Daily Thrifty Tips - August 4, 2006

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This tree is actually a poinsetta plant; it was a Christmas gift from my family a few years ago and I trained it as a tree form. It has full green lush leaves on it and it is a conversation piece on my back deck that it sets on. I have a small nativity scene at the base near the trunk of the "tree" and an ornament "J-o-y" hanging on one of its branches.

By WandaJo from Collierville, Tennessee

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This is ThriftyFun's Maggie (Chow Mix) with her favorite toy, "Old Navy" bones. She doesn't really like any other toys but loves these, especially when they are new. She will chase them and chew on them. We buy them (they change styles for every holiday) as they go on clearance so usually only cost about $1-2 each.

Maggie is a rescue dog found on Petfinder through the Northwest Chow Rescue two year ago. She is a wonderful dog although we didn't know anything about her past. She had been tied to an animal shelter in Oregon. They found her in the morning when they came to work.

By Susan from ThriftyFun

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This is two of 15 night-blooming cereus' that bloomed on Jul 18th (6) and Jul 19th (9). The plant is quite large and about 30 years old. The blooms last only one night, are very fragrant and are spectacular! This plant normally blooms from mid-July through the end of August.

By J Guice from Diamondhead, MS

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My daughter Gracie looking up at the sky signing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"! She was having a good day at the park. By Misti Breuer from Cathage Tennessee

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Peel cobs, wrap loosely in paper towel. Microwave on high 3 minutes for 1 cob. Steam is very hot. Be careful with the paper towel. Salt and pepper and butter You will love microwaved corn on cob. I only do one at a time. Try it, you'll love it!

By Sharon L Martin from Canada

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Here's a tip for your restless pet. If it's nap or night time, and your pet won't sleep or rest quietly, put on very soft music in the room your pet is located. Remember not too loud and make sure it is soft relaxing music. Your pet will sleep like a baby.

By Sharon Pierce from McGehee, AR

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Broccoli stems can be sliced and used in coleslaw, a stir fry, or even in a salad. Celery leaves can also be used in a salad. When making stuffed mushrooms, dice stems and put back into mushroom. When making stuffed peppers, keep crowns for something else.

By LRP from LOWELL, MASS

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Bottled spaghetti sauce is a little more expensive than canned, but I love the convenience of having a recloseable lid. To save money, I have one old sauce bottle I wash out each time it gets empty, then I fill it with a new can of sauce. The amount is just right and presto! I have a lid!

By Carrie Snider from Yakima, WA

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How good do things have to be? I bought a 99 cent shower curtain, mostly because the pattern/color was so right - and 10 months later it's still going and we are thinking of packing up. So a word to students and other transients - maybe the cheap colorful version will do you just fine for as long as you need it.

By Pam from L.A., CA

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Here's a tip for saving time and money when drying clothes. When taking a load out of the washer (especially towels) give them a quick shake to separate them before you throw them in the dryer. For those who go to the laundromat, this will save quite a bit of drying time.

By PICO from ST. PAUL, ALBERTA

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This is a timesaver tip. Many of you are probably like me; you're tired of of having to continually punch in numbers on the telephone to reach a customer service human. I found a website

http://www.gethuman.com

that is a free database of "cheat codes" to punch in your phone for hundreds of customer service numbers. These codes will allow you to break through all the number punching and immediately speak to a real person.

By Marnita from Cumming, GA

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When choosing a whole watermelon, I always thump the melon with my fingers. The one that I choose has to sound "hollow". Very seldom am I wrong by using this method. I've had others tell me they go by the number of "bee stings" a watermelon has on it, as to how sweet a watermelon will be.

By Terri from NV

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How do you fix a broken tomato?




With tomato paste!

By Holly from Georgia

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When you have to stop carving or tooling on a leather project you are working on, put your project in a zip lock or other seal-able plastic bag and put it in your refrigerator.

This lessens the danger of the leather mildewing as well as keeping the leather moist so it won't completely dry out. Leather drying out and then being re-wet causes the leather to be tougher to carve.

By Standing Bear's Trading Post from Reseda, CA.

http://www.sbearstradingpost.com

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Being MORE than a conscientious recycler, I am always compulsively thinking about how to use every single item that crosses my path, if at all possible, because I hate America's waste:

Exhaust Fan Disposable Filters

Replace the filter every 3 months or more often if cooking/frying often. It helps to prevent vent fires. (Make lint layers as even as possible and remember to check the "filters" often to gauge how often to change with the "free" ones you have made!)

Most exhaust openings can be covered by some sized picture frame. The whole homemade frame and filter then slides out of the more permanently attached frame-brackets for easier filter replacement.

With a little thought, the whole thing can be attractive and fairly cheap! Don't over layer or overfill with lint, remembering that the grease filled air must be able to be pulled through it for filtering. Think of the thickness as like the better A/C filters one must purchase. The thin A/C filters don't work as well, but, then one doesn't want the filter to be too thick that it destroys the fan, either.

By Lynda from Richardson,TX

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Keeping Gravy from Separating

Keeping Cream Pies from Cracking

Glazing Candied Sweet Potatoes

With extra starch, simmer well so you don't get the starchy taste.

Enjoy,
By Charlie from Herkimer NY

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Frugal For Life

A great blog with posts about frugal living.

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Any ideas on how to clean a dirty oil painting at home?

Minna from Umited Kingdom

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How do I get permanent marker off clothing?

Cmuu from ID

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How can you fix a scratch on a CD?

Judy from Traverse

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I was wondering if anyone knows on how too start an Avocado Tree from a seed. Please Help

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Tam from Safford, AZ

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When is the best time to relocate a rhubarb patch?

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Lu from Parkers Pr. MN

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Does anyone have any experience on buying prescription medications mail order from Canada?

Mizliz81 from Dickson, TN

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Has anyone ever had a problem with Frogs getting in your commode? They must be coming up from the septic tank which is pretty gross. How can I stop this?

S.L. from Georgia

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Does anyone have instructions for making a smocking pleater thread box or caddy? I would like to make one for my new pleater.

Thanks,
Nelwyn from Bunkie, LA

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Does anyone know how to make homemade Damp Rid? I am going to store some things in my crawl space under my house, which is insulated and the floor has thick plastic covering the dirt. I was thinking that I would like to place something under there just in case there is some moisture. At times it smells a little musty. Got any ideas what to use or a recipe for such a product? WalMart carries a product, but it seems rather expensive. Thanks for all your ideas!

PrairieFloozie from Sioux Falls, SD

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Is there a chart listing how long food can be kept in the freezer at 0 degrees before it spoils?

Jack from chicago, IL

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I have two hydrangeas I bought from Frank's Nursery and Crafts two years ago and I cannot remember the name. Is there a hydrangea (big leaf) that begins with "Van" or "Von". I thought it was a nikko blue but the name seemed to begin with a V. Can you help?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Mary from Maryland

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How do I get rid of Oxalis - the green way?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Liz from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

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I would like to know your recommendation of a good freezer, about 10 cubic feet.

Berta from Detroit, MI

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I have a yorkie and when I take him outside and bring him back in, he has a odor. What can I use to get rid of the odor?

Donna from TX

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This may not be exactly a gardening request, but someone may know something about ridding a pond of cattails.

We have a medium sized pond (used for watering cattle) and cattails are taking it over to the point that there is little water space left for our cattle to drink. Does anyone have a solution to help us get rid of these? Thanks for any help given.

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Karen from Gainesville, MO

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I would like to know where you can buy Episcias, a good nursery that have good plants.

Brenda

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Brenda from WV

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Maintain a notepad with sale items you need so it's handy when you go shopping.

By Lesliew

What do you do to keep track of sales? Post your ideas below.

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Where in Wal-mart or any other store can you find the cleaning pumice stone for cleaning your toliet ring?

Donna from TX

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Could someone please provide information on the first name "Gurth"? It was my late father's second name. A Swede told me that it is a Scots variation of a Swedish, Viking name. it must be very old - I found information on the internet that a certain McDuff had established a refuge in the 10th or 11th century in Scotland with the name of "Gurth's Cross", meaning a shelter for people in pain/hurting. I would appreciate knowing more so much - like was it a Christian name used by certain or specific families in Sweden and if yes, which families? Please accept my apologies for typing errors. It is soooo cold in pretoria, SA today that my fingers do not want to think!

Thank you!
Carol from South Africa

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I am looking for directions to make a beer can wind spinner. You cut the sides of the beer can and squash them down to look like a chineese lantern. Three or four are strung together with a golf ball or something similar to weight the bottom.

Linda from Central, NY

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I have 2 flowering maple plants sitting on my window sill in my kitchen (faces East - gets morning sun) and one of them has bloomed many times and is beautiful! The other hasn't bloomed once, but has nice green leaves. I have noticed that there are small white "pods" or eggs (maybe) that are all over the underside of the leaves.

I also have a jalapeno plant on my window sill....there were the same white things on one of the leaves (I just picked it off and tossed it.)

Can anyone help!?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Thanks!
Sarah from IL

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One of the best ways to prolong color in your perennial beds and borders is to deadhead spent flowers. Not only does this encourage reflowering by limiting seed production and self-seeding, it keeps the garden looking neat and tidy by focusing all of the attention on the living flowers. Here are some tips on how to deadhead specific types of perennials.

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Questions to ask yourself first:

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Muffins hold up in the freezer pretty well, however it is no more possible to restore that crispy right-out-of-the-oven top after freezing, than it would be if you stored them at room temperature. Certain fillings (cream cheese, etc.) may lose texture when frozen. Muffins can also become sticky after being thawed and are likely to lose some of their flavor if stored in the freezer too long.

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