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Hello,
We have a new feature on ThriftyFun! We now have the ability to post polls. On the homepage we currently have a poll that asks how often you read ThriftyFun. Please take a moment to visit the site and let us know. You can find the poll in the upper right hand corner of the site.
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I hope you enjoy today's newsletter, it's a long one. We have 22 new request. Please look them over and see if you have any advice to offer.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Photos
There is always time to pose for a photo with your favorite dog even when you look a mess!
By Lindsay from Franklinton, LA
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Winter Wonderland - Sherman Pass
This is to show the people who live in the hot dry country, what it is to live in SNOW country. This is Sherman Pass (5,575 feet) between Republic and Kettle Falls, Washington not far from the Canadian border. It was taken 12-28-05 on our way home, slow driving, but beautiful.
By Laverne from North Central Washington
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Jordison is a two month old Moggy/Ragdoll. He came to us two months ago when his mother introduced us to his litter.
He likes to climb up the cane shelf, pouncing from it onto his brothers and sisters. :)
He is an excellent purrer he can purr so loud that is easy to hear him meters away. He is very affectionate.
By Kat from Australia
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Today's Tips
Using Expired Coupons for Note Paper
Instead of buying pads of note papers, to use in your office or in a cute basket by the phone, in your kitchen, or in other areas of your home, where phones are, use the blank backs of non-used expired manufacturer's coupons that you pick up at the grocery store (if you can't use expired coupons in your area). I also use those pesky sales ads that come in my newspaper or junk mail. If the backs have no print on them, they get cut up for scratch paper to jot quick notes to myself or to my hubby. Also, to eliminate less paper to toss out, one could cut the envelopes received in the mail, whether junk mail or other basic envelopes from others, keep the plain sides for scratch paper.
By Terri from NV
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When shopping for whatever, check it out carefully if you happen to find something wrong with the item (ex: a blouse or shirt with a stain on it, that you're sure you can get out at home OR an appliance with a scratch on it OR if the car of your dreams has a paint chip off of it) don't hesitate to ask for a discount. Many times the salesperson will give you a discount to move the product.
By Terri from NV
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Removing Texture from Popcorn Ceilings
I was just trying to clean the dust that had gathered on my popcorn ceiling around the air conditioning vent. I was using a roller with one of those sticky rubber surfaces commonly used to pick up cat hair. When I rolled it over the surface back and forth a couple of times the texture came right off onto the sticky surface. It rinsed right off the sticky roller under running water in the sink. Could this be an even better way to remove the outdated acoustical ceiling stuff?
By Marti from Denton, TX
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One day I was at the grocery store with my daughter and noticed that the coffee that they had on special (at an especially great price) was all sold out. I commented to my daughter that it was good that I had bought some a few days earlier.
My daughter, the frugal expert in the family, then went to the service desk and came back with several rainchecks for the coffee. I will get the same great price on coffee well into the next year!
Now I make an effort to notice when specials on any items I use are out of stock and take the few minutes to go to the service desk and get some rainchecks for them. That way I can save even more than just buying during the sale.
By Diane from Paradise PA
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"Family Bucks" for After Christmas Sales
One of my kids favorite presents is "Family Bucks" to spend at the after-Christmas sales. (I make up phoney money on the computer and personalize them with our name). This keeps me from having to give them real money, and I can pay for their selections with mine instead of doing a separate transaction.
An added benefit is that it puts a limit on how much they ask us to buy for them. Each item is carefully considered when it is coming from their own pocket!
By Yvonne from North Carolina
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Moisture in the air makes it feel warmer. I heat my home with a wood burning stove not designed to heat it. I keep 2 canning jar pans full of water on it and move the air with fans that have filters. I also keep bedrooms colder.
By Jill from Utah
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When preparing your new calendar for the new year, ask your email buddies (that you feel close to) for their and their spouse's birthdays and anniversary. So you can keep in mind those special to you, at a quick glance. Put that calendar in a special place that you'll look at often. Whether you send out a e-card or a snail mail card, the thought that you remembered will be treasured.
By Terri from NV
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My Husband Lost both his Parents this year and We are not able to go visit their graves so we made a Memory Garden for them.
I made cement stepping stones with their names and dates on them. We planted flowers and bulbs his parents loved. We put a small bench and Angel
statues in it.
Now we can visit them daily and I put flowers out for the Holidays and their birthdays for them.
By PJP58 from Oklahoma
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All year long, we feed the wild birds outside, we buy our wild bird seed and black sunflower seed in 25 lb. and 50 lb. bags. We keep our bird seed in a large Rubbermaid trash can with wheels, outside, at the end of our deck. We pour the birdseed alternating each until our container close to full.
Also, inside the "barrel" as we call it, we keep one of those big tins decorated in holiday designs (that hold 3 varieties of popped popcorn, empty of course!) that we use to carry the birdseed to the feeders with, as well as a cup to scoop the seed with, for filling the feeders. This is more frugal for us, than just keeping a 25 lb. bag of seed, somewhere and having to re-buy every week or so. Our "barrel" of seed, lasts a long time. Hope this can help others out there.
By Terri from NV
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<p>Yes you can freeze rice! I always make extra, dividing up the leftovers into meal proportions (I feed two adults and two children) then freeze. It will keep nicely for a few weeks. On those nights we are in a hurry to rush out the door after dinner, it's nice to know I can microwave this quickly.
By Debbie Ryan from Ontario, Canada
<P><hr width="100%" color="#006600">
<p>Living in Louisiana we eat a lot of rice. Since it's just the two of us now I've learned to freeze the cooked rice. After it's cooked and cooled I put in in a large ziplock freezer bag and flatten it out. When you need just one or two servings of rice just break off the amount needed. Having it flattened makes it easy to break. Put it on your plate cover with gravy and nuke. Rice flattened and frozen will last forever.
By Verue
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(There's a lot of truth in this "joke".)
When trying to define the difference between involvement and commitment, think about a bacon and egg breakfast:
The hen was involved while the pig was committed.
By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri
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New Requests
I made this request before but I'm hoping someone might have an answer for me now. I'm looking for lights that are put into floral bouquets to light the container. They are called Floralytes. A big box store carries them but I'm looking to buy in bulk for my daughter's upcoming wedding and I was hoping someone could lead me to a wholesaler that might have a lower price than 2 for $2.99 since she is on a very tight budget. Any help will be greatly appreciated since there has to be a bulk supplier somewhere. A search of the internet just found even higher prices than the box store.
Roberta from China, ME
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Just wondering if anyone had any ideas for recycling glass jars of all shapes and sizes for use in the kitchen.
Thank you,
Yvonne from Ontario
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My kitty won't take her pills. There is no way I can run her down, wrap her in a towel and force a pill down her throat twice a day. I tried hiding the pill in a moist treat but the smarty pants caught on to that. Does anyone have any other suggestion? I would really appreciate it.
Wendee from Tillamook, OR
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Does anyone have any ideas on training a puppy to come when called when she accidently gets out without a leash on. When you run after her she runs away from you.
Carla from Harrisburg, PA
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I have a 10 week old puppy, I've had her since she was 5 weeks old. House training is going well, I have a few nipping problems, but we're taking care of it. The big thing is outside... I have a chain for her outside that I would like to be able to put her on for maybe an hour or two a day, mostly when I need to keep her from being underfoot, but the moment you close the door she starts whimpering... and its not a quiet whimper. If it wasn't for the fact that I'd just left her, I'd swear she was getting killed in the most painful manner possible. I've tried stepping out of sight and back in an attempt to build up her confindence that I am indeed coming back, but it doesn't seem to work. I'm really hoping someone has some advice. She's a German Sheperd with no health problems. Please help.
Lindsey from Montana
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I have an old set of curtains that are quite nice and thick that I'd like to dye to a darker shade. Does anyone have any tips or words of caution before I begin?
Megan Risley from Durham, NC
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Cleaning a Brushed Antique Brass Sink
My sink basin is metal and I am having a hard time cleaning the soap deposits from it. It has a brushed antique brass finish. In the past I had liquid handsoap in a dispenser for guests to use and it would spot the finish with a greenish-blue cast. Any suggestions for regular cleaning?
Mabel from Marion, SC
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Using Carrots In Marinara Sauces
When making spaghetti and/or marinara sauces, or other tomato sauces, I notice that carrots are part of the ingredients. What is the purpose of the carrots? How should they be introduced? Grated, pureed, etc? Is sugar also added when carrots are used?
Thanks!
Steve from Jackson, NJ
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Does anyone know any cheap ways to get rid of boxelder bugs? I can't afford anything exspensive and am hoping that there is a cheap solution to this. I have lots of them and they are driveing me crazy. Any suggestions would help.
Thanks,
Mary from MI
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How do I get a mustard stain off a wall?
Dawn from Post Falls, ID
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I had a holiday party at my house and someone flushed two boxes of cheese its down the toilet! Should I make them pay for the damage wich was around $400 or what? Please help me. They also broke 3 pipes and a few of my best wine glasses!
NO-SEW from KC
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Does anyone know where I can find cheap, tall (10+ inches), clear, bud vases with a 1 inch wide opening? I need about 30 of them to use as a part of my centerpieces.
Connie from Sterling Heights, MI
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Keeping Your House Smelling Nice With Smokers and Pets
Having a nice smelling home is hard at times. We have smokers here and also 2 dogs and a cat, so pet ordors are more than likely present. I'm wondering if anyone has some ideas on how I can keep my house smelling clean and fresh.
Thanks for any help.
Yvonne from Ontario
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I clean houses part time and more and more people are getting the floor laminate. The only thing I have found to suitably clean these floors with besides hand cleaning and drying is the clorox mop with the clorox spray attached. Everything else streaks it. Any kind of mop streaks it and so do the cleaning solutions.
The clorox mop will even streak it if you don't mop in the same direction as the wood grain is going. I know there has to be something else out there that works. I got the laminated wood floor in my livingroom before I knew anyone else that had it, and now I am stuck! Let me know if you know of anything!
suzi_homemaker01 from Central Texas
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What is the best way to clean black scuff marks off red shoes? Shoe polish isn't working.
Ellen from Tucson, AZ
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I didn't know which topic this fell under so I chose "Crafts". I am looking for the words to a song called "This is the song that never ends". Does anybody out there know it?
Thanks.
Irene from Texas
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Uses for Pegboard in a Playroom
I am looking for creative ways to use pegboard in a playroom. The pressed wood form of pegboard.
Thanks a mil!
Jeri from Powder Springs, GA
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Controlling Large Pores and Blackheads
I would like to know how I control large pores and blackheads. I have tried many products and none seem to work! i don't have a lot of money and hate wasting it on products that don't work.
Julie Capone from Watertown, NY
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Removing Heat and Water Marks from Wood Furniture
I am trying to get a heat stain off my pine table. As well as water marks? Any suggestions?
Thanks
Tanya from Milton, ON
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How do I remove motor oil from my concrete porch? My son left a bag of motor oil on the porch, not realizing that the bag was leaking, and the spot is about 12 by 12 inches.
Mary from Langhorne, PA
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I'm expecting my 1st grandchild in March and I am planning to give my daughter a baby shower. Can anyone suggest some decorating ideas, games to play, and food to serve? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Jayne from Bristow, VA
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I already have theme for my 11th b-day party but I need to know some FUN party games to do once we get home from the murder mystery restaurant we are going to. If you have any ideas that go with the theme that would be great but I'm open to all suggestions.
Sarah from GA
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More Reading:
How to Make an Omelet
By Janice Faulk Duplantis
Eggs are high-quality protein and are reasonably priced. They lend themselves to an endless number of flavor combinations and are the basis of a large variety of wonderful dishes. The omelet (sometimes spelled 'omelette') is one such dish and this article will discuss basic techniques and tips for preparing an omelet.
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01/05/2006
I've been trying to submit an answer to your question about how often I read your column, but am having trouble. Just want you to know that I read every day, enjoy it immensely, and use many tips!
Thanks for all of your hard work: I appreciate it!
Bobbie
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