Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 79, July 8, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Welcome to all the new subscribers! We have quite a few this week. We ran out of room in this newsletter to highlight all the great feedback that has been posted in the last 24 hours. There is some useful information about sunburn relief, making pesto and dandruff advice which you can find by looking at our recent feedback page. It is located here:
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Thanks for reading!
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Make Your Own Clothes Pin Refrigerator Magnets
- Uses for the Serrated Edges on Foil and Plastic Wrap Boxes
- Uses for Empty Babywipe Containers
- Hairspray as Roachspray in a Pinch
- I Painted My House with Coupon Savings
- Reusing Birthday Cards, For the Same Person?
- Saving Energy While Boiling Pasta
- Black Plastic Weed Deterrent
- Diatomaceous Earth for Bug Control
- Featured Feedback: RE: Adding Up the Savings from a Frugal Life
- Featured Feedback: RE: Uses for Film Canisters
- Featured Feedback: RE: Creative Container Gardens
- Today's Recipe: Crockpot Recipes for 3 or 4 People
New Requests:
- Cleaning Discolored Linoleum
- What are the Benefits of Seaweed for Farmers?
- How Do I Get Rid of that Fried Smell after Cooking?
- Chocolate Stains on Clothing
More Reading:
- Recycle Cell Phones
- How to keep your artwork as fresh as the day it was created
- Make Your Pores Behave
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Today's Tips
Make Your Own Clothes Pin Refrigerator Magnets
If you need more frig magnets to hang the kids pictures and stuff, here is a cheap and easy way to make them. Buy a cheap bag of the wooden clip style clothes pin, have the kids using markers, color them, using magnet strips you buy at the craft store. All you do it glue the magnet to one side, you can also glue something to the front, let dry and you have homemade magnets to use for everything you hang on the frig! And the kids have a blast!
By Kay
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Uses for the Serrated Edges on Foil and Plastic Wrap Boxes
I cut out the serrated edging off the boxes of foil, plastic wrap, etc., and cut them in different sizes. I use them to scrape gum stuck on the floor or shoes or for other tough gross things when I clean. I also keep one in my purse and in the car. You can also glue one to the outside of an empty can and use it to cut round cookie shapes or biscuits. I use a tuna can with both sides cut out and spray it with Pam and the dough comes out easily. I use a can of deviled ham for smaller circles.
By tiny bop
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Uses for Empty Babywipe Containers
I use empty baby wipe containers in the bathroom to store cotton balls, Q-tips, bandaids, shampoo, conditioner samples, and the list goes on. You can take the label off or cover and decorate them. They make nice jewelry boxes when covered to store earrings, bracelets, hair clips etc. They are great in the laundry room too for small items like dryer sheets and stain sticks. Also if covered nicely use in your office for paper clips, coupons and the list goes on! I am sure you can think of a few of your own. Just thought of another one in fact, make a mini first aid kit for the car. Include bandaids, first aid ointment, etc.
By Andrea Strobel
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Hairspray as Roachspray in a Pinch
Out of bug spray see a roach? Spray him with hair spray works faster and dead every time!
By SAM
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I Painted My House with Coupon Savings
When shopping, I get the total, write the clerk check and then offer the coupons. The cashier then gives me cashback after deducting the coupons which in turn goes to a saving account for special projects. In 1 year I was able to pay cash to paint the outside of my house.
By Pilar Duffy
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Reusing Birthday Cards, For the Same Person?
My mother gives my father his birthday card, anniversary card, etc. He opens it (she never seals the envelope) and he reads it and thanks her. She then goes to her file and puts the card in a file and pulls it out year after year and he never knows its the same card.
By Sherry Duncan
Editor's Note: This one made me chuckle :-)
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Saving Energy While Boiling Pasta
When boiling pasta, bring the water to a full rolling boil in a pan with a tight lid. Then add the pasta, stir. Bring to a full rolling boil again, stir again, and then replace the lid tightly and turn the burner off. The pasta will cook in just a little more time than it would if you kept the burner on, and you will eliminate boil-over messes on the stovetop AND save energy!
By Becki in Indiana
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The following two tips are from our archive.
Black Plastic Weed Deterrent
In an effort to try to keep the weeds in the vegetable garden down, we mulched our vegetable garden with a sheet of inexpensive black plastic bought from the hardware store (not the more expensive stuff from the garden center).
We cut holes for the tomato and zucchini plants, and wide slits for the rows of beans, and then punched holes in the black plastic all over with the spikes from the bottom of the tomato cages, to let more water in. We anchored the sides of the plastic with dirt/rocks.
This method has worked well; it keeps the weeds down to almost none (less labor), and keeps the moisture in the soil under the plastic (less watering). We have had our best tomato yields ever using this method, and the plastic can be reused for years.
- Ness
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Diatomaceous Earth for Bug Control
Diatomaceous Earth is a safe and effective way to get rid of bugs such as; centipedes, silverfish, spiders, etc. I sprinkle it in my closets, under sinks, in the basement, along baseboards, in the garage or any place you have had bugs.
- Christa
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Featured Feedback: RE: Adding Up the Savings from a Frugal Life
If the visual impact will help you to continue your frugality program, here's what I would suggest: get a jar, coffee can, whatever. If you save .12 by buying a generic instead of a name brand item, put that .12 in the jar. If you serve popsicles at home instead of giving the kids money for the Good Humor truck and that saved you $2, put the $2 in the jar. If you cancel a magazine subscription and read them at the library instead, and that saved you $10, put the $10 in the jar. Get the picture? Pick a specific amount of time -- a week, a month -- and don't look until that time is up. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised at how much is in the jar!
By Becki in Indiana
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Featured Feedback: RE: Uses for Film Canisters
You can put together a small emergency sewing kit in a film canister. Take a few different colors of thread and wind them around a small piece of cardboard that is short enough to fit inside the canister. Add a needle and a few safety pins, and you are all set. If you want to have scissors, too, you can find one of those small pocket knives with the scissors, or even just the knife blade if you are careful. Bring the canister with you when you are shopping to be sure the knife fits. These are great little gifts for people going on a trip, or headed off to college. You can also decorate the canisters with paint pens to personalize them.
By QueenBeeCrafts
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Featured Feedback: RE: Creative Container Gardens
Plastic sandpails, on clearance soon, are great. Drill holes, and use a frisbee as a saucer!
By Linda
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Today's Recipe: Crockpot Recipes for 3 or 4 People
Editor's Note: These recipes were posted in response to a request we recieved yesterday for Crockpot Recipes. They generously submitted by Julie.
Easy But Tasty Chili
1 lb. ground beef,browned and drained
1 large onion, chopped
1 32 oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed well
1 12oz. can diced tomatoes with liquid
1 32 oz can tomato sauce
1 envelope chili seasoning
Place all ingredients in lightly greased crock pot. Stir well and cook on low 4-5 hours. Can be cooked on high but the resault is poor. Serve with sour creamm, diced onion and shredded cheese. Also good with cornbread. Try serving the chili over a slice for a change.
Taco Soup
2 Lbs. Lean ground beef, browned and drained
1 32 oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed well
1 12 oz can diced tomatoes with liquid
1 32 oz can tomato sauce
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 large onion,diced
1 large bell pepper, deceeded and cut into 1/4 inch strips
1 12 oz can black olives, sliced
sour cream
Taco chips
Place first five ingredients in crock pot and stir well. Cook on low 4-5 hours or till bubblly. Serve with sprinkles of condiments and place taco chips around the edge of bowl.
Crock Pot Stew
1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef, browned and drained
2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1/4 inch cubes
20 baby carrots
2 cups frozen whole kernal corn
1 cup frozen sweet peas, optional
1 12 oz. can string beans, optional
1 can each cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup
salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in lightly greased crock pot. Stir and cook on low for 5-6 hours or till hot and veggies are tender crisp. This is a thick soup. Do Not add any extra liquid. The steam will make it's own.
Creamy Potatoes and Ham
4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
2 lbs. ham, cubed
1 cup diced mushrooms
3 cups carrots, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup evaporated milk
salt and pepper to taste (also good with 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
Place all ingredients in lightly greased crock pot. Cook on Low 4-5 hours or till veggies are tender crisp. Add 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, (Not Velveta). Cover and cook and let stand,unplugged,15 minutes until cheese is melted.
Hot & Fast BBQ Sandwiches
1 3-4 lb. sirlon tip roast
1 teaspoon ground pepper, fresh is best
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
Combine all the above seasonings, poke holes in roast with meat mallet or large fork.Rub into roast. Rub 1/2 cup brown sugar into roast and place in crock pot. Pour 1/2 cup beef broth over roast. Cook on low; 3-4 hours, do not lift lid. After hour 4 combine 1 bottle BBQ sauce, 1 Tablespoon prepared mustard, 1/4 cup tomto sauce and 3 Tablespoons brown sugar. Pour over roast and cook on low an additional 1-1/2 hours or till beef is tender but not mushy. Using two forks shred meat and place on buns. Serve with sliced onion.
By Julie
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Tip Contest
Submit a thrifty tip and you might win...
Elegantly Frugal Costumes: The Poor Man's Do-It-Yourself Costume Maker's Guide
This wonderfully practical book literally shows you how to make costumes for plays, pageants and musicals at the lowest possible expense! Over 150 detailed illustrations work with the easy-to-follow text to walk you through every step of the process. Just about every basic period is covered: Biblical to Medieval, Renaissance, Angels, the Fabulous Fifties, 1800s to World War I, The Roaring Twenties and more. Many helpful hints on making or buying realistic period theatrical costumes on a shoestring budget from cast-offs, donations, scraps, and other easily-obtained materials. Also included are "special effects" costumes, helpful hints for getting into and out of costumes, and a glossary of costuming terms A book that will pay for itself with its first use.
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New Requests:
Cleaning Discolored Linoleum
I am looking for a solution to cleaning my no wax floor which has turned yellow under a rug. Can you please help? Thanks, Margie. Editor's Note: This request was in response to a Linoleum request so I assume she is referring to a No Wax Linoleum floor.
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What are the Benefits of Seaweed for Farmers?
I am employed by a local Maritime Council and our coastline has recently been hit by large deposits of Kelp like seaweed, getting on for nearly 2000 cubic meters. Can anyone explain to me the benefits that seaweed may have for local farmers if we are able to deliver it to them? Steve, Dorset, uk
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How Do I Get Rid of that Fried Smell after Cooking?
How do I get rid of that fried smell that saturates the house after cooking in the kitchen? I fried chicken tonight and now have to smell this, and what is worse, I live in an apartment, and the apartment will be shut up when I'm not home (living on ground level). Thanks for your responses! smileycherry8
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Chocolate Stains on Clothing
Does anyone have a way to get out set in chocolate stains? I have tried Shout and Spray and Wash and have not had much luck with either. My daughter cannot eat anything chocolate without getting some on her and I hate to see these clothes ruined! HELP!! Janna from Kansas
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More Reading
Recycle Cell Phones
By Sharon Housley
Technological advancements providing users with improved reception through integrated antenna systems, reduced size and weight of cell phones, along with numerous feature sets, and storage improvements have caused the bulk of cellular phone users and enthusiasts to upgrade to new and improved handsets. The low cost of cell phones and the added technological improvements mean that the majority of cellular phone users are on their 2nd or 3rd generation hand set.
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How to keep your artwork as fresh as the day it was created
By Heather Diodati
Clueless about how to protect the beautiful acrylic painting you received as a birthday gift? Wondering how to mat and frame your new watercolor? Here's a handy guide on how to care for your precious artwork, no matter what media it was created in.
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Make Your Pores Behave
By Natalie Katsman
Smooth and soft skin, even tone, rosy glow, pores invisible to the naked eye... Perfect complexion. Isn't that what we hope to see when coming to the mirror?
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Thanks
Susan
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