Daily Thrifty Tips - March 13, 2007

Mason's Thank-You

Our grandson Mason just had a birthday and we sent him a card with money inside and this is what we got back from him. Needless to say, we loved it and thought it was a cute idea to send as a Thank-you Card.

By Trudy from Springfield, IL

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A Garden Window

When putting in new windows, think about a "garden window" in the kitchen! We are enjoying springtime in the winter with our new garden window and have enjoyed growing fresh parsley, mint and other seasonings. They are fresh and very handy!

By Evelyn from McHenry, IL

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Maiya (Calico Cat)

Maiya a two and half year old calico tabby stripe. I got her two years ago from an ad for "free kittens", as a companion pet for my other kitten. She loves to sleep and terrorize the house. My beautiful lil girl is pregnant with her first litter. I'm proud and excited :)

By Jennipah from Clermont, FL

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Cleaning Contact Lenses

Before cleaning your contact lenses, close the drain in your bathroom sink or cover it with a washcloth. This will keep the lenses from going down the drain if you drop them.

Do you have any more tips for cleaning contact lenses? Post them below.

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Easy Tip Calculations

Here's a trick for computing a 15% tip in your head. Start by calculating 10% of the bill and then add half. For example, if the bill is $24 dollars, a 15% tip would be $2.40 (10%) plus $1.20 (half of 15%), for a total of $3.60.

Another easy method is to use the sales tax rate in your state. If it the tax rate happens to be around %7 or 8%, the tip should be roughly double the amount of tax that is charged.

Another option is to carry a tip card, a small wallet sized card that has a table on it for calculating tips.

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Use Car Alarm For Home Safety

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:
It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house
and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you turn it off!

It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and, sure enough, the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.

By Pico from St Paul, Alberta

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Oatmeal Wash Bag

Why pay for expensive creams and washes to exfoliate your skin when you can make your own wash bag to help remove the dry skin?

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup ground oatmeal
• 1/4 cup ground sunflower seeds
• 8 inch - 9 inch square of cheesecloth or muslin
• String

Directions

By Marie E. Cecchini from West Dundee, IL

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Decorated Baby Jars For Storage

I have found a use for all of my empty glass baby food jars! I bought some glass paints at my local hobby store and decorated the jars with a nice pattern. I use the jars to store things like bobbi pins, earrings, miscellaneous small items found around the house, and even my own spice mixtures. The possibilities are endless. And they look great.

By Aeowyn from Ohio

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Snack Cup Of Potatoes

I wanted to do something similar to the twice baked potatoes. I found some seasonal paper drinking cups ($0.25 on clearance) for containers. These cups are the stiff paper ones, not waxy. They are from a party supply store. First I made a batch of my cheesy spinach potatoes. I filled the cups half way and placed them in a freezer bag, upright, until frozen. Once they are frozen, they no longer need to be upright.

When I am looking for a snack, I just take one out and pop it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Then just stir and eat! It is so good and it doesn't burn in the corners like store-bought! When my husband brings them for lunch, I just place a square of cling wrap and a rubber band to hold it in place! You could wrap the whole cup, it would just cost a little more. Don't worry about any ice crystals, shake them out or leave them in! A satisfying snack that leaves you happy and guilt-free. Enjoy.

By Starchild in VT from Lamoille County, VT

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Use Soap Pieces For Deer Control

Put those little pieces of soap in the bottom of cut off panty hose. Tie them around in different places in your garden to keep deer away. Ivory and Irish Spring seem to work best.

By George from Roanoke, VA

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Bath Bib for Bathing Babies

Keep yourself dry while giving your baby a bath by creating a large bib from a towel. Just fasten one end of the towel around your neck using a large safety pin and let the rest drape in front of you.

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Bosch Washing Machine Smell

I am getting smelly washing from a Bosch washing machine. Any advice?

Glyn from Birmingham, UK

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Removing Nail Glue from Skin

How do you get nail glue off of your skin?

Jordan from Seattle, WA

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Washing an Autographed Shirt

I have an autograph signed on a shirt with a sharpie. How do I wash the shirt without losing the signature? What can i put over it to preserve it?

Allison

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Staining Mahogany

How do you stain mahogany?

Neil from Mt. Peasant, PA

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Exercising My Stomach

How can I lose the jiggle at the side of my stomach/abdomen area without doing the same old crunches and sit-ups all the time?

Sam from Mitchell, MB

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Recipes Using Dried Cherries

I am looking for recipes using dried cherries.

Thank you,
Janet from Suring, WI

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Multifunction (All-In-One) Printer Reviews

Multifunction Printers, Which is the best to buy? This is for home use. I don't need the top of the line. I'd like a Printer, Scanner and copier.

Mindee from Indian River, MI

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Temporary Wall Covering

Does anyone know of an inexpensive, reversible way to cover up wood paneling? I want to change the look of my son's nursery, but want to be able to change it back to wood when we sell in a few years.

Jcoandwsf from Marion

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Stains on Rubbermaid Sink Mats

How do you remove spaghetti stains form rubbermaid sink mats?

Joan from Buffalo, NY

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Growing Cabbage in Containers

Can you grow cabbage in a pot?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Kathy from Goodview, VA

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Installing a Central Air Unit

Has anyone installed their own central air unit? The Motor on ours has bit the dust and as it is getting close to the hot season, we are trying to replace and our son suggested that we do the labor and then just have the unit charged and hooked up the the local heating and air guy.

Sherrie from Rison, AR

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"Lucky" Theme Party

My daughter's birthday falls on Friday the 13th. She would like to do a "lucky" theme party. She will be 11 years old this year. Does anyone have ideas for decorations, games, etc.?

Susan C from Wausau, WI

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Making a Bar of Soap from Soap Scraps

What is the easiest way to make a new bar of soap from all of my old soap scraps?

Tom from Homosassa, FL

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Removing Stickers from Windows and Mirrors

My granddaughter put christmas labels on my windows and they won't come off. Is there something besides buying the goo gone to take them off? Some kind of household product?

Judy from Ohio

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One Year Old Siberian Husky Lost a Tooth

My Siberian Husky is less then a year old and she lost a tooth today. Is that supposed to happen?

Sara from Dresden, Ont

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Cleaning a Dooney & Burke Purse

How do I clean my Dooney & Bourke purse? It is black with brown trim and the black looks faded some.

Dee Janey from Sacramento, CA

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Stain Remover Stain on a Table

Before a recent baby shower, someone cleaned a cherry pie filling spot on the tablecloth with a Tide Stain Marker. The tablecloth was already on the table. Now my new dining room table has a shiny spot on the finish where the spot cleaning took place. I haven't done anything yet, except wash the table, for fear of making the problem worse. Help!

Deanna from Douglasville, GA

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Apple Crumb Pie Recipe

I really like apple crumb pie, but I need a recipe for a crumb topping that stays nice and tender with soft, fat crumbs. Mine either melts into a thin sugary crust or has crunchy crumbs like a cookie. Appreciate any ideas.

Thanks!
Joan from Westchester, NY

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Wilting Geraniums

I am having a terrible time growing geraniums. My leaves start wilting and turn yellow. Am I watering too much or not enough? How much should I fertilize?

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Peg from Springboro, OH

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Controlling Barking

Does anyone have any tips on controlling barking for a Morkie breed?

Morkieboy from Laurel, MD

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Removing Sharpie from Hair

How can I remove red sharpie from my blonde hair?

Jenn from Newton Falls, OH

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Heinz 57 Chicken

I am looking for a recipe called Heinz 57 Chicken. It was printed on the bottle back in the late '70's early '80s. I have been to Heinz website and still no luck.

Thanks!
Patty from Liberty, NC

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Cleaning Chemical Stains in an Oven

How to remove burned chemical stain from an oven. I had put degreaser all over the inside of the oven to clean. My husband unaware of this turned the oven on and when I noticed it, it was too late to try to clean with out burning myself. It has left chalky like stains all over, and I don't know what else to do. The bad part is that we live in an apartment. I have only tried cleaning it with more degreaser but it is still "dirty".

Maria from EL Paso, TX

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Canister Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Any suggestions on canister vacs that work well on carpet or bare floors? I would like to purchase a dependable one at a good price! I prefer one that is light.

Thanks,
LISA from FAYETTEVILLE, GA

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Making a Replacement Belt for an Old Humidifier

I have a very old humidifier that uses a large foam type belt that picks up the water and a fan behind it blows the moisture into the air. Does anyone know where I can purchase that type of material for a new belt? I can make one if I can find the material. It is sort of like a thin sponge. Any help will be appreciated.

Anna from Owls Head, Maine

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