Daily Thrifty Tips - July 20, 2006

Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

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Katie-Alanis is a 4 year old Shih-tzu I got her at a trade day in June 2002. She likes to look out of the window, ride in the car and get attention from my future husband Justin. She hates dogs and loves cats, and loves to eat potatos.

By Kristina Schadel from Glencoe, AL

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Collect various branches or smaller limbs and spray paint them black or your choice of colors and secure upright in a flower pot suited to its size in cement.

It may be used to display your favorite objects that would become weather worn if left out during the off season.

By melody_yesterday from Sedalia Missouri

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I enjoy decorating for the month of July because my son and husband's birthdays are in July (5th and 27th).

I decorate my table by putting a white lace tablecloth as the bottom layer, a red checked tablecloth as the next layer, an American Flag scarf in the center; the centerpiece is:

• A vase of silk white azalea flowers with small American flags on each side inside the vase. The front of the vase has a strand of red cherries tied with a white bow.
• Two 20 year old resin like Charlie Brown figurines
• Two 20 year old Charlie Brown drinking glasses which I placed a blue checked napkin with a candle fold.
• A candy dish holds mints or candies
• Votive candles with white or red candles
• Fourth of July placemats
• A glass condiment holder holds S and P shakers and a small glass toothpick holder.

The Breakfast bar has whimsical 4th of July placemats with a 4th of July ice cream sundae bouquet on it. These decorations will remain until the end of July.

By WandaJo from Collierville, Tennessee

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Domino is my 13 year old Persian/other cat. I got her from a shelter, 13 years ago. She likes to play with plastic milk jug rings.

She has diabetes but she never lets that slow her down. And she even reminds me to give her, her twice daily shots by meowing in the kitchen. Thats where we give her the shots.

By Melony34 from Fritch,TX

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Pamper yourself on a budget and rejuvenate your skin using a homemade Exfoliating Body Scrub: Fill a small resealable container (like Gladware) with table salt. Pour in enough olive oil until it reaches the top of the salt. Cover and use all over your body the next time you shower. The salt will scrub away dead skin cells, giving you a healthy glow and the oil will moisturize your skin.

By Marnita from Cumming, GA

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We are retired and are living on a fixed income. Being frugal has become a way of living. We shop the specials at the supermarkets and I have a vegetable garden. Our clothes often come from thrift stores or yard sales. I like to decorate and make my home nice and I never feel deprived.

We attend country auctions where we often find curtains, bed linens, tablecloths, wall decorations, pictures, throw rugs, candles, etc. in box lots for a very low bid. The auction items I don't use for my home, I often sell over EBay. We often sell on week-ends at our local flea market to make extra money.

It is wonderful to keep money for ourselves instead of giving it to the supermarket chains and department stores. Now we are saving for a vacation. As you can see, thriftiness has its own reward.

NellieMary from West Virginia

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Once, I had to think of a quick birthday present for a young girl I had never met and didn't know what she wished for. Also time was short. Cash was the obvious solution, but a paper money bill in a birthday card is somewhat boring for young kids, so this is what I did:

I fancied up an old cigar box by covering it in a scrap of beautiful fabric with some gold patterning, "gemstones", buttons and anything gold and shiny I could find. I lined the box with a scrap of blue velvet and then I just filled the box with loose change and used a gold ribbon to tie the box shut. The embarrassment I initially felt by not having a "proper" gift for her soon dissipated: the little girl was so happy for the gift that she spent all afternoon counting and recounting her "treasure". All in all it was not a lot of money, but for younger children it is often the number and not the value of the coins that makes them feel "rich". After spending the "treasure", the box can be reused as a beautiful jewellry box.

This idea can easily be adjusted for boys. Just cover the box in "boyish" wrapping paper or fabric and put for example matchbox cars or baseball cards inside instead. This is a cheap, quick, but personal way to make a lovely gift for someone.The variations are endless....

By Vicki from Copenhagen, Denmark

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Today I was out shopping and bought a 12 lb re-sealable bag of Arm & Hammer baking soda at Sam's Club. It cost $4.77. That's .40 a lb. Also Dollar Tree had the 16 oz size baking soda 2/$1.

Baking soda really is a cheap alternative to use in place of more expensive cleaners. All you'd have to do is do a search online to find out its many uses or look here at Thriftyfun since I'm sure there have been posts about baking soda before.

Baking soda really is good for more than baking! I like to use in the laundry, as a detergent booster especially with whites. I've been using it more since I've been adding it to the laundry so am glad to have found a big supply. Even though the bag reseals, I'm planning to put in a smaller more manageable container that I can keep in the cabinet above my washer.

By Debbie from IL

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Below is a link that will allow you to print-out a coupon for a BUY ONE GET ONE American Greeting or Carlton greeting card. Here's the link: http://www.carltoncards.com/coupon/JUL06FREECARD.jpg

Hurry, coupon expires 7/31

By Marnita from Cumming, GA

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My tip is for the concern of walking you dog/cat. Living here in Nevada, the heat can be extreme and also the sidewalks. Take care that your pet doesn't get heat exhaustion, too.

If the sidewalk is too hot for your bare feet, it is definitely too hot for your pet. The pads on their feet get them hot from walking on the hot pavement, too.

My dog will sit and let me know she is too warm, even in the early morning walks. Take note of your pet's signals.

By Linda from Las Vegas. NV

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I have recently discovered that there actually is a solution for mismatched baby and kid socks! No more lonely socks hanging out at the back of enormous dresser drawers. Now I take an empty cereal box (the largest size works best!) and cut it into three pieces.

I close the top back up and seal with tape. The bottom is of course already sealed. Then with my scissors I make new flaps for the middle piece and crease then tape them down like the top and bottom. Voila! - three perfectly sized drawer organizers for those teeny little adorable socks!

It works well for toddler and bigger kid socks too. Just cut the box pieces to the size you need.

Recycling, thriftiness and one less headache when it is time to dress the kids!

By BoobertAndWeenie from Belmont, MA

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You can save 10 cents per gallon on gas at Kroger fuel centers when you are a Kroger Plus shopper, apply in the store for a Kroger card. ITS NOT A CREDIT CARD! It is like a coupon card, there are absolutely no fees, you simply apply, they give you a card, and on each purchase you make they swipe your card. On the bottom of your receipt they will tell you what you have saved in the year, and how much you have spent in that month, cardholders get special prices on on-sale items, that someone without a card pays full price for.

When you get gas at a Kroger fuel station, swipe your card and save 10 cents per gallon up to 10 gallons, the only catch is that you do not receive the full 10 cent discount unless you have spent at least $100 in that month, you receive a percentage of the discount for purchases under that amount in the month. It really adds up.

By tfrye from Beattyville, KY

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My DH brown bags his lunch. To make his sandwiches more interesting and to save time, I took three large frozen chicken tenders, greased them top and bottom with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkled each heavily with a different seasoning (pesto, cajun, mexican) and baked all three in the same baking pan at the same time.

His chicken sandwiches, although daily, will be dissimilar and make for a more interesting lunch.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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Frugal For Life

A great blog with posts about frugal living.

More Information:
http://www.frugalforlife.blogspot.com/

Could you please tell me how to install a spring tension rod? I have never used one before.

Cathy from Plainfield, IL

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I am interested in mystery shopping. Has anyone done this with any companies that don't charge a fee and are easy to deal with? I know there are a lot of these companies, but I also know you have to watch which one you deal with.

Thanks for any help,
Malinda from Pennsylvania

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We are giving growing cantaloupes and watermelon a try. We have had very hot and dry weather since we put the plants in a month ago, and have watered every day. We have several fruit started on the plants, but neither seems to have grown any the past 1 1/2 weeks, whereas they all had been showing noticeable changes every few days. (The fruit ranges from tennis ball size to large grapefruit size.) Is this normal?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Tennie from Sherman, TX

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It happened again. I made a stew in the crockpot (cooked it 12 hours) and the meat seems dry, yet it was immersed in liquid while cooking. What did I do wrong?

Thanks,
Holly Gates from Richardson, TX

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I saw a tip using baking soda to unclog a bathtub drain. I didn't bookmark and now can't find it. Can anyone recall the tip?

Thanks,
HAC from East Coast

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My dog just got sprayed by a skunk. My house smells horrible. I see post about cider vinegar. Is it a certain type like apple cider, etc.? Also how much? Any help would be great

Lisa from Burlington, MA

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I am looking for a nacho cheese recipe, that doesn't use Velveeta cheese. Can someone help me find one? I am looking for one like the kind you can get on your nachos at a restaurant or the kind that pumps out of the thing at the gas stations. Thanks,

Jen from EauClaire, WI

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Does anyone know how to remove glitter from a small child's hair?

Jeannie from Leander, TX

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I know we are all frugal, but what is the one thing in life you splurge on?

Tedebear from San Jose CA

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I have a smooth top range. While boiling water and milk it overflowed causing it to burn into the eye. I used a cleaner and scrubbed it but it didn't take off the burnt liquid. Any suggestions?

Carrie from TN

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I have two beautiful zucchini plants that seem to be quite healthy. However, after the blooms fall off and squash begins to grow they grow to about 1 inch or so and then very easily fall right off the stem. Even just a breezy light touch will cause this to happen. I don't know what I'm doing wrong to cause them to be so delicate. Any tips on how to stop this from happening? Much appreciated.

Selina from Granite Falls, WA

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We have a very big family. Gift giving gets very expensive with Christmas and all the birthdays, etc. We are trying to buy a house and our income in a lot less then others in the family. Is there a polite way to bring up the "lets not exchange gifts" conversation? I'm a little embarrassed by this, but we really can't afford to buy gifts for aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. We've tried the name drawing but everyone else ends up buying for everyone anyway.

Lindsie from Bath, NY

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I am on the hunt for a bran muffin recipe - the easier the better!

Jessica from Sussex, WI

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I have had a hummingbird vine planted now for 2 years. It has grown to the maximum, but unfortunately it hasn't bloomed in the 2 years I have had it. Do you have any idea why it possibly hasn't bloomed at all since I've had the plant? Do you think I may need to trim it back some? My mother had planted one at the same time as I did and hers hasn't bloomed yet either. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thank you, Sincerely,
Diana from Newville, PA

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Can you tell me an easy way to dye the carpet in my car?

Dorothy from Louisville, KY

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I have an old hair dye stain on my carpet that I need to remove. Please help.

Marissa from San Diego, CA

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Why is it that I can't seem to sharpen a pencil without the lead falling out as it gets pointed? I have to sharpen a few inches off a pencil until the lead does not break. Any tips?

Brigittes from Israel

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I need to come up with a wonderful name to brand a new computer programme. The technology involved is a database for an organization that supports people with disabilities. I look forward to hearing some innovative ideas, thanks to all.

Angela from New Zealand

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While shaking a bottle of red nail polish, the top came off and red polish is all over the wall. What can I do?

Shirley from Phoenix, AZ

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Our dishwasher leaves a residue of detergent on everything we wash - especially glasses and plastic baby bottles. We've tried different detergents (powder and liquid), changed the amount of detergent (more and less), we use Jet-Dry, we've increased our water temperature, but the problem is still occurring. Does any one have any ideas for preventing detergent residue on dishes in the dishwasher? We're also looking for nontoxic detergent options.

Sarah from Brooklyn Center, MN

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Here are some craft ideas for socks.

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Selecting High-Quality Fruit:

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