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Hello,
For next week's ThriftyFun News we are going to take a break from the holidays and publish an issue about a different topic. If you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see covered in this Saturday's TF News please send it in. Having said that, don't hesitate to submit holiday related tips on the contest form. We will be publishing those in this newsletter between now and Christmas. Also, atleast one TF News between now and Christmas will be dedicated to holiday tips and/or recipes.
Check out our first Ebook... Holiday Travel Tips
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Tips
1 teaspoon of sunflower oil keeps my bathtub, the old claw type of bathtub, free of bathtub ring, and I like how the sunflower oil is not as greasy as some of the other oils.
Sunflower oil is on the same aisle as all the other cooking oils.
I also use it in a bottle, 1 tsp of sunflower oil, fill the bottle with water and add 1 tsp vanilla and 3 tsp lemon juice. It adds highlights to hair and is a good conditioner.
Keep old washed out soap or lotion dispensers filled with white vinegar and a little sunflower oil. This makes a safer hand disinfectant than you can buy in stores. There is some debate as to how safe the antibacterial lotions are for the hands and the body as it seeps in and is actually closer to a pesticide. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that will kill germs. The sunflower oil will keep skin soft. Also rubbing alcohol and sunflower oil make good hand rubs too, but I like the vinegar better since it is safer.
By Racer
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My spice cabinet was a mess. Cans, bottles, jars in every size and shape imaginable. I had no idea which spices I had, they were hard to find, and they really didn't "fit" anywhere I put them.
I went to the local discount chain, and purchased 3 spice racks, all the same. They hold 16 spices (all filled, no choice of spices), swivel, and cost $19 each. I emptied all the duplicate spices (more on that later), and filled the now-empty jars with spices from my cupboards.
Then:
1) Label the lids with a label maker or something you printed on the computer so they look nice.
2) I alphabetized my spices in their racks so they are easily located.
3) The spices are at my finger-tips, on my cooking counter. I find them easily simply by swiveling the appropriate rack. (Remember they are alphabetized, so easy to find)
Now, about the extra spices:
According to my internet research, freezing spices is the best way to store them. The amounts on the available in the rack, now, are generous enough to be useable, but not so much they lose their potency too quickly. Store the remaining spices in either labeled, sealable small freezer bags - or better yet, vacuum-sealed bags you make yourself in just the right size (this is what I did.) Then organize them in a plastic shoe box in the freezer so they can be pulled out for re-fills as needed, won't get lost in the freezer, and still will remain fresh for a very long time.
Now my spices are getting used, I have more room in my cupboard, my counter looks nice, using them is convenient, I am a more efficient cook, and cooking just got easier. And a silly bonus: I even look a little like a "pro" in the kitchen.
By grumman2
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Exercise Instead of Wasted Steps
This tip is to save tempers. Instead of getting annoyed when I forget something in another room, I think of it as exercise instead of wasted steps and time.
By Lynn
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Tips for saving money on paper towels...
I realized one day that I used a lot of paper towels for little things. This not only used up money but also produced a lot of trash. At the dollar store I bought a 15-count package of dishrags for little money. I keep them in a drawer and use them instead of paper towels for little spills and other things. In my laundry room I have a bucket that the dirty ones go in so I can wash them all at once.
By Leigh Ann
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Keeping Champagne in the Glass
If champagne starts to fizz over while you are pouring it, discreetly, dip one of your fingers into the glass.
By Jazzlyn
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Recycle Dish Towels and Jeans to Make Hot Pads
Instead of tossing the worn out dish towel, I fold it in fourths making a small place mat size rectangle. I stitch the edges with my sewing machine (or you can serge the edges) to keep it together.
Then, I cut two pieces of denim, from worn out jeans, to fit over and sew this over the old worn out dish towel. After it is stitched together, I will top stitch it to be sure that the dish towel is attached securely to the denim, and do a few quilt ties.
We use these all the time, at lunch time for hot bowls of soup as well as large size hot pads. They work out perfect and don't cost anything extra, other than my time.
With making sure all the dish towel is sewn to the denim, I never have problems tossing them in the wash.
If you want a pretty fabric on top, I just cover the denim with the cotton fabric of choice, doing the top stitching at this point. This way you can have some that match your kitchen decor. The other day I made a few from an old corduroy skirt. Very pretty.
By Laura Field
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The best way to keep party punch cool is to freeze some of the punch in ice-cube trays or a ring mould. Float the frozen punch in your bowl to keep it chilled but undiluted.
By Jazzlyn
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If you've burnt your hand, make up a paste of baking soda and water, and apply to the burnt area; it will really ease the pain.
By Jazzlyn
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Brighter and Longer Lasting Candles
To make candles burn brightly, soak the wicks in vinegar.
By Jazzlyn
Editor's Note: This also appears to make candle wicks last longer as well. And apparently also works with lantern wicks.
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Ingredients:
1 stick margarine
1/2 c. white Karo syrup
2 t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla
1 jar (2 c.) dry roasted peanuts
1 c. brown sugar
1 (12.3 oz.) box Crispix cereal
Directions:
Combine in large bowl: margarine, brown sugar, and syrup. Microwave for 6 minutes on high. Stir. Microwave 2 minutes more. Remove and add baking soda and vanilla. Mix well. In large paper sack pour in Crispix mix and dry roasted peanuts. Pour mix over cereal and nuts. Stir. Heat in microwave 1 1/2 minutes. Stir. Heat 1 minute more. Remove from bag and spread on wax paper. Cool. Break apart and store in airtight container. Add 1 c. M&M's when cool.
By Robin
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Cut into small cubes:
1/2 lb. American cheese
1/4 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
Add:
2-4 oz. Bleu cheese
Let stand 2 hours at room temperature.
Cream together:
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T sweet pickle relish
1 T. finely chopped onion
Combine with softened cheese chunks. Place in small bowl, cover with waxed paper and refrigerate about 6 hours. When aged, roll into a ball. On a bread board combine 1/2 C. finely chopped pecans and 1/2 C. chopped parsley. Roll cheese ball in mixture to cover. Serve with crackers. Keeps about 2 weeks in refrigerator. Serves about 25
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Melt margarine in dish in microwave. Add mild taco seasoning to margarine and blend. In large bowl, mix all ingredients and thoroughly coat in margarine and seasoning mixture. Place on flat tray suitable for use in microwave. Microwave for 2 minutes on high, stirring after first minute. Microwave for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on high, again stirring after first minute. Cool mixture on paper towels. Keeps well in sealed plastic container.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Brown ground beef and add onion soup mix. Add cheese to melt. Roll out crescent roll dough. Cut each roll in half lengthwise. Add 1 t. mix onto each roll. Roll and pinch ends. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes at 375 degrees. 48 rolls
By Robin
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Bacon-Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine cheese, bacon, garlic powder, and lemon juice. Spoon in to mushroom caps. Place mushrooms on baking sheet and broil until filling is lightly brown.
By Robin
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Removing Fruit and Berry Stains
Remove fruit or berry stains from hands with lemon juice.
By Jazzlyn
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Ingredients:
Spread beans on 10 in. square platter. Cover with softened avocado dip. Combine sour cream and taco mix and spread as third layer. Toss cheese and chili powder for 4th layer. Sprinkle onion and olives on top. Serve with corn chips. This recipe is a Christmas Eve tradition for lots of families.
By Robin
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(Use approx. 4 potatoes and peel them. Then cut them like home fries or hash browns then rinse them in cold water and then set aside).
1. Prepare a regular size skillet on the stove with approx. 5 tablespoons of oil and little bit of water and, add 2 chicken bullion cubes and wait until they are dissolved in the hot water/oil mix.
2. When all of the water is gone add your cut potatoes into this skillet and add a bit of your favorite seasoning and cook until golden brown. (please use your best judgment on the amount of seasoning needed for your meal!).
3. Serve this with your breakfast meal and enjoy.
I hope that you like this short recipe.
By Paula & Eddie Salinas
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Take a roll of bounty paper towels and cut the roll in half. Remove the cardboard center. You will have 2 half rolls. In two separate containers or zip type bags, add to each: 2 1/4 cups water, 2 TBS baby shampoo or wash and 1 TBS baby oil. Mix. Place the 1/2 roll in each container and invert until all liquid is absorbed. Pull towels from the center to use. Much cheaper and natural.
By Carolyn
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Mix together and spread on large plate.
Sprinkle over mixture.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
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. You can add the little red and green candy cherries to this recipe for a festive, Christmas look!
By Robin
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Tip Contest
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New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 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 November 15th.
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.
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New Requests:
Please tell me how to get car grease off of a washable suede jacket.
Gwen from Hawaii
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Under Christmas food ideas for men someone named Deb mentioned they made beef jerky. I would like some beef jerky recipes.
Shirley B
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Architectural Ideas for A German Theme Home
I have been thinking of altering the exterior look of my home to give it a German Theme appearance. Where does one begin searching for architectural ideas? I own a small one floor bungalow.
Eric
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Preparing Branches and Pine Cones for Crafts
I want to make some craft projects using outdoor items but would prefer to not bring bugs into my house when I do. What do you guys do to make sure that bugs aren't still on outdoor items for crafts?
Thanks,
Melissa from OR
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More Reading:
10 Tips for Saving Money in Your Kitchen, While Implementing the Three R's
By Catherine Pulsifer
Can implementing the three R's - reduce, recycle, reuse, save you money?
If you only implemented the three R's in your kitchen, you would save money. Here are 10 tips that implements the three R's and helps your pocketbook:
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How To Giftwrap Beautifully For Children While Being Frugal
By Abigail Beal
Gift wrapping materials can be expensive, when you add purchasing ribbon, bows and a card ontop of gift wrap paper. How can you gift wrap beautifully while being frugal at the same time?
View Article: Click Here
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