Daily Thrifty Tips - February 17, 2006

Get "The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer" Free

When you subscribe to my newsletter "The Budget Stretcher" you will receive this easy guide to effectively organizing and managing your money absolutely free. Get all of the Budget Forms and Worksheets you need to make it work for you. Click the below link to learn more:

http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/confirmsubs.html

Lady is my 4 month old Jack Russell Terrier. When she was 7 weeks old, we went to get some logs and she was walking around the yard, we ended up taking her home.

She likes to play with her ball and chase the birds in the garden...providing they fly first!

She loves to cuddle up to our older dog and tries to bite her ears, but a well aimed paw puts her firmly in her place.

By Val from Kent England

Post Feedback: Click Here

Sparky Moss is a 15 year old Cocker Spaniel. We got him from the local ASPCA in April of 1999.

He plays fetch, lays in mommies room and makes a general fool of himself He's as playful and as loving as ever, even at 15 when most dogs would be crotchety and grumpy, he's loving. In the picture he is in momma's bed sleeping on the stuffed stego in the bed also.

By Chris from Sacramento, CA

Post Feedback: Click Here

A quick Valentine's Day (or any other holiday actually) is to fill a wine glass with the appropriate holiday colored candies and ribbons. This photo shows my Valentine's glass spilled - as I used this image for several cards this year.

By Gretchen from Coulterville, IL

Post Feedback: Click Here

A warm knife cuts baked items like brownies better than a cold knife. Just run the knife under hot water and then wipe it dry before cutting.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Raisins and other dried fruit will stay much fresher if kept in the refrigerator than they will if they are kept in the cupboard.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: Click Here

For lovely crochet doilies that won't stain your wood work, hand wash them and when finished and still damp dip them into a mixture of two tablespoon of white glue (such as Elmer's school glue) and a quarter cup of water. Lay them out as you wish them to look when placed on your furniture (make the ruffles stand up by putting some device under the ruffle,I like tooth paste tubes to form the ruffle, toilet paper rolls work well too.) This mixture will starch them stiff as any sugar starch. but it won't draw bugs or ruin your furniture if it gets damp

By Acesnanna from Northwest

Post Feedback: Click Here

I love cooked cabbage, but I don't like the smell it leaves in the house. To remedy that, I add just a little vinegar to the cooking water. It helps reduce the odor a lot!

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Toss dried orange, lemon, or lime rinds onto your fire for a fresh, pleasant smell in your house.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: Click Here

To burn off some extra calories, just play some fun dance music while you cook or clean. Tango over to the pantry, salsa over to the oven, quick step over to the sink! Have fun while cooking and doing cardiovascular exercise. Bonus entertainment for the kids!

By Stephanie from Delray Beach, FL

Post Feedback: Click Here

The poll about leasing a car reminded me of our renting cars for long trips. My husband thought it was better to rent a car than use ours. (Why put miles and wear and tear on it?) So when we travel we rent a car and never worry about anything.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, CA

Post Feedback: Click Here

In Iowa the winters can seem awfully long. To help lift my spirits when I'm getting tired of the cloudy, cold days, I love to go to our local floral shop and purchase a bouquet of flowers. They come in assorted bouquets for only $4.99. They really lift my spirits and I have had bouquets last up to 3 weeks before they had to be thrown away! Not a bad price for that kind of pick me up!

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: Click Here

For those who use newspapers for cleaning windows, mirrors, lining wastebaskets, etc. I find a neater and more compact way is to use pages from an old telephone book.Mine even has a plastic book cover to protect and able to be left out for use.

By Dianne from Upstate NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

If you have super dry cuticles but you don't have any cuticle cream, lip balm works very well.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Submit Your Tips and Photos!

Tip Contest!

To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml

Photo Contest!

To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml

Contest ends February 28, 2006

Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!

Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor

Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/syndication.html

Can you tell me how I can sew stretch velvet panne fabric with a conventional sewing machine (not a serger or overlock machine)? I know it can be done - I just don't know what kind of needle, thread, tension, etc. to use. Thanks.

Post Feedback: Click Here

Does anyone have a homemade version of the Frownies product?

Cleo from Elizabethtown, KY

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. I would like to send pretty postcards to my friends for all the wonderful things they have done for me. I can't afford greeting cards plus the stamps, but I could make my own post cards and the stamps are cheaper.

Can someone tell me how to get started, and the criteria that the Post Office uses for making post cards?

I would be very grateful for any advice on how to get this project started because the postcards would be made by me with my own personal words of thanks and appreciation I am sending to each person.

Many thanks to all your readers. I hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,
Charline from Midlothian, TX

Post Feedback: Click Here

My son is vice president of his junior class. They are always looking for new ideas for fund raisers. They have done the car washes and sold food at sports events. Does anyone have any unique ideas of things to sell or anything else a little more refreshing?

Karen from Port Clinton, OH

Post Feedback: Click Here

My dog chewed on a pen on my bed and black ink got on the sheets and bled through to the mattress. How should I get it out of the linens and the mattress?

Thanks!
Elaia from Baton Rouge, LA

Post Feedback: Click Here

I need recipe for making white and dark chocolate at home. Can someone help me with this?

Neelima from India

Post Feedback: Click Here

I have a 4 year old male toy fox terrier-chihuahua that apparently was never potty trained correctly. He has found a spot in my bedroom against the wall and onto the carpet to lift his leg. I have tried to watch him, also spanked him when I caught him at it. The frustrating thing is that he has a doggie door right off the master bath. I need some suggestions how to deal with this. Also, how to get the stains out of the carpet? I have even tried sparying a repellent there, but that's not working either.

Betty from Shelton, WA

Post Feedback: Click Here

My brother gave me a mini Christmas tree (I have never successfully raised a plant) and I wondered if anyone could give me tips about it, such as watering and repotting since it's in a milk jug bottom right now.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thanks,
Christi from Paducah, KY

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am looking for a recipe for something that used to be called "Corned Beef Von Ruben". It was made with canned corned beef and crutons and some sort of cheese. The recipe used to be on a cruton can.

Thanks in advance,
Bonnie from Holley, NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

Coupons for Brand Name Items

Print brand name coupons and use them at your favorite store! Sign up to take advantage of over 81 money-saving offers inside.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/lk/print_coupons.lasso

I make my own laundry detergent using Fels Naptha bar soap, Borax and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I was able to find the ingredients at my local market. If you can't find them there, they are available online, through www.soapsgonebuy.com but the shipping cost will eat up any savings. What I can buy locally for $11.35 would cost more than $30.00 if I bought it online.

Read More: Click Here

Coupon Swap!
Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users:

Seed Swap!
Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users:

Tip Contest!
Submit a tip and enter our contest.

Submit a Request
Frugal solutions to everyday problems.

Search ThriftyFun!
Use Google technology to search ThriftyFun.