Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 283, December 1, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
First, we are proud to announce a new writer has joined the ThriftyFun team. Robin Segal, who wrote a book about buying cars called The Car Buyer's Bible (http://www.thecarbuyersbible.com), has agreed to answer reader's requests about buying a car. So if you have any questions about buying, leasing, or financing a new or used car, be sure to submit them at the link below.
Submit a request...
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_request.ldml
It's the first day of December and the countdown until Christmas has begun! We hope to publish lots of great ideas for you to use this Christmas in the lead up to the holiday. If you have any tips or craft ideas to share, please submit them on one of the contest pages.
Our latest contest ended last night, we will announce the winners next week. With that contest ending another one begins. The new contest will last until December 31st and we will be giving away $25 prizes in the following categories:
Photo Contest Categories:
- Best Homemade Gift Idea Photo
- Best Holiday Decoration Photo
- Best Home Improvement Photo
- Best of the Rest #1
- Best of the Rest #2
Photo Contest!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml
Tip Contest Categories:
- Best Holiday Recipe or Tradition
- Best Holiday Gift Tip
- Best Money Saving Tip
- Best of the Rest
- And two winners selected at random from all entries.
Tip Contest!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml
Also, if there is a food or craft recipe you are looking for, don't hesitate to submit it as a request here:
Submit a request...
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_request.ldml
Hopefully we can work together and have a fun, frugal and rewarding Christmas and New Year.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photos:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
More Reading:
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Today's Sponsors
Printable Coupons!
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
Today's Photos
Flying
Have you ever seen a boy flying?
By Mike from Waterville, Maine
Post Feedback: Click Here
Macaroni (Pasta) Angel Ornaments
These are instructions for making macaroni angel Christmas ornaments. My mom Susan made these for all of her children and friends many years ago. I was a young child at the time and thought it was just about the coolest thing ever. Ornaments like these adorn our trees to this day.
View Photos and Detailed Instructions: Click Here
Loggie (Long Leg Jack Russell Terrier)
Loggie is a 2 year old Long Leg Jack Russell. A friend of mine was moving and couldn't take him with her and she was going to put him in a kennel for someone to take and I decided that I would take him. I fell in love with him. I got him on my bithday 1 1/2 years ago.
He loves to get into something that I don't want him to. He does one thing that I don't mind. You know how a cat climbs in a window and looks out of it? Well he does that and I've never seen a dog that does that too but him. He is so funny. At Christmas he loves to open his own gifts.
He is a smart dog. It seems as if he knows when you say something because he does it. I just taught him to speak, you know when you say speak and they bark. It is so cute how he does that.
By Tina Smith from Pottstown Pa
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Cross in Picture
When the image of this photo was downloaded it looked like an image of a cross in the background.
By imaqt1962 from illinois
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Today's Tips
Replacing Paper Filters with Reusable Filter
For coffee drinkers, you should consider replacing your paper filters with a reusable basket. You never have to buy the disposable stuff again!
By Robin from Washington, IA
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Car Buying Tip 4 - Double Check The Dealer's Math
Whenever the finance manager calculates something, insist that he show you the calculation. Why? The easiest place for dealerships to take more money from you is in the monthly payment. It is VERY common for dealers to increase monthly payments by just a few dollars, even $20 per month, over about a five year period is like giving the dealership $500 extra on the spot. And unless you have a financial calculator (or one on the internet,) you will NEVER know!
By Robin Segal
http://www.thecarbuyersbible.com
Previons Tip: Set a Budget
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Make Your Own Hershey Kisses with a Funnel
Ingredients:
- Mini Marshmallows
- Chocolate
Directions:
Put the mini marshmallow in the hole of the funnel. Melt chocolate in the microwave for approximately 3 minutes, stopping 1/2 way to stir the chocolate. Be careful not to burn it. Spray the funnel with Pam or your favorite cooking spray while the chocolate is melting. Once the chocolate is melted pour into the funnel. Place the funnel in a cup and put it in the freezer to harden. Once the chocolate is hardened remove it from the funnel and wrap in aluminum foil. At this time you can add your own tag on white paper to stick out of the top.
You can vary this recipe by using white chocolate, adding peanut butter half way through then pour more chocolate on top, use butterscotch chips instead of chocolate, the possibilities are endless.
Great gift idea for Christmas, Birthdays or Valentines.
By Emily Barker
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Cooking Different Cuts of Meat
Tough cuts of meat are best cooked with moisture like stewing or using a slow cooker. The moisture will soften tough cuts of meat and make them more appetizing. Tender cuts of meat should be cooked with dry heat like pan frying, barbecuing or oven roasting.
By ThriftyFun
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Using Expired Cottage Cheese
A few times after finding the cottage cheese container buried in the back of the fridge, well past its expiration date, I've tossed it out. Recently, I got ready to toss out another container, but had a 2nd thought. I opened the container and it was soured. I poured the cottage cheese in a colander and ran cool water over it, till it was thoroughly rinsed. I let it drain till hardly any more water was dripping out of it. I tasted it, and it tasted fine, not soured like it had been earlier. I was able to use it in my recipe and the food dish was fine, tasted great. So all this time, I've been wasting money by tossing it out. I won't be doing that anymore.
By Terri from NV
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The Spirit of Giving Donating Toys
Besides donating used toys to charity to make room for new ones, teach your children about giving by buying a new toy for a neighborhood charity program like Toys for Tots.
By Linda from Vista, CA
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Outdoor Christmas Tree Decorations
The lighted Christmas Decorations for your yard can be pretty expensive but here is a way to decorate with little money. Take your tomato cages from your garden, clean with the hose and then tie the tops together with electrical tape. Get yourself one 50 light set and run it up and down around your cone. Attach with baggie ties. Clustered together these look beautiful and simple. When Christmas is over you can disassemble and use your tomato cages over again. Or since this is the end of the gardening season you might find some on Clearance that you can set aside for just this use.
By Debra in Colorado
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Homemade Christmas Cards With Kids Artwork
Last year we made wonderful, meaningful and inexpensive Christmas cards. I saved up my then 2 year olds finger paintings throughout October and November and then cut them into smaller rectangles using a decorative scissors and then glued them to the front of plain cards. You can get a large pack of plain cards and envelopes at Michael's Craft store pretty cheaply. I then let my little girls use a glue stick to put glue and glitter on the fronts. They turned out so cute and so many people commented on how they made them smile.
By Kelly
Post Feedback: Click Here
Two Sewing Tips
I put up a shelf above my sewing machine and attached a 24" light from Walmart to the bottom of the shelf for additional lighting on my sewing project. I really like it. Then I put a "clothesline" made of yarn between the shelf brackets, got some light plastic little clothes pins and I can hang my pattern, directions, and/or a sample quilt block on the clothesline for easy, quick, handy reference while I'm working on a project. That's 2 tips in one!
Post Feedback: Click Here
Chili Toast Quick Meal
One of my kids' (now grown) favorite quickie meals was to open a can of chili, spread it on toast, put a slice of cheese on top and broil it in the oven for a very short time, or microwave it. It is quick, tasty, nutritious - what's not to love about that?
By Marlene from Larimore, ND
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Pump Your Own Gas
A good way to cut your fuel costs some is to pump your own gas at the "self-service" pumps instead of having an attendant do it for you!
By Robin from Washington, IA
Editor's Note: Other than Oregon and New Jersey, who I believe won't allow you to pump your own gas, I am curious which states still offer the option of full serve? Cheveron stations were the last hold out here in Washington state but they have switched to all self-serve. If your community still has a full service options, I would be interested to hear about it.
Post Feedback: Click Here
Training Wheels on a Wheelbarrow
The other day at a farm I saw a wheelbarrow with bicycle training wheels on it. It wouldn't turn quite as sharply around corners but it was much more difficult to tip over.
By ThriftyFun
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http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
New Contest
Submit Your Holiday 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 December 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.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/syndication.html
New Requests
Christmas Balls
I would like to know how to make the big Christmas balls, made from plastic cups and lights. I have seen them a few times and I think they are so cheery for the holiday. Any info on how to make them would be so much appreciated.
Thank you,
Susie from Orting, WA
Post Feedback: Click Here
Training Wheels on a Wheelbarrow
The other day at a farm I saw a wheelbarrow with bicycle training wheels on it. It wouldn't turn quite as sharply around corners but it was much more difficult to tip over.
By ThriftyFun
Post Feedback: Click Here
Getting Started on Ebay
Do you have to pay a fee to join Ebay? How do you sell products on it? Do you need a digital camera or can you describe your product?
Flower51
Post Feedback: Click Here
Light Bulb Christmas Ornaments
I would like to know how to make burned out lightbulb Christmas ornaments.
Thanks,
Lilly from Scranton, PA
Post Feedback: Click Here
Warning About Recipes With Vinegar and Bleach
Do you have a recipe for a cleaning solution consisting of vinegar and bleach?
Thanks,
Sue from Elkhart, IN
Editor's Note: Bleach and vinegar should not be mixed, especially in quantity, because it creates a toxic gas that could be deadly. So feel free to respond with homemade cleaning recipes but please do not mix bleach and vinegar (or bleach and ammonia).
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Cleaning One Inch Tiles
I have a bathroom floor with one inch tiles. How can I clean the white tiles and white grout?
Lois from Venice, FL
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Cleaning a Suede Jacket
I would like ideas on how to clean suede jackets.
Julia from Seattle
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Cigarette Smoke Stains on Cabinets
I have semi gloss, white painted, birch kitchen cabinets that have started to yellow from cigarette smoke. I am wondering how to clean it without creating a dull effect.
Mary Wallace from Mendenhall, MS
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
Printable Coupons!
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
More Reading:
Making Your Frugal Gifts Look Special!
By Cyndi Roberts A big part of most families' treasured Christmas traditions is the ritual of opening the presents. A big part of getting ready for Christmas is Buying the Presents! Most of us must do our best to save money where we can when doing our shopping.
Read More: Click Here
Home for the Holidays: What to do Before You Deck the Halls
By Kathy Wilson The Holidays are here, and most of us are getting ready to deck the halls in one way or another. Before you pull out the tinsel and tree, take a couple hours to make some quick changes to update your rooms, and provide a great background for your Christmas and holiday trimmings.
Read More: Click Here
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