Daily Thrifty Tips - June 6, 2007

The summer travel season is starting to heat up. Gas prices are higher than ever (even adjusted for inflation), how is this going to impact your summer travel? Do you have any tips or advice to share for how to "get away" without spending a bundle on gas? Post your ideas here:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Manning The Rails At The Arizona Memorial

My hubby took this of the carrier coming into Pearl Harbor. The Arizona Memorial is in the background and they are Manning the Rails on the carrier as a honor to those who lost their lives.

By Sherry from Silverdale WA

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Homemade Rain Barrel

This is the rain barrel we installed last summer. We live in the southwest high desert where it is arid, but we receive summer monsoon rains. By using our rain barrel, we used almost no fresh water on our vegetable garden last year. We bought the 55 gallon barrel from the local flea market for $20. It had held Dr Pepper syrup and smelled good! :-) We bought the faucet parts for a little over $10.

First, cut out the hole in the top, then drill out a hole near the bottom and reach in and attach the faucet parts. There will be a nut on the inside and the faucet on the outside. Run a bead of silicone caulk to make sure nothing leaks. We had the hardware cloth on hand and used small zip ties to attach it. It doesn't keep mosquitoes out, but with three preschoolers in our family, we were more concerned about keeping them out than keeping mosquitoes out. If that isn't a concern for you, you can use window screen for the top.

Our downspout was loose, so we removed the bottom section of pipe, pulled it out from the wall a little, and put the barrel up under it and rested it on some stacked bricks for a gravity flow. I've also seen barrels in my neighborhood with the downspout pipe shortened and directed to flow through the mesh into the barrel.

After the winter thaw and things warmed up, there was a lot of algae growing in the barrel's standing water. The garden plants don't care!

By Katie from Gallup, New Mexico

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Bob Cat

Bob adopted us. He's a stray that started coming around last fall. Bob is very lovable and good with the kids. He's also good mouser.

By luv2craft from Normalville, PA

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Penny Pincher Graduation Gift

It's graduation time, and I found out in the last minute that my niece was graduating and wanted us to come. A gift was in order but the budget was not! So I put together a metallic gift bag, on hand from my collection (gotten at a yard sale!). I filled it with tissue paper (99 Cent store) I had stashed and put in a book on colleges I had meant to give her and a book on English usage I had gotten a while ago for gift purposes. I added a ring I had, in a little decorative box, and an Armenian necklace I picked up at a folk faire! (And I put in a card from my card collection and wrote Happy Graduation in calligraphy). Total outlay $20 for necklace, everything else was on hand, and I made a gift tag out of a promotional tag for Star Wars that came in with the newspaper (I covered the side with ads with white sticky labels and wrote her name on it). And it was all color coordinated, white and red! Hoorah! The penny pincher pulls it off again!

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Copy and Paste Recipes Into Text File

This is a tip for organizing recipes on the computer. As I am browsing the internet looking for recipes or one of my newsletters that include recipes, when I find one I like I copy and paste it to a folder in WordPerfect (I would think any word processing program would work). The folder is entitled Recipes. Then when I can't think of anything for dinner, I go to that folder and see what I can find.

To make it easy, I save everything under the easiest heading to find. So Betty's Southern Style Chicken Wings would be saved under Chicken Wings, Betty's Southern Style. It's easy to find a recipe for something I have. I also like to save where I got the recipe from. Like the person who submitted it, just to give them credit.

By TC from St. Louis, MO

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Potty Training With Pennies

I have just potty-trained my 2 year old with a very simple idea. Each morning she gets 10 pennies to put in a jar. If she has an accident, I take a penny away. I decorated a shoe box and put prizes in it. Each prize is allotted a certain number of pennies (depending on how big and exciting the prize). At the end of the day, we count out her pennies and she can choose a prize from the box with the number of pennies she still has left. It has been a great quick method! Also teaches counting and purchasing skills.

By thriftymomof2 from Maryland

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Mix Good Soda With Bad

I can't really tell the difference between diet Coke and Pepsi - or even the inexpensive Shasta brand - but my husband bought another one - and it tasted like root beer! - But frugal thing that I am, I got some regular Diet Cola and am mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 with the icky stuff, so I don't have to toss it! (You can do the same thing with wines, especially the reds - mix some better red with your jug wine to get a better taste!)

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Hanging Plastic Bags For Reuse

I recycle a LOT of sacks of every variety. By taking best care of each one, and In order to store as many and as neatly as possible, I smoothe out all air and flatten out all sacks, into stacks of the same kind. Then I place each stack handle-side down into a sack just like it, for identification. The remaining two handles of the holding sack I place over a clothes hanger neck and hang in a closet. This way, I have them not only ready to use, looking almost new, but have them neatly stored away and well-compacted out of sight.

To prevent pest infestation/attraction, I do not store any that have had dairy products, meats or anything that has leaked in them, that have even tiny holes, nor are badly wrinkled. By having them already sorted, I can more efficiently reuse/recycle them. The wrinkled ones I use immediately for my house bunny's bed/toilet box lining, and left-over bones from kitchen table scraps unfit for composting. Any leaks that are washable, I wash in hot soapy water, then rinse in a mild, weak, bleach water to prevent mold growth and souring, then I use it for collecting my kitchen scraps for the outside compost. This is the final step for a sack in our home. Once re-used and contaminated with kitchen waste scheduled for the garden, I finally toss it.

It really helps our family to have ready access to a sack that is the appropriate size, shape, condition, and even for returning items for refunds. I keep a few of the less wrinkled ones in the floor of my car's back seat for cleaning out garbage each time we go out, and having the sack full for when we find a public trashcan, helping keep the older car at least clean.

This Summer, I hope to double-sack a few of my rare Hybrid Allium bulbs and perhaps sell them to garden centers.

By Lynda from Richardson, TX

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Cut End Off Of Lotion Tube

Can't get lotion out of that tube? There's plenty left after you've squeezed as much out as you can! Cut the end off with scissors. For small tubes, your finger can get the rest out. for those longer tubes, make your own swab by using a wooden BBQ skewer, or a chopstick and a cotton ball. Scoop out the rest of the lotion and pamper your hands, elbows, and knees with the rest of what's left!

By Adrienne from Cleveland, OH

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Summer Laundry Tips

Always wash in cold water. Pretreat any spots. Washing in cold water saves on energy bill and keeps clothes from fading. Now that summer has arrived, use a clothes line for most of your laundry. This will save on your energy bill and the clothes smell great.

By Carol from Massachusetts

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Baby Shower In A Box

Two of my children live far away from Colorado where I live. My daughter Patricia lives in California and my son Rex lives in Oklahoma. Major family events like births, which are so unpredictable, are hard for any family to attend. My daughter moved to California 3 years ago and is finding it hard to make friends and is missing her friends back home. My son Rex is in the military, as is his wife, but he still has good friends who live here. When I announced that both Patricia (Trish) and Rex's wife Joanne were expecting, three weeks apart no less, everyone wanted their addresses so they could send gifts. It got me to thinking, "How could I send them gifts but also a little bit of home while I was at it?" I decided on a baby shower in a box.

I asked everyone who wanted to send gifts to bring them to my house. I asked that they wrap there presents. Then I took a picture of them holding their gifts. I had these printed and put into a photo album. I have heard of video bridal showers so I decided this would be a great thing to do for Trish but with a twist. Since all of her friends worked and it would be hard for all of us to get together at the same time, I videoed all of her friends wishing her congratulations and telling her what this meant to them. Some reminisced about Trish's childhood and playing dolls and other's said how Trish swore she was never going to have kids.

Now Joanne grew up in Nebraska and I did not know her childhood friends but she married into a large family and has four sister-in-laws plus my assorted Aunts and Uncles. So I video taped them and my son's friends when they brought their presents by.

Well, having that done, I wondered what else besides all of the gifts I could add. My first idea was to put some helium balloons in the box that would float up when opened but I was told by my son, who works on the AWAC planes in the Air Force, that the balloons would just deflate because of the pressure and temperatures in the cargo hold. Bummer! But then I remember the left over poppers that I had at my New Year's Eve Party and how you pulled a string and confetti popped out. So I got my husband to rig some to the box so they would shoot up confetti when the box was opened.

I included a box of cookies and a centerpiece (diaper cake) so it would feel like a party. I made a banner that said "This is your party and you can cry if you want to!" I put all of this in on top with a letter that explained that although we could not be there we wanted to share in her joy and that she was to set out the cookies and put up the banner and turn on the TV and VCR so that she would be all ready.

The letter then told her to watch the video as she opened her gifts. I prearranged with them that they would not open the box until we were on the phone with them. Both Joanne and Trish opened there presents with us on the phone. With the family gathered around, we got to hear their oohs and ahhs as they opened all of their gifts.

Now, I will admit it was sad not to be there but the joy that it gave my two girls was well worth the effort. They now have memories of their friends and family at a baby shower even if we are many miles apart and Colorado was made closer by my gift. I am sure there are some things that I could have added but I think this was a great way to share a great event. Hope you enjoy your "Baby Shower in a Box" as much as we did.

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Reuse Cooking Water In Garden

Save water! Rather than throw leftover water down the drain (from drinking cups or boiling food), use it. I keep a watering can outside my kitchen door that I use to water small outdoor plants. When I go to use it, it's already filled and ready to use.

By Carrie from Yakima, WA

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More Dandelions Than Lawn

Please give me frugal ideas on how I can make my grass grow. I just divorced and moved in a new rental home and the grass will not grow. There is more dandelions than grass. I don't know anything about keeping a lawn up so can you please offer help?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Onesummer

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Getting Rid of Lambsquarter

I need information on how to eliminate lambsquarter from our garden. The last two years it seems to always take over. I thought we would be OK this year because a farmer said it probably started when last year we put a lime product with fertilizer in it on the garden. However, this year we put nothing on it and it's back. I've already planted it and now where the black landscaping cloth isn't used it's all growing back. Our garden is very big about 70x30. I'm getting worn out from pulling it and it's very expensive to cover the whole thing. If you have any suggestions please let me know.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Lamoon from Piqua, Ohio

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Bedroom Paint Color Advice

My bedroom suite is mahogany and so are my moulding and chair railing. My comforter set and drapes are a mint green with chocolate flower detail. I need to know what colors to paint my bedroom. Keep in mind that my room is of medium size approximately 20x20.

Annette from South Carolina

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Dog Odors Under Our Deck

We are considering purchasing a home that has kept a dog caged under the deck. The smell is horrible! Any suggestions on treating this area and eliminating the smell?

Thanks!
D from Matthews, NC

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Mice in a Camper

We recently purchased a 30 foot camper and I found mouse droppings in the floor vents and cupboards. Everything is sealed up tight under the camper so mice shouldn't be able to get in anymore. I heard that certain dryer sheets help repel mice. Is that true? Does is have to be a certain brand (Downy or Bounce or generic store brand) or scent? Any info would be appreciated!

Janel

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Cleaning Grease from an Electric Clothes Dryer

How can I remove a grease like substance from an electric clothes dryer?

Eepaquin from South Carolina

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Reducing Algae in a Pond

If I use shock for a pool and chlorine to reduce the algae, would it be safe to use these items in my water pond if I do not plan on adding fish or plants for a month?

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Firsttimepondowner from Wichita, Kansas

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Kitchen With Oak Cabinets

I am ready to repaint my kitchen, but I don't know what color to go with. We have oak cabinets, white doors, trim, and moulding, and a rust colored tile on the counter and floor. When we moved in, the kitchen was green. I hate green, so we repainted it. We were going for a creamy, neutral color, but I think we ended up with more a pale yellow. Any advice?

Shannon from Louisiana

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Wendy's Ranch Dipping Sauce Recipe

Does anyone know who makes the yummy Ranch dipping sauce for Wendy's. My daughter loves it with chicken nuggets and I like it with veggies. I think it's called "Heartland Ranch". I wondered if there is a company that makes it for them and I could buy some for home use, or if anyone knew how to make it?

Thanks,
Debbie52 from IL

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Struggling Asters

I purchased some beautiful annual asters at a local garden center and planted them a few weeks ago. They are not doing very well - they just look droopy and sad and it looks like something has been eating the leaves (bug, I think - I don't have many rabbits around here and it doesn't look like rabbit damage.) They are in full sun and we've had a very dry spring so far. I water when the soil is dry. They just look bad. Has anyone else in zone 5a had good or bad luck with annual asters?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Heather from Indianapolis, IN

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Reading Profiles on ThriftyFun

How do you get to read the profiles of the people on here? I'm new to this, but I thoroughly enjoy this site and would like to read about the wonderful people that make this so interesting.

Thanks and have a great Monday!

Judith from Montandon, PA

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What kind of dog do you have?

I was just wondering what kind of dogs everyone has. I have 2, a 4 year old yellow lab/collie mix and a 2 year old ACD/black lab mix. Very different personalities for sure. My collie mix will bark at you just to get attention (we got her from a no-kill shelter 3 years ago) and my ACD mix looks like a lab, but has the herding instincts and protectivess of an ACD and will also let me know before my husband goes into seizures or even if the "big" dog needs to go out! Very protective of my 1 year old granddaughter!

Aren't our "fur babies" special!?

Have a wonderful day!
Judith from Montandon, PA

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Rainbow Effect on Aluminum

I have a container (I think is made of thin aluminum) that was put in a dishwasher (by an unsuspecting visitor), and since then it has faded and has a rainbow effect with dark shadows. Does anyone know how I might get it back to it's original state?

Errol from Canberra, ACT, Aust

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Removing Tar from House Siding

How do I remove tar from aluminum siding?

Linda from Crown Point, IN

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Cleaning a Burnt Microwave

The inside of my microwave got very burnt - a microwave rice cooker burnt to cinders. It is very brown and burnt on the inside. What can I clean it with to get rid of the burnt look?

Patricia from Miami, Florida

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