Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 80, July 9, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello and Happy Friday,
Just a quick note about contest tips for our new readers. We usually publish tips about a week or so after they are submitted, so if you don't see your tip yet, you will soon. Thanks for all the great submissions, they have been pouring in this week.
A week ago we asked for suggestions for a name for our Organizing section. We got some good ones. We decided to go with Organizing 101, inspired by Julie.
Here are some of the other suggestions we received:
"Getting It Together, Making It Easy" - Julie in Orlando, FL
"Perfect order, Order in the home" - Justmyimagination
"Sorting and Storing, Not Stuffing" :-) - Ann Washburn in Everett, WA
Thanks for sending them in!
Have a nice weekend,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Make Your Own Picnic Blanket for Less
- Fix For a Squeaky Ceiling Fan
- Frugal Funnel
- Keep Stickies in the Bathroom
- Cleaning Rubber Stamps
- Modifying Clothing to Match Your Style: Shorter Sweater Sleeves
- Coupon Tackle Box
- Naval Jelly for Rust Stains
- Their Own Sock Basket
- Soap Bars for Drawers
- Featured Feedback: RE: Creative Container Gardens
- Featured Feedback: RE: Diatomaceous Earth for Bug Control
- Featured Feedback: RE: Uses for Empty Babywipe Containers
- Today's Recipe: Easy, Frugal Breakfasts!
New Requests:
- Bleach Spots on Black Laminate Counter Top
- What to do with 40 boxes of pasta?
- My daughter is being bitten by unknown bugs!
More Reading:
- Lighter Fluid: The Best Label and Scuff Mark Remover
- Summer Party Ideas
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Today's Tips
Make Your Own Picnic Blanket for Less
I saw a picnic blanket at Walmart for $14.96. After carefully examining this blanket I have decided that it can be made for a lot less. Take a shower curtain liner (bought at DollarTree for $1) and an old but usable blanket and sew the liner to the blanket, add shoe string ties and a handle and WOW! a picnic blanket that has just cost maybe $3 total compared to the $15 at WalMart.
By Sandy Webber
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Fix For a Squeaky Ceiling Fan
My ceiling fan was making a squeeking sound when turned on. My husband said we needed rubber bands that they sell to put around the base of the light fixture. The originals ones had dryrotted which caused the squeeking. I promply hand him 1/4 inch rubber bands that I had in my "junk drawer". Wala !! No more squeeking ceiling fan.
By Valerie Underwood
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Frugal Funnel
Cut the top of a plastic water or soda bottle about 2-3 inches past the neck to make a funnel for anything when needed.
By Fran Hackerman
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Keep Stickies in the Bathroom
Keep sticky notes inside cabinet doors in your bathroom(s). When you run out or are low on an item, write it down. When it's time to shop, pick up your mini lists and you'll have everything written down.
By Sylvia Medrano
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Cleaning Rubber Stamps
Rubber stamps are great fun, but everyone seems daunted by cleaning them. It is easy if you just remember a few things: Plain water is best, alcohol is a no-no, and a paint edging pad is a great solution.
Go to your local home improvement store and purchase one of those flat pads you use for putting the paint on in corners - like at the ceiling or top of walls - it is soft and has lots of short flexible "bristles". Wet one end with plain water, and set the whole thing down on a plastic tray or towel to catch any drips.
Simply swirl the inky stamp on the wet end, then swirl it again on the dry end, and your stamp is clean. The little bristles get down into the cracks and dips of the rubber and get the ink out. When the pad looks dirty, rinse it out really good and let it dry. Eventually the inks will stain the bristles - but it will still work to get your stamps clean.
If your stamp seems too wet to use again right away, just blot it off on some paper towel.
Remember - any cleaner with alcohol in it will dry out the rubber it the stamp and they won't last as long. Specialty inks (scrapbooking, fabric, etc...) may need special cleaners - just read the package. But for the majority of the inks we all use - water is best.
Happy Stamping!
By QueenBeeCrafts
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Modifying Clothing to Match Your Style: Shorter Sweater Sleeves
My daughter is 14 years old and very particular about her clothes. Luckily she is happy to shop at thrift stores and is willing to spend her own allowance and money from relatives on clothing she doesn't "need".
Recently we found a bunch of beautiful hand crocheted sweaters - you know the lacy kinds with floral or medallion patterns - under which she can wear camisoles or spaghetti strap shirts. She just loved them, but she really hates long sleeves all the way down to her wrists and prefers a 3/4 sleeve.
So we cut off about 6-8 inches of the end of the sleeves, finished off the new sleeves with trim or trim and beaded fringe (homemade) or ribbon. Then we used the cut off ends to make cellphone purses.
We don't use cellphones (although my daughter keeps dreaming of one!) but we know how popular they are. We sewed up the finished ends of the crocheted tube. Then we sewed a liner from velvet, satin, or other scraps we had (several liners came from a $1 velvet girl's dress we found at a thrift store). We put the liner inside the crochet tube, sewed them together at the top by covering the opening with bias tape or a strip of liner fabric. Then we added cord for the strap and using a strip of liner fabric, sewed a 1"x4" flap over the top to be fastened with a snap or velcro (so the phone won't fall out).
The purse is also great for glasses or will hold a checkbook, small wallet and keys.
My daughter and I are even thinking of starting a small business making things from recycled sweaters. We live in Arizona where people move to, get rid of their sweaters, and no one buys them! Wool sweaters decompose in landfills but offgas methane contributing to the greenhouse effect/ global warming. We only use cotton and wool now, but in order to prevent non-decomposing acrylic sweaters from ending up in landfills, we have come up with more ideas.
By Allison Dey
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The following four tips are from our archive.
Coupon Tackle Box
I use a small tackle box for my coupons. It has a sturdy latch and handle.
Deb
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Naval Jelly for Rust Stains
To get rust stains out of sinks and around drains, use NAVAL Jelly, which can be found in the automotive section.
Terry
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Their Own Sock Basket
A great tip that I have found that works very well is to place a small basket on the top of the dryer, one for each family member and when the clothes are dry you can throw each members socks in the basket. It helps when it comes time to match them, or the kids can help match their own socks. Works great!!
Ann
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Soap Bars for Drawers
Tuck fresh bars of fragrant soaps in lingerie drawers, it smells great and soap hardens and will last longer when used.
Rita
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Featured Feedback: RE: Creative Container Gardens
I agree with Deborah that anything can be used to hold plants as long as it will hold potting mix and has good drainage. If you live in a small town/country area the rubbish tip is a good place to go for inspiration! Don't just look for the traditional pot or planter shape - think tall and thin, (a chimney pot with the bottom filled with gravel), wide and shallow, a metal roasting/baking dish or build a container with a couple of dozen old recycled bricks or a sink - good for succulents. Varying shapes and heights add visual interest. Look at every container with the thought - maybe I can do something with that - add paint or mosaic with old broken crockery, etc. The rubbish tip is a goldmine of ideas.
Regards
Jo
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Featured Feedback: RE: Diatomaceous Earth for Bug Control
I can attest to that. I've used it for years to kill ants outside. And I sprinkle it around my house to keep bugs from coming in. You can get it in bags at a nursery. It's all natural & safe for pets. It's literally ground up sea shells & it dehydrates the insects, ie. it sucks the life moisture out of their bodies.
By Vicki
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Featured Feedback: RE: Uses for Empty Babywipe Containers
I use the empty babywipe containers to store the plastic grocery bags. You'd be amazed at how many can fit into one wipes box. I keep them stashed all around the house and one in the car so when I need a trash can liner, bag for a wet bathing suit or smelling diaper they're at the ready!
By Christine
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Today's Recipe: Easy, Frugal Breakfasts!
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And that children that eat breakfast do better in school than those who don't.
However, we also all know that it isn't always easy to find time to prepare that all-important meal or to convince our children to eat it!
One way to create a positive attitude toward breakfast in your children is by showing them that you enjoy breakfast!
Eating breakfast as a family is a great opportunity to spend some quality time together. Spending time together, making breakfast can turn out to be a child's favorite part of the day!
By being creative and maybe just a little bit organized, you can make a variety of tasty and healthy breakfasts. Try these ideas:
Breakfast doesn't have to be ham and eggs anymore! Nor does it have to be cold cereal. By using a little creativity you can have a healthy breakfast every morning!
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the bi-weekly newsletter "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another", bringing you practical, money-saving tips, recipes and ideas. Visit her online at http://www.cynroberts.com to subscribe and receive the Free e-course, "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
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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:
Bleach Spots on Black Laminate Counter Top
I have what I can only describe as bleached spots on my black laminate counter top. Does anyone now how to remove them, or are they bleached permanently. Thx Giardinad
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What to do with 40 boxes of pasta?
I recently got 40 boxes of free pasta. Any suggestions besides pasta salad, and spaghetti? I have all kind of pasta and need some ideas. Also I have about 40 cans of mild green chiles. Do you know any recipes which use a lot of them? Thanks so Much! Wendy
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My daughter is being bitten by unknown bugs!
Help - my 3 yo daughter keeps getting bitten, in the house, sometimes at night, sometimes during the day, by unseen, unknown bugs! They are very red, and INCREDIBLY itchy. She is miserable, and as she itches, the bites becomes huge lumps and welts, and even sometimes have a red ring around them. She will get 8 to 10 at a time. First, how do I help her itching, and secondly, how do I get rid of any bugs in the house? What can I use that is a natural product? We are very conscious of chemicals and pesticides and don't want the effects of those around our daughter either! Any help would be very much appreciated!!! Beth :)
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More Reading
Lighter Fluid: The Best Label and Scuff Mark Remover
By Rachel Paxton
The first time my husband saw me scrubbing the black heel marks off of our kitchen floor with a toothbrush, he said, "You know lighter fluid will take those marks right off." And it did! No scrubbing at all, just a little lighter fluid poured on a paper towel, and the marks wiped right off.
View Full Article: Click Here
Summer Party Ideas
By Lata Budhrani
Come Summer and the Party People start grooming up for organizing 'cool' Summer Parties. Although they are a great idea for family fun, Summer Parties are not restricted to families alone. Remember old friends, call up your relatives and make your party rock.
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Thanks
Susan
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