Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 58, March 1, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
A lot of people continue to report that they have started receiving this newsletter again. If you are looking for back issues you can find them here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/daily%20thrifty%20tips_maincat.html
Hopefully the delivery problems are behind us now.
Two contests ended last night at midnight and we have two winners. The winner of the photo contest is Beth, who submitted a photo of a postcard quilt. The winner of the tip contest is Shamrock who submitted a tip about cleaning jewelry. We had 66 entries in the photo contest and 498 entries in the tip contest. Winners for both contests are chosen at random. So the more tips you submit, the better your odds are of winning, but even if you only submit one tip, you have a shot.
With those contests ending we start two more contests. The photo contest will end at the end of the month and the tip contest will end on March 15th.
Enter The Photo Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Enter The Tip Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Frugal solutions to everyday problems: Submit a request...
http://www.thriftyfun.com/add.ldml
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- Toby (Yorkshire Terrier)
- Snickers (Holland Lop)
Today's Tips:
- Tomatoes On a Farm Joke
- Coupon Tips
- Nearly Empty Perfume Bottles
- Finding the Best Thrift Shops
- Make Your Own Cleaning Cloths
- Organizing Extension Cords and Other Wires
- Littermaid Bins
- Pennies for Cut Flowers
- Tips for Organizing Recipes
- Don't Eat Out, Have a Deli at Home
- Jewelry Cleaning
- Waiter and Waitress Tips and Advice
- Sweet & Sour Meatballs
- Carrot Nut Bread
- 1 Hour Rolls
- Molasses Cookies
- Terri's Great Bean Casserole
New Requests:
- Pioneer Bonnet Pattern
- Inexpensive Frames Needed
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Need Baby Shower Ideas
- Miss Congeniality Birthday Party
- Spatini Spaghetti Sauce
- Frozen Coffee Drink Recipes (Like Starbucks)
- Getting Glass Out Of Clothing
- How do you clean a toothbrush?
- Repairing a Vinyl Tarp
More Reading:
- Avocados (Information and Recipes)
- Decoupage Plant Markers
- Send Your Child to College Free!
Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
Coupons at Qualityhealth.com
Free coupons for brand name products you and your family use every day. Visit Qualityhealth.com and save money on your favorite brands.
For more information... Click here
Find out how to get control of your personal budget
Mvelopes Personal Budgeting Software
Find out how to get control of your personal budget
Click here for more information.
Today's Photo Contest Entries
Toby (Yorkshire Terrier)
This is Toby. He is a seven year old Yorkshire Terrier. I got him from a pet store, he actually picked us. He came right over to us and settled in. He has quite a personality! His main "job" is following my parents around, checking up on them.
By Liz
Post Feedback: Click Here
Snickers (Holland Lop)
Snickers is our 8-month old Holland Lop. We got her in August. She sits up on her back legs for a papaya treat, and comes when called by her name. She knows several words, and is litter trained. She one smart, lovable bunny!
By Renee
Post Feedback: Click Here
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
Tomatoes On a Farm Joke
A small boy was looking at the red ripe tomatoes growing in a farmer's garden.
"I'll give you my 2 pennies for that tomato." said the boy pointing to the beautiful, large, ripe fruit hanging on the vine.
"No," said the farmer, "I get a dime for a tomato like that one."
The small boy pointed to the smaller green one, "Will you take 2 pennies for that one?"
"Yes, " replied the farmer, "I'll give you that one for 2."
"OK," said the lad, sealing the deal by putting the coins in the farmers hand, "I'll pick it up in about a week."
By Terri H.
View Article: Click Here
Coupon Tips
Tips for finding and using coupons. Post your ideas.
I generally spend about $130 a week on groceries, personal items, toiletries for my family of five. On average, I save $30 each week with my coupons. Here are a few tips:
1. Be sure to check product packaging before you dispose of it for coupons inside.
2. If you have a coupon that you need to purchase multiple items for but you only need one, try the coupon anyway. For example, I've had a coupon for $1 off if I purchase three 4-packs of toilet paper, but I buy only one at around $1, and by using my coupon I get the item free. Most stores just scan the coupons at the end, and most of their systems will just match the brand with the coupon and not the quantity.
3. My youngest son is five, but while I clip my coupons I save the diaper, formula and baby food coupons anyway. There is usually someone you know with a baby, and I like to pass these on since babies are pretty expensive!
4. If you buy one item but have two coupons, don't be afraid to use both of them. All the cashier can do is hand it back to you.
By Jen
Clip Coupons and match them up with the weekly sales ads before shopping.
By Teresa Sheaffer
Organize coupons by product type so when you're shopping for a specific item coupons will be readily available.
By Cheryl
Post Feedback: Click Here
Nearly Empty Perfume Bottles
Don't throw away your perfume bottle when the last few drops of perfume won't come out. Take the cap off and put the bottle in your lingerie drawer. It will make everything smell sweet!
By tikiroomteach
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Finding the Best Thrift Shops
Go to the best town (most expensive real estate) and comb the thrift shops. Rich people throw things out too and sometimes new or near new. The quality may be better and you still pay thrift store prices.
By JANET
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Make Your Own Cleaning Cloths
I've purchase a rubbermaid plastic container with a flip top lid. It's about 10"x10". I then cut up some cleaned (but older) burp cloths from when my son was a baby into quarters and put them in the container. Then I poured my favorite all purpose household cleaner into the container.
I make sure all the cloths are saturated. I keep this container handy with me when I am cleaning around my house. I can clean my kitchen, bathrooms, outdoor furniture, toys, tons of things with the cloths. Then, I can throw them in the washer and reuse them! No more expensive wipes that you use once and throw in the garbage!
By Tara Funai
Post Feedback: Click Here
Organizing Extension Cords and Other Wires
Tips for preventing extra cords and wires from becoming a tangled mess. Post your ideas.
Storing Extension Cords
Use a toilet paper center cardboard tube to store your extension cords - you can write on the tube so you know what's inside. Keeps your wires neat.
By tandek589
Post Feedback: Click Here
Littermaid Bins
Line your littermaid plastic bins with grocery plastic bags. This keeps the waste bins from becoming soiled and they won't have to be replaced as often. Simply lift out the grocery bag each day and replace the bins when cracked. Cat litter miracle!
By Melissa
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Pennies for Cut Flowers
Throw a couple of pennies into the water with your fresh cut flowers to keep them alive longer!
By Katherine Bishop
Post Feedback: Click Here
Tips for Organizing Recipes
Tips and advice for organizing recipes. Post your ideas!
Clip recipes from magazines and tape them directly to recipe cards, kept in a recipe box. At the beginning of the week, take several out and keep them in your coupon holder. When you're running late, or already are grocery shopping, pull out a card, and you have your shopping list, how long it will take you to cook, etc right there with you.
By vickiandnoel
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Don't Eat Out, Have a Deli at Home
Instead of eating out, get your favorite sandwich fixings and have a deli-type sandwich all week long at a fraction of the cost.
By Aerowaffle
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Jewelry Cleaning
Drop a denture tablet in a glass of water to clean diamond jewelry. Soak for 2 minutes and rinse well
By imaqt1962
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Waiter and Waitress Tips and Advice
Tips for waiters and waitresses. Have ever been a waitperson? Post your ideas.
Put a smile face on the bill and you will increase your tip by 20%
By Frederick Rotzien
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Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 cup cracker crumbs
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 green pepper (diced)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
Directions:
Shape ground beef, milk, salt, pepper, cracker crumbs into meatballs. place in baking dish single layer. Put sauce mixture over meatballs and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Carrot Nut Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup cooking oil
- 2 eggs (well beaten)
- 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cup grated carrots
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (or more if you desire)
Directions:
Mix sugar & oil; add eggs. Sift flour, cinnamon, soda & salt together; add to sugar mixture. Stir in carrots & nuts. Bake in greased loaf pan at 375F degrees F for 45 minutes or until it tests done. Cool before slicing.
This freezes great for a later use.
By Terri H.
View Article: Click Here
1 Hour Rolls
Ingredients:
- 2 cups self rising flour
- 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 5 Tbsp. cooking oil
- 1 pkg. yeast
- 1 cup milk
Directions:
Combine milk with sugar, & oil. Heat til lukewarm. Dissolve yeast, in separate bowl, in 1 Tbsp. lukewarm water. Combine with flour; mix well. Pinch out dough into rolls. Place in greased baking muffin pans. Let sit for 1 hour to rise. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
By Terri H.
View Article: Click Here
Molasses Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup shortening
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- 1 cup molasses*
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 4 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. salt
Directions:
Cream sugar & shortening; add eggs & molasses*. Sift flour and spices together; add sugar mixture. Mix well. Roll dough in to balls the size of walnuts; then roll dough balls in more granulated sugar. Put on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Makes: 3 dozen.
*When measuring the molasses, first spray your measuring cup & spoon with cooking spray, so it will pour out easier.
By Terri H.
View Article: Click Here
Terri's Great Bean Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground turkey*
- 6-8 slices of turkey bacon
- 1/2 cup onion (chopped)
- 16 oz. can pork 'n beans**
- 16 oz. can lima beans**
- 16 oz. can black beans**
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 Tbsp. white vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. dry or prepared mustard
- Salt & Pepper to Taste
Directions:
Brown ground turkey with bacon & onion; combine with rest of ingredients in a large casserole dish. Bake at 350F for 1 hour.
*You can substitute ground beef for the ground turkey meat.
**Basically, you can use any canned beans for this dish, as long as you use 3 different varieties at the same time. I've made this with several different varieties of beans, it always turns out great.
By Terri H.
View Article: Click Here
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 March 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:
Pioneer Bonnet Pattern
I need to make 20 pioneer bonnets, does anyone have an easy pattern for this?
Cindy
Post Feedback: Click Here
Inexpensive Frames Needed
I saw an article recently which describes decorating walls with old calendar pictures. It advises you to get 12 of your favorite pictures from old calendars and frame them with "diploma/certificate frames". What I am wondering is WHERE you buy these fames and if anyone has any other ideas for inexpensive framing.... or just for decorating walls in general. I have so many "bare walls" in oversized rooms.
Thanks.
Anjeena
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Chicken and Dumplings
Do you have a recipe for chicken and dumplings? Could you please post the recipe.
Thank you,
JoJo
Post Feedback: Click Here
Need Baby Shower Ideas
I am throwing my first baby shower for my sister-in-law. Since her family is in Sweden, we are having family only, males included for a total of ten guests.
I have been reading up a little and games seem to be the thing. I'm not sure this would work out with my family as they tend to like to eat and talk a lot. So what do I do? Also, we are time-limited to approximately 3 or 4 hours at most.
I would like to make it in the afternoon, say around 2PM in late May. Her due date is July 13th, first pregnancy and they know it's a boy.
Questions:
How should I decorate? Saw baloons saying "its a boy" and "baby shower" . Also banners, say baby shower. Should I use crepe paper, all in blue necessary?
What kind of food? I would prefer not to cook a big meal, (not the greatest cook here) so I really need some help. Would sandwiches, fruit and veggie salads, potato salad, etc. be alright?
About the cake, do I get one specially made, what is printed on top?
Also, regarding gifts, do I just ask her what she wants and then give a list to everyone? I know they have already done quite a bit of shopping. They don't want me to do a registry thing.
I know these are a lot of questions, but I have never given one before
Any and all tips re this or anything I forgot or don't know about, would be GREATLY appreicated.
Thanks so much.
Anjeena
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Miss Congeniality Birthday Party
My birthday is coming up in March and I noticed that the Miss Congeniality 2 movie was coming out, I saw the first one and loved it. I know it would be perfect if my friends and I went to see it. The only thing is I don't know how to tie in the Miss Congeniality theme.
It would just be at the movies but i was thinking original goody bags or something. I am already going to have little bags with popcorn and candy and things like that but i was thinking some original way to decorate it? Please help. By the way I am turning fourteen. Thanks sooo much!
Melissa
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Spatini Spaghetti Sauce
Does anyone have a recipe for making spaghetti sauce mix, i.e. Spatini? Thanks.
Bonnie
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Frozen Coffee Drink Recipes (Like Starbucks)
I love the frozen drinks at Starbucks, but they are so expensive. Does anyone have any recipes that are as smooth and creamy as starbucks and, needless to say, as yummy ?
Tuey
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Getting Glass Out Of Clothing
Has anybody had any experience getting smashed glass out of clothing. Or do you reckon the clothes are a gonner. It was a picture frame with glass that was smashed over some clothes, a woolen jersey and scarves.
Shelley
Post Feedback: Click Here
How do you clean a toothbrush?
My daughter took her and her brothers toothbrushes and used them to "scrub" her toys. I never really had to clean a toothbrush before, being that if they were old I would just throw them out. These toothbrushes are brand new. Does anybody know of how to clean them? Can I just put them in the dishwasher? Thanks so much.
Kelly
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Repairing a Vinyl Tarp
I have a vinyl tarp that covers my truck bed. Someone in a parking garage at work must have thought it a good idea to scrape a line about 3-4 inches. any ideas on ther best way to patch this up or ideas on any companies that are good at repairs?
Thanks in advance,
Debbie
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsor
Mvelopes Personal Budgeting Software
Find out how to get control of your personal budget
Click here for more information.
More Reading:
Avocados (Information and Recipes)
By Jennifer A. Wickes
History / Geography
The avocado originates from Central America, but is now grown in
tropical and sub-tropical climates around the world.
View Article: Click Here
Decoupage Plant Markers
By Eileen Bergen
Here's a quick and easy Spring decoupage project for yourself or friends who garden.
View Article: Click Here
Send Your Child to College Free!
By GranMamma
College is one of the largest expenses through the course of your child's life. It is also one of the main causes of debt in America. With today's rates of inflation, it is very hard to save for an event that will occur eighteen years down the road. However, capitalistic America has provided many ways to send your child to college without paying a single red cent. Below you will discover just how easy it is to reach financial freedom.
View Article: Click Here
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