to give her something special, she could cherish for her lifetime.
Hallmark, (I have no connection,) sells birthday numbered dolls, ages 1-?. I started buying one each birthday and she now is 11. The store I was buying from stopped carrying them. I was having a hard time finding them, but finally found a store carrying ones up to twenty one. I purchased the rest I need, to 21.
Rather expensive all at once, but now I have her birthday gifts for another 10 years, and no worry if I can find them. You can do this with any object. Her uncle always buys her a Keepsake Christmas ornament, not always a Hallmark, dated, so she will have a start on her Christmas ornaments when she gets out on her own and has her first tree.
By Gladys Hill
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Shoulder Pad Angel Christmas Ornament
My friend made me two Christmas ornaments from shoulder pads, she had removed from her clothing. Really cute.
She covered the pads with white material, then again with white netting or lace. She glued a medium sized craft clothes pin, (not the spring kind) which she had painted white. She also gathered net or lace, attached with small dot of hot glue at back, around the middle of the pin for a skirt. Then painted a pink face on the top and added some embroidery thread for hair. Then she placed a small gold band attached to a short piece of pipe stem cleaner and glued to the back of pin to make a halo.
Next she added a pipe stem cleaners for arms, she added net sleeves on one, glued to the back of pin. Hot glued the pin body in the middle of pad which made shoulder pad the wings to an angel. Added a braided thread or folded thin ribbon to back of pad to hang the ornament on the tree.
These can be dressed and decorated, fancy or plain to suit your taste.
I gave one to each of my two grandchildren. I used a mark-a-lot and attached their names on small cloth label and the date I gave them.
By Gladys Hill
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See How Tangible Your Grocery Store Savings Are
Do you find that you don't have the extra money to stock up on items that suddenly go on sale for a really unbeatable price? One way to solve this is to begin putting whatever dollar amount you saved using coupons, buying an item on sale, etc., into a jar. For example, if you bought something using a 50-cent coupon, put 50-cents into a jar. Many stores print the amount you saved on that particular shopping trip somewhere on the receipt. If you do this faithfully, you will not only have a stash of cash available to take advantage of the really good sales, you will also be able to see with your own eyes how tangible your savings really are.
By Leann D
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Easy Pumpkin Cream Pie
With pumpkins so plentiful and cheap(er) in the fall, this is a good time to use pumpkin in recipes. Make this pie in advance and garnish with ruby red raspberries and whipped cream right before serving for an eye-catching presentation.
Yields - 8
- 1 9-inch (6 oz.) prepared graham crust
- 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
- 1 pkg. (5.1 oz.) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
- 1 cup CARNATION Evaporated Milk
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 cups (about 6 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
- 1 cup fresh raspberries (optional)
COMBINE pumpkin, pudding mix, milk and pumpkin pie spice in large mixer bowl; beat for 1 minute or until blended. Fold in 1-1/2 cups whipped topping. Spoon into crust. Freeze for at least 4 hours or until firm. Let stand in refrigerator 1 hour before serving. Garnish with remaining whipped topping and raspberries. Serve immediately.
Servings per Recipe: 8
By Kathy
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Glove Note Hanger
- Stuff an old glove to fill out the shape of a hand, then stitch it closed. Hinge a pad of paper off the glove where it is stitched with 2 lengths of ribbon, long enough to tie into bows after it is knotted.
- On the under side, stitch a small ring or loop in some thread. This will give you something to hang it from.
- Use a kids glove for the kids room, a ladies glove for more "feminine" rooms, a mans glove for garage, shed or basement or try an old rubber glove for a conversation piece in the kitchen!
By melody_yesterday
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Amazing Swedish Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups boiling water
- 3/4 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, chopped onion, bread crumbs, egg, and milk. Season with parsley, Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Mix well with your hands. Shape into walnut-size balls, and place on baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes in preheated oven. Turn frequently so they brown evenly on all sides. To make the sauce: In a saucepan, combine oil, flour, paprika, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook over medium heat until sizzling. Stir in hot water and sour cream until smooth and heated through. When meatballs have cooked 30 minutes, pour sauce over the top, and return to the oven for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
By Kathy
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Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Meatballs:
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
- 2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 3/4 cup apricot jam
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 dash hot pepper sauce
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, Cheddar cheese, and cottage cheese until well blended. Mix in 1/2 cup onion, pecans, basil, salt and sage. Stir in bread crumbs. Form the mixture into 2 inch balls, and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In another bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, vinegar, apricot jam, ketchup, 1/4 cup onion, oregano and hot pepper sauce. Pour over meatballs.
Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until meatballs are firm, and sauce is thick and bubbly.
By Kathy
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Seven Ingredient Tomato Sauce
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
7 cloves garlic, minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (28 ounce) cans tomato puree
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1 pinch white sugar
Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and saute garlic, being careful not to burn it. Pour in tomato paste and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, pepper, salt, basil and sugar; stir. Cook on low for three hours, stirring occasionally.
By Kathy
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New Requests:
Where to Get Plastic Snowflake Photo Ornaments
For 13 years I have gotten plastic snowflakes photo ornaments but the business I got them from went out of business. I was wondering if you know where I can get similar ones. The space in the center for the photo is 3 inches. Please let me know as I would like to get a couple dozen. Thanks, Pat
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Deodorant Stains out of Sweater
Can anyone tell me how to get the yellow under arm deoderant stain out of a sweater that is 75% silk and 25% nylon? I've only worn this sweater twice and the dry cleaning didn't remove the stains.
Thanks...Lauren
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Older Tot50 Stapler?
I am looking for a version of the older Tot50 stapler. I need one to finish a craft project I am currently in the midst of. The newer version of the Tot50, has a knobby top, making it impossible to get into tight places to staple. Does anyone have one to spare, or could you point me in a direction where I might find one on the web somewhere?
Shaddy
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12 Days of Christmas Ideas
Several friends and I are planning on doing the 12 Days of Christmas for a lady who really needs some pampering right now. She is sole care-giver to her husband, who is a double amputee, has diabetes and is on dialysis everyday. We are wondering what are some things we could give her to correspond to each of the 12 days. Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, can be cute or funny. Just something to let her know we are thinking about her. Any suggestions? We will be starting on the 14th of December, so time is of the essence.
Thanks,
Connie from TX
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Need Ideas for a Birthday Surprise Party for Hubby's 30th
I need help. I am planning a surprise 30th birthday party for my husband on Dec. 29. I really need help with a theme, food ideas, and thing to do during the party. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!
Michelle
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Removing Ink From Stuffed Animals
Anyone have a way of removing INK from stuffed animals?
June
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Getting Musty Smell Out of Cardboard Boxes
How do you get the musty smell out of cardboard boxes? They have been stored in a basement and I am now bringing them into the house to use.
Thedav
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Haddock with Francaise Sauce Recipe
I am looking for recipe for Haddock with Francaise Sauce. I am also looking for a recipe for sausage and cheese roll up dough bread.
Thank you.
Dan from New York
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
More Reading:
Allergy Free Wedding Flowers
By Tom Ogren
I get quite a few emails from brides-to-be, asking me which flowers would be good to use at their weddings, flowers that won't make them or their bridesmaids start sneezing and sniffling right in the middle of the wedding. I get enough of these requests that I thought that the subject warranted its own article.
Wedding flowers
View Article: Click Here
Cut the cost of your wedding in half
By Jennifer Holder
So you and hubby have set the date, now what? If you are like most couples these days the financial burden of planning a wedding is rested upon your shoulders and you find yourself worrying about how you will ever be able to afford this major life event.
View Article: Click Here
Protect Yourself From ATM Scams
By James H. Dimmitt
In this day and age, ATM's have become a fast and efficient way of getting our hands on our money. But if you're not cautious, the automatic teller machine can also be a quick way for others to get their hands on it too.
View Article: Click Here
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