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Hello,
Hurricane Katrina - How Can You Help? The page below has a list of charities.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf969351.tip.html
We will be donating $3 to the red cross for every photo contest submission that is submitted between now and Sunday at midnight.
Photo Contest http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Our latest contest ended last night. We will announce the winners once we have published all the tips that were submitted to the contest. They should all be published within a week or two. Thank you to everyone that entered. With that contest ending, a new one begins. We have added another category for Halloween tips.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Tip Contest!
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Photo Contest!
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Today's Photos
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Patch (German Shorthaired Pointer)
Patch is a six year old German Shorthaired Pointer. He is incredibly smart and a wonderful addition to my son's family. They got him from a dog pound when he was about six months old. Patch's favorite past time is romping through the woods with my son and grandson. He is also a great baby-sitter for their kitty.
By Bettye Strader
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I made these simple, yet beautiful homemade Crayon Candle with old, used recycled crayons.
Thanks and Happy Crafting!
By Karen
Check out my new website: http://www.karenskrafts.net
Also my free Monthly Newsletter: http://www.geocities.com/mypooky/Newsletter.html
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Today's Tips
Back to School Clothes on a Budget
Sometimes older gets get their new clothes, then they go to school and the next week they say to mom or dad "I don't like these clothes". To avoid this, don't go shopping yet, go shopping in a week or two and let them see what's out there or what the fashion is. Then take them with you and let them pick out their own things (unless its hanging off of them). You also save money because the prices on clothes go up the first week in September while they always go on a sale a week or two later.
Tashface
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Disposable Toilet Bowl Scrubbers
I knew I was becoming thrifty when I began making my own laundry detergent, fabric softener and now disposable toilet bowl scrubbers!
These work well with the systems that have the retractable "jaws" to hold the disposable pad in place (I think it's the Scrubbing Bubbles one). The one with a cartridge that clicks in place won't work. Make the initial investment in the "jaw" type cleaner, but you'll never have to buy the expensive refill pads. Since I use these at least every other day on two toilets, making your own is very economical.
Disclaimer: I don't know if you should flush these if you are on a septic system, may have faulty or slow drains or plumbing, or on a questionable city sewer system. I would toss in trash. Otherwise, I have had no trouble flushing them and we are on city service. Use your best judgment.
You'll need, per scrubber:
Mix equal parts (about 2 Tbsp. each) of vinegar and baking soda with a fork in a small dish. Add essential oil of your choice.
Fold the 2 squares of paper towel together and then into fourths or fifths, then fold again in fourths or fifths into a little square.
Mix solution and dip the folded side of square into the solution 3/4 the way. Wait a few seconds ot soak up. Repeat with remaining squares, stirring solution with fork before each dip.
Makes about six-seven squares.
To dry faster, use a food dehydrator and one screen. It may take a few hours. Check middle of folded towel to be sure it is completely dry. Dry towels will be very stiff and may flake a little soda. Use as you normally would a disposable scrubber.
Note: the baking soda and vinegar react when you wet them in toilet bowl to soften water and remove stains. Please note this isn't a disinfecting solution. These are for daily cleaning. To disinfect, once a week, pour a cup of bleach into your clean toilet, soak for 10 minutes, then flush. That will disinfect your toilet.
Thanks.
Melissa
Editor's Note: If you use a bleach disinfectant in the toilet, don't use while using one of the toilet bowl scrubbers. Bleach and vinegar should not be mixed.
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Homemade Swiffer CarpetFlick Cartridges
Make your Own Swiffer Carpetflick Cartridges
Here's how:
I posted recently about how to make your own Swiffer Carpetflick refill cartridges, which are simply flimsy strips of cardboard (exactly like that in product packaging that we recycle!) coated with a super sticky adhesive on both sides.
I do not know exactly what the price point is of the refills. I do have a "$3 off TWO" coupon for them. I am guessing they are the same price point (around $8-$10) of the carpet system itself, quantity unknown.
Anyway, my way is cheaper! Some folks recommended duct tape but I found none that was double-sided. It doesn't work to "wrap" tape around because you'll get tension that will form a spring of sorts, and the strip then won't fit into the system.
So, buy your Swiffer Carpetflick sweeper on sale or with an online coupon. It will be around $12 or so, and you'll get about 4 free cartridges with it. Save one of these as your template.
Save your recyclable coated cardboard boxes that held dry foods (waffles, ice cream bars, cereal boxes, etc all work great!). Open the box flat and lay your template over and cut out (no need to secure it, etc). There is no need whatsoever to punch the hole the swiffer brand has. The cartridge will naturally stay in place as long as you make it long enough and relatively the same size as the template. It's okay for it to be a little thinner, it will still work.
Now go out and buy PLASTIC carpet double-sided tape. You get about 42 feet for under $4. I made about 15 cartridges for one roll.
Take a cardboard template. Move a bit from the side of the strip and run it to the right of an imaginary center line. Don't worry if it wrinkles, just smooth it down. Wrap it around and finish taping the other side. Leave just a little excess and cut off with scissors. Now run another strip (it will take two side by side strips to cover cardboard, unless you can find a wider tape) beside it and around and finish. Don't remove backing unless you are going to use it right away. Store in a gallon size zip style bag.
Each strip should take only 30 seconds to one minute (when you are first starting) to make. I did it while finishing lunch and watching cartoons with my son. It's not at all diffcuilt and your only cost it in is the double-adhesive tape (less than $4 to make 15 or so) and the cardboard (free!).
I did try to use glue, even making my own cornstarch/water/glue combo and applying to strips and then covering with waxed or parchment paper. it doesn't work! I even tried re-wetting. No good.
I think this is by far the easiest and only way I have seen to make your own Carpetflick cartridges.
Oh! How do they work? I just did my living room and stairway and it cleaned BETTER than my carpetflick. I had tiny pepples, dirt and stones and tons of hair stuck to both sides (and we just vacuumed) just from today.
Let me know if you try it. Oh, don't use mounting tape, which has a foam backing. It's too thick. And buy the plastic, not cloth or fiberglass, carpet double-sided tapes. Only the plastic is thin enough. I found mine at Ace Hardware but I bet most hardware stores will carry it.
Thanks,
Melissa
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Organizing Wrapping Paper In A Shoe Organizer
Tips for storing wrapping paper. Post your ideas.
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Tips to help you increase your FICO score. Post your ideas.
Do not close credit card accounts you no longer use as this will adversely effect your FICO score. Your FICO score is the determining factor by which you are made eligible or ineligible for loans, large purchases without a credit card and credit cards. The more unused credit you have available to you the higher your score will be. If you have a good amount of unused credit and a regular habit of paying on time, you're in like Flynn.
By Joan in CT
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Tips and advice for organizing recipes. Post your ideas!
Keep your recipes organized in 99 cent photo brag books. Use one for every day recipes, including recipes you want to try, and handy cooking information like substitutions.
Keep a separate brag book for special occasion recipes like the fabulous fruit salad you make for Christmas.
Try to keep your other cookbooks in or near the kitchen so that you are more likely to use them. To prevent food stains on the pages, open the cookbook to the recipe you're using and slip the entire cookbook into a freezer bag. If you like the recipe you can copy it into one of your brag books.
I take my brag book cookbook with me to the grocery to make sure I don't forget an ingredient. At times, I have also been relieved to have it in my purse when I get off work so that I can quickly decide on a dinner and pick up the ingredients on the way home.
By SusannL
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Recycled Clothing For Scrapbooking
I just started "scrapbooking" and have found you can make picture frames with old colorful clothing. I also used it to do the cover of my scrapbook. It looks professional and great.
By Lisa Simmons
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Choosing the Right Spaghetti Sauce
Years ago, Consumer Reports rated spaghetti sauces. They found they had to rate them for two categories because some people like a sweet tangy sauce and others don't. If you like a sweet sauce you can make it sweet, but if you don't you can get stuck with a sauce your family will not enjoy.
A simple solution is to check the grams of sugar per serving on a brand that you like. The magic number for us is 6 to 7g. Out of curiosity I also checked the sugar content on a brand we thought tasted like catsup. It was 12g!
By SusannL
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This is attractive storage space you can leave in the open; who is to know!
Use a new plastic garbage can to store out of season clothes, or anything for that matter. Then can cut a piece of plywood to sit on top of the lid and make a coverlet that hangs to the floor (like the little round 3-legged tables you buy at Wal-Mart that you can buy as table toppers). Depending on the size of your garbage can, a ready made coverlet may fit!
Make sure the lid is flat on the top. Also, you can put a piece of the rubber shelving liner that comes in rolls for a dollar at the Dollar Stores, on top of the garbage can lid, this will keep the plywood top from sliding.
By Syd
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 17 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Photo Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Contest ends October 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
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.
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New Requests
Centerpiece for Library Meeting - Kids and Teenager Theme
Our church is hosting a state library meeting and I need to come up with centerpiece ideas with a kids or teenager theme. Any ideas? Thanks!
Kathleen
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I have a recipe for fresh salsa. Can I seal it up in canning jars without cooking the tomatoes beforehand or does it have to be cooked?
Thanks!
Wendy 23
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My daughter is turning 6 soon and would like to have a "Kim Possible" Birthday Party - I'm a little stuck on what activities etc. to go with at this age. She will have boys and girls there. I feel as if I am always doing the same old pinatta thing and would like to be a little creative this time without draining our bank account. Hope you can help - would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Heather Noland
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I pretreated a pair of new white khaki pants with ERA (liquid) laundry detergent and was preparing to wash them right away but my sister-in-law went in to labor and I forgot all about them.
Needless to say they sat for 2 days and after attempting to wash them the detergent left light marks all over them. Will repeated washes help? I washed with cold water per the label, but will warm water dissolve all the detergent? Any recommendations are appreciated.
Thanks!
Erin
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Does anyone have a low sugar pear butter recipe?
Thanks!
Wendy 23
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I need some gift ideas for my son and his future wife.
I have absolutely no clue as to what to buy them as a wedding gift. He is in the service and they plan on getting an apartment. I can't spend a lot of $$ but want a nice gift. Thought about getting them a bible? What do ya'll think?
By imaqt1962
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A very dear friend of mine would like to have her mother's Ranch Aspic for dinner in a couple of weeks. Her mother has Alzheimer's and can't remember how she made it and I've searched the web with no results whatsoever.
My friend did say Campbell's Tomato Soup was used but doesn't know how the Ranch flavor was created. Can anyone help me? My friend is very sad about her mother and would like to salvage this recipe if we can.
Thanks so much in advance! (I will be posting more requests as well for other recipes her mother used to make if I can't locate a similar online.)
Melissa W. in Charlotte, NC
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I have a son and daughter (twins) who are about to turn 3 very soon and this is the first official birthday party with friends they will have. I would like it to be special for them and fun for boys and girls. Any ideas. I think they have agreed on either Barney or a Farm theme. Thanks for the ideas.
Kindly,
Heather Noland
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Housebreaking Problems with a Pomeranian
We have two puppies, one Sheltie and one Pomeranian. Both were acquired on the same day. The Sheltie understands to do his business outside, but the Pomeranian just can't get it about peeing inside versus taking it outside. He has the pooping down.
We have tried crate training, taking him out constantly, praising when he does go outside, getting up at 2:00 in the morning for 5 weeks now, etc.
Suggestions?
Janyes
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Making Window and Door Awnings
I would like some ideas on making window and door awnings for our business. I was in Europe last summer and fell in love with the look. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Julie
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My tomatoes are ripening faster than my family can eat them. Does anybody have an easy recipe for a homemade tomato sauce? I hate to lose even one tomato, so I'm hoping to make a big batch of sauce.
Thanks in advance!
Karen in NH
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Today's Sponsors
Lots of great art supplies at DickBlick.com
http://www.thriftyfun.com/thriftylinks/tf241337_tfl.html
More Reading:
Creative Storage Solutions
By Rachel Paxton
When the things in your home start crowding in around you and you're short on cash, it's time to come up with some creative storage solutions. Don't be afraid to think "out of the box". You're the only one who has to know where everything is stored.
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