Daily Thrifty Tips - August 1, 2006

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Here is a old rake I made into a cup holder. I just painted it, then tied on a few silk vines, put on a bow and THERE IT IS!

Mary from Leroy, IL

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Rosie is 4 years old and is Great Pyrenees. About two and a half years ago, someone passed her on to us.

She likes to play with toys while you are watching her. She is a real show off. When she is not playing she likes to rest on our futon, as you can see.

She visits the local nursing home and VA Home on a regular basis. The residents love her.

By Susie Zoerner from Bay Minette, AL

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To be frugal and healthy, we eat a lot of dried beans and legumes. Each week, I cook up a batch of one of the many different varieties available. The only problem is, beans can take 2-3 hours to cook. In the wintertime, this isn't so much of a problem, as the extra heat from cooking can warm the house and fill it with delicious smells. When we lived in the Northeast, I could let a pot simmer on the woodstove and kill two birds with one stone. Now I find myself in the desert Southwest and in the middle of the summer. I have tried cooking beans in a crock pot outside or in the garage, and that is one solution, also for a while I used a pressure cooker (until my husband broke it by fiddling with it too much!) I believe I have developed a new method which surpasses both of these. It's the cooler method.

First, soak the beans during the day. Before bed, drain them and then put them in the freezer. When the beans freeze, they expand and rupture the proteins that take so much cooking to soften and break down. The next day, thaw them and bring them to a boil on the stove. This only takes about fifteen minutes of having your burner on high. Have a cooler ready that is big enough to hold your pot and have some extra air space around it. I keep my cooler in the garage for this, since it is about 100F in there! Put a trivet in the bottom of the cooler and place the (covered of course) pot of beans inside. Then take an old comforter or something fluffy to add some extra insulation. Depending on the type of beans, they will be ready in three hours or so. I left some in all day till dinner and the pot handles were still hot enough to burn my hands when I took it out at 5pm!

By Claire from Surprise, AZ

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Do you find that whenever you want to use the computer, it's always occupied? Well that was happening with my daughter and I, so I made up a time schedule.

I use it from 6:30 am till 1:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
Dad gets it on Saturdays 1:00 pm till 6:00 pm and Sundays 6:30 am till noon.
Our daughter gets it 1:00 pm till 12:00 am. This way the family doesn't have arguments over this great invention.

P.S. If I happen to be waiting for a response on something and it's not my time, I'll ask if that person can check out my e-mail to see if there's any letter for me.

It's been a lot better around here since I've made the schedule.

By LRP from LWL, MASS

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I love Squash, but it takes so long in the oven so I use the microwave.

Cut in half, remove seeds, place cut side up.

• Acorn Squash (1 1/2 lbs.) 8 to 10 minutes
• Butternut Squash (3 lbs.) 10 to 14 minutes
• Spaghetti Squash (3 lbs.) 10 to 14 minutes

Test for doneness! All Microwaves are not created equal.

By Sherry from Valdosta, Ga.

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In August of 1998, I decided to find an apartment after living in a long term homeless shelter for over 2 years. I was frugal because it was necessary before this and I found how to get a lot of things for free. While in the shelter, I attended school to upgrade and improve my job skills. I took loans and worked in a language lab for expenses. I only had to pay about $75 a month for rent and pay for my food and transportation expenses.

During those 2+ years, I found and bought a lot of household and personal things that I needed. I walked out with only 1 suitcase of personal things from the past. I was 58 years old and starting over in obtaining things I needed for independent living. I found clothing from donations from the shelter, went to thrift stores, yard sales, church rummage sales (my favorite), and checking out and taking discarded items on junk day. I acquired clothing and some small household items but I had no furniture.

In October 1998, I moved into a low income senior housing apartment. I slept on the floor for 2 weeks until I got a sleeper sofa. Very slowly, I've acquired a kitchen set, a full size bed (a donation) dressers, shelf units, trunks, my first Christmas tree with lights, shelves, bedding, clothing, food (unwanted commodities), waste baskets, decorative items, glassware, plants, potting soil, shopping carts, baskets, stools, office chair, my latest free item, an office desk and other items too numerous to mention.

In 1999, I found a job with the City of Milwaukee as a clerk in the police department. I just retired about 2 weeks ago and now have to take my frugality skills to a higher level. My skills at finding things free have enabled me to live comfortably. At this time, I don't look at the junk anymore because I have too much as it is. If I had to, I would get involved in Freecycle which they didn't have 8 years ago.

I've learned over the past 8 years that if you willing to look at possibilities without preconceived ideas you can have a comfortable life without spending a lot of cash. I am still a student of frugality because it is a challenge for me. In the past 8 years, I've lived frugally but not all the time. It is a lot easier now and there seems to a clarification in my mentality about what is important and what is not.

There is almost always a cheaper alternative to what you are doing and creativity is important in solving financial problems whether they are large or small.

mmgarren from Milwaukee, WI

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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I have a tip for all of us thrifty parents, whether by choice or because it's necessary! My son's 3rd birthday is this week, and to be honest, he doesn't need a lot of new toys! We're on a limited budget, but there's a great children's museum in Milwaukee that my son just loves. It would cost about $20 for us with admission and parking costs. This doesn't include the cost of the gas to get there though--it's about a 30 minute drive for us. So it can get a little expensive!

What I did was ask my parents and sister if they'd like to go in together on getting my son a membership for his birthday instead of a toy. He's young, so he won't notice that he didn't get a material gift, and the children's museum is educational to boot! They bought the membership ahead of time, so on my son's birthday, we're going to celebrate by playing at the children's museum. All we'll need to pay for is the gas money to drive there. Now we can take advantage of the special programs that they have too, since we don't have to worry about the expense of admission and parking. It truly is a gift that will keep on giving all year!

By Lisa from WI from Kenosha, WI

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When my second husband and I married, I had two children and he had three. Since his wife had passed away, we raised all 5 of them. Needless to say, with a family that size, one must find as many ways to be frugal as possible. One thing I started doing was to make out a menu before doing my weekly shopping. I made my shopping list accordingly. That way I didn't buy more than I needed. I mostly cooked from scratch (including goodies) and shopped only once a week to save money on gas.

By Judy from Birmingham, Al.

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Q Tips can be used many things such as:

1. Applying make up
2. Applying medication to sore area.
3. Painting for the kids.
4. To clean hard to reach areas.
5. To take off nail polish.
6. To clean computer keys.
7. Finger painting child's face.

By Sharon from McGehee, Arkansas

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While at a book store, I found some beautiful wrapping paper. The one I chose was several rows of cats which were black with red designs on them, with a dark red background. I have framed this paper within a black frame, and it's hanging in my bedroom now. Very inexpensive and different.

By Joy from Culbertson, MT

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My kids don't like onions, especially the texture. I found a way to put them in anything and they never know! I put them in a food processor and when they look like mashed potato, they are ready. Then I saute them in olive oil and add to sautéed meat and other veggies or any sauce!

By Debbie from Columbia, SC

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I had the dishwasher repair guy here again this AM. He told me that the little blocks of dishwasher detergent (tabs) have Jet Dry already added to them and if you normally put Jet Dry in your washer and use these blocks, hazing of glassware will occur.

Also, new dishwashers coming out have little grids in the detergent cup area so you can not use these blocks (indicative of how many hazing complaints they have generated).

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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Children will soon be starting back to school and unfortunately head lice are a fact of life. But I learned that putting hair conditioner (the cheaper the better) in the hair every night prevents the critters from laying their eggs, they prefer clean hair. So hair conditioner every night and wash it out in the morning and you should keep the cooties at bay.

By CHEAPERTHANCHEAP from BOSTON, MA

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.

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I have honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelons growing in my small garden. They are doing great except there are ants and little white gnats all over them! What can I use to get rid of these pests? Any suggestions as long as they aren't toxic.

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Thanks,
Gayle from Queen Creek, AZ

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I am looking for a Cottage Potato Recipe. My Aunt used to make one that had potatoes, green peppers, cheese and bread crumbs. I keep finding recipes with cottage cheese but I don't believe that it had cottage cheese in it.

Thanks!

Jen from PA

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Does anyone know how to get access to www.amazingrates.com? This site has the most complete and helpful listing of CD rates and other banking information specific to one's own locality. The site used to be open to everyone. Now a sign in screen appears with no indication of how one registers.

Charles from Rockville, MD

I also want to know how to access www.amazingrates.com.Now you get some screen telling you to enter a password. This site used to be good for rates on CDs. In the year past, it has been sporadically accessible. I would like to hear from anyone about this website.

Hiro from Portland, OR

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I live in the North Island of New Zealand and have a very large vegetable garden which with our winter becomes overrun with kikuyu grass and weed. I DO NOT want to use chemicals to rid myself of these ghastly weeds and would love suggestions as to how to kill a lot of weeds at one time and one spray. Kikuyu is an extremely hardy weed and very difficult to kill. As I do not like chemicals because of the residual factor in my vegetables I would be very grateful for any tips. Thank you for your suggestions.

Hardiness Zone:

Ang from New Zealand

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I need directions for biscuits and gravy using bacon grease instead of sausage grease. I try to make it like my grandma use to but mine always taste too floury. She only used about 1 teaspoon of grease then added a flour and water mixture to thicken. I do all of that but all you can taste in mine is the flour!

Debbie from Detroit, MI

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Does anybody know how to make your own butter flavor crisco? I have a recipe that calls for that, but have regular shortening, and don't have the money to invest in the butter flavor one. What would the ratio be of butter to shortening to make this? Thank you in advance for suggestions.

Janice from Illinois

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I'm in Toronto, Canada. I just bought a house that has cherry trees, apples, plums planted but not in good shape. Being a novice, I am struggling to read up or seek advice from experts like you.

1. Cherry trees blossomed well but the fruit as it ripened (blackened) covered up in fungus. Even those without fungus on top had a small white insect inside them. What measures could betaken to cure/prevent such in next season on the same trees?

2. The plum tree has the base almost rotten away. It gave fruit this year but fruits are not ripening.

3. The grape vine has bunches of green grapes with some of them going dark.

Appreciate your time and nay help you could provide,

Thanks,
Nusrat from Toronto, Canada

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I planted tomatoes from seeds in May. The plants have lots of blossoms but there is only one green tomato on only one of the 7 plants. Is there something that I should do to stimulate the plants? Thanks for your suggestions.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Josie from Tulsa, Oklahoma

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I need help from you crafty people out there. My husband accidently knocked the bottom off of the old dutch maid cleanser can. Now I am remembering catalogs that have sold secret banks made out of off the wall containers before, like cleanser cans and such. Unfortunately, this one is too bent to use, but its got good graphics and would be neat if I could have a stash of something hidden away in it. I need help figuring out a way to jerri-rig it. I think some kind of U shaped spring glued to the bottom that you could then slide the bottom in place would work. But I can't figure out what to use for that U shaped spring. Please people help me figure this one out. It would be neat to have this, and wouldn't be so obvious as our fireproof box we have, that the previous one was already broken into! (and consequently ruined) Please put on your thinking caps and reply asap. Thanks a million.

Lori from Marion

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Is there a way to paint vinyl flooring to make it look like ceramic tile? What are some affordable ideas for flooring. Anyone?

Debbye from Kimberling City

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How do I clean candle wax off wooden furniture?

Kathy from Birmingham UK

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Product: Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner

Manufacturer: Scrubbing Bubbles - S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

Request: Has anyone tried this yet? Does it really work? Thanks for the info!

Chrissy from Odessa, MO

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I'm looking for some easy stir fry recipes. I've tried some store bought sauces but they are kinda spendy and would love to learn to make these dishes on my own. In addition, we don't like some of the sauces.

Also, have you tried the frozen stir fry veggies and are they any good? Which kind? We like chicken, beef, seafood and pork so if you have a recipe you enjoy, please share. Thank you!

Seemenow from Oregon

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I have started to paint my laminated countertops. I read somewhere to use oil-based paint because it was more durable and smoother, so I used an oil-based primer, then I put oil-based gray enamel on it because it said to use a littler color for base. I want it to look like black marble, but now I don't know if I can put the black enamel over the oil-based grey enamel and then streak white enamel through it to create the marble look. Does anyone have any ideas? Help.

Debbye from Kimberling City

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