Daily Thrifty Tips - May 11, 2007

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms, Grandmothers and Great Grandmothers on this list! We hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Sewing Kit

A sewing kit is a great gift for anyone leaving home.

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"Daffodils" In Vases

Here's a great craft for Mother's Day. I made these for the mothers in our church.

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Skippy (Mixed Breed)

This is my beloved but gone Skippy. Skippy would have been 16 years old on May 1st. I made this her birthday because I didn't know it but, with her age when we got her, I thought it was a beautiful day for a beautiful puppy. She is a mixed breed of I don't know what, but a beauty just the same.

We acquired Skippy when she was about 2 months old. We were at my hubby's sister's home and a mailman approached us in the drive with this little fuzz ball asking if we had lost our puppy. We said no, we did not have a puppy, and he began to tell us just where he found her, stuffed in a storm drain down the road. There were very few homes on the road we were on, so we figured someone just dumped her there to die. Well that was it, Skippy found a home with us for the next 15 and 3/4 years.

Skippy use to love to chase the golf cart I use on my 5 acres of land, she beat me almost every time. I had to put her down in late Jan. 07 due to her very failing health. Her eyes told me she was tired.

Within the past year I have lost Rascal (cat), Spunky (cat) and now my Skippy. That is the problem with having all senior pets. But they will be waiting for me when my time comes to go to Rainbow Bridge to find them all.

To all pet owners, when you lose your pet, consider cremation for them. This has comforted me every day since I lost them to pet heaven. Just knowing they're still with me and their pictures on top of their boxes is a great healing of the heart. It isn't that expensive either.

By Mary from Huron Twp., MI

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Gazing Ball

Have you ever wanted your own gazing ball to put in your yard? Well here's a much less expensive version.

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Prefilling Coffee Filters

My fiance came home one day and got out the coffee, filters and canister. He said he was in line at 7-11 and noticed the attendant filling up the coffee filters then stacking them aside. Soooo, we now do the same thing. We put the coffee in the filters then stack them in the canister, and they are all ready for coffee the next time we need to make a pot. Sure is nice to have them ready and waiting!

By Jackie from Orlando, Florida

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3 Drawer Rolling Cart For Storage

I'm a terminal pack rat. One of those people who is always buying stuff and then forgetting where I put it. Recently, I bought a 3 drawer rolling cart at KMart for $10. I use it for all my bought ahead health and beauty items. It's a small cart but you would be surprised how much it can hold. It's full of vitamins, bandages, cosmetics, skin care, tape, antacids, and all kinds of creams, lotions and potions. As I go through beauty and health supplies I already own, I put them in the cart. It's great to have stuff that "I actually know where it is". Soon I will be starting a lingerie cart. One drawer for panties, one for socks and another for night gowns. So they don't get lost in the dresser.

By Joyann from Visalia, CA

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Beware Battery Testers

All of a sudden, my Kodak Easy Share digital camera would turn off as soon as it turned on. Or do nothing. Changing batteries didn't help. I even tested all the batteries on a battery tester. The tester was showing the batteries to be OK, when in fact, they were all subprime. Before I threw it out, I checked one last time with another (5th set) of batteries and it worked just fine. And all of the batteries had expiration dates some two years down the road.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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Nickle and Diming My Way to a New Kitchen

My refrigerator door is dotted with colorful magnets holding coupons, business cards, photos, appointment reminders, and my grandson's art work. Prominently displayed in the center of the collection is a quarter-sized chip from a cabinet door in my outdated, 1980's kitchen. The beige Formica chip serves as an incentive for a much needed kitchen re-do. It is also a visual reminder that since I have no money for remodeling, the only way to have that new kitchen is to start saving up for it - by cutting expenses.

Inspired by my goal, I launched a savings plan. I started out in small steps, which I call "nickel and dime-ing." That first week, I clipped coupons for a savings of $8.75. Since I live alone and don't cook a lot, I was pleased. My bounty included one coupon for $1.00 off bagged salad, a $1.00 savings on the cat food I buy, two $1.00 coupons for the flavored coffees I prefer, and $1.00 off frozen pizza. The most valuable was a $3.00 coupon for the hair color product I use. Coupons for forty cents and thirty-five cents were applied to packaged deli-meat and sliced cheese. Instead of the expensive cookies I usually purchase, I bought the store brand. The cookies cost ninety-four cents and were as tasty as the pricey ones. Store brand potato chips went into my shopping cart for a hefty savings of over a buck. I am not yet ready to give up my sodas in favor of plain water or tea, but I did make a sacrifice by choosing the store brand ($.64 for two liters) instead of the "real" thing. The less-expensive cola wasn't bad at all, and each time I got ice for my drink, I lifted my glass in a toast to the ugly, dingy, cabinet door chip stuck to the fridge. I laid in a supply of plastic storage bags of various sizes to package crackers, cookies, chips, and salad croutons. Since these items frequently lose their freshness if not used up quickly enough, re-packaging became an important part of my nickel and dime-ing campaign. Often I've thrown away half a package of stale or moldy bread, but now I divide the loaf and freeze half until I'm ready for it.

During Week two of my nickel and dime savings campaign, I began packing my own lunches. A container of yogurt, a piece of fruit, and cheese and crackers made a tasty, inexpensive meal. Other lunch favorites: salad, or a sandwich of lunch meat and cheese (both purchased with cents-off coupons) and zip-lock bags of my store-brand chips and cookies. At the dollar store, I stocked up on shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and shower gels. Many of these grooming staples were at least half the price of grocery store products, as were cleaning goods and supplies. My nickel-dime savings plan has extended to other areas, as well. A recent trip to a thrift shop yielded a pair of nearly-new jeans for $2.00 and a barely-worn Koret blouse for $3.00. For another three bucks, I splurged on a great looking Fossil purse, perfect for Spring. A set of four new place mats for the back porch table was half-price at just $2.00. Total expenditure - ten dollars!

That extra money left in my checking account at the end of the month will be transferred into a special savings account earmarked for my new kitchen. I'll count on tax refunds, bonuses, and extra savings to beef up the account, but my small-steps efforts are paying off. A nickel here, a dime there - soon there'll a dollar or two, then five, maybe ten bucks - that's what I call "nickel and dime-ing" my way to a new kitchen!

Joyce from Lakeland, FL

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Place Dishes Directly Into Soapy Water While Cooking

When I begin cooking or baking, I first fill one side of sink with hot water and dish soap. As I use a utensil or container, I put them in. When project is complete, they should be soaked and all I have to do is rinse them.

By Ruth from Harlingen, TX

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Memorable Mother's Day

My most memorable Mother's Day was in 1994. Our family had left for Japan as missionaries in early March of that year, and in April we received a phone call that my mom was in the hospital. She had just been diagnosed with advanced cancer, and it wasn't known whether she would live even a few weeks. I returned to North Carolina; my sister (who was in South Africa with her family as missionaries) returned to North Carolina; my brother drove in, and my oldest sister lived there. We spent a couple of weeks there with my mom. Thankfully, radiation treatment gave her several good months before her Homegoing the following February.

Anyway, on Mother's Day, the four of us "kids" were able to spend the time with our mom; the first Mother's Day we had all been together with her in 25 years! My own children sent me Mother's Day wishes via fax from Japan! They were lower elementary age at the time, so their notes and drawings were, and still are, very special to me. I'm so thankful for all that my dear mother taught me, and I am trying to pass along to my children the same values.

Glowgirl

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Keeping Bugs off Plants

To help keep the worms and leaf eating bugs off your garden plants use jalapeno peppers, boil and strain, put the pepper "broth" in about a gallon of warm water and spray plants, this is a very safe bug repellant. Use about 6-8 peppers to a quart of water.

By ZIPP2101

If you have any more tips for keeping bugs off plants, feel free to post them.

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Uses For Clothes Pins

Here are some creative uses for plastic or wooden clothes pins from our ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.

For Paperwork

Clip clothespins have strong springs which allow them to be clipped over many kinds of materials of differing thickness. I use clip clothespins for:

• Sorting and keeping together similar paperwork in preparation for filing. The clothespin at one edge makes it easy to locate the clipped papers.

• Keeping my bank deposit card and deposit envelope together in the car on the way to the bank. Keeps them visible so I don't forget to make that stop!

• Clipping outgoing mail on the outer rim of the totebag I carry to work so I can remember to put the envelopes in the mailbox.

• Keeping articles to be mailed to friends separate -- I write their names on individual clothespins -- they stick up from my desktop file so I can find them easily when I want to make an addition to the collection or mail them all off.

• Reminders: I write the task on a bright piece of paper and clip it and the clothespin in a conspicuous place. This can avoid the mess of cellophane tape in a hot car or a thumbtack that can fall to the floor under bare feet.

Nancy

Use For Adjusting Seatbelt

My sister, Harmony on this site, turned me on to this idea. We use them to make our seat belts more comfortable in the car, so they don't bind and cut. Only problem is, one time SOMEHOW I went to a job interview and later found out my seat belt clothespin was clipped to the back of my skirt! (In case you're wondering, I didn't get that job.) LOL

By Jayne

Closet Hat Organizer

Go to your lumber store and purchase dowel rods. Using a glue gun, glue clothes pins on the dowel rods as far apart to hold these hats that men collect and have all over the place. I can get 8 hats on a dowel rod. Then I drill a hole it the top in order to nail to a wall in our bedroom.

My husband has 1 whole wall with nothing but hats. To keep hats from getting dusty, I put the hats he doesn't use in plastic zip lock and clip to the back of the hat or the brim whichever way you want to hang them. You can paint them to make them attractive or make them to give as gifts to men who have lots of hats. Lets see, my husband has approx. 250 hats on his wall.

By fayth81

Reminders

I have a clothes pin on my car headlight switch. If I turn my lights on in the daytime, I put the clothes pin on my shirt to remind me to turn lights off when I get out of the car.

By Richard

Secure a Trash Bag

I use the pins to secure the plastic garbage bag in my trash can. I hate it when the bag falls into the trash can and I have to pull it up over and over again (I don't like to keep a lid on the can because I think lids are a nuisance). The clothes pins do a great job of securing the trash bag so when your teenagers throw something heavy into the can, the bag will stay secure to the edges of the trash can.

By Joni

Pin Back Dog's Ears

We have a cocker spaniel with long ears. When I am feeding her leftovers that are messy and that her ears would get into, I grab a clothes pin and pin her ears over her head. She patiently waits for me to clip her ears because she knows she will get something good.

By Valleyrimgirl

Attach Paper Bibs

My parents always used clothes pins to secure a paper napkin around our necks during messy meals like spaghetti, ribs, etc. or whenever I had nice clothes on such as dining before or after church. The paper bibs protected our clothes and saved money on dry-cleaning and laundry.

By Todd

Many Uses For Clothespins

Use them on a wire hanger to keep ties or scarves in place. Drape up to 4 ties across the bottom of a wire hangar and clip each tie in place with a clothes pin. Nail the back of a wooden clothespin to the wall, and use it to clip coats, keys, or any similar item (reminders to take something to work). Or nail them up near your dressing area to hang clothing you wish to air out. Pins can be decorated for a fancier look. Paint two wooden clothes pins in a color that coordinates with your curtains, and then nail them (one on each side of the curtains) in to the wall. Use them as curtain tie backs.

Susan

Plant Markers

Use as plant markers. Clip to small, round dowel and poke dowel into dirt. Then clip the empty seed package on the clothespin.

Heather S.

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Remedies for a Stuffy Nose

How do you cure a stuffy nose?

Tonya

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Paper Stuck to a Photo

I have a photo that got slightly damp and some paper is now stuck to my picture where it was wet. Does anyone know how to get the paper off without damaging the picture?

Jessica from Marion, NC

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Removing Wall-Mounted Ceramic Soap Dishes

How do I remove ceramic soap dishes from the wall?

Pamela from Pittsburgh

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Planting a Lilac Near a Sewer Pipe

Can you plant a Lilac tree a few feet away from a old tree trunk? I was hoping to hide the trunk with the tree. The problem is also there is city piping 8 feet away as well. In the past, the Cedar tree roots went to piping for water and affected city sewage. Is it true as long as you keep the Lilac tree watered, the roots shouldn't go to piping? Please let me know.

Thanks,
lanaob

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Help My Camelia Bush

I have a large double-white Camelia Bush that I have had in a large container on my porch since 1999. I dug it from my Mother's yard after she died and I moved to Atlanta. It has done great until now. I water it and feed it and it gets appropriate light, but just in the last week, as it started putting out the new leaves and old ones dropping - it also started dropping the new leaves. And the leaves have brown and black on the ends of the leaves (some small leaves are completely black.)

I don't want to lose the plant as it is a loving reminder of my Mother. Does anyone know if it has a fungus, pest or what is wrong with it?

I will appreciate your remarks as to how I can save the plant.

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Thanks,
AtlantaPat from Atlanta, GA

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Repairing Scratched Corian Countertops

My Corian counter tops are looking a little scratched up, I know there is a way to bring them back to it top shape, can someone tell me?

Jean from Banning, CA

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My Tiny Linen Closet

What can I do to optimize the space in my tiny but tall, narrow and deep linen closet?

Fancypants from Chicago, IL

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Without Nuts

Does anyone have an easy recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies WITHOUT nuts? Nuts are expensive and I rarely have them on hand. I want a recipe I can just whip up in a hurry. Thanks!

Starchild in VT

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Keeping Bats Out of My House

How do I keep Bats out of the house, they seem to fly in from the patio door when the kids leave it open. What's the best way to keep them away from the house? My neighbor got a pool last year and it seems like since then there are Bats around. They are not coming in other places but it seems when it's a nice day and the kids are going in and out of the house, when I get up in the morning and turn on the lights, I have one flying in the house. Will having a cat help keep them out and what can I use to keep them away?

Dee from Whitewater, Wisconsin

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Brown Eyed Susans

I transplanted brown eyed susans last year and they were beautiful in the fall now this spring I don't see anything coming up yet, is it too early? I cut the dead stocks off last fall, did I kill my plant?

Chris

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How To Stiffen Coffee Filter Flowers After Tie Dying?

I have made flowers out of the coffee filters, but now due to me adding color the paper is limp. Does anyone know how I can stiffen the paper again? Thank you in advance for any advise you may have.

Enza from Toronto, Ontario

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Where do hedgeapples grow in Nebraska?

Where do hedgeapples grow in Nebraska? My daughter and I scavenged a bunch in Kansas at a rest stop but they are getting old. They really work for spiders and other critters.

Mrsmendlebright from Kearney, NE

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Covering a Chain Link Fence

I'm on a budget and I would like to know any inexpensive ideas on how to cover a chain link fence with panels of some kind. I do not want to use inserts as that would take too long. Someone told me to use shower curtains but I'm not sure. I want it to look nice as the neighbors can see it.

Thank you,
Erica from New Jersey

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Scratches on a Glass Coffee Table

How do I remove scratches from the top of my glass coffee table? Any ideas, or tried and true fixes, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Sheryl from Detroit, MI

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Curling Leaves on a Lemon Tree

My lemon tree is having problems with it's leaves curling. Anyone have any ideas what is causing this and what to use to eliminate it?

What is the best stage to pick the lemons? Often the fruit looks ripe but the inside is dry and even brownish. Could this be due to picking too late or could it be part of the above problem?

A photo of the leaf problem is attached.

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Donna from Rancho Cucamonga, CA

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Forcing Tulip Bulbs

I am planning my wedding reception.I want to do live tulips (uncut) so that guests can take them home to plant in their gardens... as the gift. How do I force tulips to grow so that the blooms come in June instead of March? The wedding is not until next year, so I have time to experiment.

Hardiness Zone: 4b

Brandi from Casper, WY

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Cleaning a Rotisserie

My father in law has a rotisserie. It is electric and it is VERY greasy from years of use. He is looking for a way to clean it. It is stainless steel with a glass door. Thank you for any help you can offer!

Jill from Leo, IN

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Uses for Shredded Paper

I'm looking for ideas on how to recycle shredded paper. My city does not accept it in their recycling program. I've considered using it for shipping packages, but it would make a big mess for the receiver.

Jean from Taylor, MI

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Removing Hairspray from a Bathroom Mirror

How do you remove hairspray from a mirror?

Forogers

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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.

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Sagittarius Sporting Goods Recalls Gas Grills Sold at Lowe's Stores (Fire, Burn Hazards)

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NHTSA, CPSC and Evenflo to Announce Recall of Embrace Infant Car Seat/Carriers (Fall Hazard)

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Recipes That Use Ramen Noodles

Here are some different recipes and uses for ramen noodles from the ThriftyFun community. Post your favorite ramen use here.

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Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Weed Killer Recipe

Here are two homemade recipes to try. Both should be used only on plants that you want to get rid of, taking care not to spray any on surrounding plants. These are most effective when used on emerging weeds.

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