Daily Thrifty Tips - April 12, 2006

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I got so tired of having NOTHING to wear, I was going crazy. I decided to tear into my closet and put some outfits together including jewelry and shoes and write each one down. THEN I decided to photograph myself in each outfit and place the individual photos in a protector sheet. This allows me to make notes on the individual outfits as well as the ability to "take my wardrobe with me" as I shop for jewelry and/or different items that will match what I already have.

By Mitzi from DeLand, FL

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You and children of any age can make these simple suncatchers with just some mini paper plates, tissue paper, clear contact paper, scissors, a hole punch and yarn.

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Christian is a grey and brown tabby and is 9 months old. We got him on September 11, 2005.

He likes to play with his adopted brother Movado, and eat...a lot! He likes to let my sisters 4 mo. old chihuahua play rough with him, sit on the sink while momma brushes her teeth, watch the fishes swim, sleep and purr, knead and suckle mommy hair whenever he can.

He is the most friendly and affectionate cat I have ever seen in my entire life. Sometimes, I think he is a person LoL :)

By Leah from Boston, MA

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Use colored FEATHERS for your Easter centerpieces. Feathers and eggs go great with Easter. Check out the wreath I made.

By Barb from Summerhill, Pa.

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Identity theft is on the rise. Purchase an inexpensive paper shredder and you could save yourself a lifetime of headaches and a lot of money in the long run.

By imaqt1962

Editor's Note: The above tip was published last year but the story below really hammers this point home. It recounts a story by a blogger who as a test, tore up a credit card offer, re-assembled it and then mailed it to Chase bank. Chase actually processed the credit card offer saying:

"When Chase receives an application for credit, we are legally obligated to appropriately handle it, regardless of the condition."

Shred those credit card applications, if companies like Chase bank can't muster up the minimum amount of common sense, clearly, tearing up your junk mail isn't good enough. Make sure to shred any convenience checks your credit card company sends you or keep them in a safe place.

Read the story here:
Ripped Up Over Credit

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Even if you don't want to send a big present - look for something you can slip into a greeting card - a pin - a bit of jewelry - a tiny book - and so on - It's easier, meaningful and thrifty.

By Pam from L.A., CA

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To keep the softener dispenser in the washing machine from becoming gunked up, first put in a half cup of water and then the softening agent.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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This is a true story but its so funny it can be considered a joke. My daughter when she was in first grade was so proud of being in school and could not wait to come home and tell me about her day. One day she came home and told me she was learning the National Anthem so I asked her to sing it. You can imagine my surprise when she stood proudly and belted out the words "Hosea, can you see...."

By Ginger Worrell from Easley, SC

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When I was in my early 50s, I began to question the lifestyle my husband and I were living. I longed for a simpler lifestyle: I knew I wanted less stress, I knew I was tired of working for someone else, and I felt there had to be a way to achieve my goal of quitting the corporate world for good. Quitting was going to be easy, but the more difficult task was finding the ways I could maintain my goal once I did quit.

The question of "What are you willing to change in your life to achieve your goal?" kept filtering through my mind, and I realized the answer was not using the words "give up" interchangeably with the word "change" in that phrase until I was able to understand the difference.

The most reasonable and surest way to achieve my goal was to just quit, and then deal with the aftermath in a very pro-active way. Yes, it was a "guts" move that many people wouldn't be able to handle, but with my husband's support and the knowledge that I would be the one handling "the aftermath," I quit, and then never looked back with regret. That doesn't mean it was easy, but my goal of making this work for both of us was tantamount to everything else.

After taking the first two weeks to just rest, recuperate and think, I began listing all the changes on paper that needed to be made, which included carefully guarding the resources that my husband continued to bring into our lives as well as finding new venues of producing income or additional resources based on what we already had.

Some decisions were just plain easy, such as canceling a standing weekly appointment at the beauty salon for hair and a manicure or eating out numerous nights a week because there was no time to fix meals, but even then, I knew this was only the tip of the iceberg.

The first major decision was to sell our home, which was way too big and costly for the two of us. Two people who want a simpler lifestyle don't need or want an executive home with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-and-a-half car garage, etc. (You know your house is too big for you when two of the bathrooms are regularly dusted rather than cleaned because of non-use!)

The 3,000+ sq. ft. house sold relatively quickly, and then came the task of finding a smaller house. When I found that much smaller house still within convenient driving distance of my husband's employment, then began the monumental task of downsizing our possessions to fit our new abode, which was slightly more than 1,200 sq. ft. That was perhaps the most sizeable job of all, and required several garage and consignment sales. (You know you have too many clothes when your yearly wardrobe requires two full-sized walk-in closets!)

After we moved came the adjustment period of being content and happy in a smaller home, and that did take some getting used to. My husband could care less what type of house we lived in, but I had initial difficulty because nothing "fit" properly according to my former lifestyle. This was a mental change I needed to make, and through home improvement projects and fixing what didn't work for me such as non-functioning closets and antiquated storage cupboards, within the first year, I grew to love that much smaller and unpretentious home. As I worked through the process of making each room or space as functional and comfortable as possible for the least amount of expended money, I found I still had too many possessions. (A smaller home means fewer possessions, which means less to clean and take care of! I established the rule that I had to be able to see all three walls of any cupboard or closet to avoid clutter or unnecessary stuff.)

Simultaneously, I began to tackle the financial problems of not having a significant savings program, but having an ample amount of credit card debt. This portion of downsizing our lives required constant attention, but I discovered some wonderful surprises that seemed so obvious in hindsight.

Editor's Note: You can read the rest of this essay at the link below...

By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri

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Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml

Q. What happens when you illegally park a frog?

A. It gets "Toad" away. ha ha

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, Ca.

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When you purchase large amounts of ground beef on sale here is a great idea I found and it works great. Place 10 to 12 pounds of ground beef in a large stockpot. Cover with water, and set over high heat. Stir gently to break up the meat. Once all the pink color disappears, remove from the stove and drain into a large colander. Let it cool. Measure about 1-1/2 cups (roughly the equivalent of 1 pound raw) into a large zipper bag. Zip and lay it flat on the counter. Repeat and stack the flattened bags like pages of a book. Pop the entire stack into the freezer.

To use, grab a flat bag from the freezer, and whack it on the side of the sink a couple of times so the meat shatters. Pour the pieces into the application of choice. You can brown it easily with onions or use it in any dish calling for ground beef. No muss, no fuss. Another good thing is very little fat left in the ground meat by cooking it with this method.

By Bobbie from Rockwall, TX

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When my Grandson was learning to walk he fell against the wall and bumped his head. I came up with the idea of putting bumper pads on the walls of his room. I got those nap pads that preschoolers use to sleep on and attached them across the lower walls. I used velcro to hold them in place. I found most of the pads at the local thrift store that were in excellent condition.

By Patricia from Alabama

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I bought a bratz doll that has dye marks on the forehead and one that has ink marks on the body. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
DD

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Does anyone own one of those home carpet cleaners like the "Little
Green Machine"? Are you happy with the results? I would like information before I invest in one.

Thanks!
Lauren from Seattle, WA

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How do you get the dye from blue jeans off leather shoes?

Michael from Dallas TX

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No-seeum season is about to happen up here in northern New England, and I'm getting nervous. These tiny bugs fly through my screens at night and bite the heck out me while I'm asleep. They don't touch my husband! They bite me mercilessly and I often get covered with ugly bites and then scars on my arms and legs. Does anyone have any advice about how to *prevent* them from coming in through the screens on warm spring and summer nights? I live in a rural area with ponds and streams all around, so there's no stopping their breeding around the house. HELP!

Sylviecyn from Vermont

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I had my place painted by a friend last week and he left the brushes and rollers in the tub. Now there is paint all over the tub which is fiberglass. I had soaked the whole tub with hot water thinking the latex paint will dissolve. No such luck. So the paint must have been semi-gloss. Someone told me to use paint thinner but that could damage the tub.

Help, what is the best way to do this?

Thanks,
Michael from Port Aransas, TX

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I have been living with a smoker for 6 years. Yesterday I got my down duvet out to wash and put on my bed and it is now yellow from the smoke. I also have a number of white or off white shirts that were hanging in my closet that are now all discolored on the shoulders and sleeves. Please help me! How do you get cigarette smoke stains out of clothing?

Sheri from Calgary AB

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The birds are eating my dog's food! Her food bowls are even in her doghouse and the birds will go in there and eat right out of her bowls whether she is in there or not. I even put a bird feeder in the tree beside her doghouse, but they seem to like the dog food better. Any help with this problem will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Currywife from WV

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I was wondering if anyone knew how long potato flakes would be good for. I have a bag of flakes in the cupboard and I think they are 2 years old. I could make instant potaoes for the dogs if need be, I suppose, to use them up. Any suggestions for using them besides thickening stews and soups?

Valleyrimgirl

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I am looking for a recipe that I have used many times and now I can't find it. It is for a no browning, easy, oven-baked swiss steak. I know part of the recipe includes ketchup combined with worcestershire sauce which you pour over the pieces of round steak in a baking pan. You can add chopped celery, onions and mushrooms. I believe that the recipe also calls for a little red cooking wine. I love this recipe as it's so easy to make and tastes like you slaved for hours. Does this ring a bell with anybody?

Lovethosehounds from Port Charlotte, FL

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I am looking for a yogurt dip recipe for dog treats that will harden and keep even out of the refrigerator. If you have one, please let me know.

Thank you,
Cindy

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My grandparents have a problem with squirrels. They're always in our yard, and eat my grandmother's tulips by breaking off the center of these flowers and then spit the petals. In doing so they destroying my grandparents favorite spot! What can we do to solve this problem?

Matt Santos-Drolet from Bristol, Rhode Island

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I bought an off-white (sort of really light beige) colored shirt recently. The first time I washed it, it came out with a couple of purple splashes on it from another t-shirt in the wash I suppose. I bleached it lightly to try and get rid of the stain. Immediately after I submerged it in the water and bleach solution, it seemed to turn a really light pink color. The stain came out but now it's this different color. Is there anything I can do to get the pink out? I'm sure that the pink is not from the stain, but a reaction to the bleaching process.

Thanks!
Matt B from San Francisco, CA

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I am having trouble buying cotton bath towels. Seems the towels I bought, 4 sets of 100% Cotton (100% pima cotton loop) bath towels, are nonabsorbent (moves water from one area to another) and leaving lint all over. I'm not talking about cheap towels either, I paid $18.00 dollars for each thinking perhaps it has something to do with the price. NOT!

I know there are a lot of different types of cotton out there. For one, I would not buy alogon (sp?) cotton. I was so careful to check the tags for this, only to find I'm stuck with the same problem all over again. Can someone out there please educate me on this? Perhaps some kind of treatment? I don't use fabric softener on any of my towels.

Appreciate any help. Thanks!
Cnil from No. CA

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We keep our cooking oil in a plastic jar until we use it again. After awhile the plastic jar becomes grimy, sticky and hard to remove residue. Do you know of any cleaner that will remove the residue quickly and without a lot of elbow grease. Thanks very much.

V. from Seattle, WA

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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

Breed Description: The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy dog with a fluffy white coat who loves to be the center of attention. This breed is known for its friendly nature and physical agility. This breed makes a good companion for the elderly, small children and other family pets.

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It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it. (Ha ha.)

Two factors make giving your dog a bath a huge undertaking:

1. The size of your dog
2. How much your dog likes (or hates) water

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Breed Description: This strong, courageous dog is one of the most popular breeds in the world. It possesses one of the keenest noses and highest degrees of intelligence in the dog world, making it suitable in almost any working capacity: herding, police work, guard dog or guide dog. The German Shepherd also makes a loving and faithful companion.

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