Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 36, February 5, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
The traffic has been picking up on the coupon and seed swap on the website. If you haven't posted a swap, now might be a good time to do it. If you have posted swap already you may want to update your listing. For more information visit the links below.
Seed Swap
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board_seeds.html
Coupon Swap
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board_coupons.html
Next week's TF News will be about Sewing. If you have any sewing tips, advice or ideas to offer, please submit them on the contest form. If you have a sewing project you are particularly proud of, take a picture of it and submit it on the photo contest form.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Enter The Photo Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Enter The Tip Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Frugal solutions to everyday problems: Submit a request...
http://www.thriftyfun.com/add.ldml
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- Fred Watching TV
- Happy Chickadee
Today's Tips:
- Saving Energy and Humidifying the House
- Extra Flavor for the Grill
- Preparing Fresh Chilies
- Using Half An Onion
- Start Meat in the Crockpot, Finish It in the Oven
- Removing Labels With Lighter Fluid
- Keeping the Zest
- Moving Tip - Keep The Essentials Close At Hand
- Waxing the Stove
- Keeping Your Windshield Free of Snow
- Labeling Your Totes
- Robin's Hot Tuna Sandwich
- Ground Beef Vegetable Casserole
- Applesauce Cake in a Jar
- Jelly Roll
- Cupboard Garbage Bag Hanger
New Requests:
- Detergent Spill on Suede Boots
- Bread Machine Banana Bread
- Decorating Melamine Plates
- Letting Someone Know You Like Them
- Organic Solution for Apple Tree
- Starting Geraniums from Slips
- Social Butterfly - Keeping My Dog in the Yard
- Dye Out of Leather Furniture
- Side Draining Drainboard
- Craft Ideas for Old Wooden Spools
- Looking for Corn Silk Make-up
- Homemade Cheese Filled Biscuits
More Reading:
- How to Make Your Own Rooting Hormone
- ThriftyFun News - Valentine's Day Issue
Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here
Today's Sponsor
MyBudgetPlanner
Manage your money simply and quickly. Inexpensive budget planning
software.
http://www.mybudgetplanner.com/partner/thf/mbpmain.htm
Today's Photo Contest Entries
Fred Watching TV
Hello,
My name is Fred and I think I am 7 years old. I am a shorthair, extremely large cat. My owners got me at the local animal shelter in 2001. I had been there the longest and they felt sorry for me. They found out why someone gave me away. I like to rip furniture to shreds, as well as anything else I can get my claws on. I spend my days sleeping on my owners beds, ripping their sheets and snagging their bedspreads. Mooching is my favourite evening sport while watching tv and napping. If I am really naughty, they put me outside and I hide in the bushes until they open the door again. That doesn't happen too often because I would miss the beds too much.
By Maryanne
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Happy Chickadee
The weather up in the mountains has been very cold. This day the temp went up to 35 degrees and the chicadees were very happy!
By kate
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Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Saving Energy and Humidifying the House
If you use a dishwasher, save energy by shutting the machine off when it reaches the dry cycle. Just leave the door a jar, and let the dishes air-dry. This will also add humidity to the air -- good in the winter when your house tends to get dry.
By Becki in Indiana
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Extra Flavor for the Grill
To add extra flavor while grilling, save the loose skin on onions and garlic to toss into the fire just before grilling meats or vegetables. And throw dry fennel tops on the fire when grilling fish.
By Brenda Cole
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Preparing Fresh Chilies
Tips for preparing fresh chilies. Post your ideas.
When working with fresh chilies don't ever handle the peppers under water, as it extracts the strong vapors. Always wear disposable gloves to keep the juices off your hands.
By Brenda Cole
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Using Half An Onion
If you need only half of an onion, use the non-root half. Save the root half as it will last longer.
By Brenda Cole
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Start Meat in the Crockpot, Finish It in the Oven
I cook my meat in my crockpot for a few hours while I'm gone. Then I pop it in the oven for 20 or 30 minutes to brown and crisp up before serving.( while I fix the rest of dinner) My husband does not like meat from the crockpot. He never guesses.
By charleeta
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Removing Labels With Lighter Fluid
When you reformat your floppy disks, and want to relabel with a clean label, a great way to get the old label off is to dampen it with lighter fluid, leave it for a minute and the label will peel off. This also works for magazine address labels in case you want to remove them before you donate the magazines or dispose of them. Anywhere Goo-gone or any similar products work, lighter fluid will do the job for lots less money.
By Harlean from Arkansas
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Keeping the Zest
Before you squeeze juice from a lemon, grate off the rind into a freezer bag and freeze. Then when a recipe calls for lemon zest or rind, just pull it from the freezer.
By Brenda Cole
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Moving Tip - Keep The Essentials Close At Hand
Make sure to pack some bathroom items and a few essential kitchen items in your car (not the moving truck) for use once you get to your new home.
By Brenda Cole
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Waxing the Stove
To prevent food from getting baked onto your stove top, rub it down with car wax on occasion to make it easier to clean.
By Brenda Cole
Editor's Note: This is not a good idea for smooth top ranges.
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Keeping Your Windshield Free of Snow
I found a great use for those old flannel lined plastic tablecloths (although and unlined one or used shower curtain would probably work). I live in the Northeast and we have had a lot of snow recently. I have been following some snow-shields for the car's windshield on Ebay (because I could not find any in the stores at all) and they have been really expensive.
I had several old, faded, plastic tablecloths that I had not thrown out (because I figured there must be a use for them). You just put it across your windshield, covering wiper blades so they don't freeze. Open one front door and put it inside the car; and then stretch it and do the same on the other side.
This has saved soooo much time trying to get the snow and ice off the windshields you wouldn't believe and the best part is it is FREE. I just shake off snow, fold the tablecloth and leave it in the car - replacing it on the windshield when I get home.
By Betty
View Article: Click Here
Labeling Your Totes
Use magic marker to mark on your bags or totes to know what is in them. If you need to remove the magic marker, just use hair spray and a little elbow grease.
By Joellen
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Robin's Hot Tuna Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 1 can white tuna
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 medium onion (chopped)
- 1 tsp. curry powder
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 stalk celery
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 6 buns
Directions:
Mix all ingredients. Spread on buns. Heat through in microwave.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Ground Beef Vegetable Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. hamburger
- 1 onion
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 5 potatoes, sliced
- 5 carrots, sliced
- 1 can tomato soup
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Brown meat, onion, celery lightly. Parboil potatoes and carrots in separate pans. Dilute tomato soup with water from cooked vegetables. Put ingredients in 2 qu. casserole that has been buttered, alternate layers. Bake 30 minutes in 325 degree oven.
By Robin
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Applesauce Cake in a Jar
Cream 2/3 cup shortening with 2/3 cup sugar.
Beat in 4 eggs, 2 cups applesauce, 2/3 cup water.
Sift together:
- 3 1/3 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. soda
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. apple pie spice
Directions:
Blend dry ingredients into applesauce mixture. Pour into six well greased pint jars, filling 2/3 full. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove jars from oven. Put lid on jar and seal tight. Jars will seal as cake cools. Use wide mouth jars. Slice and serve with cool Whip.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Jelly Roll
Ingredients:
- 4-5 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup flour
Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees before you start mixing. Beat eggs, salt, baking powder until real light. Add sugar and vanilla. Fold in flour. Place on waxed and lined cookie sheet. Bake 13 minutes at 400 degrees. Trim edges and roll at once. After it's cool, spread with a lemon pie filling or your favorite jam. This has been a good dessert to make in a short time.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Cupboard Garbage Bag Hanger
Does your kitchen garbage bag fill up and fall off the wire rim (the kind you affix to the cupboard door)? I solved this problem with two small hair clips (spring loaded) one on each side of the bag. Never had the bag fall off since.
By Ann
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Other Active Topics
Be sure to check out our active topics page to follow the discussion.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on February 15th.
Enter the contest!
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/syndication.html
New Requests:
Detergent Spill on Suede Boots
I have just dripped washing machine detergent down my dark brown suede boots. Can I do anything to get it out of the material? Can professional cleaning help?
Thanks,
Anna
Post Feedback: Click Here
Bread Machine Banana Bread
Does anyone have a bread machine recipe for banana bread?
Donna Marie
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Decorating Melamine Plates
My daughter is wanting to decorate melamine plates for Passover to send to Jewish troops overseas. Any idea what kind of paints or markers that could be used? Mary Weiss
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Letting Someone Know You Like Them
Okie dokie. Here's the deal. My little brother is on a basketball team. His coach is 19 and very sweet and cute and all that good stuff. The problem is I don't think he even actually knows I exist. I was talking with one of the parents of one of the boys on the team and she told me to go for it. Then again, so does my best friend who has known him since grade school. I wanted to do something to let him know that I really like him. Any ideas? Don't forget, I am so super shy it isn't funny. My ears turn really bright red whenever I talk to him. So please, nothing too dramatically creative.
Thanks
Heather
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Organic Solution for Apple Tree
There is a beautiful macintosh apple tree in the yard that is full of apples each year. The problem though is that the apples are always wormy. I've never sprayed, but don't have a clue if I did what to do to keep these apples from becoming wormy. This year I'd like to reap a crop. Any organic suggestions? Donna Marie
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Starting Geraniums from Slips
A friend recently gave me some of her geranium slips. Any suggestions on how to root these as I've had them rot in the past?
Donna Marie
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Social Butterfly - Keeping My Dog in the Yard
My little dog is the social butterfly of the neighbourhood and has made friends with everyone's dogs. I don't want him leaving the yard, but he takes off soon as I let him out to go to the bathroom. Often I have to start the car to pretend that I'm going somewhere to get him to come because he loves car rides. I've read about the invisible fencing, but it is so expensive. Any suggestion outside of tying him up to keep him in the yard? - Donna Marie
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Dye Out of Leather Furniture
I would like to know how can I remove dye out of leather furniture? Erica
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Side Draining Drainboard
I don't know if you can help or not but I am looking for a drainboard that drains from the side so that it doesn't take up so much counter space. Can you help me? Mary Ann
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Craft Ideas for Old Wooden Spools
I have a bag full of old wooden spools - not the spools you find today - the old spools anywhere from 8-12 inches, some have the yarn/thread still on them & some don't. I'm looking for crafts to use them in.
Thanks for any help.
Dawn
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Looking for Corn Silk Make-up
I've used the Corn Silk make-up line for years and have recently found that they pulled their product from shelves from Wal-mart without any explanation. I loved it! My skin is SOOOO oily and it's all I've used for YEARS. Does anyone know where my corn silk went? I've searched online and only found the powder, however I'd rather not buy it online (shipping & handling). Or, if anyone can give me suggestions on a decent priced make-up line that REALLY looks good and works well for oily-skinned women, I would REALLY appreciate it!
Thanks,
Alica from Mo.
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Homemade Cheese Filled Biscuits
I am looking for a recipe for homemade cheese biscuits where the cheese is a melted glob inside the biscuit.
Sandra
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsor
Eversave.com...
Eversave.com is your one stop source for online coupons, brand
name savings, free samples and much more.
Eversave.com
More Reading:
How to Make Your Own Rooting Hormone
By Marilyn Pokorney
When starting a new plant from a leaf or stem cutting, the
cutting will be more likely to form roots and create a new
plant if a rooting hormone is used.
View Article: Click Here
ThriftyFun News - Valentine's Day Issue
View Article: Click Here
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