Daily Thrifty Tips - February 20, 2008

The weather has been taking a turn for the better, bulbs are even starting to sprout up in front of our office. If you are an avid gardener, be sure to subscribe to our weekly gardening newsletter. You can do so here:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Indoor Water Fountain

My standing indoor water fountain.

By OTACHE from Vegas

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Chucha (Poodle)

Chucha is about 6 years old. We got her from family. She likes to play tag and hide and seek:) She is very fun, energetic, and she always knows how to brighten up the day.

By Selena from El Paso, TX

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Add Sheen Back To Vinyl Siding

For homes that have vinyl cladding that has lost it's lustre and looks tired: Wash down with warm soap and water then spray (cans) with tyre sheen or similar product. It's surprisingly cheap to do and it brings it back to life.

An occasional hose down keeps it fresh. Repeat about once a year, but wash with warm soapy water first.

By Ocker from Australia

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Use Zip Ties to Secure Luggage

Luggage locks are usually cut off at the airports. I use plastic zip ties where the locks go. If they are cut off, then you know someone was in your luggage. Cheaper then a replacing a cut off lock. Works Great.

Source: from me

By Smilingfaces88 from Spruce Grove, Alberta, CA

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A Good Joke for an Election Year

While walking down the street one day, a US Senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to Heaven", says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in", says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven", says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit Heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The Devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand", stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday, we were
Campaigning. Today, you voted."

Source: my good friend Darlene sent this to me

By imaqt1962 from Illinois

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Is Your Dog "Scooting"?

If your dog is dragging her bottom on the carpet, it probably means her anal glands need to be expressed.

There are two small glands located on each side of your dog's rectal opening. Each gland holds a small amount of a noxious smelling substance. Most of the time, the glands express sufficiently on their own. However sometimes, the glands aren't completely expressed naturally.

It's important to have your dog's anal glands expressed when he is showing signs of discomfort (like fussing and chewing at the area, or scooting) Your vet or groomer can manually express the glands quickly and easily, oftentimes they will show you how to do it yourself.

If left untreated, your dog's anal glands can become impacted, infected, ruptured causing serious problems.

If you see your dog scooting, scoot him on over to a professional as soon as possible.

By Laura from Long Beach, CA

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Leave Yourself a Message

If you are out and about and want to remember something for later, call your home and leave it on the answering machine. It will work also from home to office if you have a direct line to your voice mail at work.

By Deb from Springboro, OH

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Link: Food Tips and Recipes at the Utah State University Extension

I've just found the most fantastic site and wanted to share. It's the Utah State University Extension site. Their web address is: http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications.

Family and Consumer Sciences (under Families and Communities) was a great section for home hints:

#9. Crockery Cookery has a wonderful pamphlet about using crock pots and has pages of recipes. #27 is about slow cookers too, more recipes.

#11. Do It Yourself Mixes has recipes for homemade mixes and recipes to use them in.

There are several categories to choose from, and all information is FREE!

Source: Utah State University Extension

• http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications

By Susan from AR

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Brownies In Cupcake Liners for Shipping Overseas

Recently someone posted a tip about making brownies in cupcake liners. Several weeks ago, when I asked my son who is posted in the middle east what he would like for his mid January birthday, he answered that he wanted dozens and dozens of brownies. Enough for all his buddies and for all the locals that they are working with. After looking up the desert friendly, culturally permissible recipe for brownies, I had decided to bake them in individual cupcake wrappers and ship each "cupbrownie" in it's own plastic baggie. That not only made them easy to hand out, but also made it easier to keep them clean of the constantly blowing sand and dust. My son was extremely happy with the results and says that all his friends were as well. I can recommend this method for shipment to the troops.

By Jeanne from South Daytona , FL

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Hot Tang Is Soothing For Colds

When nursing a cold, I find that hot beverages help me feel better. However I soon get tired of teas, and coffee tastes funny when my nose is stuffy.

My Boy Scout hubby told me to make Tang with hot water instead of cold. WOW! A big dose of vitamin C, a nice hot orange drink to clear my nose and soothe my throat, and no caffeine to make me jumpy!

It is now a staple in our "medicine cabinet".

By Regina from Rochester, NY

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Use Cookie Scoops for Meatballs

The small cookie scoops you buy at the stores to use for drop cookies, also work great for the perfect size meatballs.

Source: own experience

By Helen from Tunnelton , WV

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Filling Deviled Eggs

Put your egg yolks in a ziplock bag, mash till all broken. Add your recipes remainding ingredients, reseal. Keep mashing to mix well. Cut the tip off one corner on bottom of bag. Twist, and squeeze mixture into your egg whites. When finished no clean up!Just throw away the bag.

Source: From my Aunt Ann Spooner she is a sweetie

By LucyGoose from Kemptville, Ontario, Canada

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21st Birthday Party: Pirate Themed

I'm planning a 21st Pirate Themed Party for my roommate and as crafty and cool as I like to think I am, I'm without many ideas. I'm in need of good pirate drinks (we have a rum theme going on), decorations besides the flags and skulls/cross bones and food ideas (pirate themed). I'm hoping to go thrifty since I'll probably spend a bunch on alcohol.

I am planning to have a Pinata filled with little bottles of rum instead of candy but that's the best idea I have yet. I also plan to supply my guests with hooks and eye patches from our local dollar store but I still need help!

Trish from Washington DC area

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Training a Poodle

I need advice training my toy poodle.

Bezzie from Las Vegas

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What Shots Does My Puppy Need?

I had a question about shots. I adopted my pup when he was 11 weeks old, that was 2 weeks ago. The breeder said he was up to date on all shots and came with a health certificate. He saw the vet a couple of days before I got him and passed with flying colors.

She told me all the shots he received:

-4 weeks Dewormed pyran 50
-5 weeks galaxy 5 (distemper/parvo) and bronchcine (kennel cough) strongid (dewormer)
-6 weeks panacur 3 days(dewormer)
-8 weeks neopar (triple virus protection Parvo), intra trac 3 (kennel cough) and ivomec

Does he need any more and when?


Reya from Philly, PA

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Teething Puppy's Mouth Is Bleeding

I have a 5 month old husky who has started teething about a month ago.
For the past 3 days she looses teeth but in doing so, her mouth bleeds a lot. Is this normal?

Marelize from South Africa

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Degreaser Removed Finish on Dresser

I had a household degreaser on my wood dresser. The degreaser leaked from the spray bottle and created a sticky glue like ring. I removed it with cold water, and I noticed that I removed the clear coat and maybe the stain. So now I have a really light ring around the front of my new dresser. Any suggestions?

(Its made of Swirly Wood Veneer with a Carlet Finish. I don't know what that means.)

Kevin

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'Hoppy' Birthday Theme for Leap Year Birthday Party

I need ideas, games, and activities for 4th graders at my daughter's birthday party. It is leap year so I am going with a 'Hoppy' Birthday/green and pink theme. At 11 years old, they are not little kids but not teenagers, so nothing to kiddie.

Roonie from Houston, TX

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Silverfish in My Bed

Now and then I am finding silverfish in my bed. I didn't think much at first but it's continuing and I'm getting worried. What can I do to stop this?

Disgustedii from Metairie, LA

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Longhorn Steakhouse Style Salmon

Does anyone by chance have a recipe for salmon that tastes like the ones Longhorn Steakhouse uses? I do know that its got bourbon in the marinade. I don't know if the marinade is used as a baste while cooking it or if it sits in it before cooking it.

Kathy from Sharon, SC

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King Sized Bed in a Small Room

I have a king size bed and a small bedroom. I don't know the dimensions. How on earth can I make this work since I now have to live without my dresser?

Marisa from Santa Maria, CA

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Creative Ideas for Using a Non-operational Fireplace

I have a non operational fire place in my new home. Besides candles what is another way I can use this interesting corner in my new house?

Marisa from Santa Maria, CA

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Covering a Glassed Paned Door

I have a glass pane front door in my new house and I was wondering what would be a cheap and easy way to cover it at night and when we're gone?

Marisa from Santa Maria, California

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Looking for High Elevation Recipes

We are moving to a high elevation area and I am looking for recipes for baking and cooking. Thanks.

Linda from Laquey, MO

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Getting Rid of Black Mold in Enclosed Porch

Recently with all the rain and dampness in San Diego, I just noticed black mold and mice feces on my leaky enclosed back porch. I am at my wits end, as I cannot afford to have my house tented, and I have a 2 yr old dog that follows me out there. It's got 1975 indoor-outdoor carpeting which is a wreck.

Is there any solutions I can use out there to get rid of the mold and make it a hostile environment for mice?

Hearts1 from San Diego

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'Makeover' Themed Birthday Party

I need inexpensive birthday party ideas for a 'makeover' theme for an eight year old girl?

Tammy from Tampa, FL

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Pre-soaking Beans for Later Use

Can I pre-soak dried beans and then can them for later use? It takes so long to soak beans but I like to make chili often. I'm looking for a way to speed things up a bit and I think this might do it

imama2many

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Burying Kitchen Scraps Instead of Composting

Can you bury kitchen scraps without necessarily 'composting'? For instance, when I have potato peals, can I bury them under the dirt?

imama2many

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Saving Money to Buy an Expensive Item

How can I save up money for a small project? I want to buy a treadmill for $700. I will be taking out $100 every time I get paid for this project. Where can I save/store the money until I get $700? I do not use credit cards and I like paying for things cash. Is the green dot prepaid debit card something I could use?

Onesummer

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Hollywood Themed Birthday Party

I need help hosting a Hollywood themed party. Here are things that might help: low budget, need place near Queens, fast!

Faith from NY

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Removing Splattered Primer from Wood

I need suggestions on how to remove splattered primer from wood?

Lynnsma from Newton

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Looking for Soap Nut Seeds

Where can I find soap nut seeds to grow my own tree or where can I find a tree to buy?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Beth from Bloomington

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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.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml