Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 78, March 23, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We have 13 new requests today. Friday's TF News is about Spring Gardening Tips. Feel free to share your ideas.
Some of you may have noticed that we passed 10,000 tips, articles and requests on the website! WOW. Thank you to everyone for all your generous submissions. This site has added more than 8,000 records in the last 12 months and has become a much better resource because of it.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Enter The Photo Contest:
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- An Irish Buttercup (Pekinese)
- Booger (Miniature Pincher)
Today's Tips:
- Saving Money on Electricity
- Equivalent Measures
- Growing Flowers In Partial Sunlight
- Greeting Cards from Charities
- Working Chickens Joke
- Soap and Shampoo for Those Who are Sensitive To Chemicals
- Preventing Scratches on Floors
- Keeping Flowers Blooming
- Teaching About "I" Joke
- Quick Furniture Touch Ups
- Saving Money on Coffee
- Find New Places for Getaways
- Cloth Napkins - Frugal and Special
- Saving Over Ripe Bananas
- Mr. & Mrs. Bubble Joke
- Cake Cardboard For Blocking Crocheted Doilies
- Monkey Shake
- Amaretto Coffee Creamer
- Homemade Buttermilk (for baking)
- Get Rid Of Roaches
New Requests:
- Big Roller Foot For a Sewing Machine
- Replacement Airbake Tops
- Mold and Mildew Smell On Truck Seat
- Clock Radio With Strong Electrical Odor
- Bunny Cup Cakes With Edible Ears
- Vote Link Gone From Your Newsletter?
- Making Curtains Out Of Sheets
- Milk Vomit Smell On Couch
- Frugal College Graduation Party Ideas
- Bat Living Above Our Front Door
- Painting a Laminate Countertop
- Powdered Pectin in the UK
- Getting Rid of Worms On Pavement
More Reading:
- Finding The Perfect Wedding Dress
- Installing a Brick or Paver Walkway
- Saving Energy in the Kitchen
- Low Acid Coffee - Starbucks Substitute
- Budgeting Advice
Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
No sponsor today. Advertising information available at:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/advertising.html
Today's Photo Contest Entries
An Irish Buttercup (Pekinese)
This is a picture of our dog, Buttercup. She loves Dressing up and showing off! She especially loves it when the kids dress her in baby clothes!
By Tammy
Buttercup has a previous Photo Contest entry: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf554260.tip.html
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Booger (Miniature Pincher)
My pets Name is Booger. He loves to eat Hibiscus Flowers. He is a 1 year old Min Pin. He is rotten ornery. Thus the name Booger Man. Who could be afraid of this Booger Man. He has two Brothers which he lives with. Too Cute. Had to keep all of them. Delores Lipscomb
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Saving Money on Electricity
Tip for saving money on electricity. Post your ideas.
Saving on the Dryer
To save electricity while drying clothes in the dryer, I toss in a bath towel to absorb extra moisture and make the clothes dry faster. I did notice the cost of our electric bill went down after doing this for a month.
By Kathleen
Post Feedback: Click Here
Equivalent Measures
Equivalent measures are a handy reference to keep in your cookbook, especially if you are an empty nester trying to halve recipes you have used for years.
Dash or pinch = less than 1/8 teaspoon
1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon; 1/2 fluid ounce
2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup; 1 fluid ounce
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup; 2 fluid ounces
5 1/3 tablespoons = 1/3 cup
8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup; 4 fluid ounces
16 tablespoons = 1 up; 8 fluid ounces; 1/2 pint
1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon
Cups to pints to quarts to gallons can be very confusing to remember so I use this conversion chart.
7/8 cup = 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons
2 cups = 1 pint; 16 fluid ounces
4 cups = 2 pints; 1 quart; 32 fluid ounces
4 quarts = 8 pints; 1 gallon; 16 cups
1 pound = 16 ounces
By Ronsan
View Article: Click Here
Growing Flowers In Partial Sunlight
Flowers that you can grow in partial sunlight. Post your ideas.
Impatiens flowers are easy to grow in partial sun.
By ptreskovich
Post Feedback: Click Here
Greeting Cards from Charities
Save all those greeting cards and envelopes sent by charities soliciting donations. Even if the sentiments aren't suitable, you can remove the front covers to use as postcards, and use the envelopes for regular correspondence or make-your-own greeting cards.
By Jennifer Maslowski
Post Feedback: Click Here
Working Chickens Joke
How long do chickens work?
Around the Cluck
By Holly Dawson
View Article: Click Here
Soap and Shampoo for Those Who are Sensitive To Chemicals
For those out there, like myself, who suffer from chemical causing irritants: One of the most difficult situations for these people is doing things like washing hair, washing dishes, etc. Hands coming into contact with dishwashing detergents, shampoos, etc. suffer from the chemicals in these products.
I decided to dissolve a soap (I use Kiss My Face Olive/Aloe Vera) and use it for these various uses: hair washing, dishwashing, etc. This soap contains no harsh chemicals and is quite soothing to the skin.
Put your bar of soap in a pan of hot water and let soak overnight. If any is not dissolved, simply heat the pan and continue to dissolve. When dissolved, pour into bottles suited to your use. Use as you prefer. I shampoo my hair, etc. without the use of gloves now. Hope this works for those of you who need help in this area.
By Janean
View Article: Click Here
Preventing Scratches on Floors
Use felt on the bottom of your furniture legs to prevent scratching the floor underneath.
By Erica Greca
Editor's Note: We recently installed hardwood floors in our house and this tip is a must. The cheapest way that we have found to do this is to buy bigger pieces of felt with adhesive on the back. The brand we have been buying is by Soft Touch and the product is called "Heavy Duty Felt Blanket". You get two 4 1/2 in. by 6 in. pieces of self-stick felt that can be cut into pieces to fit different types of furniture. Some lazy-boy style chairs may need long, large pieces, while dining room chairs just need four small pieces. It's cheaper to buy the big large pieces and cut them to fit than it is to buy the variety packs that may or may not work with the different types of furniture you have.
You can also buy some felt fabric and glue it onto the furniture but one advantage of the self stick is that it is fairly easy to remove if need be.
If anyone else has any more tips for preventing scratches on floors, feel free to submit them.
View Article: Click Here
Keeping Flowers Blooming
Tips to keep flowers blooming. Post your ideas.
Pinch off dead flowers to keeps plants blooming.
By ptreskovich
Post Feedback: Click Here
Teaching About "I" Joke
Studying to be The teacher asks a student, "Tommy, give me a sentence that begins with I."
Tommy starts, "I is..."
The teacher interrupts, "Wait, Tommy. Your sentence must start with 'I am.' Now begin again."
"Oookay." Tommy shrugs his shoulders and says, "I am the ninth letter of the alphabet."
By Kevin
View Article: Click Here
Quick Furniture Touch Ups
Quick ideas for touching up scratches and dings on furniture. Post your ideas.
Touching Up Wood
For a quick color touch up on a wood project, use shoe polish.
By Diane Steiger
Post Feedback: Click Here
Saving Money on Coffee
Tips for saving money on coffee. Post your ideas below.
Invest in a good thermal travel mug and make your own coffee for your commute instead of stopping to pick it up. You'll pay for the mug the first week and save after.
By Cynthia Conley
View Article: Click Here
Find New Places for Getaways
I think we all get in a rut and tend to take "mini" vacations to the same places over and over. That generally means it is a place we enjoy, but I am always looking for a new "getaway". I am sure you feel the same.
With summer not that far away, let's share some of our "favorite places" with each other!
By Sandy
Editor's Note: Feel free to post your favorite vacation spots at the Post Feedback link below.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Cloth Napkins - Frugal and Special
I found I could save money and on recycling by using cloth napkins instead of buying paper napkins. I just throw them in with the other wash and it doesn't cost anything extra. And, using them makes me feel special!
By Mary
View Article: Click Here
Saving Over Ripe Bananas
If bananas get too ripe for fresh-eating, put them in a plastic bag in the freezer and make some banana bread when you have enough.
By Elaine O.
Read More Ideas: Click Here
Mr. & Mrs. Bubble Joke
Why did Mr. Bubble follow Mrs. Bubble around the house?
To watch her "bust"!
By Mchoium
Post Feedback: Click Here
Cake Cardboard For Blocking Crocheted Doilies
I make a lot of crocheted doilies and when it comes time to block them I use the cardboard from cakes that I have purchased and saved. This cardboard has a shiny surface on one side so the doilies do not stick.
By Barb
Post Feedback: Click Here
Monkey Shake
Blend frozen banana slices, milk, peanut butter, vanilla and your choice of sweetener. You can substitute vanilla yogurt for the milk, vanilla and sweetener to make it faster. To make it lower carb replace the milk with cottage cheese and it will taste creamier.
By Linda
Post Feedback: Click Here
Amaretto Coffee Creamer
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup nondairy powdered creamer
- 3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a container with a tight fitting lid. Shake well to blend. Store in an airtight container.
To serve, stir 2 tablespoons creamer into 6 ounces of hot coffee.
Yields about 12 servings.
By Chell
View Article: Click Here
Homemade Buttermilk (for baking)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered milk
- 4 cups water
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
Blend until milk is dissolved. Chill; keep in covered container in refrigerator.
By Chell
View Article: Click Here
Get Rid Of Roaches
Do you have roaches and can't get rid of them? Take powdered boric acid and sprinkle it under the refrigerator, the stove, by the drain, in all the cracks and crevices. Use a baster to blow it into the hard to get to places and leave it there. It will take about 10 days, but it works like a charm. Boric acid is toxic so take care if you have children or pets.
Sewingmamma
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Other Active Topics
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http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
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 March 31st.
Enter the contest!
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.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
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New Requests:
Big Roller Foot For a Sewing Machine
I have been looking for this particular sewing attachment for quite some time and hope someone can help me find it. It is 5/8th inches wide. Many have said they have it until they measure it to find theirs is only 1/2 inch, thats not the one. It is solid metal, both rollers - front and back - are solid, not split. It is a standard foot and would fit many older machines. It can be high or low shank, would prefer the low shank for now.
Is there anyone who knows where I could find this?
My Granddaughter is interested in sewing, I have finely got a machine that will stay up for her to use and now I sure would like another of that foot. Even more of them would be good as when my Granddaughters come from out of state to visit for a week they could all sew on their own machine, (there are 3 girls, we had such fun last year). It would sure beat one sewing and the other 2 watching and waiting to get on the machine.
I do have more then 2 machines, I've grown to using this foot so often, that I want them to be able to work with it as well.
It has to be around somewhere.
Thank You,
Moonbeam
Post Feedback: Click Here
Replacement Airbake Tops
Does anyone know where I can buy replacements for my broken airbake tops?
Jennifer
Post Feedback: Click Here
Mold and Mildew Smell On Truck Seat
My truck had mold and mildew on the seat and under the seat. I have pulled the seat out and cleaned it wilh mixture of ammonia and water. The Mold and mildew is gone but the smell is still in the foam rubber under the seat. How do I get rid of this smell?
Judi from the Mountains of NC
Post Feedback: Click Here
Clock Radio With Strong Electrical Odor
We recently purchased a new clock-radio. It works very well, but has a strong, unpleasant odor. I can only describe it as an "electrical smell". It permeates the whole room and I would appreciate any suggestions as to how to get rid of this smell. Thanks.
Joan - Orlando
Post Feedback: Click Here
Bunny Cup Cakes With Edible Ears
I want to make Easter Bunny cup cakes for Sunday. I don't have anything edible for the Ears. Any suggestions?
Susie
Post Feedback: Click Here
Vote Link Gone From Your Newsletter?
Dear ThriftyFun, I can no longer find the link (on either the e-mail version I get or on the website) to vote for ThriftyFun. Has that been dropped for some reason?
Lynn from Calif.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Making Curtains Out Of Sheets
I was wondering if anyone has ever made curtains out of sheets. I was thinking that I could buy some twin size flat sheets of the color of choice at Wal-Mart and use them, they already have a pocket sewn in, I could put in a curtain rod and tie back. Has anyone ever done this? And if so how did you like the way they looked. Or do any of you have a better way?
Thanks,
Becky
Post Feedback: Click Here
Milk Vomit Smell On Couch
My son drank an entire bottle of milk while sitting on the couch. He then smiled and at and vomitted all over the couch! I got most of the white off using vinegar water, but the smell won't go away!
Donna
Post Feedback: Click Here
Frugal College Graduation Party Ideas
After thirteen years of being in school, I'm finally graduating from college. My husband and I just got married, so we can't really afford to throw a graduation party. However, if I can come up with an inexpensive site to have the party and inexpensive food, then maybe we could have a graduation party. I graduate in less than a month and a half, so prompt suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Tina
Post Feedback: Click Here
Bat Living Above Our Front Door
Does anyone know how to get a bat from roosting above our front door? The bat roosts on the brick above our door. We have hung netting over the brick and that has not helped.
Mary from Minnesota
Post Feedback: Click Here
Painting a Laminate Countertop
I really hate our countertops but can't afford to replace them. I was wondering if anyone on this site had tried painting their countertop (I saw that it was possible mentioned in a recent feedback). If so, how much does it cost and how does the finished product look? We have a couple spots where there are small holes or dents in the counter, can those be filled before paint is applied?
If anyone has any ideas, let me know.
Thanks,
Jim
Post Feedback: Click Here
Powdered Pectin in the UK
I am trying to purchase powdered pectin for my mum, she bought some home from the U.S. but can't seem to find it, or the equivelant in the UK. Please let me know any websites where I can buy this product.
Thanks,
Susan - UK
Post Feedback: Click Here
Getting Rid of Worms On Pavement
I have a problem with worms crawling all over my payement. They are long, skinny, dark worms. They come out of my lawn, but I am not sure how to get rid of them.
When I walk out of my house, they are all over the pavement.
Any ideas how to get rid of them?
Thanks,
David
Post Feedback: Click Here
Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
No sponsor today. Advertising information available at:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/advertising.html
More Reading:
Finding The Perfect Wedding Dress
By Angela Reid
1. Start your search for the perfect wedding dress at least six to nine months ahead. Special orders can take four to six months, plus time for alterations.
View Article: Click Here
Installing a Brick or Paver Walkway
By Mark J. Donovan
The key to installing a Brick or Paver Walkway is to first properly prepare the area where the bricks/pavers are to be installed. The area should be dug out at least a foot down, removing all topsoil and clay soil.
View Article: Click Here
Saving Energy in the Kitchen
By Lillian & Dave Brummet
The kitchen, with all its appliances, gadgets and heat, is a real hotspot for potential energy saving. As the oven uses the most energy and creates a vast amount of heat while cooking foods, it is a good place to start.
View Article: Click Here
Low Acid Coffee - Starbucks Substitute
*Brew extra strong decaf hazelnut coffee to keep in fridge.
Add some of it to low carb soy milk (or milk), 1/4 cup of water and flavor with any two DaVinci Gourmet Sugar free flavorings (zero carbs).
View Article: Click Here
Budgeting Advice
By Ellise Walsh
It seems like everyone is willing to provide you with budgeting advice. Everyone from dear old dad to old Uncle Morty has something to say about how you spend your money. You may think you know where your money is coming from and where it is going, but if you do not have a written, monthly budget you cannot know for sure.
View Article: Click Here
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