Daily Thrifty Tips - February 27, 2008

We have gotten some great feedback on the request we published yesterday about Dealing With Credit Card Debt. You can track the responses here:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64076462.tip.html

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Baby Girl Shower Cake

This baby shower cake was a hit! IT'S A GIRL!

By Linda from Alpharetta, GA

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Dazed Hawk

A hawk crashed into our sliding glass door and was dazed. After getting up, it just stood there and looked at me. After half an hour, happily, it flew away with no apparent injury.

By Coachsmum from Salem, CT

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Cody (Beagle/Springer Spaniel)

Cody is 10 months old. His Dad is a Beagle and Mom is a Springer Spaniel. We got Cody from a classmate of our daughter's.

Cody loves to chew up any and all stuffed animals he can find. He is a big chewer. I have been watching a friend's 6 month old and he has decided he is going to care for this baby himself. If he can get in the same room with the sleeping baby, he lays as close to him as he can. When I feed the baby, Cody stands on a chair to watch to be sure I am doing it right.

By Brenda from Williamsburg, MI

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Removing Soap Build Up from Laundry

I have a front load washer that saves energy with the water and electricity. I have found that my clothes are in need of softening up. There seemed to be a soap build up in them. I have a "rinse only" button on my machine.

I rinse the clothes first with white vinegar to remove any soap build up. Then I wash with 1/2 the soap and fabric softener, plus put the load on a light wash cycle. I have found my clothes are softer and the cost to do a load is less.

Source: My own idea.

By Sheila from Ontario, Canada

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Use Cheap Coffee For Hand Scrubber

I keep a crock of cheap coffee by the sink and use it to dip some out to scrub my hands after cutting onions and garlic. It really works to eliminate the odors!

By Pattie from Bridgton

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Padding for Walker Hand Grips

I am temporarily having to use a walker and wanted to cushion the hand grips. I took a couple strips of foam tubing used to wrap pipes and covered them with socks that have the rubber/vinyl grips on the bottom. I wrapped the hand rest of my walker with them and tightened plastic pull ties on each end for security. They work great as cushions. When the socks get dirty, I cut the plastic strips and put on a clean pair of socks! (I tried using the foam tubing without the socks but it rubbed off on my hands turning them black).

Source: The source is my own idea because my hands were getting sore from the weight I am having to put on the walker.

By Linda from Arlington, Texas

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Place Dog Hair In Your Yard For Nesting Material

Don't throw away all that hair that you brush off your dog. I place mine in the yard and the squirrels, chipmunks and birds go crazy using it for nesting materials. Since I have two German SHEDDERS *G* we have a lot of fur to share.

Note: I have no idea how the birds would react to cat hair! *g*.

By Christine from Sterling, Virginia

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Cleaning Shower Heads

The cleaning gals used real lemon juice they squeezed on the show. Put the juice in a baggie, put the shower head in the baggie, zipped it up and left it at least 15-20 minutes (show time) then took it out, rinsed it off, polished it and reinstalled it. Looked good to me. Of course, they said, could take longer or shorter time depending on how blocked the shower head was. Just keep soaking it until it is clean.

Source: Don't remember who told me.

By Randa from San Marcos Tx

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Use Italian Dressing To "Fix" Overcooked Food

I have to tell everyone out there about a little tip I've came up with from pure necessity. I was in a hospital in Los Angeles for a week and, after the first meal, I knew I had to do something to the food to be able to eat it because I am not a vegetarian. My chicken was baked DRY and I almost threw it out, until I looked at the little packages of Italian dressing they supplied, and I thought "heck why not, I can't make it taste any worse."

To make a long story short, I used 2 packages on the chicken and gosh it was delicious. I used the dressing on the dry green beans, tomatoes and on a piece of baked fish. I liked all of it.

By Louise from Cibola, AZ

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Vinegar to Remove Smelly Cooking Odors

After cooking fish, broccoli or anything with an odor, simply set a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight and the odor will be gone.

By Debra from Hampton, Tennessee

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Add Aluminum Foil to Your Bread Bowl

To keep rolls or other bread items warm longer, crumple aluminum foil at the bottom of your bread bowl. Then put your bread napkin in as usual. This is especially great for parties or potlucks when the bread will have to sit out for a long period of time.

By Stella from Manchester, WA

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Avoid Domed Burgers By Indenting Middle

Avoid the dome effect when cooking hamburgers (your burger plumped in the middle). Before cooking, make a large enough indent in the middle on both sides. Works for me.

Source: myself

By Keeper from NC

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White Mold Growing on Plant Soil

Several of my houseplants have developed a white mold on the soil. What would cause this, and what can I do? I water my plants once a week, and they have good south sun. I also took someone's advice and have dumped coffee grounds on some of the pots. This has happened on the geraniums and other plants as well. Thanks in advance!

Kim from Crawford, CO

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Website for Label Templates

Some time back I stumbled upon a website with a zazillion templates and, of course, I didn't bookmark it or write it down. Now I really would like to have it. It had templates for all sizes of candy bar wrappers, life savers, lollipops, gift cards, seed packets, tea bags, recipe cards, wine labels, water bottle labels, paint cans, etc. There was so much stuff I can't remember them all. I did a Google search but could not find the right site. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it.

Margaret from Denton, Texas

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Please Help Me Choose a Paint Color!

My master bedroom we just painted deep red (i love it). My hall wall is chocolate brown I still need to paint the two extra rooms! I need help deciding what color to paint them. Do you have any ideas?

Sarah from Hamburg, AR

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Milky White Spots on Laminate Flooring

Has anyone ever had trouble with milky white spots on laminate flooring? I have these all over my laminate flooring for no rhyme or reason. I have always used mild cleaners ie. Pergo Floor Cleaner or H2O with just a dab of Windex or Vinegar.

I feel like I am going crazy trying to figure this out and I have had no help from the company that installed it. Thanks a mill

Mary from Green Bay, WI

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Can a Crock Pot Liner Be Used in the Oven?

Can a crock pot (slow cooker) ceramic liner be used in a regular oven?

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Making Homemade Granola Bars

I'm looking for a recipe for homemade granola bars. Preferably one without too much sugar. Any ideas?

teddygirl

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Removing Rust Stains on Driveway and Walls

I use well water for my lawn. How do I remove the rust stains from my driveway and walls?

Brick

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Is Walmart Paint Quality Paint?

Do you think Walmart paint is just as good as the other or should I buy from Home Depot or Sherwin Williams?

Priscilla from Zwolle

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Primer Vs. Kiltz

What is the difference between Primer and Kiltz? I am painting over paneling and also sheet rock, those will be painted with latex paint and the molding will be painted with oil based. Which should I use, primer or Kiltz?

Priscilla from Zwolle

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Storing Used Coffee Grounds Until Spring

I have been saving used coffee grounds for the garden. However, we live in the Midwest, so I need to store them until Spring. How do I store them so they don't get moldy?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Michelle from Milwaukee, WI

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Choosing a Paintbrush

Are there certain types of paintbrushes I should use when painting with Latex paint and also Oil based paint?

Priscilla from Zwolle

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Best Way to Pay for Things Overseas

I'm going to Holland/Belgium in April. I intend to by Euros at my local bank for minimum spending and charge what I can on my Master Card. Is this a good idea or should I buy a prepaid MasterCard? Would I avoid fees this way? Some have suggested I draw from ATMs when Euros are needed. Any advice from more savvy folks out there?

Monica from Northeast, PA

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Reusing Foil Cereal Bags

Is there a use for the aluminum foil bags that some cereal comes in?

Carole from Salem, OR

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Making a Photo Quilt

Has anyone ever made a photo quilt? I am thinking about making one for my daughter's graduation. Any suggestions and/or ideas?

Sheila from Chittenango, NY

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Star Wars 'Stikarounds'

I am looking for Star Wars bedroom 'Stikarounds' for my son's bedroom.

Karen from UK

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Pre-cut Plastic Canvas Letters

Does anyone know where you can purchase pre-cut plastic canvas letters?

Janet from Waterloo, NY

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Renting Items for a Wedding Reception

Does anyone have any leads on how to rent chair covers, chargers and mirrors for a reception? I need chocolate brown and camel colors.

Mary from Belleville, IL

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Tomato Relish Wild's Ezy-sauce

I would like the recipe for tomato relish using Wild's Ezy-sauce.

Teena from Highclere, Tasmania

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Choosing a Prom Theme

Prom theme ideas that would go along with a picture background including a fire place.

Breanne from Everett, WA

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Looking for a Straight or Mermaid Style Prom Dress

I graduated high school last year, but since the boyfriend is a year younger, I have one more prom to attend. I'm looking for an inexpensive prom dress, preferably not poofy. I'd rather have a straighter dress or even a mermaid style. I'm a size 4.

Taylor from Illinois

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Trimming a Bird's Nails

My parakeet, Charlie, has grown some super long nails. I don't know what the bird is supposed to do to keep them trim, and there's no one in my family that will trim them. Does anyone know a step by step way to trim a bird's nails and what I can use?

Jay

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Removing Paint from 100% Polyurethane Jacket

I just received a beautiful black hip length jacket made of Polyurethane. I tried it on and it looks KILLER on me if I do say so myself! That's when I noticed on the left shoulder a thin vertical line of silver metallic paint about 1/4" to 1/2" in width and about 1 1/2" long. Also there's another 2" long, 1/4" wide streak directly down from the shoulder!

Do any of you have any ideas on how I might be able to clean this and remove the metallic paint? The outer shell of the jacket is made of 100% polyurethane and the INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLEANING on the inside tag read: CLEAN WITH DAMP SPONGE, WIPE DRY, DO NOT DRY CLEAN, DO NOT IRON.

This has got me severely stumped! Any suggestions? I'd be forever grateful. Thank you so very much.

richmondred from Richmond, VA

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Cheap White Tower Vases

I'm looking for cheap white tower vases, 24 inches. Please Help. I need about 25 of them.

Maria from Matawan, NJ

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Frugal Sightseeing in San Francisco

We are traveling to San Francisco and are looking for frugal sightseeing and restaurant tips. Thanks.

Tina from Ashland, OR

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White Fuzz on Black Clothing

I always have white fuzz like marks on my black clothes after they dry. I have to take a wet cloth and rub off the marks. Is there something I can do so this does not happen. Thanks

Moe11 from NY

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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.

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