Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 224 September 16 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Well, the new service struggled so much that we had to switch back to the old one. By the middle of next week we should have a much better system in place. Thanks for your patience.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Photos
Hocking Hills, Ohio!
These are some pictures I took at Hocking Hills, Ohio.
By Kathy Riley
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Bear (Border Collie Mix)
This is Bear. He is 8 months old. We got him from a local animal shelter in NC, when he was 3 months old. He is a Border Collie mix. He is a "herding" dog, and will "herd" us, and anything else he can. He loves to chase my chickens, and clown for attention.
Brenda Chavis
(taken by Karen Kauffman)
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Baby/Toddler "Emergency" Kit
My husband (and I!) have been known to run out of the house and leave our son's diaper bag behind, thinking we'd only be out for just a few minutes and wouldn't need it. Well, on more than one occasion, that "quick" trip lasted longer than we thought! Of course, what wound up happening while we were out was that our son needed a diaper change, or worse, his diaper leaked and his clothes got wet!
To avoid being caught unprepared again, I made two "emergency" kits. I took two plastic zippered bags (like you'd use for travel to put cosmetics and toiletries in), put in a diaper, some wipes in a plastic baggie, and even a pair of shorts and a spare t-shirt. I stashed one in each car. If we ever find ourselves without the diaper bag again, at least we have a spare diaper, wipes, and a change of clothes on hand!
By Lisa
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Today's Tips
Uses for Newspaper Plastic Bags
You know those bags that your newspaper comes in? Here are some tips for other uses:
Put over your hand and up your arm to use as a glove for planting or picking up something dirty. You can take it off inside out and throw away what you pick up.
Use to put a wet umbrella in before putting it in your briefcase or car.
Double bag loaves of bread before putting them in the freezer.
Use 2 (one on each end) to cover rolls of wrapping paper or rolled up posters.
- - -
Do you have any more ideas?
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Recipes from Men's Health: A MAN, A CAN, A PLAN
To save on meals and meal planning there's a great collection of recipes with the title: A MAN, A CAN, A PLAN. It usually comes complete with a can opener as well. The nutritional make-up of the recipes is listed, too. The recipes have been collected from MEN'S HEALTH. I've been through most of 'em and can't find any problem with preparation. Enjoy!
By Ralph
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Putting the Garden to Bed for the Winter
Now that summer is almost over. My grandchildren ask if they can put the garden to bed for the winter. We start when everything has died. It's very easy and the children love doing it, and they have fun.
1. Pull up all dead plants and leftover vines.
2. If you have a chopper, grind all this up and put in a pile in the middle of the garden. Next remove all stakes and poles and supports. Store them for next year, it saves money.
3. Now that the fall leaves are starting to fall have the children gather them and put them on the garden. Leftovers out of the kitchen can go on this garden too.
This is a no waste plan. As your flowerbed died do the same thing to them. I test the ground and see what kind in mineral and levels maybe needed to the soil.
4. Go and get some peat moss or dirt and add to your garden. Have everyone put on some old clothes and let the children spread the dirt around.
5. After this is covered, get some hay or straw and cover all over the top. Now your garden is ready to put to bed for the winter. I cover mine with black plastic.
6. Put usable branches or beanpoles and rocks in one place. This way you know where they are when you get ready to plant your spring garden.
Note: I till all of this under in the spring and then it helps with the growing of the plants.
You can plant some root crops right under one edge of the plastic all winter and they will come up. But only in the milder climates, (I live in Texas) That way I have carrots and turnips all year long.
My grandchildren and family love to be in the garden. And you don't have to have a big garden to produce a bit of food for the table.
With the prices of everything going up we have to learn to use what we have on hand. Enjoy your garden!
By Marlyne Jeane
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Make A Hooded Towel - Great Gift For Kids
This is a great (and cheap) gift idea for kids. All you need is a towel and a washcloth. In a pinch, I have even used one of our old bath towels and wash cloths when I needed a last minute gift. The cloth and towel should match or coordinate.
Center the washcloth on the center of one of the long sides of the towel. Sew attaching it to the towel. Next, bring the loose ends of the wash cloth together and sew forming the hood.
This takes less than 5 minutes, and you only sew 2 straight lines. Great beginner sewing project. I bought a plain white towel at Wal-Mart this week for $1.20 and a matching washcloth for 75 cents.
You can then embellish your hooded towel with ribbon, rick rack, etc. I also took some scrap fabric and applied heat n bond to the back. I then took a washable marker and traced out my daughters name. I cut out the letters, peeled off the paper backing and fused them right onto her towel. Similiar personalized hooded bath towels sell on other web sites for $20 - $40.
Beth from Iowa
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Recycled Clothing Crafts
Craft uses for old clothing. Post your ideas.
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Softening Metal Wind Chimes
Some chimes seem to be overpowering and much louder than you might want. To lessen the harshness of chimes, stuff a cotton ball into each end of each metal cylinder. The result will be a muted, much softer sound that might be better suited to your ears.
By Patti
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Contest ends October 31, 2005
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New Requests
Removing Candle Wax from Carpet
How can I remove candle wax from my carpet?
Cory
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Guinea Pig That Bites
My guinea pig keeps biting and chewing everything! I have a chew stick for him from the pet store and but he won't chew on that. Any ideas on what has worked for you?
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Killing Weed With Hot Water
If I use hot water to kill my weeds, will it kill my other flowers around the weeds? I am only pouring the hot water on the weeds. How long will it take to kill the weeds.
Thank you,
Beverly Dickerson
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Water Spots on a Micro Fiber Couch
I just got water spots on my brand new microfiber couch. Will they go way? Is there a way to wipe them off?
Kathy
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Puppy Wont Stop Biting People!
My 12-week-old Miniature Pinscher puppy is bite-crazy! Now, I realize that in addition to being a member of a "confident", overexcited breed, my dog is probably also teething at the moment, so I'm working hard to be patient with Bogus.
However, I've tried everything I can think of to discourage him from biting me and other people. Chew toys, ice cubes... everything! Given the choice between his toys and my arm, he eagerly opts for human flesh EVERY TIME! Plus, those chompers of his are SHARP! How can I correct this painful behavior and stop him from becoming an agressive adult dog?
Bubbles
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Dog Knocking Over Water Bowl
My dog has just recently started putting her paw in her water bowl before drinking, then she'll drink a little bit, stick her paw in again, drink a little more, then purposely spill the whole bowl. Then I'll fill it and and a little while later it will happen again.
Kendy
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Storing Metal Coffee Pots
I have my mother's collection of old coffee pots. They are metal and most of them are aluminum. I need to store them in an outbuilding over the winter. How can I store them without doing harm to the metal? I have some plastic tubs I was planning to use. Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks.
Terri
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Are Leather Couches Kid-Friendly?
Our current couch was a hand-me-down from my grandparents, and after 10 years of us owning it, it has about had it! I'm considering buying a new couch in the not so distant future. My aunt had a beautiful leather couch, and I loved it, so I'd be interested in buying one. But, I do have a 2 year old son.
Does anyone have children AND a leather couch, or would I be better off considering a different material? Would a leather couch last for some time? I don't want to put a lot of money into something that isn't going to last. I know leather couches are not cheap! Any suggestions? Thanks!
Lisa
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Permanent Marker on Metal
Does anyone know a way to remove black permanent marker from metal?
bg
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Caring for a Leather Lounge
What can I use to clean (wipe over) a black leather lounge. My daughter has a dog and I have a cat and the smells have permeated the leather. There are no marks or stains just a bit of a smell.
Anne
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Safe Quiz Sites For Kids
My 10 year old daughter loves spelling and math quiz websites. But I am very strict about what she looks at. There are some very weird 'kid sites' out there. Can anyone please advise me of a site that is educational and 'safe'.
We live in New Zealand where we use the metric system, so if anyone can help I would very much appreciate their advice.
Thanks
Ang
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Shake and Bake Chicken
I've tried shake and bake chicken in the oven on aluminum foil and I've tried egg and flouring them in the oven on a cookie sheet but not one time have I had it come out crispy and brown without it sticking to the pan. Does anyone have any advice?
Help!
poopsey
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My Neighbors are Placing Dog Poop In My Yard
I am experiencing the same problems as most of you have discussed regarding dog mess in my yard. The neighbors have no respect for other peoples property and every time we do improvements to our yard or home some type of vandalism occurs. Whether it is smearing dog poop on the patio, deck , tie walls, benches, in the flower beds and on top of one particular plant.
It is quite obvious that it is a human placing the nasty stuff throughout our yard, but it is a matter of catching them red-handed. I have a dog of my own who I clean up after each time it goes. We used to think that there was a really talented dog in the neighborhood to be able to squat and go on top of the tie walls that is 2 1/2 to 3 ft. off the ground (on level ground that is) and to pick the same plant to go on each time.
I can tell it is the neighbors dog mess, it is quite evident because of the size and dog fibers (color of the dogs hair) in the stool. Now they are spreading some type of lure that puts off a scent of dog feces followed by the smell of something dead or decayed. I suppose this is to lure in other strays and other types of wildlife.
I have had it. I know that video is not permissible in court and to take a picture would be impossible. They have a 5 ft fence along the property line between our property leaving a 2 ft. opening to sneak through on one side and then another where high shrubs are. They have made themselves a barrier that protects them from being caught. By the time the neighbors dog sees them and begins to bark giving warning they are already nearing the finish line and on their own property hiding behind several other barriers they have created for themselves to hide around or in.
These are very dirty and ignorant people to say the least. It is the teenage children and their friends, could be the parents too, after all where did the kids learn how to become so stealthy? I tried the suggestions listed here, jars filled with water placed throughout the yard, black pepper mixed with cayenne all around the perimeter, drops of terrible smelling perfumes, chili powder and so on.
This is how I know that it isn't the animal itself entering my yard, but the other heathens bringing it and strategically placing it. Mostly in the same places each time. That is what makes it so obvious, that it is people and not the actual animal leaving the crap behind.
We used to keep our outdoor lights on low and other lights dimmed outside. We recently quit lighting their way thinking they wouldn't be as bold, guess not! I don't think I should have to spend a fortune with motion lights, night vision cameras and other types of deterrents because by the time the lights would come on and we would get out there they would be gone.
We live in a rural neighborhood with not many surrounding houses making their getaway much easier.
Any suggestions?
angel2b
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Home Spa Birthday Party
I was wandering if anyone had any good ideas for a home spa birthday party for 14 year olds. It's all girls and it's a slumber party. We will probally watch some chick flicks and stuff but does anyone have some other ideas of like facials and stuff.
Please help!
Ellen
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Gasoline Odor On From Floor
I just recently removed some vinyl tiles from a wooden floor, it had a lot of glue and I removed it with a lot of paint thinner. After that I sanded the floor and bought a stain and wax from minwax and the the wood soak it all up but it didn't leave it shiny. Now I can't get rid of the gasoline smell on the floor. The whole room smells like gasoline. It's been two weeks and the smell still is there. I haven't closed the windows in two weeks hoping that the smell would go away. I also mopped the floor but that didn't work. What can I do?
Johana from NY
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Ball Point Pen on Leather Ottoman
I'm freaking out... my year old wrote with ink in quite a few areas on my new leather ottoman. I tried aftershave and hairspray and it's taking some of the clear coat off of the leather and leaving a rubbed off white mark.
Any Suggestions?
Laura
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Pet Odors
I need to know the best way to get dog pee odor out of carpet.
Rick Makela
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