Daily Thrifty Tips - July 28, 2006

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The puppy pads that are available now are such an easy start to housetraining. You can begin then keep moving the pad closer to the door. Even take a pad outdoors to the designated area. So much easier than shreds and shreds of newspapers. I do wish they were a little more absorbent though.

By Laurie from Midcoast Maine

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Grandchildren loving the garden and the resulting ride.

By Teresa from Stuarts Draft, Va

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Baron is my 10 year old dachshund. I got him in June from a lady in Kennett Square who does rescues. He likes to eat, bark and run -- did I mention EAT?

He gets along great with my other two older dachshunds and they all love to run along the fence together and bark at anyone walking past. I sent a picture to the lady I got him from and she couldn't believe he was that "skinny" guy that she gave me 6 weeks ago.

By Betty from Philadelphia, PA

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You know that little plastic sheet that comes in the bacon package? I sanitize and wash it in hot, soapy water to use as a handy cutting-board protector. I use it on paper plates so I can cut without shredding the plate. I place it between hamburger patties or marinated steak waiting for the grill. And I also place it between burgers and steak before I freeze, allowing for easy separation. These plastic sheets can be washed and reused many times.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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Have you ever gone to a website that didn't have a search function available? When this happens, be sure to try Google's handy site search feature. It will only have pages that Google has in their index, but since Google tries to index everything, it's usually pretty effective.

Example

site:thriftyfun.com 401k

The above search will find all instances of "401k" that Google finds on ThriftyFun.com.

Here's another example:

That will find all the pages that google has indexed on CNN.com that contain the words "gas prices".

Screenshot:

By Fisher Swanson

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When working with acrylics, you can use a (washed) waxed box such as the ones frozen foods come in, as a palatte. I have used cut down plastic 2 liter milk containers for palates as well. No cost, no cleanup.

By Doggy from TX

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We save a lot of money - especially in the summer - by carrying around our own drinks! Just fill up a to-go cup with iced tea/diet coke or your favorite before you walk out the door so you have drinks on the road. It saves a lot when you think that drinks cost $1 or more and they are mostly ice! - We do stop occasionally for drinks - but most for the ICE and then fill up later with extra supplies from the car! (And see if you can get the large plastic cups - they are nice and large and can be used a lot before they crumble.)

By pamphyila from L.A CA

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Friends and family have called me a tightwad or a cheapskate. I prefer to be called "frugal"! About 12 years ago, my husband and I came to the bright conclusion that we had too much debt (after only 3 years of marriage!) We also realized, given our current debt to income ratio, we would NEVER be out of debt. So, we got a consolidation loan to cure our problem. Our cure didn't work because, as a lot of people do, we continued to accrue debt. It was growing quickly! Our second problem was that I desperately wanted to quit work and stay at home with our baby daughter.

By this point we were coming to the realization that we needed to do some things drastically different! So, we cut up all of our credit cards and tried to pay down our debts as much as we could (we started using Mary Hunt's Rapid Debt Repayment Plan). I was learning that paying down debt is like dieting: It's great to lose weight but if you don't CONTINUE your new healthy eating and exercising, the weight will come right back on (and usually twice as much!) It was at this time that I realized getting out of debt and STAYING debt free was more than a budget on paper but it was a heart issue; learning about contentment, thankfulness and frugality.

We were able to get completely debt free in about 3 years (with only my husband's income). We lived on A LOT less and learned to love it! During those 3 years, I read all of Mary Hunt's books, "The Tightwad Gazette" by Amy Dacyczyn, and "Living On Less and Liking It More" by Maxine Hancock. When someone has had a negative behavior, they can't just stop it and continue living like they had before. It helps to have something new, a new positive habit to replace the bad. That, my friends, is exactly what becoming frugal did for me!

At first, it was a game (How much money can I save with coupons this week). However, it quickly became a lifestyle. Since we have become debt free, we have built our own home in the country with acreage. We raise pigs, our own chickens, and we have our own orchard and garden. I've always loved to garden but recently I read "Growing Your Own Groceries" by Kimberley Eddy. This book was very encouraging and informative on how to grow and can enough food for your family for a year. We have 4 children, so saving on groceries is a constant challenge for me. Leaving the grocery store, knowing I've only spent $75, gives me a greater high than I ever received from charging stuff at the mall!

One major tip I have about being frugal is: Give away a portion of all that you make. When you give, it always comes back as a blessing! Don't confuse being frugal with being stingy or selfish. Instead, being frugal frees up money so you can give more away. Once you become a frugal minded person, there is no turning back. I know some people may roll their eyes, thinking one can go too far in being a tightwad. I agree with Maxine Hancock in "Living on Less and Liking it More", she says: "We sit in our living rooms and look into the unseeing eye of our TV sets and see not just individuals but entire cities and nations going bankrupt. And at the same time, we look into the empty eyes of swollen-bellied children of famine who are somehow, impossibly, still alive. And we know that somewhere, in some way, we are all personally responsible."

But just sitting around with vague guilt feelings haunting us is hardly a sufficient response. We need to seriously reevaluate our whole set of life goals and to ask ourselves, "Where are we now? And where are we going?" We must put to ourselves the question worded by World Vision director, W. Stanley Mooneyham, "Is my life style supporting a famine somewhere in the world today? If we are, indeed, people not content to sit back and wait in helplessness for the breakers of present and future shock to overwhelm us, we need to become actively involved in adjusting our goals, expanding our ethic, and moderating our life-style to meet the needs of this changing age."

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn spent 7 years at a Soviet prison camp; the world would be a better place if we would follow his advice. He says, "What about the main thing in life, all its riddles? If you want I'll spell it out for you right now. Do not pursue what is illusory- property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves, decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life - don't be afraid of misfortune and do not yearn after happiness. Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub your eyes and purify your heart - and prize above all else in the world those who love you and wish you well."

I love my frugal life!

By Christy Brashers

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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If you can't afford to go to a day spa and would like some pampering, check to see if there is a local cosmetology school near you. Not only do they perform hair cutting, styling and coloring, but they also do parafin wax, manicures, pedicures, facials, eyebrow waxing, etc. The prices are very inexpensive. The school near me offers a free $6 service for any paid service of $6 and up.

Since I am student at the local college, I get a student discount on top of it! So for a facial and brow wax, I pay $4. The wax costs $10 at my salon and the facial would cost $28. That's a savings of over $30 for me. So it pays to see what the local cosmo schools are offering.

By Meari from IL

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To keep tomato horn worms off my tomatoes I plant marigolds next to them. I plant tomatoes in groups of four with two to three marigolds in between them. In twenty plus years of gardening I have only had three horn worms I had to remove.

By Steve from Dorr, Michigan

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On the Hewlett Packer web site: http://www.hp.com/go/activitycenter

There are TONS of FREE things to do. Scrapbook pages, T-shirt transfers, Computer Classes, etc. It is definitely well worth looking into. You could spend the day downloading and reading and WOW. You'll love it!

By Kelly Thompson from Mission, TX

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My kids are grown, in fact, I am a greatgrandmother. When my kids were school age and younger, I made a lot of their clothes. Some leftovers went into quilts. But once I made shirts for the three boys, bought same type of material in different colors. Had lots leftover so I decided to make myself a blouse, The back was white, the front was light blue on one side and dark blue on the other, the yokes, were red and yellow, the sleeves were green, and the collar was brown. I called it my clown shirt. I could wear it with anything. I wore it till I actually wore the collar off of it. I loved that shirt.

By Linda L from Bloomington, Illinois

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Take an interestingly shaped vase or bottle and make sure it is cleaned out really well inside and out with soap and water. Dry it thoroughly. Then take a roll of regular masking tape start tearing it into small little pieces all the same size - not necessarily the same shape, but close to the same size. They must be torn, NOT cut.

Then start placing these pieces on the bottle or vase. Start covering an area by only layering the edges of the pieces a very little bit. These edges are going to bump up a little bit and provide a texture for a treatment that comes later on. After you have completely covered the bottle or vase and this takes quite a bit of time and patience, it is now time for the leathering process.

Depending on the color you desire, choose the color of shoe polish you want your finished project to look like, either a light color or dark color. Rub the shoe polish with a soft cloth all over the taped project GENTLY! You don't want to rub the tape off, but you have to get it into the cracks and crevices of the taped pieces. You might have to go over some places several times. Just do it carefully. Be sure to rub off any excess.

Then seal with a spray sealer - either with a matte or a glossy finish whichever is your preference. You can now display the bottle or vase by itself or with a lovely dried or silk flower arrangement.

By Kelly Thompson from Mission, TX

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You can use makeup to supplement you sunscreen! Zinc oxide is an ingredient in most foundations - the same as in sun block. So I use inexpensive stick foundation where I freckle in addition to my sunscreen. (I got the idea from some sun-tinted zinc oxide sunscreen I ran across.) It has the extra advantage of being relatively sweat-proof. And it's so thrifty!

By pamphyila from L.A., CA

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Sandpaper

I am old enough to remember when knife sharpeners used to come to the DOOR. Not anymore - but you can sort of sharpen your scissors by cutting through sandpaper until the edge is restored. Not ideal - but better than dull scissors and very thrifty.

By pam from L.A., CA

Steel Wool

You can sharpen scissors easily by cutting through a few pieces of steel wool.

By Robin from Washington, IA

SOS Pads

I also use my scissors to cut SOS pads. It saves not having to waste a whole SOS pad as well as sharpens my scissors.

By Tawnda

Aluminum Foil

I've found that the best way to sharpen my scissors is to cut aluminum foil a few times after cleaning the blades with alcohol!

By Michlee from Glen Morgan, WV

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.

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I am looking for advice and tips from anyone who has ever physically moved a mobile home from one location to another piece of land. Specifically, what kind of prep work do I have to do with the household items and furniture on the interior of the mobile home? I know that breakable items would need to be removed before the move, but I'm not sure what else must be done, like anchoring down appliances, etc. The mobile home in question is a single-wide 12 X 70 foot building and would likely be moving less than 10 miles total. Any helpful advice on this subject will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
truerblue

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I live in the southwest and I have roses in my yard. They were doing good for a while then when the summer heat hits they really go numb. I was told to put coffee grounds and epsom salt on them, well I did this and now they are turning brown, the leaves are brown and yellow. They are on a drip watering system, so they get watered twice a day. What went wrong?

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Gayle from Queen Creek, AZ

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I have been growing sunflowers for a few years. The first two years I planted them, I had great success. I had tall sunflowers with the large heads and many seeds to eat. But the last few years I can't get those large heads anymore. The sunflowers grow tall and then the tops of the plant branch off and make several small flowers rather than one big one. I am buying new seeds every year. This year I chose Mammoth. What am I doing wrong?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Monica from Moab, UT

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I know it is a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but I like to be prepared. I am in a pickle this year! I like to make homemade things, or at least things with a homemade touch. We usually spend $10-15 on our nieces and nephew. This year, for the nieces I am buying them each a pair of slippers, then filling them with foot lotion, salts, pumice stone, etc. and wrapping it up all nice. But... I have NO CLUE what to do for my 7 year old nephew. I know he is into video games (that is ALL he does) but we are trying to give him other opportunities. Does anyone have suggestions?

Jerusha from Fredericton, NB

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I have Sweet Potato Squash planted in a large pot. They are making plenty of flowers but no squash. No bees?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Deborah from Lafayette, LA

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How do I remove paint from my white car without ruining the finish? One mark is from my children's swing (yellow) and the other one (black) from the garage door.

Thank you!
Carol from South Africa

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Peaches, peaches, peaches! We have tons of peaches this year. I have frozen, canned, made cobblers, served fresh, any other ideas? I hate to see all of them go to waste. I have had a couple of people take me up on picking some, but isn't it ironic you can't hardly even give them away!

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Cheryl from Peebles, Oh
http://www.2ewenique.com

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I recently planted one of those "flower carpets" and ended up with very tall sunflower plants. I love them, but don't know anything about growing them. Do I cut the plants back at some point, will they come back into bloom every year, etc?

Hardiness Zone: 11

BARBARA from LONG BEACH, CA

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Any ideas on a grandma shower. My boss is becoming a grandma for the 1st time, we'd like to have a special lunch for her. Any ideas on unique gifts to give her?

Kathrynn from CLW, FL

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I have a micorfiber couch and my son's friend sat on it with a wet bathing suit. It is soaked and smells like chlorine. How do I get the smell out and will it stain? Its brand new. HELP

Randi from North Attleboro, MA

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I have cans of pork and beans and need recipes for these. I am tired of the same old "open can and heat and eat". I would like to know how i can use these up. The were cans given to me, (I would not buy them myself). Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.

jmz2005 from Illinois

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Is dog poop bad for grass?

Hardiness Zone: 8b

Ranjiv from Dublin

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This is my first time growing gourds some of them are starting to turn white. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Karon from Paxton, IL

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I recently heard that you can make your own ice pack by putting water and alcohol in a zip lock bag and freezing. does anyone know what the formula is?

Kathy from New London, CT

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My zucchini is being eaten by some kind of worm coming up through the main root, killing the plant and then moves on to the next. What can be done?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Susan from Leon, Iowa

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Selecting High-Quality Greens:

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Cleveland, Ohio is a busy city with many things for you to enjoy with your friends and loved ones that won't cost you a dime. For example, The Cleveland Institute of Music (216-791-5000) holds many free concerts and special events for both children and adults.

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We recently published a poll asking what features users would like to see on ThriftyFun and a new search tool was high on the list. Up until today, we had used Google to search this site, but as our site has grown it seems to be less and less effective. We are happy to announce our new search tool which searches our database directly. It also allows users to refine their search by topic. It's new, so if you encounter any problems, or you really like it, please let us know on our Contact Form.

You can give the new search tool a test drive by using the form in upper right hand corner of every page or by visiting the link below.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/search.ldml

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If you grow edibles long enough, you're bound to run into some problems. Many these problems can be avoided (or at least overcome) with proper cultivation techniques. Unfortunately, once in a while problems crop up that are difficult to diagnose and not easily remedied. Whether one plant is having a problem, or a whole crop, here's a list of some common problems in the vegetable garden and what causes them.

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Water conservation is an ecologically responsible choice, but can it also be an economically sound choice? Of course it can! Whether you pay for a city water bill every few months or the electric bill for a well water pump, the less water you use the less money you pay.

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