Daily Thrifty Tips - January 12, 2006

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Making your own decorations is very easy nowadays with all the supplies available on the market. Here are pictures of mini bridesmaid bouquets as table centerpieces we made for the surprise shower for my friends daughter. We bought the silk flowers at Michaels. Easier than making pie LOL

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, Ca

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This is my beloved pet, Koda. He is a two year old, male German Shepherd born in Hawaii. I adopted him from a rescue when he was little over a year old. If you want to have a well behaved, obedient and loving pet like mine, consistent training is the only way to do it.

Don't forget to have play time as well to reward him for being a good boy! If you want your pet to have a good looking coat like Koda's, you need to provide a healthy diet along with good grooming. Koda loves to be brushed or combed and this helps to keep his coat shiny and cuts down on shedding. Don't forget dental hygiene! Koda likes to have his teeth brushed and he loves to chew on real bones.

By Sandra from Orlando, Florida

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Prepare the pan you pour your fudge into ahead of time by spraying it with Pam. Then cut a strip of waxed paper about 4 inches wider than your pan, press it into the bottom of the pan. It doesn't have to reach to both ends of the pan. Spray again lightly with Pam. Pour your fudge into the pan.When it cools and is ready to cut, turn the pan upside down on a cutting board. Grab the waxed paper on each side and pull. The fudge will drop out onto the board and be ready to easily be cut into squares. No broken pieces trying to remove the first couple from the pan.

By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas

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In order to meet our goal of paying off nearly $20,000 in debt and saving $12,000 in 2006, it was clear that we would have to earn more money.

To bring in more money, we can earn more per hour, work more hours, or sell something. We plan on utilizing all three strategies during the next year.

For three years I was a paralegal with a home-based business preparing divorces and bankruptcies for my clients. I found the work depressing, so last year I started a different business, an online vintage clothing store. As much as I love my store, I can earn at least twice as much money per hour as a paralegal, so I've hung my shingle back out again. I can do anything for a year, right?

Kevin already works at a fairly high-paying casino on the Las Vegas strip. There are a small handful of very-high-paying and hard-to-get-into casinos in Las Vegas, and he will apply for work at this year. In the meantime he's taken a part-time second job.

We will also be selling my vintage clothing stock and a collection of memorabilia that is a throw-back to Kevin's bachelor days. By using these strategies, we'll be able to raise our income from $45,000 to about $60,000 in 2006.

I get a lot of email from people who want to get out of debt quickly, but don't want to do what they have to do to raise their income. While it is certainly possible to get out of debt on whatever your current income is, you probably won't be able to do it very quickly.

Get in the habit of reminding yourself that you can do anything for a year. When the year is over, your life will go back to normal. Except that you'll be debt free and have substantial savings, so suddenly even your one job is now optional.

By Shaunta Alburger
http://www.pennywisejournal.com

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Now some of you may get a real chuckle out of this but believe me it works so well. I have a lot of Silk flower swags and silk flower wreaths as decorations in my house. They all get very dusty so twice a year or maybe even 3 times a year my hubby and I collect them all off of the walls and take them outside and he gets his leaf blower. Yes, that's right his leaf blower and puts it on high and stands about 6-7 feet away from me and I hold up the wreaths and or swag and let the air from the leaf blower take care of all the dust on the swags and wreaths. It really works well as I am the one who directs all the motion from turning the swags and wreaths where I want the air to hit the dust. lol. It really works great. Try it.

By Connie from Ballwin

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I wrote this much of a list from the lung Dr's office. Several reasons to STOP SMOKING!

This is what the tobacco companys put in cigarettes to keep people hooked. This is a very scary list.

"Some things added to keep you hooked."

1. Propylene Glycol (De-icer - keeps tobbaco moist)
2. Benzo(a)pyrene - Coal Tar (most potent cancer causer)
3. Arsenic - (poison)
4. Acetone- (like fingernail polish remover)
5. Lead (Heavy Metal)
6. Formaldehyde - (used in enbalming bodys)
7. Benzine - (pesticides- gasoline)
8. Ammonia - (keeps you hooked)
9. Cadmium - (used in batteries and oil paints - damages liver, kidneys and brain)
10. Butane - (fuel as in lighters and stoves)
11. Phenol - (cleaner used to clean labratories)
12. Toluene - (used in paint thinners)

(Why? is what I want to know. Vi )

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark,Ca.

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Once I got my act together and my finances I organised for all my regular bills to be paid by BPAY with the credit union (community bank) account - no charge! This included electricity, gas and telephone. I found out how much I would have to pay fortnightly (every 2 weeks) to keep ahead of my bills. In Australia the utility companies have a service to check the yearly bills and what you have to pay to keep ahead - wow! no more ringing up for extensions on payment.

This is important I feel because most utility companies bill only once a quarter and it is hard to budget for these expenses, putting money away each week/fn/mth. The bonus is that you know if you're ahead and can afford to stop payment for a fortnight or two (like around Christmas) and still be ahead!

When my pay comes in each fortnight, I sit down and note each due payment in the fortnight -eg rent, utilities,union, car loan, te mea te mea, the rest is mine sort of!! how do you budget for teeth emergencies!!

By Sharn from Blue Mountains NSW AUS

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I decided to purchase greeting cards ahead of time to avoid constant running to the store. I bought a Pendaflex Expanding Folder that is basically a file folder with about 10 pockets inside. I labeled each pocket at the top with each type of greeting card: Birthday, Anniversary, Get Well, Sympathy, and Thank you.

I purchase cards ahead of time and fill up the pockets. You can even use one pocket for list of names and addresses, return address labels, and postage stamps. Everything in one spot at your fingertips, and no running to the card store every week or two.

By Marn from Cumming, GA

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If you like a quick painting job, paint your entire room with a Flat Latex paint, trim and all.

Then brush on a coat of varnish on your trim wrapping the sides of your trim but not the top or bottom. It will look like you have painted your trim in a Satin Oil based paint and save you a lot of time.

By C. Robert Goodman from Eugene OR

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In my pantry, on the front sides of my shelves, there are room for some "S" hooks, to hang. I've punched holes in the sealed tops of packets of taco seasoning, gravy mixes, etc. and hung them on the "S" hooks, rather than have them standing on my shelves taking up valuable space. They're easily spotted this way, also, as I don't have to search for them.

By Terri from NV

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I have noticed a lot of people wanting an acne remedy. Here is one from Dear Abby years ago. Mix one egg apply to face as a mask, let dry and wash away. Do this on a daily basis at first then decrease as face getts clearer. Really really works and is very cheap to do. Just pretend the messy egg is an expensive mask. Came from India according to the article. My son used it effectively after years of Doctors visits and costly creams. Good Luck

By GranMAAWW from Richmond, KY

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Does anyone have any solutions to annoying dogs barking every time someone comes to visit or when someone comes to the door?

It's very annoying trying to talk to people when they stop by to visit when all the dogs do is bark. We have a 3 year old Jack Russell and a 12 year old Shih Tzu. The older dog has always been very protective of our home and the same when we take him out with us in the van for rides when the weather is decent.

A car door slams near us, people walk down the street, they bark. I've tried scolding them with a harsh voice, spraying water at them with a spray bottle, newspaper (which I don't like to use) as I'm afraid it may hurt them, especially the senior dog being so old.

Please help with any suggestions you may have. We can't afford to buy anything made for this type of problem such as those dog zappers they wear, etc. Just some kind of natural way to try to calm them both. It would be a blessing when we have company.

Thank you,
Yvonne from Ontario

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My can of Scott's Liquid Gold furniture polish leaked out on my upholstered chair. Does anyone know how I can get that oily stain out of my ottoman?

Harrisam from Atlanta, GA

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Does anyone have the recipe, or a clone recipe, for El Chico's "Chicken Corn Tortilla Soup"? It is the best tortillo soup that I have ever had and I would like to make it at home.

Margaret from Texas

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I would like to know how can I remove tape glue from my window? We taped my sliding glass door for Katrina and now I can't take it off. We used duct tape.

Tee from Lafayette LA

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We live in Florida and have vinyl windows on our porch. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to clean them so there is no streaking or hazing? I always get a film on them after cleaning. I am using a Microfiber cloth to clean them. Thanks for the help.

Karen from Florida

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I have a little boy who is learning to use the potty. Can anyone give me a solution for cleaning the hardwood floor around the toilet? I find that I clean it everyday. He misses sometimes, so I just want to get the area clean and smell free.

Thanks,
ksgourmetmom from Kansas

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My puppy has parvo and has been to the vet 2 times. Is there anything I can do at home to help?

Brandy from Wilkesboro, NC

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I do a lot of canning and jam/jelly making and always end up with used lids. They can't be reused for canning since used ones don't seal. I have hundreds of them and just can't just throw them away. I've already used many for storage but still have lots left over. Any ideas, crafts or otherwise, are appreciated.

Thanks,
Karen from East TN

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I have empty wooden and plastic spools from thread. These are from small sewing machine thread. Does anyone know easy crafts we can do with them? We do missionary work and we try to make things out of trash.

Thanks,
Tee from Lafayette LA

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I just purchased a hand-held steam cleaner (Scuunci that we've all seen on the infomercials) that I love. However, I was quite disappointed with the manual. I was hoping for a list of ideas for steam cleaning. I certainly know to clean around the faucets of the sink, under the rim of the toilet, etc., but I'm curious if any of you have come up with other creative uses for steam cleaners.

Thank you!

Barb from Lake County, OH

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Any ideas for reusing empty plastic vitamin bottles? How easy is it to remove the labels?

Debbie from Bartlett IL

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I have extremely dry and frizzy hair. The only way I can keep the "frizzies" away is by using gel or mousse on it, which makes my hair curly. Sometimes I just don't want to use these things and would like straight hair, my hair is long. I have not been blow drying it, have tried using hair spray on a brush, Fizz Ease, etc. Can anyone help me find a different solution to tame and control the awful frizzies that seem to haunt me? Any suggestion would be gratefully appreciated.

Thank You,
jmz2005 from illinois

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