Daily Thrifty Tips - September 9, 2008

Here are the contest winners for last week.

Photo Contest Winner

Recycled Gazebo
By Cathy from Stanwood, WA

Cathy shares numerous pictures of the beautiful gazebo she made with recycled materials. She posted more photos in the feedback section so be sure to scroll down the page.

Pet Contest Winner

Gooding and Ducklings (Muscovy Duck)
By Shawna from Paris, TN

It's not often we get pet ducks posted. Shawna shares a great picture of Gooding surrounded by her ducklings.

Tip Contest Winners

Frugal Meals for College Students
By Madaine from Nova Scotia, Canada This timely post has great tips and recipes for college students.

School Lunch Tips
By Linda from Fort Smith, AR

Linda shares a list of good tips, it also sparked a discussion from people who work at schools about how little most kids are eating. Make sure that your children are actually eating a balanced lunch at school and not throwing it away or trading it with other students. Breakfast and lunch are very important to give children the energy they need to learn.

Recipe Contest Winner

Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
By Deeli from Richland, WA

Deeli offers a new twist on mashed potatoes and it sounds interesting and delicious.

Thank you to everyone that took time to submit something. Feel free to share you tips and recipes on one the contest pages for a chance to win.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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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.

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Keeping a Lighter Where You Can Find It

This is handy for people like me who always misplace a lighter or it falls in the couch. It's nice to know there is at least one lighter in the house that is going to be in the same place each time I want it!

I don't super glue the magnet on because when the lighter is empty I like to reuse the magnet strip for something else!

By Melody_Yesterday

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The Keebler Tree

This is a tree in the yard of my son's employer's yard - they call it the Keebler Tree.

By Trudy from Springfield, IL

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Craft Project: Paper Sand Dollars

The kids will think they're still at the beach after making these easy sand dollars.

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Wrap Metal Headboard To Match Decor

This is not only decorating, but crafty as well. I had an older style futon for a bed frame, and it was black shiny metal. Not conducive to a nice lilac and mint green bedroom. I had a bedspread that I loved but was a square and never fit on the bed, so I cut it into strips and "wrapped" the entire bed frame in it. I didn't do the side supports, but did the head and foot boards all the way to the floor. It's a cheap way to decorate, and only takes some hot glue and some fabric and some time. I made sure I always glued in the back wrap, so in case the glue came through the fabric it wouldn't show. It's a nice effect and didn't cost me anything!

By Sandra from Salem OR

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Rosalita (Chihuahua)

Rosalita is 3 ish. She is a Chihuahua. I got her 2 years ago from a dog rescue.

She likes to play with fuzzy, little squeaky toys. She hates her baths.

By Ramona from Granby, MA

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• Tip Contest
  Submit a Tip or Recipe!

• Photo Contest
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These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!

• My Frugal Life
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Tips for a Small Laundry Room

With 5 in our family and a small laundry room, this can be a challenge for us. The kids each have a basket in their rooms. Then there's a 'general' basket in the bathroom. Everyone brings their baskets down on certain days (Mondays and Fridays) When I do the laundry, I hang it outside. The trick that I have might take a bit longer but it cuts out a step for me.

When laundry is dry, I take it off the line, person by person. I'll take"A" laundry all down and fold it as I do it, then "B" and so on. This way I can get some extra exercise walking from one area of lines to another. Then when I get back in the house each person's basket is place with their clean laundry in it for them to put away. This has worked for me for several years and it keeps my tiny area free.

I only use my homemade soap so I don't have a bunch of other bottles sitting around. If I need something extra, it's close by in the kitchen. Having 2 football players, I do have to let their white pants soak overnight in a bucket but that gets put out of the way. Hope this helps some.

By Nancy from Troy, OH

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Craft: Keeping Cool Tube

Materials

• New disposable diaper
• 45x3 1/4 inch fabric
• Sewing machine
• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup hydrogen peroxide

Instructions

Take a diaper and take apart the layers. In the middle is cotton type material, it contains microscopic crystals, that holds moisture.

Take a piece of fabric, 45 by 3 1/4 inches, fold in half to wrong sides together with 1/2 inch seam allowance stitch the full length of the fabric to construct a long tube. Turn right side out 6 inches from 1 end and stitch across to seal. Stuff in the cotton from the diaper, trying to distribute evenly, then stitch across 6 inches from the opposite end.

To hydrate the material inside the tube: In a large ziploc bag, pour 2 cups cool distilled water and 1/3 cup hydrogen peroxide. Place your diaper cotton stuffed tube in this bag, the cotton will expand holding the liquid, it will stay cool. Place this on the back of your neck. As it draws the heat from your body it starts to warm. Just turn it over to the cooler side. This will eventually dry out. Each time you need to rehydrate, add 1/3 cup of hydrogen peroxide to distilled water before rehydrating. This will foam up, it's killing any bacteria that has transferred to the cool tube (if you do not use the peroxide it will start to smell.) Don't worry, it will not bleach clothing. At the end of the hot season, just hang it out to dry completely or just make a new one next year. I suggest making 1 for dirty jobs, gardening or washing the car. You can keep them in the refrigerator to get them really cool.

By Babbie from Lemon Grove CA

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Make Chew Bones Interesting Again

Keeping those rawhide chew bones interesting: A clerk at the pet store told me that instead of throwing them out, she rubs a small amount of peanut butter on cleaned doggie rawhide chew bones, puts them in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight, and in the morning the dog acts as though it's a brand new chew.

I haven't tried this yet, but it's one more idea to keep those expensive chew bones looking good to a dog that has lost interest. Just watch out for the carpet - this may be more of an outdoors treat.

Source: A store clerk.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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Store Cleaning Supplies In Your Car For Idle Moments

Store a small bag of car cleaning supplies in your trunk, such as empty bags for litter, car interior wipes, and even a roll of paper towel and window cleaner. I find tidying the car a good use of time when I am waiting on a passenger during an appointment. Those of us who share the family car with our teen drivers know how easily clutter accumulates!

By Kathy from Western Pennsylvania

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Use Salt and Dawn to Kill Fleas

To kill fleas in your home, put down lots of salt in your carpet. Wait 24 hours and vacuum. If you do this every other day, your home will be free of fleas. You have to keep up this or they will come back. Plus I bathe my dog and cats with dish detergent like Dawn once a week or so. It kills fleas on contact. Its cheaper than those expensive dog shampoos.

By boomboomkitty from Lynchburg, OH

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Use a Pumice Stone to Remove Fabric Pills

Instead of using a lint shaver, try using a block of pumice stone. Those nasty tiny pills, and small specs will disappear onto the stone. It's easy to clean the stone that once helped the rough spots on your feet.

While getting ready for the fall and cold months ahead, my electric blanket was matted with small knots and pills all over. I folded the blanket into 4 quarters and used my pumice stone in these small amounts. It didn't take long before the entire blanket was pill free and looked almost new again.

By Sandra from Montvale, NJ

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Organizing With Shoe Boxes for a Move

I recently moved. I was VERY disorganized but am getting better. The one thing I found out is that Target stores are more then happy to let you have empty shoe boxes. I drove my family nuts I had shoes boxes all over. As I found something; pens, pencils, screwdrivers, jewelry, whatever; it went in the appropriate box as I filled them I taped it up and marked the top and one side where it went and what was in it. My family on the other hand had the throw in one large box and sort it out later theory. Well as I moved across county all I had to do was place the box in the right area and I was done. My boys are still sorting in their large boxes. Now they are not laughing in fact they said they should have listened. Get all sizes from babies to boots, you'll be surprised how much can fit in.

By Doreen from Bartow, FL

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Use Floor Wax To Keep Silver Shiny

This is a great tip on how to keep your silver polished.While visiting the "Juliette Gordon Low" historical mansion in Savannah last month, we found out how they keep all the silver (lots and lots!)looking so beautiful. They told us they polished it as usual then put a coat of "future floor wax" over it and it just keeps on shining. I have never heard of this, but if it works for them, I'm going for it. Obviously it wouldn't be for things you use, but for all that silver just sitting around tarnishing, why not!

Source: Information was given to me by the Representative at the "Juliette Gordon Low" historic museum in Savannah. Juliette founded the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912 and opened her home up for the meetings. The home is incredible

By Jackie from Orlando, Florida

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Save Used Coffee And Tea For Compost

Do not throw away your daily coffee grounds or tea from tea bags. Mulch or compost them.

Plants, particularly acid loving plants, love them. I disperse them methodically around the yard by shaking them out as they are excellent organic matter and add a low dose of nitrogen.

If I have leftover coffee in the pot or tea, I dilute it and pour it out in the yard. I just alternate dispersal areas.

Plants like azaleas , camellias, and blueberries particularly like the coffee, not to mention your grass.

Read up on it. Do not send that organic matter to the dump.

Source: I have always mulched with my coffee and tea, but listened to a good program on it on the radio show, "You Bet Your Garden" and the show mainly covered coffee.

By Rika from Brunswick, Georgia

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Canning Cherry Tomatoes

Hubby and I always can cherry or Roma tomatoes. Wash all tomatoes to make sure they are dirt free. Boil a med/large pot of water. Fill one part of sink with cold water. Drop tomatoes into boiling water for approx 15 seconds, take out and put in sink of cold water. Get a big bowl to put all of tomatoes in after you peel the skin from them after taking from cold water. The skins should comes off easily, sometimes by even pinching them at the butt. Fill bowl up with peeled maters, then stuff in canning jars. Once each jar is full, add 1/4 tsp. of salt and can as normal. Hubby and I have a sytem down on doing this and it flows so easy. Have fun.

Source: This is the prcedure that hubby and I have done for many years and works great.

By Julie from Liberty, NC

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Redying T-shirts

I'm trying to redye my black t-shirts. The shirts are not plain black, I don't own any plain shirts. So the real question is, is it possible to redye them myself or have them professionally done somewhere, so that the pictures/words on the shirt won't get ruined?

Ernie from San Jose, CA

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Buying Bulk Canned Goods

I've Googled this until I cannot see straight! Is it cheaper to buy the big cans of fruits and vegetables like at Costco, Sam's, Groc Isle with the big Food Service sizes? If so, then is it ok/safe to freeze any leftovers? Any advice would be appreciated!

Donna

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Starter For "30 Day Cake"

My mother in law, God rest her soul, used to make a "30 day cake". Everyone loved it and I would like to make it for the family for the holidays. However, it needs a starter and I have no idea how to "start" the starter! If anyone out there can help I would love to hear from you.
Thanks.

Sue from Morrow, Ohio

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Selling Pine Cones

Where can I sell my pine cones? I live in Canada in British Columbia in the Okanagan. I have access to a lot of pine cones and want to start selling them in their natural state. Can you help suggest any place that buys them as I am getting frustrated with the internet and can't access the right info. Thanks so much!

Sue

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Noise Device to Repel Cat

My neighbor's cat runs loose in my backyard . She poops, is ruining my garden, and kills the birds. I have spoken to the owners several times. I don't see the cat for a few days then she's back. I have even phoned them to come get their cat.

Is there a noise device which will keep the cat out of my backyard? Or something to put in the garden to keep her away? I'm not mad at the cat, she's just doing what cats do. I'm mad at the irresponsible pet owners.

Steven from Ottawa, ON

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Does Honey Make Hair Shinier?

I was wondering if honey really helps your hair to be shinier? If so, how much should I use? Also do you know anything else that makes your hair shinier? Do avocados really work?

Tori from Martinsburg, WV

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Stone Coasters

Do absorbent stone coasters really absorb all that much condensation? I have some cheap rubber coasters from Target with a raised rim that catches the water (I really like them), but when I pick up the glass of iced tea, it drips on days when we have certain weather. I have to be extra careful not to drip on my textbooks.

I need to be concentrating on my studies rather than on my dripping glass! I was thinking of buying the flat stone coasters and placing one inside of the rubber coaster with the rim. What do you think?

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Mildew Stain On Satin

I have a mildew stain on a red satin shirt of my daughters and I have tried everything to try to get rid of it. It wouldn't be that big of a deal if I could find another one like it but I can't. If any one has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Candice from Summer Shade, KY

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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

My Frugal Life: Forced To Be Frugal

Everyone starts their frugal journey for their own personal reasons. Either it is to simplify or their hand is forced. I, for one, fell into the latter group. After my now ex-husband walked out never to be seen again, leaving me with two children, I realized that I had to figure out how to make life work. My one child has a severe disability and the other was a toddler at the time. I went from making a very good wage to making it work on less than a $1000 a month in 24 hours. A bit of a shock to say the least!

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