Daily Thrifty Tips - July 25, 2006

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We watched a yellow finch build a nest inside this birdhouse on our backyard deck; it was a beautiful sight seeing this yellow finch go back and forth building the nest then watching her nurture the baby birds; we even watched her teach the young birds to fly. The nest is empty now.

By WandaJo from Collierville, Tennessee

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Here is a decorating idea from a couple of kids trying to be helpful. What would you do?

By Mary from Leroy, Il.

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This is Hannah, my 13 month old granddaughter; she loves to shred paper. I caught her in the bathroom shredding a roll of toilet tissue! It was real cute! Hannah, the little mouse got caught!

By WandaJo from Collierville, Tennessee

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When you're navigating on a journey, instead of trying to keep your finger on your place on the map - use a piece of blu tack instead then you can just move it along as you go. You can even get the children to help out this way.

By J T Munro from Brighton. England

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This is a really cool idea. Next time you come home for the night and you to to put your keys away, think of this:

If you have a car with automatic locks, it's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Start keeping your car keys next to your bed on the night stand when you go to bed at night.

If you think someone is trying to get into your house, or if you hear a noise outside yor house, just press the panic alarm on your car key chain. Test it, It will go off from most everywhere Inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

Try yours to make sure it works before you rely on it. Just know that you must press the alarm button again to turn it off.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.

By Denise from Woodbury, NJ

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Mix white vinegar 50 - 50 with water and put in a spray bottle. Spray it on generously, let saturate for about 30 seconds and use a microfiber cloth to polish up those windows. It will amaze you.

By Marilyn from Mansfield, TX

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To remove almost anything gunky, greasy, gummy or sticky from almost any surface, I have found that the best thing to use is one of three solvents, Lighter fluid, Gasoline or Rubbing Alcohol.

You cannot beat the frugality of using common and inexpensive (well, at least the lighter fluid and alcohol) solvents that almost everyone has around their house. No need to drive to the store (using precious gas) and spend three or four dollars on a tiny bottle of some "citrus power" gunk remover--at least not when you are dealing with fabrics and surfaces that are colorfast.

P.S. Do NOT use gasoline on your clothing--the smell will not wash out for some time. You have been warned:)

By PMZ Paul from Walnutport, PA

Editor's Note: Use these solutions with care since all are flammable. With gas, both the liquid and the fumes are flammable, so it's best to use it outside and away from any open flames and ofcourse, no smoking.

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I have two sewing machines both of which have a variety of stitches for fancy work. In order to better see what each stitch looks like on fabric, I make a sample of each stitch on a plain piece of medium weight fabric. One for each machine. I keep them with the machine for reference. I also write the number of each stitch next to it using a pen.

By Judy from Birmingham Al.

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Instead of using a Hershey's candy bar, try using a Reeses peanut butter cup. YUMMO! My 11 year old daughter thought of this. I think shes the next Food Network chef. *smiles*

Laurie from Watertown, SD

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I have accidently stumbled on a way to keep those 4 legged kritters out from under your cupboards. We live in the country and sometimes have a problem with mice getting into the house. They seem to love my lower cupboards (even with 4 cats) and I find traces of them. I accidently left a potpourri toilet bowl deodorizer under the cupboards. NO MICE! It was still in the wrapper and not opened, but, they stopped getting into my cupboards! I now hang one on the rails on the sides of the braces that hold the shelves. This way they are not touching your pots and pans that you keep there. (I would not reccomend this where there are food products.)

By Joyce from Decaturville, TN

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Well, it's not a mid-life crisis, but here's how things worked out for me. Married 25 years, took a look at my wife one day and said, "Honey, 25 years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10 inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 25 year old blond. Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 50 year old woman. It seems to me that you are not holding up your side of things."

My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a hot 25 year old blond, and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed....

By Terri from NV

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I know it's summertime, but you can pick up a few presents for
Christmas this year or start your special project or craft for
gifts. You could have a nice homemade recipe book made from your favorite recipes by Christmas, hand written in a colorful journal.

Christmas in the Summer! Who would not enjoy such a treasured
gift to pass on to their children.If you start now you will be ready!

Pat Wilson

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Don't throw away that half-used steel wool pad. You can save it from rusting by putting it in a solution of baking soda and water. Change the soda-water solution every once in awhile to keep it fresh and keep it covered to prevent evaporation. Another way is to freeze it in a plastic bag. It thaws quickly and there is no rust.

By NellieMary from WV

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I was raised during the depression by my maternal Grandparents. We had to be saving and making do. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". I'm 76 now and I still make do a lot of the time. I still do things the "OLD TIMEY" way.

I clean glassware and windows with vinegar water and I Patch DH's clothes. Gee, I don't know where to start! Thriftiness just comes naturally to me. Maybe I should start giving out thrifty ideas to everyone! (smile!)

Evelyn from Cross Plains, IN

Editor's Note: That's what ThriftyFun is all about. Sharing thrifty ideas so everyone can take advantage of the benefits that a frugal lifestyle affords people. If you have any ideas to share, feel free to submit them on the contest page.

Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml

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Frugal For Life

A great blog with posts about frugal living.

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I recently read something about keeping celery fresh much longer by wrapping it in foil. What I missed was. Do I take the plastic cover off of it? And do I wash it before wrapping it?

Thanks,
Judy from Birmingham, AL

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Does anyone have a letter to send with Tamiah Cinnamon Bread? I had a cute little one but it was lost. Thank you.

Kirstin from Illinois

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I have swarms of flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects in my backyard. We have tried yard guard and other pesticides, as well as baggies with water, with no results at all. The flies seem to come from the grass. We have moved the covered trash to the back of the yard. I am at a loss, they have taken over our yard.

Vicki from Houston, TX

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I was recently at the movies and found they had at least a dozen toppings to sprinkle on the pop corn. I have never seen so many flavors! I loved the white Cheddar kind. Does anybody have any home made popcorn toppings they would like to share?

Krista from Laramie, WY

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I have a 8 week old mastiff Rottweiler mix. He attacks when I pick him up but only when he doesn't want to be. I took him to the vet and when she was examining him he growled and tried to bite her. She said this is not normal and said you better get training or he will have to be put down. Any training tips for Jack?

Brandy from Colorado Springs, CO

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I cleaned what I thought was a sterling silver toe ring. It is still very dull. Does that means it's not really sterling silver?

Suzi from Central TX

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I have gotten nail polish on a jacket that is 70% silk. What can I do?

Linda from Lansing, MI

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I took back the Hamilton Beach toaster oven. It heated up the kitchen so much I thought our air conditioning was broke.

I bought a Krups 1600 watt convection toaster oven instead. www.eopinions.com had excellent comments about the FBC2. If it hadn't been locally available, eopinions also raved about a Cuisinart whose number I don't have handy.

Any suggestions for time and temperature for making nachos?

Thanks,
Holly Gates from Richardson, TX

P.S. Bed Bath & Beyond honored the lesser price at Fry's and let me use a Bed Bath & Beyond 20% off coupon, too! I went to Customer Service with the oven and Fry's phone number. They called and verified the price. Also said I could bring in a competitor's advertisement instead of a phone verification.

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Does anyone have the Weight Watcher's exchange diet plan? I'm trying to remember it. What is the calorie value for veggies? I'm thinking the exchanges are: 8 8oz of water daily, 2 to 3 milk, 2 to 4 fruit, 3 to 5 veggies, 3 protein, 6 to 11 bread/grain, 3 fat, and some "optionals" foods. I can't remember how the "optionals" worked. This was a great plan for me, well balanced and I didn't feel deprived, plus I had lost 42 lbs. Help please! Thanks a bunch, you great people!

Sandy from Stoughton, WI

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I am looking for some good recipes for a rotisserie. we found one on sale the other for next to nothing and would like some good recipes for it. Thanks in advance.

Kim from Anderson, IN

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I have a boxer dog who has severe skin allergies. Can anyone please tell me a remedy to get rid of it? He scratches and scratches until he is scratching all the hair off and makes himself bleed.

Tina from Georgia

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Does anyone have any tips on thickening hair and not having a dry effect?

Nisbah

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How to remove fresh blueberry stain from white t-shirt?

Joe

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Does any one know anything about making collard greens. I had them once and they were very good. Now I want to make them.

Thank you,
Joanne from Kingston, PA

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Low Emissive Window Glazing Materials

I need to cault or reglaze some windows, an article on your site recommends as follows:

"Replacing Sashes & Reglazing Replacing sashes or reglazing windows can be cost effective alternatives to replacing entire windows. Select sash material with a high insulating value and glazings with a low emissive coating."

But none of the window glazing materials I've seen seem to be "low emissive," and they all recommend preparing the sash by priming with oil-based primer. I want to do all of my home improvement projects in as environmentally friendly and healthy way as possible. What do you recommend?

Jen

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We have a concrete walk that has developed cracks. What is the best way to repair these cracks so that weeds don't grow in them?

Thanks!
Lewis

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I need help keeping birds from eating our tomato plants, we have tried the scarecrow and owls, also the pie tins. Robins are destroying our plants all day long, up to a dozen a day, mostly the ones close to the ground.

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Bobbie from Monroe, MI

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Does anyone know about a water bowl for dogs that keeps the water cold? There just has to be such a thing, especially for us Southern people!

Suzi from Central TX

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I want to give my husband a 50th birthday party. Any good ideas to use? I want it to be sort of elegant and memorable. My colors are white and gold, and I want the guest to wear black or white outfits.

partylady1 from Pennsylvania

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Does anyone have any soda bottle terrarium directions for me? I am not sure if I am in zone 5 or 6.

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Dawn from Elmira, NY

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Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

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When we travel to Chicago, we are always on a small budget. We look for low cost and free things to do that even the kids enjoy. Here are a few of the free things we found.

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Selecting High-Quality Beans:

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