Daily Thrifty Tips June 30, 2004 Simple & Tasty Sandwiches for Children

Hello,

We have another new topic site for Organizing. You can find it here: Click Here

If anyone has an idea for a better name for the organizing section, rather than just "Organizing", please send it in: Click Here

Also, a quick note about requests. If you send in a request and are looking for the answers be sure to check out the Reader's Request topic site. It's located here: Click Here

If you want to be notified when your request receives responses, click on the "Send Me Responses" link on the top of the article block.

Last but not least, today is the last day to enter our contest for The Cheapskate Monthly Money Makeover. We will start a new contest tomorrow. Submit a tip here: Click Here

Thanks for reading!

Susan

Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Tips:

• Save Bread Ends for Bread Crumbs
• Perfume Cards from Magazines
• Quick Muffin Recipe
• Baking without Spray Oil Products
• Clothing Care
• Spots on Clothing: Tell the Dry Cleaner Everything
• Cleaning Crystal and Repelling Dust
• Featured Feedback: RE: Clorox Ready Mop/Swiffer Wet
• Featured Feedback: RE: Dry Flowers with Kitty Litter
• Today's Recipe: Simple & Tasty Sandwiches for Children

New Requests:

• Adding Up the Savings from a Frugal Life
• Cleaning Old Stained Quilt Blocks
• Organizing Pots and Pans
• Help Getting Spots off Flatware

More Reading:

• Barbeque Party
• Simple & Tasty Sandwiches for Children
• Preparing Your Home for the Public's Eye
• Second-Hand Clothes, First-Class Style

Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here

Today's Tips

Save Bread Ends for Bread Crumbs

Save the two crust ends of bread in the freezer, then when you need to make stuffing or bread crumbs for a recipe you have the bread on hand. You can even save the bread in the very bag it comes home in from the store.

By Suzanne

Post Feedback: Click Here

Perfume Cards from Magazines

I use the perfumed scratch and sniff cards that come in magazines to throw in the garbage can in my kitchen. It takes care of bad odors and it doesn't cost me anything, especially since I bought the magazine at a garage sale for 10 cents. I also use the coupons from it to get a discount off something else at the store!

By Tiny Bop

Post Feedback: Click Here

Quick Muffin Recipe

One cup self rising flour.
One tablespoon sugar.
One tablespoon mayonaise.

Mix thoroughly and spoon into greased muffin tins. Bake about 15 minutes. Makes about 6 muffins. You may add berries, chocolate chips or any other flavoring.

By Sharon P

Post Feedback: Click Here

Baking without Spray Oil Products

When greasing and flouring a pan for a cake (including a bundt pan) grease pan with shortening or butter. Try to avoid spray oil products. Instead of flour use powdered sugar. You will never have a cake that sticks if you grease and "flour" completely and remove the extra powdered sugar. This also adds a little wonderful taste and you don't have to worry about that ugly white flour cast. Did you know that spray oil products are mainly chemical based? When they are heated the chemical make up changes leaving a funny taste and often color to your foods. Yes it is convenient but instead fill a small spray bottle with liquid cooking oil and keep in a cool dry place when not being used. Much better.

By julie

Post Feedback: Click Here

Clothing Care

Because of the different finishes and dyes used by clothing manufacturers, it is difficult to generalize about which fabrics can be hand washed. Follow the manufacturers instructions. If you do follow their instructions and the garment is damaged, it is the fault of the manufacturer. You then will have some recourse in getting the garment replaced either by the manufacturer or the store.

Post Feedback: Click Here

Spots on Clothing: Tell the Dry Cleaner Everything

It is costly to ruin an expensive piece of clothing by cleaning it improperly. If you have tried to remove a spot before taking the garment to a dry cleaner, make sure you let the cleaners know what you have already tried. It can make a difference in how they will treat the spot. It is always a good idea to air out dry cleaned garments in your garage or a spare room so the left over gases can escape. Take them out of the dry cleaning bag and let them air out for 24 hours, before hanging in the closet.

Post Feedback: Click Here

Cleaning Crystal and Repelling Dust

Hate to dust and re-wash crystal constantly? Here's a simple way to achieve great results. Wash the item with plain water (if very dirty add vinegar to water). Dry immediately, making sure that the item is spotless. Using 1/2 of a dryer softener sheet, gently rub on the crystal. The item will get a dull residue on it. Then with a paper towel (I use Bounty or Brawny), buff the crystal to remove all of the residue. The result is crystal that gleams and repels dust. I now only need to dust my crystal once.

Post Feedback: Click Here

Featured Feedback: RE: Clorox Ready Mop/Swiffer Wet

I made my own wet mop buy purchasing the head of a sanding pole (they use these to sand drywall). The Harrington brand with the screw clamps work the best. This will fit on a standard mop or broom handle. I then attached a swivel cup holder to the handle with zip ties. Fill a spray bottle with cleaner cut a terry cloth towel to fit the sanding head. and you have a very inexpensive version. The total cost was 5.99. I recycled everything but the sanding head. My husband laughs and calls it my hillbilly swiffer but hey I saved a ton.

By Candy

Post Feedback: Click Here

Featured Feedback: RE: Dry Flowers with Kitty Litter

You can also use sand instead of kitty litter. I know of another product, silica gel crystals, that does the same thing, but it can be rather expensive to buy. Another tip: use a small, soft paintbrush to get the particles out from between the petals.

By Siren

Post Feedback: Click Here

Simple & Tasty Sandwiches for Children
By Deborah Shelton

1. Rainbow Sandwiches

Spread peanut butter, cream cheese, or butter onto a slice of white bread. Top with rainbow sprinkles (cake decorations). Cut the bread into four triangles or squares, and serve open-faced. Don't forget to remove the crusts for picky eaters! These are fun snacks for parties and play dates.

2. Bagel Philly Sandwiches

Slice a bagel in half and toast lightly in a toaster. Spread cream cheese on both halves. Top one half with your favorite lunchmeat: turkey, salami, ham, etc. Place the other bagel half on top and enjoy!

3. Grilled PB&J Sandwiches

Spread butter or margarine onto two slices of bread. Place the bread onto a paper plate, butter side down. Spread peanut butter on one slice, and jelly on the other. Put the peanut butter and jelly sides together, and place the sandwich into a frying pan. Lightly grill each side until golden brown. A yummy twist on an old favorite!

4. Bagel Fruit Sandwiches

Split and toast a bagel. Spread cream cheese or peanut butter onto each half. Layer sliced fruit on top (bananas, honey dew, peaches, etc.). Serve open-faced, and dig in!

About The Author: Deborah Shelton the author of "The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit Deborah's website for more family-friendly ideas: http://www.fiveminuteparent.com Subscribe to The Five Minute Parent email newsletter Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Post Feedback: Click Here

Submit a recipe on the contest form: Click Here

Need a particular recipe? Submit a request: Click Here

Lots of wonderful feedback is generously posted by readers each day. To read all recent feedback, visit: Click Here

Tip Contest

Submit a thrifty tip and you might win... The Cheapskate Monthly Money Makeover: A financial adviser and former credit-card junkie presents her secrets for regaining control, repaying debt quickly, avoiding common mistakes, and managing self-employment, bankruptcy, and credit problems.

Click here to submit a tip.

Click Here to Enter!

New Requests:

Adding Up the Savings from a Frugal Life

Just out of curiosity... Has anyone tallied up what money they actually save with their frugal efforts? (e.g., flourscent bulbs, off-brand milk, popcorn instead of chips, air dry clothes, etx) I hear about how some frugal behavior saves loads of money, but it's hard to see it when the savings is so small. I guess I'm looking for encouragement.

Coolchinchilla

This article has 0 Feedback. Post Feedback: Click Here

Cleaning Old Stained Quilt Blocks

I was given some very old quilt blocks with some stains, perhaps water or age from the drawer and they are beautiful. Can you folks tell me how to save these beauties and clean them properly.

Thanks. Big Fan.

This article has 2 Feedback. View Article: Click Here

Organizing Pots and Pans

Help! Does anyone have any tips for organizing all of my pots and skillets that are in my kitchen? My kitchen is small, not much cabinet space but my cabinets are getting horribly messy! Thanks for the suggestions.

Constance

This article has 0 Feedback. Post Feedback: Click Here

Help Getting Spots off Flatware

Please help! I have stainless steel flatware, nothing fancy just normal everyday stuff, and wash it in the dishwasher. They never look clean! There are spots and grunge still on them. I have tried polishing them with a stainless steel cleaner-no luck! I am ready to just buy new but would like to save these they are only a year old but I just hate when they look dirty and spotty. Help!

Tanya

This article has 1 Feedback. Post Feedback: Click Here

Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here

More Reading

Barbeque Party
By Valerie Giles

A wonderful way to entertain family and friends in an outdoor setting is with a backyard barbeque party. With proper planning and the right environment people will be talking about your party all summer. Important factors to think about when entertaining are things like the barbeque grill, seating, lighting, and of course the menu planning.

View Article: Click Here\

Simple & Tasty Sandwiches for Children
By Deborah Shelton

Rainbow Sandwiches: Spread peanut butter, cream cheese, or butter onto a slice of white bread. Top with rainbow sprinkles (cake decorations). Cut the bread into four triangles or squares, and serve open-faced. Don’t forget to remove the crusts for picky eaters! These are fun snacks for parties and play dates. Read more...

View Article: Click Here

Preparing Your Home for the Public’s Eye
By Bridget Messino

The thought of moving can set most of us in a tailspin, but what is more frightening is imagining the parade of realtors and home buyers marching through your very personal space and judging you on: neatness, maintenance and upkeep, and tasteful decor. (There will be a handful of buyers that are looking for a "fixer upper" and projects that last for years, but unfortunately only two exist to date).

View Article: Click Here

Second-Hand Clothes, First-Class Style
By Rachel Paxton

Consignment shopping can be fun as well as rewarding. I was first introduced to consignment shopping when I was pregnant with my daughter, about 12 years ago. The trend of buying second-hand items was just beginning. I started shopping at a store that consigns women's and children's clothes, toys, and baby furniture. At first I just bought some baby clothes there and marveled at how inexpensive they were (1/3 or less of retail prices). As my daughter got older I didn't have any little girls to give her clothes to, so I started consigning her clothes. The consignment store decided how much the clothes should sell for, and after the clothes had sold, they gave me 30 to 50% of the purchase price. For just a few items that might only add up to a couple of dollars, but if you make a practice of taking in all of your children's outgrown clothes, it can add up quickly. Where I shop, they will either give you the cash when the item sells, or they will hold your money "on account" so that when you buy something there in the future, your purchase is subtracted from your account.

View Article: Click Here

Let others know that you like this Ezine:
Vote For the Daily Thrifty Tips

Support ThriftyFun

Three ways to support us:

1. Be sure to visit our website and check out our advertisers from time to time. They keep the lights on.

2. Post feedback and send us requests for frugal solutions to everyday problems.

3. Tell a friend about the Daily Thrifty Tips. Click Here

Thanks

Susan
http://www.thriftyfun.com