Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 192 August 9 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Back school time is right around the corner. If you are looking for some back to school tips be sure to visit the Back To School topic site. You can find it here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/Back%20To%20School_2.html
Also, feel free to send in your favorite back to school tips.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photos:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
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Today's Photos
My First Sunflower
No tip just wanted to share a pic of my first sunflower in hopes to brighten everyone elses day like it did mine when I saw it this morning!
By April
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Homemade Personalized Mugs
By Rela Ann Tired of the same generic gift you give (and receive)? Here's an inexpensive yet personalized and classy gift you can give this Christmas! But first, you need to visit your local thrift shop for mugs at 25-50 cents each!
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Spanky
My cat's name is Spanky. He is 4 years old. He has grey and white stripes. He is the son of my mom's cat (Bear), who happens to be the son of my oldest cat (Shadow). We have a family of cats.
Spanky likes to play jump in the air for and catch craft balls with sparkles coming out of it. When he wants to play with them he brings them to you. He loves the huge cat tree my husband built, it has a ramp about 3 feet tall, the post is 8 feet tall, 4 pedestals, 2 hammocks, 1 box area with 2 holes to pop in and out of. He plays with my husband's fishing stuff, and with my husband, of course. He loves kitty treats and is protective of our bedroom when people visit. He won't let them past the kitchen.
By Jen
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Max, My Bichon Frise
This is my dog Max. He is a Bichon Frise and he's a little over a year old now. He is in love with me I think, we go through a ritual everynight.
As soon as I get in bed, he comes up and settles in right by my head, and "kisses" me repeatedly, for about 10 minutes, every single night! He looks at me differently than my poodle. My husband says, "He is in love with you honey!" (He also gets between my husband and I every time he tries to give me a kiss, LOL)
If my other dog, a miniature poodle, gets too close to me at night then Max goes to the foot of the bed and cries until I motion for him to come and get on my shoulder. Which is where he sleeps every night.
Thanks for reading about my special little guy.
By Shirley Morganthal
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Today's Tips
Consuming Fire Centerpiece for Church
I am making a artificial fire centerpiece. My recommendation is first get a string of lights that run by battery, red shiny tissue paper, shiny satin material in red and orange color, and a small jar from Michaels. Put the tissue in the jar and entwine the lights in it. Leave a strand on the top, cut the material to look light a flame and glue it at the top on the jar. It will have a flame effect for less than $10.
By jastallworth
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Removing Pet Urine Smell From Carpet
On a humid day, does your house smell like a zoo? Why spend big bucks on carpet cleaning, and enzymatic cleaners when trying to remove pet urine smells from carpet?
Mix one gallon of white vinegar with one gallon of water. Pour it straight on the area with urine and let is soak the carpet, pad, and sub floor. After letting it sit for about 30 minutes, use a carpet machine to pull out as much solution as you can. Your house may smell like vinegar for a few days, but it will dissipate over time. The vinegar neutralizes the urine smell and your house will smell so clean. Enzymatic cleaners cost approximately $12 -
$15 per 8oz. 1 gallon of vinegar is $2.50. What a savings and just as effective!
By Meari
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Making Crafts With Leaves and Flowers
Craft ideas using dried leaves and flowers. Post your ideas.
I take flowers from my yard (I live in FL and have a lot.) I glue my flowers (after drying them) on frames, mirrors, lamp shades, etc.
By Sandi G (s222)
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Saving on Tools and Equipment for Your Home
Save a bundle on buying tools and equipment by sharing with your neighbors. If one has a lawn mower, one has a snow blower, and one has a utility trailer, all your needs are met. Just be sure to clarify who pays for what.
In our neighborhood, we split the cost of maintenance and replacement on these items, a rototiller, and a wet vac.
By Louise the Frugal Yankee
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Plans for a Future Vacation
If you are planning now for a future vacation, do a Google search for the city or area you plan to visit (example: Orlando, Florida) and get contact info for the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Council, etc. Write or e-mail them and tell them when you plan to visit, and ask them to send you a free "visitor pack". You will receive maps, brochures, and coupons that can help you plan your trip AND save money!
By Becki in Indiana
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Fruit Topping for Ice Cream
Put fruits in a blender with a little water and vanilla ice cream and blend. Pour over ice cream.
By Sandi G
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Sushi Mat Candle Holders
For quick, easy mood lighting indoors or outdoors, wrap old sturdy glassware with Sushi bamboo mats, tie with raffia, and insert tea candles.
By Bobbie
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Replacement for Pebbles at the Bottom of a Pot
For indoor gardening, it can be a nuisance to find some pebbles to place over the drainage holes of a plant pot. Use a coffee filter instead. It will hold in the soil, allow the water to drain, and it costs less than a penny.
By Louise the Frugal Yankee
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Coordinating Remodeling Jobs on Your House with the Neighbors
When you need big jobs done on your house (replace the roof, resurface the driveway, etc.) look around and see if any of your neighbors need the same job done. You have a lot of bargaining power with the contractor if you can talk about two jobs, next door to each other. For work that takes a lot of setup time, it hardly costs more to do two jobs once they get rolling.
By Louise the Frugal Yankee
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Homemade Children's Toy Boxes
The cost of children's toy boxes are SO expensive and they are so small for all the money you spend. Here's a way to make some big toy boxes for a lot less:
Buy an extra large Rubbermaid storage container ($13 for 50 gallon container at Wal Mart), enough fabric to cover the container (I got the end of a bolt for $15 enough for 2 toy boxes), and some spray adhesive that will stick to plastic (around $5 a can).
Cut the fabric to fit. Spray the container and place fabric over it and smooth it out. In less than an hour you'll have a beautiful toy box that's safe (cover won't fall on little fingers) and so much cheaper and bigger than the expensive toy boxes that you find at stores.
By HDBoston
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 16 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
To enter, visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Photo Contest!
To enter, visit:
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Contest ends August 31, 2005
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.
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Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
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New Requests
Getting Rid of Ground Ivy
I have ground ivy that is growing along the the fence line of my backyard that looks like it is spreading to my lawn, slowly. I also have three big trees that shade the fence line where the ivy is growing and it's look like it can spread quickly if I don't do something about it.
I have tried pulling them up and cutting them out. It helps a little but it looks like it's only a temporary fix. I would like to get rid of these ivy! They do look pretty but can grow out of control.
Serenity
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Everbearing Strawberries Only Blooming Once
I have everbearing strawberries yet they only bloom once. I thought they are suppose too bloom twice a year. I really don't know what I am doing wrong with them.
Any advice?
Joyce Wis
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Green Water In Pool
My pool is green. I have tried several remedies. Can someone help me to get this pool clear?
Dennis from Pa
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Small Flies Are Driving Us Crazy
My wife and I are being inundated by flies. they are actually much smaller, like fruit flies. We cannot get rid of them and have no idea where they are coming from. This has been going on for about two weeks now.
We first discovered them in our trash can in the garage. There were hundreds of them! The trash has since been picked up and the can cleaned and disinfected and there is no sign of bugs there. However, now we are finding them in our kitchen and our upstairs bathroom. I have dumped clorox down every drain in the house several times and spent an entire day cleaning everything. I've cleaned all our drains, the garbage disposal, inspected the fridge, oven, microwave, pantry, everywhere. yet, still cannot figure out where they are coming from.
We kill them as we see them, probably twenty to thirty a day , yet their numbers do not diminish. Please help, they are making us crazy!
David
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L.A. Awesome Stain Remover
I would like to know the ingredients of the stain remiover L.A. awesome.
Dolores
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Duct Tape Residue on Clothes
Is there a home remedy to remove tape stains from clothes, specially duck tape on wool pants.
Fran
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60th Birthday Gift Ideas
I could use some suggestions for a birthday gift for my spouse. You all know the kind... the one who doesn't need a thing! He's turning 60 next month, and I'm just at a loss. He tells me not to get him anything, but I know he'll be disappointed if there's nothing to open. He reads a lot of military history books, loves aviation, but has more than he needs!
Any help or suggestions... I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!
Maggie from Virginia
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Grape Tomatoes Splitting Before They Are Ripe
My grape tomotoes are splitting open before they are ripe. Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks,
Joyce Wis
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Homemade Substitute for Gatorade
I was talking to a friend today and she said her hubby only drank water and Gatorade,but complained that Gatorade was too high to buy. I told her I'd see if anyone knew how to make a good substitute for it. Surely there's someone with a recipe. Thanks in advance.
Sharon,Ky
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Chainsaw Pull Cord Won't Pull
The pull cord won't pull on my chainsaw. Any ideas on what I can do?
Help,
Terry
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Entertainment Ideas For Following An Anniversary Dinner
My husband and I will be celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary. We plan to invite about 100 guests for dinner at a local restaurant. I need some suggestions as to what we could do following the dinner vs. just eating and have our guests leave. I would like to have at least one hour of some type of entertainment. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Shirley Ungiran
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Organizing a Sewing Room
I really need getting my sewing room organized. The room is 8 x 12 and is a disaster area. I have fabric and fabric scraps everywhere, same with thread and other sewing notions. I can't find anything.
There are some built in shelves along one wall, but the are really shallow so they aren't suited to store fabric. I have a formica table in the middle of the room that the sewing machine and serger sits on, but the table is heaped with fabric, sewing projects, etc. so I can't sew now if I needed to.
Please help me! I'm a very neat person, but I just can't seem to get it together in the sewing room. Any advice is appreciated.
Heidi
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Swiffer for Laminate Floors
I have a question about the swiffer wet towels. We have the pergo laminate floors (that look like hardwood floors). We can only use vinegar to clean them. I buy the swiffer w/vinegar for laminate floors. Can someone give me a recipe that I can used instead of buying that cleaner? How much water to how much vinegar? I have the swiffer mop that you attach the sheets by poking them in the little holes. Not the wet jet.
Thanks,
Jennifer in KY
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
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Manage your money simply and quickly. Inexpensive budget planning
software.
http://www.mybudgetplanner.com/partner/thf/mbpmain.htm
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