Daily Thrifty Tips - December 19, 2006

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I have so many collections that need to be dusted and I am constantly misplacing my cloth. I came up with the idea to remove the long strap from a cell phone holder (or you could use a purse strap). I hooked each end of the strap to an alligator clip (you know the kind that you find in an office) and then hooked a damp cloth to one of them and a dry cloth to the other. I place the strap around my neck and I am ready to dust like crazy. In fact, it's such a good idea ... I quit dusting so I could share it with you! Wonder if I can think of some other ways to get out of cleaning! HA!

By Mitzi from Deland, Florida

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This is a quick and easy gift that packs a big punch. This will light up anyone's Christmas and is a great gift because holiday decorations are always appreciated. Get the kids together and gather your own pinecones it will make for a great outing.

Time:

Materials:

• 1 Loose weave basket I got mine at Walmart
• 1 Walmart bag of pinecones
• 2 sprays of silk holly and berries
• 1 set of 20 lights the kind that plug in (not battery operated.)

Directions:

First take the lights and push the plug from the inside of the basket to the outside. Now fill your basket with pinecones. You will find that you can interlock the pinecones so they stay in the basket. Now weave in your set of Christmas lights. Take the sprays of holly and berries and cut apart and arrange in the basket. You don't want a fire hazard so keep the silk holly away from the lights if possible. Add a big bow to the basket and you are done.

By Debra from Colorado Springs, Co

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I have several people I wanted to get Christmas gifts for, but no $ to buy anything fancy. So I made some homemade dry soup that is practical and inexpensive. I even created my own label!

Supplies

• Empty jars with lids
• Dry soup mixture, such as lentils, split peas, rice, alphabet letters, dried carrots, etc.
• Homemade labels and tape/glue

The whole project cost me about $5-10 and I was able to make 6 jars of dry soup!

By Carrie from Yakima, WA

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Sparky is 4 months old and is a Miniature American Eskimo.

Sparky was really excited about our first snowfall! The big fat flakes floated down all around him, and he just didn't know which one to try to catch first! It was so funny to watch him! In this picture, he is really checking out one that just fell by his nose! He tried to eat as many as he could before they hit the ground!

By Betty from Cowichan Bay, BC

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For sending presents by mail instead of using brown paper to cover the box, try recycling a cardboard box that can be gotten from a grocery store or any other store (before they crush them, of course). Instead of blacking out all the writing on the box as the post office suggests, turn the box inside out.

Cut the tape or pull open the glued flaps as if you are going to flatten the box. (If you are lucky you can get the boxes already cut open from the store because some of them flatten the boxes before they crush them.) Carefully cut the seam of the box with a knife so it is able to be opened up flat. Turn the box over to the non-printed side (inside out).

Tape the seam back together with packaging tape inside and outside if you want it to be more stable although taping outside will suffice. Tape the flaps on the bottom closed again. You can then put whatever you are sending in the "new" box and seal it up with the packaging tape. This not only saves on the brown paper and recycles the boxes but also helps the post office because the brown paper often rips off or rips so that it gets stuck in the machinery used to process the packages. The only drawback is that you can only do this once unless you are careful when opening the box and you use easily removable labels on them.

I have done this countless times with no problems at all. Every time the box arrived intact. Happy shipping.

By Diane from Helena, Montana

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When my first granddaughter was born I wanted to make a special ornament for her that would last and not break. I bought a set of children's ABC blocks and screwed a small eye hook into the top of each one. I wrote her name and the date and tied a ribbon on each one. I used red and white striped ribbon since her name is Candace! She is 13 now and we still have the whole set - which I hang on my tree. Someday I will pass them on to her. I've given many sets as gifts for Baby's first Christmas over the years.

By Charlene S from Chino Hills, CA

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Try adding a small amount of cinnamon mouthwash to your pump hand soap for a nice Holiday "extra"! It's not really necessary to use handsoap at its full thickness to get the same cleaning effect! Mint will also work! The added germ killing power is also a big plus!

By melody_ytesterday from Sedalia, MO

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We made latkes (potato pancakes) last night for Chanukah. I always have a difficult time squeezing out the excess water from the grated potato and onion. Not any more! It worked beautifully. First we squeezed the potatoes, then the onion, and then mixed them with the rest of the ingredients.

Usually, by the time we are halfway down the bowl, the potato water starts to build up in large quantities in the mixture. Well, it started to puddle this time, but barely. Yay! What a great idea!

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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A couple years ago, I needed a new Christmas wreath for the front door. Being frugal, I wanted to see if I could make one just as nice but more inexpensively than new.

Buy a grapevine wreath at a thrift store. If it's tacky looking, or the decorations are worn/missing, it will probably sell for a dollar or two. If you can salvage what is left, then keep it. Otherwise, throw it away and start over.

I always save various ribbons, fake greenery, ornaments, fabric or plastic flowers, pinecones, etc. Take wire trimmed ribbon (it seems to hold its shape best) and wrap it around the wreath. If it does not hide it all, that is okay. Then tape or hot glue into place.

Lay out your arrangement that you are going to put on the wreath. It's a lot easier to rearrange on a table, than to try to do it after it's been glued on!

After everything is glued in place, you can tie on a bow to match your ribbon, then tie a loop on top and hang. Voila! You have a wreath at a fraction of the cost, plus you made it yourself.

Last year's wreath became a present for a friend. I made a new one this year. This will probably be a yearly tradition, as I have so much fun making them.

By Wendiesioux from Edwardsport, IN

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An easy traditional Christmas ornament. Take a walnut shell, add a loop of ribbon or other cord (to hang it) and glue the 2 halves around the cord. Or you can spray the walnut gold (either before or after). My mother used to make those. Sorry, no pix, all mine are packed away.

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Don't think you can't give presents, most of us have enough to pass on to share in the spirit of the season. I was reminded of that when an old senior citizen buddy of ours gave us a "new" wood cutting board for our boat that had come out of some ship's teak woodwork. It was thoughtful, very much appreciated and probably didn't break his bank, either! It's the thought that counts.

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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For a fun and simple craft, make sock snowmen. You will need white socks with a colorful, striped upper cuff, two rubber bands or pieces of string per sock, white rice, and choice of the following craft supplies--permanent markers, google eyes, embroidery thread, sequins, buttons, ribbon.

Turn the sock inside out, fill halfway full of rice. Tie off with rubber band or string. Add more rice to the sock up to the bottom of the cuff and tie off again.

You now have your snowman's body and head. Turn the cuff down to create the snowman's cap. Decorate face and body as desired. Have fun!

By Sandy from Stoughton, WI

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This year, instead of getting a big cut Christmas tree, my family bought a small one in a pot. This way, we can put it out into the garden for the rest of the year and keep it for several years to come. It's a nice idea if you prefer a real tree to an artificial one, but don't want to have to buy one every year.

By Beth from England

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REMEMBER - not everyone celebrates Christmas, so be thoughtful. This idea took care of about 20 people. Last year for the men in the office, my kids and I baked brownies in muffin tins and placed them on Holiday theme plates we picked up at the dollar store. For the women, we bought hot cocoa and hot tea and placed them in Holiday themed coffee mugs, also purchased at the dollar store.

As a "centerpiece" for the whole thing, we had a plate of brownies and cookies baked fresh that morning placed in a general area for anyone that wanted to have some. We also decorated this plate of goodies with Holiday candy - Hershey kisses, peanut butter cups, etc.

I also made sure to include some sugar free treats on the side for anyone diabetic. It was a very inexpensive way to say Happy Holidays to everyone in the office. Also, for the bosses - we got fruit baskets that they could take home to the family.

By Barbara from Atlanta, GA

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Take 1 loaf french bread (sliced down middle to make 2 halves). Now, place 2-3 Grilled Boneless Chicken Breast sliced in strips over ranch dressing.

Sprinkle 1 can whole kernel corn (drained and pat dry with paper towel) over chicken (may not use but 1/2 the can).

Next, sprinkle sliced green onions over corn. Then, 1-2 tomatoes (seeded and chopped) sprinkled over onions.

Place shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese over onions and sprinkle with parsley and black pepper. Place in oven on 400 degrees F until cheese is melted!

Wonderful!

By Mona from Lumberton, MS

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A special Christmas traditions we have: I make a special Christmas breakfast of fruit and crepes. When I set the table, I put a small creche in the middle of the table with one tall candle. Then each place is set with a small votive candle. The tall candle is lit and before we eat we explain how the light of love came into the world when Christ was born. Then my husband lights his light from the big one and tells how he will let his light of love shine. Then each member takes turns lighting their candle from each other and explaining how they too will let their light shine. This is very special and the children have enjoyed lighting each others light and pledging to be a light of love for everyone.

By Carol Monson from Hamilton, MT

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Can anyone tell me how to clean my pots and pans that have burnt stains and gunk all over the bottom and sides. They are the stainless steel pans. I would like them to look like they did when I bought them. God Bless and have a very Merry Christmas.

Angelheart from Clyde, Texas

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I used too much bluing and now my white clothes are blue. Any advice?

J Galati from Chicago IL

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I'm having a 60th birthday party for my mother. Can you help me with ideas for favors? Thank you.

Monique from Brooklyn, NY

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I recently washed a blue and white sweater, the blue faded onto my white. How do i get the white back to white?

Thanks!
Dina from Illinois

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I used goo gone cleaner on jeans to get rid of dried paint. I washed them with other clothes not thinking about it and now the whole load of laundry smells on turpentine. Please help.

Terri from Denver

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My kitchen counter is old and it's RED! Walls have beige wallpaper with green plaid on the bottom and an apple border on top. I HATE IT! The kitchen is BIG though, and I don't want to take down wallpaper. Can I paint over it? What color would go with the red countertop?

Sheila Cain from Bayonne, N.J.

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Could anyone tell me how to hang a blanket on a wall without damaging the blanket? It is not a really heavy blanket.

Milena

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How do I remove the stain from raspberry Crystal Light staine from carpet? Spill has stained the carpet in luggage well in the rear of a new van.

drmur62 from Port Charlotte, Florida

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Of all the premade fragrances available for lampe berger or catalytic burners, is there a scent available that resembles the fragrance Gold Leaf by The Thymes?

Thanks,
Diane from San Antonio, TX

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I'm buying two laptop computers for my nephews who are attending technical school. They are disadvantaged, parents very poor, poorer than I am. Where can I find a good laptop or two for cheap? My friend said they need a 1GB memory and 100GB hard drive with Ethra, something to access the internet via high speed cable. They will be downloading a lot of stuff for school. Help, need them as soon as possible, are there any programs out there for disadvantaged teens who are trying to break the poverty cycle?

Glenda from New Market, TN

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Healthy Ways to Cut Calories. I am looking for some healthy ways to cut calories for my daughter and myself. My husband however, has no way weight problems, due to a very active job. So he probably needs the calories. Anyone else been in this situation? Any advice, meal plans, tips, etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Delores

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How can I stop my 5 year old son from biting his nails? He doesn't even realize that he's doing it, until I tell him to stop. He has bitten one so bad, that it was bleeding. I can't find the nail polish that tastes really bad to stop him from biting his nails, so is there anything I can do that is homemade? Any help at all would be appreciated!

Melanie from Ontario, Canada

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I have started having white marks/stains on all my dark colored polyester pants and most tops. The marks are all over the clothes; back, sleeves, etc. (not underarm). They look similar to the white stains you see from salt on things during the winter (except they aren't powdery like that) or a little like burns from an iron (although not shiny). I thought they might be from my dryer sheets so I tried using liquid fabric softener tonight, but they were still there after the clothes dried.

The only way I have been able to get rid of them, temporarily, so I can wear the clothes, is to use the kind of stain remover that you spray on, blot with a cloth, and don't wash off. But, after I wash the clothes again, the marks come back.

I use liquid detergent (All) and a cap of liquid Calgon for hard water. I usually use dryer sheets. This has become very frustrating and I joined here in hopes that someone in this community might have an idea of what I could do to fix this problem permanently.

Thanks!
Laurel from Kokomo, IN

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I need to make christmas cards for 32 kindergarten kids by 12-20. I don't have much money for this, I have print programs but I would like to maybe include a sucker or something. Any good ideas? This is to give to the kids, not for the kids to make.

Mary from California

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How to break walnut in one piece without making the nut in pieces?

Smarty from Bombay

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Just yesterday my son told me he asked a girl out and she told him yes. I don't think he sould date a girl at this age. He is 14 years old.

Gigi from Paris, France

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My 3 year old son squirted liquid soap (softsoap) on the cushions of my microfiber sofa. I blotted the soap with a clean towel, but it left huge stains on the cushions. Any idea how to get rid of the stains?

Tonya from Edmond, OK

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How can I stop my hair from shedding?

Salie from Melbourne, FL

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My Mum and step Dad have 4 cats, all are 5 or older, all girls that have been fixed. 1 started peeing in sitting room approx. 18 months ago, she had a UTI which has been treated and cleared. 1 of the cats has started peeing on a doormat, we had all cats checked and all are clear, 1 or more has now started pooing as well on the mat. Nothing has changed, no new cats in the area, no change to food, etc. I don't understand it and now all 4 have to be shut out as the house stinks. Any ideas would be good. It's right behind the front door so we're limited as to what we can do.

Sarah from Cambridge, UK

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I heard you can substitute apple sauce for oil but is there an oil that is better for us? I am a diabetic and so is my father, I like to make him pumpkin bread but it calls for 1 cup of oil. I use Splenda for the sugar.

Can you help me?

Kat from Fishers, Indiana

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How can I make a thermos?

Iqra from Maple, Ontario, Canada

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Does anyone have a good recipe for gingerbread for christmas?

Ann from Blackpool, England

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What houseplants would be easy to grow? I have a little sun exposure, and I have not had good luck with plants. They always die, except for aloe vera. Can anyone help?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

AnnMel from Mountain Home, AR

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I need to fashion a splash guard for my kitchen sink. Does anyone have any ideas?

AnnMel from Mountain Home, AR

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Where do I dispose of paint containers?

Alvaro from Los Angeles, CA

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I am looking for a recipe that used cream cheese, I believe. You pour green or red pepper jelly over it and serve it with crackers? Is that all I need to do? How much cream cheese do I use and do you get the whipped kind or the blocks?

I need a Wow! appetizer for the family Christmas get together and I am cooking challenged. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Mary Jo from St. Paul, MN

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How do you end the Knifty Knitter?

Abercrombie from Valpo, IN

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I accidently dropped a glass bottle of liquid foundation makeup, the bottle broke and makeup splattered on my pants in various areas. The color is beige and fabric is cotton. How can I remove these stains?

Pearl from Florida

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How can I decorate a Christmas stocking for a 10 month old girl? She's my granddaughter.

Mable from Kirkwood, NY

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Tips for saving money on spices. Post your ideas.

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How can I remove candle wax out of a tablecloth? I did not realize the candle holder had a crack in it and it leaked on my new tablecloth.

Thanks for the help!

Toehead from Loranger, LA

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My daughter created highlights in her hair with a red permanent marker, how can I remove it?

Cuscus from Winchester ON

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Do you have a recipe for homemade leather furniture cleaner? The item is a sofa. It has an smell to it that is not offensive but maybe just old and used. I would like to clean and condition the sofa using ordinary products, not a leather cleaning kit for $80. Thanks for your help.

Shirley from Leesburg, VA

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