March 17, 2009

Daily Thrifty Tips - March 17, 2009


Vol. 8, Num. 53, March 17, 2009 (Read It Online)

Do you have a question for the ThriftyFun community? Feel free to submit it here:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_request.ldml?email_source=newsletter

Here are the contest winners for last week.

Pet Contest Winner

Lily (Border Collie/German Shepherd Mix)
By Becky from New Lisbon, WI

We are so glad Lily adopted Becky.

Photo Contest Winner

Craft: Basket Lampshades
By Southeastgeorgiapeach from Jesup, GA

An attractive way to turn a basket into a lamp shade.

Tip Contest Winners

Mark the Top of Fitted Sheets
By Shirley from Henderson, NV

Little tips like this add up to make life a lot easier.

Being a Parent During Tough Economic Times
By Carol from England

Carol shares some tips for parents and stresses the importance of maintaining good dental care even during tough economics times. It can save you a lot down the road.

Recipe Contest Winner

Bahamian Boiled Fish
By Deeli from Richland, WA

Deeli shares her easy fish recipe.

Thank you to everyone that took time to share something!

Thanks for reading,

The ThriftyFun Team

Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Photos:

Today's Tips:

Joke of the Day

New Requests:

More Reading:

Today's Sponsor:

Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Today's Photos:

Gardening: Flowering Container

This was my favorite planting last summer. I enjoyed all of the vibrant colors mixed together. The mix contains geraniums, begonias, a blue salvia, petunia, and dahlia, with 2 spikes for interest. This planting was in a partial sun area and the dahlia did not do well.

By Carol from South Bend, IN

Gardening: Flowering Container

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Craft Project: Eucalyptus Spearmint Bath Salts

I love this scent combination when my body is feeling tired. But buying it at the store is much too expensive. So I figured out how to make my own Eucalyptus Spearmint blend. I placed the salts in a jar I painted with dots. It's all green, in honor of my spring fever.

Craft Project: Eucalyptus Spearmint Bath Salts

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Dazzey (Mixed Breed)

Dazzey is a one year old mixed breed dog that we adopted from the Napa shelter when she was 10 weeks old. She loves to run and play with her sisters, an Irish Wolf hound and a three legged Chihuahua mix, and special friends at the dog park. She is unique in many ways from the long hair, short hair all over, to her crow like a rooster bark and her strange tail length.

By Michelle from Napa, CA

Dazzey (Mixed Breed)

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Kala (Newfoundland)

Kala is an 8 month old Newfoundland. She was a birthday gift for my daughter's 13th birthday. According to my Mom, she likes to shed, whine, eat and sleep, but she also does some amazing tricks. She also likes to visit with the rabbit and Tucker, the horse.

By Corinna from New Liskeard, Ontario Canada

Kala (Newfoundland)

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Beethoven (German Shepherd Mix)

Beethoven is a 3 months old German Shepherd mix. I got through a friend about a month ago. He likes to go on walks with my other dogs and he is very shy.

By Cassie from Elizabethtown, KY

Beethoven (German Shepherd Mix)

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Contests:

These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!

Today's Tips:

Give a Year of Gifts

Because we have many family birthdays throughout the year, I have tried to always purchase ahead to defray the cost of several birthdays that fall in one month. This year I decided to give three of our family members "a year of gifts". After each holiday, I purchased items for 50-75 off, such as Valentines towels for 75 off, fall placemats, hand lotion, and put them away. I also collected useful but inexpensive items such as paper notebooks, candles, and ornaments as I saw them for sale. I wrapped each item in tissue paper, labeled them with a month and gave them to the recipient to begin the year of opening one gift per month (an item that would be used in that month). Overall, the gifts were appreciated and actually cost less than we usually spend!

By Sally from Edwardsville, IL

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Link: Free Irish Lessons From Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is offering a free trial of Irish lessons for the next week or so around St. Patrick's Day.

By Pam from Los Angeles

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Pin Dryer Sheet to Piece of Laundry to Make It Easy to Find

I always hate it when I can't find the dryer sheet in my load of dried laundry. It is embarrassing to go out and find a sheet hanging out the bottom of your pants, or shirt sleeve. I resorted to turning every piece inside out before folding until I found the used sheet. One day I found a large safety pin in a pocket. I decided to try pinning a sheet to one article I was going to dry. Worked great, and no more "lost" sheets!

By Roxanne from Fargo, ND

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Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector

A tip which saved my life and maybe yours. Our house was just a couple of years old when my husband accepted a job which required him to be out of town most weekdays. Our budget could allow either new mulch in the natural areas or a security system installed.

Fortunately reason won out and I chose the security system. As an aside, the rep asked if we wanted to add a carbon monoxide detector and we said we might as well since they were going to be here. It had been installed for less than 6 months when it saved my life. I had returned from a trip, came in turned the heat up, turned on the gas logs, and settled in to catch up on the mail and newspapers as I warmed myself by the fire. I got drowsy, turned off the logs, and went to bed around 11 p.m.

I had just drifted off to sleep when a shrill siren started blasting. I was a bit disoriented and couldn't figure out what it was or where it was coming from. An ADT representative called and told me my carbon monoxide detector was activated. She called the local fire department. They quickly arrived and got a dangerously high reading on the concentration of carbon monoxide. A representative from the gas company was called. He couldn't detect if there was a gas leak or not because of the high level of carbon monoxide in the house.

All ended well. I was told to go spend the night elsewhere and leave the window in the room open, and a fan on (A kind neighbor who saw the flashing lights graciously took me in).

The next day the man from the gas company detected a large leak in the burner on the gas logs. These logs were around two years old and were rarely used! Who would have thought such a thing could happen. I certainly hadn't given it any thought. Our builder said he would never build another house without installing a carbon monoxide detector.

Please take note--there are many sources for carbon monoxide poisoning. Just because you don't use gas doesn't necessarily insure your safety. Any source of fossil fuel can produce it. I called the local paper and asked them to alert readers to this danger.

Lowe's couldn't keep carbon monoxide detectors on the shelf for the next week or so. If you don't have one already, please consider getting one. Tell your friends and family as well. I will be forever grateful that we had been safely guided through a possible tragedy.

By Sandy from Elon, NC

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Be Grateful for What You Have

The recession has taught me the difference between wants and needs, and how grateful I am to have a warm home, loving family and friends. Some things money just can't buy!

By Mary from Marshalltown, IA

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Color Code Rooms When Moving

I've been reading the moving advice here and have one more thought to it. When I moved I went to Kinko's and bought 20 sheets of red, blue, green and yellow paper etc each, from their Copy Center. You can also get colored paper from the Copy Centers at Staples and Office Depot.

I colored coded each room and it made my move a lot easier.

I chose yellow for the kitchen. I wrote KITCHEN on one piece of yellow paper and taped it to a kitchen cabinet. Then, each box I packed for the kitchen, I wrote the contents on a piece of yellow paper then taped it to the box. When we got to our new house in my new kitchen, I taped a piece of yellow paper to a cabinet.

All boxes with a piece of yellow paper were stacked in the kitchen and I could easily see the lists of contents. It made unpacking a lot easier and I didn't worry about other boxes from other rooms being there.

Each room had a color and on moving day, all boxes were placed in the correct rooms. This comes in handy for yourself, friends, relatives, moving people or anyone else helping you move.

Source: myself

By CaroleeRose from Madison, Alabama

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Refill Child's Cute Lip Gloss Case with Homemade Gloss

My daughter is 5 years old and loves all of the sparkly and colorful lip glosses that come in cute cases with her favorite characters on them. The problem is that these glosses are terrible for her lips! They are very low quality and drying to her lips.

So I cleaned them out of the case, and took a little aquaphor gel and mixed it with just a bit of my own lipstick (took a small scrape off the bottom with a q tip). I just mixed them together and they were colorful and moisturizing to her lips. We put them back in the cases and they work great! I even use them for my dry lips.

By Sally R. from Edwardsville, IL

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Don't Like the Smell of Cooking Cabbage?

To all of the cooks that don't like the smell of cooking cabbage, here is a very good tip I have used for several years. After you have started sauteing the cabbage lay one or two slices of lite bread on the top of the cabbage. Replace the lid. When you stir the cabbage, lift out the lite bread very carefully as it will tear. After you stirred the cabbage to your satisfaction, replace the light bread. This will absorb the odor of cooking cabbage very effectively. I discard the light bread slices by putting them in a disposable sandwich bag.

Source: Can't remember where this tip came from, but it's great.

By roadgypsygranny from Atmore, AL

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Continually Add to Your Shopping List

With the escalating cost at the grocery, we need an accurate list to conserve time, gas and, most of all, not buying something we already have at home! Hang one of those market lists with a magnet on the back right on your fridge. When you prepare a recipe and empty a container (say a can of corn, for instance), go to your fridge and write "can of corn" on your list. If you are consistent with this, you will have most of your groceries already listed when you go to the store next time. Even our children add to the list when using the "last one"!

By Sandra from Alto, LA

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Reuse Plastic Meat Trays Around The House

I wash and save the white plastic trays I get my meat in from the super market and use them all around the kitchen, bathroom and even on my computer table. In the kitchen, I sit one under the oil bottle(s) near the stove and one is used for sitting any utensils on that are being used while cooking or prep work.

Several are used in the bathroom for setting things one that might leave a mess on the counter, one even for the liquid soap dispenser. The one on my computer table holds my water bottle and also my coffee and contains any accidental spills and leaves no residue should the bottle sweat as they sometimes do.

These plastic trays can be washed by hand many times and if they get too bad, just toss them out and get another one. Being that they are white in color, they pretty much go with any decor and as long as they are kept clean, who will even bother to notice.

By Melody from White City, Oregon

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Dear Webby's Joke of the Day

Little Tommy is at the zoo on a school visit and he spots a deer.

Being a city kid he's never seen one before and so he asks his teacher,

"What's that, Miss?"

Miss decides to play a word game with him and says,

"That's what your Mom calls your Dad, Tommy."

Tommy thinks for a moment and then says, "I'm not that stupid Miss,

I know that is not a 'Dumb-Ass'!"

Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor

New Requests:

Storing a Microfiber Chaise

I have recently moved and my microfiber chaise will not fit into my new space. What do I need to do to prepare it to be put in storage?

Christine from Portsmouth, VA

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Serving Size for Pasta with Meat Sauce

What is the suggested serving size for cooked pasta with meat sauce?

Mary from Ottumwa, IA

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Inexpensive Wedding Reception Locations in Grand Rapids, MI

I am looking for cheap reception halls in Grand Rapids, MI.

Michael from Grand Rapids, MI

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Shrubs Have Dead Limbs

The shrubs in front of our house have a lot of dead limbs in with the regular ones. I thought about cutting the whole thing down to about 6 inches. Or should I just go through them and pull out the dead ones and trim back the tops? Thank you.

Kenneth from Beecher, IL

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Costume Jewelry Christmas Wall Hanging

I am looking for a Christmas tree wall hanging made of costume jewelry. If any one has one I would appreciate a picture. Thanks.

Susan from Grand Prairie, TX

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Donating Embroidered Crib Blankets

I embroider crib blankets, and would like to donate them. Does anyone in the Kearny, NJ area know where I can bring them?

Lynda from Kearny, NJ

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Suggestions for Indoor Plants

I was hoping for a tall indoor plant like Forsythia and Curly Willow. I'm not set on flowering or not, but I am aiming for easily manageable, thin twigs, and decorative. I usually transfer plants outdoors for the summer to get some light. Does anybody have favorite indoor plants in mind?

Hardiness Zone: 5b


Eduardo from Chicago, IL

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Crafts Using Thick Vinyl Material

Does anyone have any craft ideas for using up vinyl covered fabric, like you would use for upholstery. I have lots of this stuff, I meant to recover my couch cushions with it but I don't have enough in the same color to do that. I'd love to use it up, in crafts, even sewing crafts. Any ideas? I have black, orange-red, and brown. It's really thick material. Thank you.

Jennifer from Oregon

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Terra Cotta Saucers Stained Vinyl Floor

I left a plant with a terra cotta saucer on our vinyl floor for a few days. When I moved it, there was a milky mark left by the saucer. Does anyone know how I can remove this?

Naomi from London, UK

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Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

How do you make liquid detergent for cotton and wool fabrics?

Sanjeev

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Restoring Shine to No-Wax Vinyl Tiles

I am looking for cleaning tips for restoring the shine to no-wax vinyl maple tiles.

Danny from Fredericksburg, VA

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Larger Nest for Baby Zebra Finches

I have a breeding pair of Zebra finches who have recently hatched a brood of 3 chicks. They are in a very confined small basket nest. Should I move them to a larger nest? They are about 8 days old and I'm afraid that as they grow one will fall from the nest or be accidentally pushed out.

Wanda from Calgary

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Homemade Eco-Friendly Appliance Cleaner

I recently purchased a special cleaner for my stainless steel appliances which works like a charm! I have tried lots of those specialty cleaners but none of them worked as well as this one. Sadly, the price tag is a little high for me ($12) for a small bottle. Does anyone know an eco-friendly cleaner that I can make myself to clean my appliances? Thank you.

Lisa from Halifax, NS

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Applying Polyurethane to Painted Countertop

What is the best method to apply polyurethane to seal a painted countertop?

Vicki from AZ

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What Kind of Snake is This?

What kind of snake is this? I have looked, but I can't find what kind it is. I'm hoping someone can help me. I live in the Florida panhandle.

Emily from Navarre, FL

What Kind of Snake is This?

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What Kind of Snake is This?

What kind of snake is this? I have looked, but I can't find what kind it is. I'm hoping someone can help me. I live in the Florida panhandle.

Emily from Navarre, FL

What Kind of Snake is This?

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Cabbage, Rice and Beef Casserole Recipe

I need a good recipe for Cabbage Casserole that has ground beef and rice included in the recipe. I can't seem to find the really good recipe I had. Thanks!

Dee from Franklin, LA

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Installing Needle Threader on Home Sewing Machine SX2122

I need instructions on how to install a needle threader on the New Home Sewing Machine model SX2122. It is the type you pull down. I just got a new one but no instructions came with it. Please help.

DeeAnn from White Lake, MI

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Making Patio Umbrella into Half Umbrella

Can I make my patio umbrella into a half umbrella?

Marie from NY

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Flower Pot Wind Chime

I have some really small flower pots that I would like to make a wind chime out of. Does anyone know how? Thank you.

Sandy from Mountainview

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Wintering a Container Garden

I live on the 11th floor of an apartment tower facing Lake Erie (North) but we get an incredible amount of sun. Last year I had a fabulous container garden. I know than anything in terra cotta must be brought in to avoid cracking. Besides that, what is the best way to winter-over the perennials so that they can still get a little water? We get snow on the balcony about 4 times during the winter.

Hardiness Zone: 5b


Barbara from Wickliffe, OH

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Paint Color Ideas to Brighten Kitchen

I have a kitchen that doesn't get much natural light. It has quite a large window but the previous house owners blocked the natural light by building a sun room on that side of the house. What are good color choices to paint the kitchen to brighten it up?

Currently it is all that nasty boring cream/off-white color with the cabinets the same color. I'd like a feature wall one color and the other walls more neutral and the cabinets painted as well. Any color suggestions?

Jennifer from Winnipeg, MB

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Suggestions for Birthday Party Locations

What is a good place to go for a birthday party?

Dale from Lancashire

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Suggestions for Perennial Flowers

I have two large, brick flower beds. What can I plant that will come up every year. I plant every year about Mothers Day! The cost is just too much anymore. I love pretty colors and no work. After twenty years of planting I need help. Thank you for any help!

Hardiness Zone: 5a


NanaDebby from Indianapolis, IN

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Dog with OCD's

I have a 6 year old Yorki and he has OCD's. Can anybody help me?

Ingrid from Naples, Florida

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Is Hulu.com Legal?

Is Hulu.com legal?

Nichole from Independence, MO

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Planting Holly Hock Seeds

Can I start holly hock and columbine seeds now and plant them when they start sprouting this spring?

Hardiness Zone: 5a


Jennifer from Peru, IN

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Making Olive Juice

We drink dirty martinis on a regular basis, so we are constantly having to buy jars of olives to use the juice. However, we are having to spend tons of money on olives, and not using the whole jar. We end up throwing away whole jars of olives because we used all of the juice and have all of the olives leftover. Does anyone have any idea how to make more juice? Could we add vinegar to the jar, or water and some spices, etc.? Thanks.

Beth from Us Virgin Islands

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When do dogs have their baby teeth?

How long do dogs have baby teeth?

Jeffrey from Greensboro, NC

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Moisturizer for Dog's Dry Skin

Can you use dry skin moisturizer or dry skin lotion for a dog that has dry skin? Thanks.

Larry from Snellville, GA

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Today's Sponsor:

Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

More Reading:

Saving Money on Cheese

Tips and advice for saving money on cheese.

Saving Money on Cheese

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Maytag Recalls Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard

Hazard: An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.

Maytag Recalls Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard

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Infantino Recalls Infant Toys Due to Choking Hazard

Hazard: The infant toys have blue metallic fabric that can detach from the toy, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Infantino Recalls Infant Toys Due to Choking Hazard

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Hair Dryers Recalled By Big Lots Stores, Inc. Due to Electrocution Hazard

Hazard: The hair dryers are not equipped with an immersion protection device to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water. Electric shock protection devices are required by industry standards for all electric hand-held hair dryers.

Hair Dryers Recalled By Big Lots Stores, Inc. Due to Electrocution Hazard

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