Daily Thrifty Tips - August 7, 2008

I hope everyone is having a nice week. It's back to school time. Do you have any tips for helping parents get back into the school routine with their children? Feel free to post them here:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Violet (Parakeet)

Violet is a parakeet. She is young, not sure, less than a year. I got her at Petsmart on July 12, 2008.

She likes to look out the window and watch what is going on outside, and sing and fly around.

I'm looking for tips on best way to get her finger trained. We have several books, but would like to get additional tips from experienced parakeet owners.

By Mary Lou from Maryland

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Recycle a Water Bottle Into a Cat Toy

My cats are always batting something off the counters and playing with it. So, I remembered something I did as a kid. I put little bright things in a plastic drink jug. You can put beads, paper clips, buttons, and anything that will catch your cats eyes. Seal the lid on with with E6000 glue or any crazy glue. I don't recommend these for dogs, as they can easily chew through the plastic. My cats love it!

By Sandra from Salem, OR

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Craft Project: Denim Placemats

My husband brought home these denim placemats because he liked the pocket for the silverware. I scurried to my "resource" center and got out some material and made 1 inch red bias tape for the edging. Then I found the "heart" material in another "resource" box.

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Use a Bundt Pan for Lasagna Polenta

To make a really good presentation when making "Lasagna Polenta" (recipe can be gotten on line), try using a bundt pan when poring the layers. Use the bundt pan the night before, remove the formed polenta then fill the layers horizontally. Photo is before placing in oven, cheese will melt then cut like a cake.

By Gigi from Delray Beach, Florida

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Craft Project: Unique Greeting Cards

Greeting cards made from card stock, ribbons and beads.

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Cleaning Regime For Pest Control

Controlling pests in the home can be easy. It should also be done in the most natural way possible and this means going back to good old fashioned housekeeping. Never wait until pests are such a problem you need to spray chemicals or call a professional.

Once or twice a month I gather dusting cloths, a vacuum, and a long handled dusting tool. Pests such as spiders and other creepy crawlies set up house where you can not see them so getting them as they are moving in is essential. Take one room at a time if you are busy.

Start by using a long handled dusting tool and run it along all of your walls beginning with the ceiling, include running it down all corners seams. Shake out when needed outside.

Get your vacuum next with attachments and starting in one corner, run a long handle with a brush attachment along baseboards, moldings and in the seam between the bottom of the baseboard and the floor. You will be amazed by what you see scampering for safety!

When it is possible, move furniture to the center of the room or try moving anything against one wall and vacuum all of the outer borders of the room. A lot of pests are attached underneath tables, chairs and couches so as you are putting them back run an attachment under and don't forget the legs. Lift cushions and vacuum well.

Finish by vacuum the center of the room, turning over area rugs and giving them a quick look.

Take an old diaper or a swiffer duster and run them over all lamps, fixtures, and table decorations. Pull items off shelves and run the cloth along paying attention to those corners that pests love to live in. If you have cabinets open them up and shine a light and look for invaders. Some pests love to dwell in the dark.

Though it may seem like a lot of work, it actually is only minutes for each section of the room. Usually once a month, I perform my pest control for each room when I find a patch of time. What I have noticed is no pests! I simply don't give them a chance to get comfortable. If you have pets, try sprinkling borax on carpets and "sweep" it into the rug well, leave on for 15 minutes and the vacuum it up. It does a wonderful job of sweetening the rugs while killing dust mites and any other invaders!

By Pattie M from Maine

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Reuse Window Envelopes

Save those unused envelopes with windows that sometimes come with bills. You can use them for your own personal mail by writing the address on a 3X3 post-it note (under or over the sticky area) and placing it in the envelope so the address is showing in the window. It may take a trial run but once you figure out how it's done, you'll never throw away an unused window envelope again.

By Aaron's Mom from Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Use Costume Jewelry to Decorate for Christmas

Try tucking in some of your costume jewelry on your tree when you decorate it this next Christmas. You can drape bracelets and necklaces about the branches and even clip earrings onto the branches. The sparkle of the jewelry really shows up against the lights and adds a special touch that others are certain to notice.

By Patricia from Imperial, NE

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Saving Energy Drying Laundry

Laundry dryers are great but you can get the same effects and save lots of energy $'s. Take the newly washed load out to partially dry. You may put it on the top of the dryer or outside to dry. When it is still just a little damp, put back into the dryer for the softening effect and to eliminate wrinkles.

If time slips away and the load completely dries before rescuing it to put back into the dryer, then take a hand towel and get it wet. Wring it out then put in the dryer with your dry clothes and put on high for 4 minutes. It will remove wrinkles and get clothes back to the feel that we love, right out of the dryer.

Please do not put clothes outside to dry if you have allergy issues.

Have a happy day!

By Kim from Rogers, AR

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Product Review: Dryer Balls

The hard plastic dryer balls you can purchase to supposedly dry your clothes faster in the dyer don't work! My laundry takes about the same amount of time to dry in the dryer whether I use them or not.

By Susan from Giddings, TX

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Uses for Shower Caps

My Dollar store sells 10 shower caps for a dollar. They have endless uses.

• Great bowl covers at a picnic.

• I cut 2 little holes in them slide one over my hand when I paint, when I take a break, pull the cap over the brush to prevent drying out.

• Cover small seedlings in pots during cold or stormy weather until they grow stronger.

• Run out of diapers? Cut 2 holes, insert a washcloth - instant rubber pants for baby.

By Carmen from Daytona Beach, Fl

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Save Grocery Money By Shopping From A Planned Menu

I like to think I am really good at saving money on grocery so here it goes.

I make a monthly menu and create a shopping list from it. I buy only from that list this way everything gets used and there is nothing thrown away (particularly produce because people tend to buy and think they will use) and no buying things that never get used. I always take inventory based on my menu and I always leave a day or two open this way I can shift things around for the unexpected.

I also clip coupons and hold them for four weeks because that is the cycle the grocery stores go through to put things on sale and I often use coupons on sale items. I will even make special trips for sale coupon combos.

I use my local produce store that offers discounted produce. This stuff is not old or gross, it is almost always better than my local grocery store because everything moves - even my local restaurants buy from them. I visit twice a month to replenish fruit.

By Gina from Collegeville, PA

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Link: SynthaSite.com

This tip is for anyone who has ever thought about making a website, but didn't know how. I lost my little freebie website at ecrafts. I guess the webmasters took it down. At any rate, it has disappeared. I found the greatest place to build a site to take its place. You do not have to know HTML code, and can make a beautiful site. The best part is that building your site is FREE, and the tutorials that they give you are great. But even more thrifty than building the site for free, they also host it for free. And no advertising banners to contend with. If you want to take a look at what they have to offer, go to http://www.SynthaSite.com.

And if you want to see why I am so pleased to have found them, take a look at my new site. http://www.YardArtbyHarleanfromArkansas.com

By Harlean from Arkansas

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Don't Pour Grease Down The Drain

I learned from experience along time ago that pouring grease or even putting dish detergent and hot water in your skillet and pouring it down the drain would eventually clog your kitchen drain.

So what I do is save jars (any size will do) and I put a couple paper towels folded a couple of times or even a newspaper in my sink. Set my jar on top of that and and make sure you give yourself enough space to pour grease out of your skillet into this jar.

I use my lid being careful of the steam and using a pot holder for the lid, and pour the grease out into the jar the paper towels, or newspaper in the sink catch anything that might go over the sides of the glass. I wipe the glass off and let it cool some. Then, depending on when I will be using it again, I either save this jar or throw it out. But it really helps save on buying Draino and having to wait until it works. I can not remember the last time I had a problem with my drain!

By Darlene from Fairview, PA

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Use Invisible Thread for Top Machine Thread

If you sew a lot and do mending or alterations, use invisible thread for the top thread and change bobbins for different colors. You will save a lot of time by not having to re-thread the needle every time you do a different colored garment. (I wish I had found this tip when I was trying to make the mending pile disappear LOL)

Source: local TV guide

By Cinnamon from Williams Lake, BC

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Recommendations For Seed Companies

I am looking for recommendations on what catalogs or companies are good to buy seeds from.

Joyce from Danvers, MA

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Using Line Drawings From Craft Book

I have a Christmas craft book with line drawings and I do not know how to use them for crafts. They are nice Christmas pictures like angels, ornaments, etc. and I would like to use them for stockings or cards, but what do you do? They are in heavy black ink but there are pictures on both sides of the paper. Do you just use tracing paper or what?

Fran from Conifer, CO

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Recipes For Sloppy Joe

I am looking for a recipe for sloppy joes. I had one and lost it in when we moved. I know there are so many recipes on the web but I am looking for one that people already like, as the last batch we made was not a winner. Thanks!

Mindy from Oregon

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Tiny, Colorless Bugs That Bite

My house and car are filled with these tiny flying insects that bite. They are barely perceptible to the naked eye and only when standing next to a light and there is a dark background. They appear colorless. I have treated everything using essential oils and now am spraying with RAID every single day.

They are worse at night and late afternoon. Professionally cleaning carpets was no help. Washing all my bedding and clothing is a daily requirement just to be able to be in the same house with them. They do not appear to bother most people. Please help.

Nuit from Boynton Beach, FL

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Prepaid Cellphone Coverage In Utah

I'm looking into getting a prepaid cell phone. I'm wondering if any central Utah residents can tell me which prepaids have better signal coverage out here in the Sevier County, San Pete, Fishlake County areas.

Natalie from Sigurd, UT

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Anyone Tried The "Defiant Child Program"?

Has anyone tried the "Defiant Child" program? It's the Total Transformation Program and they say you can turn a kid's attitude around and get back control. I don't get much info from their web site and wonder if anyone has tried this or knows more about it? Thanks.

Linda from Saratoga

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What Is This Plant?

What is this plant? It suddenly sprouted up in our backyard by the pool. My kids were eating sunflower seeds out by the pool a while ago, could it be a sunflower seed plant? Thanks!

Hardiness Zone: 11


Debbie from Phoenix, AZ

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Orchid Leaves Are Rotting

I have several orchids and most of them are doing great. I have one though that one entire leaf turned almost black and mushy and fell off. Now the same thing is happening to the other leaves along the edge of the leaf - a darkening and softening. Other orchids are fine. What could this be?

Sally from Charleston, WV

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Keeping Embroidery Threads In Place

I have a bag that is embroidered and the thread is getting caught on items and it is also starting to get fuzzy. Is there anything I can spray on it to hold the thread in place. I thought about hairspray? Would that work? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Mindy

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Low Salt Cookie Recipes

I am looking for a tried and true recipe for cookies that have little or no salt. Looking especially for oatmeal type cookies. They are for my dad who just had a heart transplant and is on a very limited sodium intake diet. Thanks!

Mindy from Oregon

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Eating The Greens On Broccoli

Can you eat broccoli greens, cauliflower greens, and the outer large leaves of cabbage? Has anyone done this and lived to tell?

Joanna from Eastern Montana

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Reviews Of Sleep Number Bed

Does anyone out there have a "sleep number" bed? What do you think of it? Is it any good for reducing severe back pain? Thanks.

Catastrofy from Winnipeg, Canada

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Getting Blue Dye Out of Clothes

I've just accidentally washed new white tops (which contain slight splashes of color design) with a blue skirt. Now the main body of both white tops are a pale blue! What can I do? Any solutions on how to return the white to it's original brilliant white color?

Mary from Ireland

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Composting At An Apartment

Can I use a Rubbermaid barrel for a compost pile? I rent my apartment and the owner doesn't want any contraptions.

Hardiness Zone: 6a


Joyce from Danvers, MA

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Homemade Sugar Scrub

Does anyone have a homemade recipe for a sugar scrub?

Sabrina from Council, N.C.

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Kitchen Paint Color Advice

I want to paint my kitchen red. I have a green floor and hunter green countertops. My cabinets are a light cream color. I am concerned my kitchen may look like Christmas. Any advice?

Andrea from Granite Falls, Wa

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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

Homemade Deep Avocado Conditioning Treatment

This creamy and moisture rich conditioning treatment is a great, natural way to rejuvenate dry hair. The avocado and yogurt nourish each strand with the moisture and protein they need.

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Easy and Cheap Dinner Recipes

With times so tight, I am glad that my family enjoys budget friendly meals. Here are some of my fave recipes that have my families stamp of approval (and they are easy and cheap!)

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