Daily Thrifty Tips - March 27, 2007

Punch Embroidery Tip

When making garments with punch embroidery, iron on interfacing to back of work when finished so that the embroidery does not pull out. This is a jacket that I made for my great grandson.

By Norma from Cedaredge CO

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My Christmas Cactus!

What nicer gardening decor than a blooming cactus. They make you come alive when they decide to bloom. I am lucky with the two large plants I have, because they bloom each season. And I will post a picture of them. They are truly a beautiful sign of spring when they bloom in March!

Enjoy the photos!

By Jackie from Norton, MA

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Griffon (Old English Sheepdog)

Griffon was my "vacation"! I cashed in vacation time to buy him. He is 4 years old and is an Old English Sheepdog. He came from FLA from a wonderful breeder. I had him flown to Charlotte. He was such a good sport. ;0)

Griffon is the Alpha dog. He likes to herd my other Old English Sheepdog named Bailey. Griffon and Bailey like to run races. They also wrestle, box, and do helicopter spins while playing. Hilarious!

By Diane from Charlotte, NC

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Crocheted Recycled Denim Rag Bag

Recycle those old denim jeans or shirts into a cool Rag Bag! I crocheted this rag bag using two old denim shirts that were worn out. Here is the link to the picture and free crochet pattern Crocheted Denim Rag Bag

Thanks for letting me share.

By Cindy from Washington
http://www.myrecycledbags.com/

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Broom Bunny

Here's a cute Easter decoration made from a little straw broom, a stuffed bunny, plastic eggs and flowers.

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Use Christmas Angels For Wedding Decorations

Take out all your angels, Christmas or otherwise, to use in your wedding decorations. The angels I had were made out of a porcelain-type plastic and were probably meant for Christmas, but they looked great at the corners of the white and pink tulle we draped in swags.

By pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Never Try To Catch A Falling Knife

This is a tip when you are in the kitchen, whether preparing a meal or preparing to wash your dishes, utensils, pots and pans or putting the clean ones away. Never try to catch a falling knife. Just let it drop to the floor and then pick it up. Trying to catch it in mid-air, might prove more costly with a trip to the hospital emergency room.

By Terri from NV

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Save Money While You're At College
By Kelly Ann Butterbaugh

Paying for college is a major headache, but the costs incurred while studying there are also high. There are ways to save money while you're at college, which can help pay for the next semester. All it takes is a little knowledge and a lot of will-power.

Books

Try to find options other than the college bookstore when purchasing books or other materials. Often art classes load up on supplies at the book store which can be purchased at the local art supply store at much lower prices. The books themselves are also available other places than the college bookstore. With the help of the Internet, textbooks can be found at incredible prices.

Check out sites like www.amazon.com and other book sale sites for used textbooks. Even with the shipping, these can be $40-$60 less per book, and many which are listed in the used listings are actually still in the shrink wrap. Can any be download as e-books? The downloading fee will be much less than the text itself.

For some courses, the library can be the biggest budget saver. English courses require books which are stocked in local and college libraries. Try to borrow what you can and avoid buying expensive books.

Frugal Food

Food is a big part of the college student's budget. The key to frugal food is self-control. Eat at the cafeteria and snack on simple, healthy foods such as fruits, crackers, and cereals. Ordering pizza, eating out, and buying expensive convenience foods is a tug of war with a college student's cash. While your wallet wants to pull it inside, your hunger pulls it back outside. Don't purchase sodas at $1 a piece, and don't spend $15-$20 on each meal when a pre-paid cafeteria meal awaits.

These cutbacks include expensive drinks as well. Lattes and sports drinks add up quickly, as much as $25 a week. Multiply that by the number of weeks on campus, and you can spend a quarter of your cost for textbooks for the semester on glass bottles of caffeine. Instead, keep it simple and splurge only once in awhile.

The Unessentials

It's hard to hear, but some of the best known aspects of college are unnecessary. Rather than creating an expense account for yourself, limit yourself and your studies will improve.

Attending the college is advertisement enough that you're a student; you don't need to wear expensive collegiate sweatshirts daily. One or two t-shirts are enough, and even those are available on the sale racks after the semester ends.

Expensive field trips aren't a necessary for any course. While a Yeats seminar may be enhanced by a trip to Ireland during the off-semester, it's not a requirement. Spring break, similarly, is not a requirement. Instead, head home for the vacation and take some time off of your studies.

Related:

• Food to Have on Hand at College
• Saving Money on College Books

Editor's Note: What are your tips for saving money at college? Post them below.

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Scented Bath Vinegar

Relaxing in a hot bath scented with this homemade vinegar solution is an inexpensive way to soften your skin, as well as de-stress.

What You Need

• 1 cup spring water
• 1 cup cider vinegar
• A pot for heating
• A jar with a lid
• Lavender, rose petals, or rosemary, chopped
• Strainer

Directions

Fill the jar half full of chopped herbs or flowers. Heat the cider vinegar and the water to just below the boiling point. Pour this mixture over the chopped scent in the jar. Cover the jar and allow the mixture to sit for at least twelve hours. Strain the material from the cider mixture and pour the liquid into the tub while the bath water is running.

Variation: A few drops of essential oil from a health food store may be substituted for the herbs or flowers, in which case you would not need to heat the mixture and allow it to sit for twelve hours. The oil is a bit pricey, but is highly scented and goes a long way.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Stuffed Musrhrooms

To make stuffed mushrooms slice off the stem of a whole, clean, mushroom. With a small teaspoon (1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon), or small melon baller, scoop out the inside of the mushroom. Fill with a favorite dip or fill with bread crumbs and blue cheese and melt under the broiler for a few minutes.

By Hope Mason
http://www.lulu.com/spiritbooks

Do you have any tips for making Stuffed Mushrooms? Share them below.

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7-11 Cups For Seedlings

This is a quick tip for starting those seedlings inside. I get people to save me their plastic cups from 7-11. They are perfect for starting plants and with the dome lid, it is like a mini greenhouse. Great for tomatoes.

By Pico from St. Paul, Alberta

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Use The Proper Tire Pressure

Ask the salesman what air pressure for the maximum mileage out of your tires. We ran both our vehicles tires at 35 psi, but some vary. You could go down to 30 psi and get a softer ride, but your tires aren't going to last as long.

By Terri from NV

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What Breed Is My Dog?

When I bought my dog it said she was an Alaskan Husky, German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute mix. Is this true? Here's a picture.

Kira from On., Canada

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Dog Eating Its Own Feces

We have a shitzu, it's about eleven weeks old and has started to eat its own poo every time it goes to the toilet. We have been told that this is natural but there are products which can prevent them from doing this. We would be very grateful if any body has some advice that would stop this.

Des from Ireland

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Brown Rot on Apricots

I got brown rot on my apricots last year and was wondering if there is something that can do to prevent it from happening this year? I prefer natural ways but open to an effective way. I have a peach and a plum tree. Neither got the disease. Last year was the first year of produce of the tree we bought at COSCO. The tree is at my guess 3 years old being one year planted in my yard. Is there something I can do?

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Thanks,
Bruce from Murrieta, CA

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Making Ice Cream

How do you make ice cream?

AMANA.S.H. from INDIA

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Wedding Reception Locations in Saginaw, MI

Is there anywhere in Saginaw, MI where I can have my wedding reception for under $500.00?

Jessica from Saginaw, MI

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Using a Footboard as a Headboard

I am in need of suggestions for raising a wood footboard in height so it can be used as a headboard. Through a series of events, the actual headboard was lost, but I have the footboard that matches my bedroom furniture and would like to use it as a headboard now.

The bed and footboard are queen sized but in order to have all the furniture in the bedroom, the bed must be placed in front of a set of double windows so the footboard can not be hung on the wall itself. The posts at each end measure roughly 4in by 4in and are carved at the top (like big dowel posts) and extend about 14in above the middle section. That section has supports that brace the posts to it and could have something fastened to it for the height and not be visible from the front, but I am not sure what to use there or below the squared bottoms on the posts. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Pat from AL

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Cleaning Patent Leather

Does anybody know how to get stains out of patent leather? I have what appears to be a dye stain from the red trim of my tan handbag. Thank you!

Linda from Minnesota

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Making Fake Cakes

I finally found out how to make fake cakes but I can't find out how to make the "fruit topping" that looks like the fruit is in juice that I have seen on fake pies and cakes. Also, I need help with making fake crumbs that go on the side of fake carrot cakes or fake angel food cakes. If anyone could please let me know to make these or knows a useful website for the supplies, I would greatly apprieciate it.

Have a great day!
MommyMitchell from Delaware

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Lemon Tree With "Sweating Leaves"

My lemon tree, which I bring indoors during winter, has the leaves producing a lot of glue like acid on the leaves. It looks as though it is sweating. Please advise.

Thnank you,
D.S.

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Lint Balls Reviews

My request is regarding washing machine lint balls. Has anyone used these with success? I have navy towels with little lint pieces all over.

Keeper from Morganton, NC

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Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner

I am looking for a homemade cleaning solution for laminate flooring.

Arlis from Ashland, KY

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Making Hair Bows

How do I make a hair bow?

Melissa from Elsa, Texas

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Fixing Mistakes on Counted Cross Stitch Projects

If you mess up stitches on counted cross stitch, how can I fix them?

Therese from IN

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Mother's Day (Australia) Tea Ideas

In Australia we have Mother's Day coming up. I'm involved with a group of mums that meet up each week to talk 'baby' stuff and have a cuppa. The next time I'm hosting a morning tea. It will be just before Mother's Day and I'm asking if you ladies have any ideas of what we could do to celebrate, keeping in mind that we all have babies around the age of 1.

Thanks in advance for your ideas!

Tina from Australia

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West Highland Terrier Barking

We have a west highland terrier who insists on barking at anything that comes within 50 feet of our house, she even goes so far as to bark at the birds in the trees, she really loves to hear herself. Can anybody help?

Des from Ireland

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Cedar Shavings for Dog Bedding

I just built my dogs a new house with a hinged top and a removable front for ease of cleaning. Is there any thing wrong with using lose cedar shavings for their bedding? It would be cheaper than buying a pillow. Less messy than having to wash a cover. Whenever I wanted to change the bedding I could just sweep it out and pour new in.

KirkZ from Mount Pleasant, SC

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Uses for Mint Tins

I need craft ideas for the empty metal cans with hinged lids that have Altoids and other mints in them. They are so lovely that I hate to throw them away.

Shirley from Lacey, WA

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Nursing a Lilac Bush Back to Health

I have a really large old lilac bush that is a sentimental favorite of my wife's. 2 falls ago I cut out a really large amount of poison oak that had been growing up though the center. The diameter of the main poison oak was about 4-5 inches and about 8-9 feet tall. I also have had a lot of off shoots trying to grow that I keep mowing. This bush went many years with no kind of care at all, no fertilizer, extra water other than rain and no pruning. After cutting the poison oak out it left a gapping hole where it had basically killed off any growth from the bush. I tried to prune it last year but I may have been a little late. This January I put down black plastic covered with about 3-4 inches of mulch all the way around to try to kill off the remaining poison oak and then removed the plastic leaving the mulch in the middle of march just as the 1st signs of growth appeared. I also think that it may have some fungicide because every year the some of the leaves turn brownish yellow but not the entire leaf mainly in the center of it. I am wanting to bring it back to a very full life and eventually even it out as one side is fuller and taller than the other. My wife says it does not bloom as full or last as long as it used to. What can i do? Please help.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Paul from Lynchburg, Virginia

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Reupholstering Furniture

I am wanting to re-upholster my sofa and love seat. I need new ones, but I can't afford the ones I like. Does anyone know how to do this?

Also, my boyfriend, is very handy, and can build anything. I thought about building one, since I like the ones with the wooden arms. Does anyone know where to find plans to do either of these projects?

Thanks!
Kelly from Ohio

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Making Formica Cabinets Look Like Wood

Does anyone have any ideas on how to make formica cabinets look like stained wood?

M. Peters from West Palm Beach, Florida

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Moles in the Garden

Have a problem with moles in your yard or garden? Here are some tips for removing the pests from our ThriftyFun community. Post your own solutions below.

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