Daily Thrifty Tips - November 4, 2009

Vol. 8, Num. 216, November 4, 2009 (Read It Online) Here are the contest winners for the contest that ran from October 17, 2009 to October 23, 2009. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone that took time to share something. Pet Contest Winner Barkley (Pointer,Lab) and Petey (Boxer Mix) http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18639763.tip.html Photo Contest Winner Craft: Refrigerator Caddy http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49130422.tip.html Recipe Contest Winner Orange and Ginger Chicken http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75950699.tip.html Tip Contest Winners How Many Hours Of Work Does It Cost? http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42771340.tip.html This Year, Recycle Christmas http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87180635.tip.html Be sure to give a "thumbs up" to tips and recipes that you like. Your ratings are used to pick the winners. Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Painting Laminate Countertops Halloween: Popeye and Olive Oyl Costumes Gracie (Cat) In Memory Of Hatchet Petey (Boxer Mix) Today's Tips: Check Refurbished Printer Cartridge Expiration Date Best Anti Aging Cream Use Warm Oven to Dry Pots and Pans Make Drawer Sachets With Excess Perfume Watch PayPal For Fraudulent Charges Use Baking Soda for Wet Electronics Mark One Side of Electric Plug Ice Cube to Remove Blood Stains Joke of the Day New Requests: Helping the Needy as a Family Repairing Lid on Kitchen Craft Pot Venting a Woodburning Stove Will Mayonnaise Kill Fleas on Pets? Kitten Trying to Nurse on Older Cat Keeping Makeup From Rubbing Off Clothing What Do You Think of Facebook? Cleaning Antiques and Collectibles Grease Stain on Suede Removing Nail Glue from Skin Cigarette Burns on Microfiber Pouring Paint Without the Mess Buying Small Jars and Bottles Removing Rust From Chrome Having a Costume Birthday Party Other Than at Halloween Tilex Left Spots on Wooden Table Bugs Biting Me In My Sleep Can I Clean Pots in a Self Cleaning Oven? Restoring Color to Formica Stains on Clothing from Dye Transferring in the Wash Elegant "Camo" Baby Shower Preserving Homemade Aloe Vera Gel Does My Dog Sleep Too Much? Refrigerator Is Freezing Food Smoke Smell Removal from Furniture, Rugs, etc. Drain Cleaning Gnats In My Home! Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml Today's Photos: Painting Laminate Countertops Hi, I always wanted to purchase granite countertops but could never afford them. After accidentally coming across your website, I decided I can try to paint my cream Formica counters to resemble granite. I DID IT! I am so amazed by the transformation, it turned my so so kitchen into a welcoming sophisticated kitchen! Thank you ThriftyFun! I have told everyone about your helpful website:) Source: ThriftyFun :) By Kerry from Oak Harbor, OH Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf999197.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Halloween: Popeye and Olive Oyl Costumes Popeye's arms are two pairs of tights (one inside the other) stuffed in the middle with stuffing and sewn to the sleeve of his shirt. I used some red material to pin around his neck for his collar and his yellow karate belt for his waist. Olive Oyl's skirt is made out of felt and the shirt has white felt sewn on the sleeves and neck. She is wearing a black wig that was wrapped in the back so it could stick out. Source: The kids got the idea from the cartoons and I made the costumes from my creativity By Julie from Bellingham, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91695463.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Gracie (Cat) Gracie 6 years old. My husband and I had one cat and decided our Elsa needed a buddy. So 4 years ago, we went to the Humane Society, where we also found Elsa, and we saw Gracie who looked like she could be Elsa's sister. So we brought Gracie home, but Elsa wanted nothing to do with her, but she has been a great companion and a sweet member of our family. She loves to chase her "sister" Katie around the house and up and down the stairs. She loves the laser pointer, she chases the little dot. We are from Oklahoma but now in live in Michigan, and of course it is much cooler here especially in the winter and Gracie has really puffed up since we have moved here! Hee hee! She is so adorable! By michokie36 from Ypsilanti, MI Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20609726.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | In Memory Of Hatchet Hatchet was about 3 or 4 in this picture, she was a Heinz 57 mix. My daughter brought her home from a free puppies sign. She loved to run and play. She talked to you, kinda like Scooby-doo, she knew how to open doors, we were working on learning to shut them too, she was a very smart girl. Hatchet followed her friend Max, who lived next door, down the road to the main road and was hit and killed. She is sadly missed by her whole family. By Wendie from Southington, OH. Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59052533.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Petey (Boxer Mix) Petey aka "PDQ" is 8 weeks old. He is half boxer, one quarter English bull dog, one quarter German Shepard. My best friend's dog had an unexpected litter in Pennsylvania. The mom dog had 8 pups and Petey was the only white one in the bunch. I fell in love with him on the spot, (no pun intended,) so my friend sent him to us via air. What an adventure for such a young pup! He is very curious, and loves to run and play in the back yard, chasing after Barkley and Scruffy, until he just drops on the spot and falls asleep. He'll to lay in your lap on his back and snooze like a baby. The very first time my son and I saw him, we knew we had to name him Petey, (from The Little Rascals,) because of the patch over his eye. The name really suites him, because he is such a little rascal! He has gained 4 lbs in the last 2 weeks, and we are expecting him to be a big boy when he grows up. This photo was taken when he heard an airplane overheard for the first time. By DNapolitan from San Diego, CA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46775402.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Check Refurbished Printer Cartridge Expiration Date I just learned this one yesterday. Wish I had learned it long ago, as it would have saved me a lot of aggravation. I am assuming this is true for a lot of printers, so I am passing it on. Being home schoolers, we use a lot of ink and paper. To save, I have Walgreen's refill my ink cartridges (for an HP 2210) when they run their specials of refills for $5, or I buy the used/refurbished ones at Office Depot or Walmart. Usually they work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes I will have one that I have used several times, and it will suddenly just stop for no reason. This happened again this week. My nearest Walgreen or Office Depot is 30 minutes away, so its a real pain to go buy one and bring it home only to find it won't work. And, the two I got wouldn't work. I called HP to see if there was a work around as I didn't want to drive all the way back again. I mean we are talking 100 miles for 2 trips. I was told to look at my cartridge for a date. There is evidently a microchip in the ink cartridge that tells the printer when that date has arrived. When that date gets here, it is considered to be an expired cartridge and will no longer work. The two ink cartridges I bought were indeed expired (sold to me by Office Depot in October and one had expired in April of 2007). That also explains why ones I have refilled over and over suddenly stop, the date came up. So, I will no longer refill them close to or past the expiration date, and I will open the box and check the expiration date of refurbished ones at the cash register before I drive all the way back home. I thought this was worth passing on! Source: HP customer service rep By mom-from-missouri from NW Missouri Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86302652.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Best Anti Aging Cream Best Anti Aging cream in the world, and completely natural. 4 parts olive oil 2.5 parts shea butter (refined works best) 1 part grapeseed oil Half part avocado oil 1/4 part jojoba oil 1 part rosewater or orange blossom water This recipe is brilliant as a moisturizer and if used after bathing, leaves the body very soft and moisturized. Basically it has all the benefits of oil but in the form of a cream so is very easily to apply. You only need to use a very small amount because it is very concentrated. It's cheap to make because all the ingredients can be bought from most retail outlets except for shea butter and jojoba oil (which is optional). Shea butter can be purchased quite cheaply now on the internet and provides the basic ingredient that will turn the oils into a cream. Method: In a bain marie (or a small bowl over hot water), place the shea butter with the olive oil and heat until it is completely melted. Take off the heat and add the other oils. Stir really well with a whisk. Slowly add the rosewater or orange blossom water whilst it is still very warm. Now, as it cools, it will start to harden. In order to speed up the cooling, place the bowl in a fridge or somewhere really cool and keep whisking every few minutes until it is whipped up into a beautiful cream. If the mixture is allowed to cool naturally, this can take up to 3 hours to cool and whip up but if placed in a really cold area, it really speeds the process up. Very important to do a lot of whipping. The cream/body butter lasts easily for over a year if kept in normal cool conditions in a clean jar, it will melt if placed somewhere hot but still works if you use it on your skin. All the ingredients have a natural preservative action so it does not need any preservatives but keep an eye on it if you make a batch to make sure there is no contamination. It doesn't contain any harsh chemicals that will aggravate skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. You can use other oils and almond oil works really well as the main ingredient. It is a really brilliant recipe and especially good in cold weather and for anti aging. If you reduce the amount of shea butter you can make a body milk but you might need to experiment a little. Great for presents as you can buy jars very easily online and make up your own labels and paste it on the jar. Retail of similar products are very expensive. Source: I have made this recipe myself after years of research. By Bushra H. from England, UK Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12150530.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Use Warm Oven to Dry Pots and Pans When you have used your oven for cooking or baking and have pots and pans that have to be hand washed, place them upside down on the rack in the warm oven to dry. Do not forget to remove them before you preheat the oven. To remind myself that something is temporarily in the oven, I stick a decorative magnet on the top of the stove. By mkymlp from NE PA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37525272.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Make Drawer Sachets With Excess Perfume I like to use up old perfumes and colognes by spraying them on a folded up stack of kleenex then inserting them in a shoe polish rag that fancier hotels give out in their rooms. I pin it with a safety pin and place it in drawers or closets to help underwear and lingerie smelling nice. The safety pin makes it easy to refresh with a new stack of folded tissues and a fresh spritzing when the old ones wear off. By Jazzy from Ellicott City Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38970063.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Watch PayPal For Fraudulent Charges This is a warning to anyone who uses PayPal in conjunction with your bank account. Watch your bank statements closely! PayPal has been making fraudulent charges for ONLINE DATING and other things and charging it to their customers. I recently had 2 such charges on my checking account from them and I didn't even know I had a PayPal account! Now I'm having a hard time getting hold of PayPal to get this account closed. They want user name and password. But since I didn't even know I had the account, of course I don't know these. So watch your bank statements closely. Luckily my bank was very helpful about getting these charges removed and reimbursed along with other charges which stemmed from these. By Cricketnc from Parkton, NC Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30254366.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Use Baking Soda for Wet Electronics If you have ever dropped your cell phone in water, you know how frustrating that can be! Try this tip next time. Put the phone in a ziplock baggie with baking soda. I have never had to try it, but it sounds logical. The soda will suck the water out. Source: friend By Jackie from Orlando, Florida Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81401353.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Mark One Side of Electric Plug Add a dash of 'white out' to a black electric plug or a 'black marker' to a white plug, and you will always know the correct side to stick it into the wall outlet. Source: Myself, I kept forgetting which way it should plug into the wall. By Tarlo from Trinity, FL Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82025140.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Ice Cube to Remove Blood Stains If you get blood on anything fabric, the easiest way to remove it is to put an ice cube on the stain as soon as possible. Don't worry about washing it in hot water, as long as it is loosened by icy water right away, it will come out. It won't fool the CSI's though. By Bailey from SW Michigan Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46140671.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Dear Webby's Joke of the Day A reporter from Chicago was visiting an old colleague, who now edited a newspaper in a tiny Vermont town. "I don't see how you do it," the reporter said. "How can you drum up interest in the news when everybody in town knows what everybody else is doing?" "Sure they know," the editor said, "but they read the paper to see who got caught at it." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Helping the Needy as a Family I would like to start a tradition with my teenage boys this Christmas to volunteer at a shelter or possibly locate a family in need that we can deliver presents and food to. We live in Hamilton County. By Gina from Atlanta, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12274881.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Repairing Lid on Kitchen Craft Pot I have Kitchen Craft pots and pans and love them. One problem is that I need to have the middle part of the lid fixed. Please help. Thanks. By Bettie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73699317.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Venting a Woodburning Stove I have a woodburing stove on my first floor. Can I run the vent pipe out a window? By twktm from NE Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35694574.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Will Mayonnaise Kill Fleas on Pets? Does mayonnaise kill fleas on dogs? I know it works on head lice. Is it safe for dogs or cats? By Jenney from Millville, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24910261.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Kitten Trying to Nurse on Older Cat My kitten is is trying to nurse on my older cat, is that okay? How do I get her to stop? By Alicia from Quincy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85604299.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Keeping Makeup From Rubbing Off Clothing How do I keep makeup off my collar during the day or at night when I go out? No matter what kind I use, it rubs on my collar. Is there something I could spray on my collar so that it will not rub on it? By Dana from Tuscaloosa, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55134152.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | What Do You Think of Facebook? I'd like to hear from those of you who have a Facebook account. Any problems, such as spam and security issues? Do you use it to make new friends? By Betty from Lubbock, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90352776.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Cleaning Antiques and Collectibles I have furniture, dishes, etc. inherited from my father and grandparents. How do I get the built up over 50 years of thick, sticky, brown smoke, and dust residue off of everything without hurting them? I am especially concerned for the antique furniture? By Carrie from Deep South Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56944876.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Grease Stain on Suede I placed my brand new suede handbag on the floor of a theater, a greasy spoon restaurant and at the end of the day there were several grease stains on the bottom. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid of making it worse by using the wrong products. By Harriet from Albany, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf143426.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Removing Nail Glue from Skin How do I remove nail glue from countertop and hands? By Sheila from Bel Air, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf128612.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Cigarette Burns on Microfiber Can someone help me locate an upholstery repair shop in my area that can repair a cigarette burn on my micro-fiber couch? I live in the 60827 zip code. By Mz.Kandy from Chicago, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62827427.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Pouring Paint Without the Mess How do you pour paint from a can into a tray without making a mess? By Onesummer Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42267620.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Buying Small Jars and Bottles Hello, ThriftyFun members. I hope someone can help me with this. I make my own skincare products and would like to give these as Christmas presents to family and friends. Would anyone know of a supplier of pretty little jars and bottles to put these in? It needs to be a supplier who would sell them in small quantity. Hope someone can help me. Many thanks. By h.arnott from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59641888.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Removing Rust From Chrome How do you clean rust off chrome? By Christie from Kona, HI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf551528.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Having a Costume Birthday Party Other Than at Halloween Okay, I didn't get to dress up for Halloween this year and my 17th birthday is at the end of November. Is it OK to have a costume party still? I don't want to be a freak. By Samantha from Barton, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84553232.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Tilex Left Spots on Wooden Table My mother decided to be nice and was cleaning the ceiling fan in the kitchen when she was visiting. She was using Tilex. Well, some of it drifted down onto the corner of my wood kitchen table. Now when you see it at an angle, you can see the spots on the top. I have tried regular soap and water (even Dawn) as well as Pledge, but nothing seems to work. Is there anything I can try that will not damage the top of the table? By Paul Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97870470.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Bugs Biting Me In My Sleep I've woken up with bites all over my legs, so I assume it is bed bugs. I washed all my sheets and pillow cases, and I just recently saw one on me. It was super tiny, barely a centimeter. I tried to push it to death with my finger and it jumped. I'm itching and trying to figure out what the culprit is. By Sandy from Charlotte, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26503336.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Can I Clean Pots in a Self Cleaning Oven? My pans are greasy and spotted on the bottom. Can I put them in my self cleaning oven? Thank you. By Dan from Las Vegas, NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11238114.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Restoring Color to Formica How can I restore the color to 17 year old Formica counters? By Mimi from Cedarville, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf876686.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Stains on Clothing from Dye Transferring in the Wash Mixed color fabrics were stained by bleeding from a checkered table cloth during its first wash. I caught this happening and immediately removed the table cloth. I rinsed rinsed the clothing that was affected. I used two scoops of Oxiclean. I was afraid of making it worse, so I stopped to do some internet research. What should I do? By Naildoc47 from Sacramento,CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96616080.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Elegant "Camo" Baby Shower I have lots of time to shop and do crafts, but I can't think of anything. Any ideas? By Whitney from NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85522067.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Preserving Homemade Aloe Vera Gel How do you preserve homemade Aloe Vera gel? By Michael Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15267058.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Does My Dog Sleep Too Much? I have a 7 year old Yorkie; he weighs 8 pounds. For some reason he sleeps all day. I make him his food on a daily basis at the same time everyday. Along with the sleeping issue, he will not eat when I give it to him, like before. At some time of his own choosing, he eats. Anyway, the sleeping is something that I am concerned about. He just had a bout with fleas. We went to the vet, and she put Advance on him. It seems to me that he is not comfortable. Always itchy on his lower back close to the tail. Does anyone have any suggestions please? By poopsy from Norfolk county, in Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf590399.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Refrigerator Is Freezing Food My refrigerator is freezing my food. By Styron from NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf369244.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Smoke Smell Removal from Furniture, Rugs, etc. How do you get odors out of furniture? Specifically, cigarette smoke. By Suzanne from Lovettsville, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf554040.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Drain Cleaning How do you unstop a clogged drain line? By Doug from Pensacola, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000896.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Gnats In My Home! What can I do to get rid of gnats that are in my houseplants, flying all over the house, and getting into our food? Hardiness Zone: 5a By Karen from Casper, Wy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf177471.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.