Daily Thrifty Tips - December 28, 2007

Volume Six, Number 249, December 28, 2007 (Read It Online) This is the last issue we will publish before the New Year. The next issue will be on the 2nd. Happy New Year! What are your tips for saving money next year? Post your ideas here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10447304.tip.html Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! 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: Craft: Ziplock Garden or Aquarium Cute Jeans Purses Plant Clippings As Gifts Craft Birdhouses Rebel and Dixie (Boston Terriers) Today's Tips: Coffee Grounds to Remove Odors in the Microwave Making a Cat Litter Scoop from Recycled Bottles Ways to Use Up Leftovers Dollar Stores Don't Always Have The Best Deal Small Soap Pieces in Toilet Tank Glue This to That Music for Pets with Separation Anxiety Storing Chocolate Joke of the Day New Requests: Cleaning Record Albums Home Remedy for Dog Mange Washing Microfiber Cushion Covers Should I Close My High Interest Credit Card Account? Advice for Permanently Straightening or Curling Hair Asking a Guy To Winter Formal Knifty Knitter Video More Reading: Gap Outlet Recalls Boys' Jackets; Drawstring at Waist Poses Risk North American Breaker Co. Recalls Counterfeit Circuit Breakers Tot Tower Blocks Recalled by eeBoo Corp.; Children's Toy Can Pose Saving Money on Tires 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: Craft: Ziplock Garden or Aquarium Quick, cheap, and easy kid craft for those rainy days or anytime. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14990397.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cute Jeans Purses I saw the cute jeans purse and wanted to show the two I've made. I was at a craft festival this summer. A lady came with her show dog and bought the one for the dog to carry at shows. She had the hardest time deciding which one to buy for the dog. She even asked her which one she wanted. My cousin who was set up at the craft table with me, couldn't believe what we were hearing. I almost didn't sell it to her but thought the dog's money was as green and any person's. By Donna from Millbury Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37910795.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Plant Clippings As Gifts I have a second generation spider plant that has more babies on it than I know what to do with. So this year, I clipped a few and put them in water about a month or two ago. I kept some aluminum vegetable cans (easiest to clean out) to use as pots. After potting the clippings in the cans, I used tissue paper on one and felt squares on the other two that I held in place with rubber bands. I tied ribbon around the cans to decorate and hide the rubber bands. Total cost- $0.00 By Jenntaker from Lenox, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45414216.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Birdhouses This is a craft that my mother-in-law and I made. It uses empty seed packets. Pick 6 of your favorite images for the project. I prefer to use 2 of the same for the roof. We hot glued the packages to a block of styrofoam. We used 2 packages for the roof. Carefully open the lids to act as an overhang. You can also use a piece of cardboard for the roof. We also included moss for the space between the roof and sides. For the ledge for the front of the birdhouse, look for items in your garden for the mushroom birds to sit on. Ours used a cinnamon stick. Decorate the top of the birdhouse with snippets of floral items. Enjoy! By Denise from Nebraska Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17503972.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Rebel and Dixie (Boston Terriers) This is Rebel and Dixie. Rebel is 4 and Dixie is 1.5, both are Boston Terriers. We adopted them both from 2 different breeders 8 weeks after they were born They like to go for walks and play with Kongs By Betts from South Carolina Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95148835.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Coffee Grounds to Remove Odors in the Microwave I cooked some corn dogs that were old and frost bitten. Boy, did I burn 'em. Anyway, I had a hard time getting the smell out of the microwave. Tried everyone's tricks and tips. They reduced the odor, but it was still present, especially when I'd microwave something else. So I left a small plate with coffee grounds in the microwave overnight, and was very happy to discover that the smell was totally gone. This morning, I stirred the grounds up and put it back in the microwave (not taking any chances). Source: Suggestions from previous postings on thriftyfun.com By Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61120245.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making a Cat Litter Scoop from Recycled Bottles This is the link for a craft which uses recycled bottles/jugs to make cat litter scoops! http://www.messybeast.com/litter-scoop.htm By Lisa from Halifax Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87447069.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ways to Use Up Leftovers Here are some strategies for leftovers: 1) For pasta leftovers, like spaghetti, beat with eggs and cheese for Shipwreck. It doesn't take much pasta to make a meal of this. 2) For a small amount of leftover meat, chop it fine and make Egg Foo Young. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet. Beat 3 eggs until thick and lemon-colored. Heat oil in large skillet. Beat eggs until thick and lemon colored. Stir in 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cup chopped, cooked meat, 2 tablespoons onion and 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Pour 1/4 cup mixture at a time into small skillet. With broad spatula, push cooked egg up over meat to form a patty. When patties are set, turn to brown other side. Serve hot with gravy or sauce. 3) Keep an ice cream bucket or plastic coffee can in the freezer and add leftover veggies. You can also add leftover meat. When the bucket is full, thaw it out and dump it in the Crockpot for a delicious soup. 4) Larger amounts of leftover meat can be ground up to make meat salad. Add mayonnaise, mustard, relish and hard-boiled eggs to taste. Source: Egg Foo Young recipe is from Cooks.com. My mom made the Shipwreck for us growing up. All the rest are from my own experience. By Camilla from Atchison, KS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40514688.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dollar Stores Don't Always Have The Best Deal Dollar stores can be great sources for necessary items. However, don't assume that because something is in the dollar store, it is a good buy. Sometimes one can buy things elsewhere cheaper. For example, after Christmas last year I was able to buy wrapping paper in the grocery store for fifty cents a roll. Not only was it cheaper, but there was more on the roll and it was of better quality. Know how much you want to pay for an item, and then wait until you see it for that price to stock up on it. By Carol from Wyoming, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48136102.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Small Soap Pieces in Toilet Tank We use very soft bar soap in our shower. Since it seems to melt into small pieces very quickly, we always have pieces too small to use for bathing. We lift the back of the toilet and drop in the small pieces of soap. You would be surprised how it helps keep the toilet bowl clean. Very rarely do I have to brush the toilet bowl, as the pieces of soap are continually cleaning it. By Margeth from Michigan Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81808993.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Glue This to That This site tells you which glue to use to glue things to other things, this tool helps you with that! http://www.thistothat.com By Veronica from Sedalia, Missouri Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56832961.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Music for Pets with Separation Anxiety My dogs Missy and Duke, can sometimes be a bit overly playful while I'm at work. When I have come home in the past, one (or both) of them have ripped the stuffing from their play animals, and gotten into other mischief around the house. A friend had picked up this new CD that's out, made just for pet separation anxiety. She said it calmed her dog significantly - plus, she said she really liked the instrumental music as well. It's called 'Mood Music for Dogs' (And Dog Lovers) 'Gone for a Walk'. I was skeptical at first, but she was insistent about how well it worked, so after a few more weeks of 'after-work dog mania' I tried the CD, and now I'm a believer! It worked the very first day! When I came home, Missy was laying on her side in dream heaven, Duke was in his chair, the beautiful music was playing (piano, strings, harp and flute) and there was not one single disturbance in sight! I thought I was at the wrong house! The days have stretched into months since then, and my testimonial holds true about the difference it has made for my pets. I play the CD while I'm taking a bath or reading my magazines because the music is so relaxing in the background. So, my tip is, buy this CD! Plus, a CD player doesn't take as much electricity as a TV, and there's never loud commercials or static! I bought the CD online at cherylchristine.com but my friend bought hers at the Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory on Hilton Head Island, SC Source: To purchase the CD, go to http://www.cherylchristine.com By Angela from Hilton Head Island, SC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88537683.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Storing Chocolate In 'What Is Boxing Day?' under Featured Articles someone asked how long can chocolate be frozen. Chocolate should not be frozen. When you thaw it out it develops 'bloom', that white/yellow coating. Bloom is not harmful, nor does it affect taste and it will disappear if you melt the chocolate. But it does look unappetizing! Chocolate doesn't need to be frozen anyway. If you keep it in a cool, dark place it will last about a year. Joan from Chesapeake, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19982761.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day The Students in my third-grade class were bombarding me with questions about my newly pierced ears. "Does the hole go all the way through?" "Yes." "Did it hurt?" "Just a little." "Did they stick a needle through your ears?" "No, they used a special gun." Silence followed, and then one solemn voice called out, "How far away did they stand?" And one smart-aleck could not resist asking: "Did they get both ears with one shot?" Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Cleaning Record Albums Does anyone know a good safe way to clean old vinyl/LP albums? Professional cleaner is very expensive and I have about 300 plus albums I need to clean before putting them on my new record player. brflemmons from Glen Allen, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75481172.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Home Remedy for Dog Mange Is there a home remedy for dog mange? Jody from Topeka, KS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf429718.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Washing Microfiber Cushion Covers I have a cream colored microfiber sofa and I want to wash the cushion covers in the washing machine. Any suggestions for settings and. detergents? Do I put them in the dryer or put them back on the cushions to dry? Deborah from St Augustine, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14193573.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Should I Close My High Interest Credit Card Account? I have recently paid off all my credit cards. However, there is one that is still accruing a $10 monthly fee. The interest rate on the card is 33%. Should I close the card out and if so will it hurt my credit score? Sherri from Charlotte, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63751602.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Advice for Permanently Straightening or Curling Hair Dose anybody have advice or know anything for getting my hair permanently straightened or curled? I want to get something done with my hair for my birthday on Saturday. I'm not sure whats safe, what will work with my hair, or where to go. I don't know what it will look like, how to work with it after treatment, names for these treatments, or cost? What is in style? How long do these treatments take? Below are some of the features of my hair and face to help out. -Wavy -Thick -Long in length -Dirty Blonde(color) -Oval,Round(face shape) -I'm a teen(thought would help) Aliesha from Florida Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27781481.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Asking a Guy To Winter Formal I need a really cute and creative way to ask a guy to a winter dance. Got any ideas? Lauren from Denver, CO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf313656.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Knifty Knitter Video Has anyone found a video for Knifty Knitter that has step by step instructions? Betty from Abilene, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27895755.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print 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: Gap Outlet Recalls Boys' Jackets; Drawstring at Waist Poses Risk Hazard: The jackets have a waist drawstring with a toggle that could become snagged or caught in small spaces or doorways, which can pose an entrapment hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from getting entangled at the waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75420418.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print North American Breaker Co. Recalls Counterfeit Circuit Breakers Hazard: The recalled circuit breakers labeled "Square D" have been determined by Square D to be counterfeit and can fail to trip when they are overloaded, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90170805.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tot Tower Blocks Recalled by eeBoo Corp.; Children's Toy Can Pose Hazard: The plastic covering on the toy blocks can detach, posing a choking hazard to children. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33566140.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Saving Money on Tires Tips for saving money on tires. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf986254.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.