Daily Thrifty Tips - March 27, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 61, March 27, 2008 (Read It Online) Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by flooding. One of our long time readers, Great Granny Vi called our attention to an article about the Deadly Hazards that Arise After the Flood Waters Recede. You can find it in the More Reading section of this newsletter. Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Decorated Messenger Bag Clarence (Bloodhound) Craft Project: Wooden Country Snowman Craft Project: Drinking Straw Frame Today's Tips: Paper Bag for Small Recycling Substitute for Laptop Cooler Check the Ingredients in Your Lip Balm Ultimate Earring Organizer! Cure for a Flat Dog or Cat Bed Benefits of Thin Towels To Quit Smoking, Keep Quitting Macrame Ruler Board Make Your Own 2% Milk At Home Making Your Own Colored Elastic Joke of the Day New Requests: Butter Stains On Leather Purse Registering For Wedding Gifts When You Don't Need Anything Dog Has Become Aggressive With Owner Ink Off Suede Jacket Making Your Arm Hair Lighter? How To Remove Wax From A Berghaus Jacket? Feeding A 3 Week Old Puppy Dying Straw Purse Surprise Birthday Party for an Adult Problem With Norfolk Pine Stains In A Fiberglass Whirlpool Tub Mud Stains on Clothing Using Shoe Polish On Leather Furniture Cleaning Cat Urine Off Luggage Track Sales With A Price Book Getting An Opossum To Go Away Getting Rid of Crickets Black Stuff In Bosch Nexxt Washer More Reading: Deadly Hazards that Arise After the Flood Waters Recede Imagine: Global Understanding Day How To Just Do It: Creativity Today's Sponsor: 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 Today's Photos: Decorated Messenger Bag This cool messenger bag was made with unbleached cotton canvas. Some iron on transfers from Fabricland were applied for decoration. My girl loves it. By Ellen from Ontario Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73207528.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Clarence (Bloodhound) Clarence is 1 1/2 years old and is a Bloodhound. I got him from the shelter 2 months ago. He likes rawhides and walks. He's a silly, drooly sweetheart that I'm so happy to have! By Barb A from Milwaukee WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35546610.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Wooden Country Snowman You can create a cute country snowman by using a 2x4. Approximate Time: 25 minutes Supplies: Scrap wood, including a 2x4 Black, white, and orange crafters acrylic paints Sandpaper Hot Glue Gun Table Saw Small piece of fabric Small piece of floral berry sprig Paintbrush Instructions: First cut a section of 2x4 about 12" long, then on one end cut the corners to create an edge for the hat, they do not have to be perfect corners. Next sand all edges of your 2x4. Next, you will need 2 small pieces of wood about 2" inches thick, these can be scraps from other projects. Cut one piece about 6" long, this will become the snowman's hat brim. The second piece will be his nose, cut this piece approx. 4" long with one corner cut slightly to create the carrot tip. Sand all edges. Now you are ready to begin painting, Once the pieces have dried, you can lightly sand the paint to create a distressed country look. Next paint on the eyes, mouth and add a little color for his cheeks. Next, attach the hat brim and nose by using a hot glue gun. Add a little white paint to the nose and hat brim for snow. Attach some berries and a homespun bow. A quick and easy project! By Mandie from New Philadelphia, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91029134.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Drinking Straw Frame Recycle colorful straws and cardboard to create these cute little frames for small photos, such as wallet-size school pictures. Great for kids to make and share with friends. Approximate Time: 30 minutes Supplies: colored drinking straws cardboard yellow craft foam white acrylic paint small paint brush hot glue gun and glue sticks scissors Instructions: Cut drinking straws in half and set aside. Cut a piece of cardboard 3 1/2 long x 3 1/2 wide. Cut another piece of cardboard 3 1/2 x 1 1/2 for the stand. Glue the straws to the larger piece of cardboard. Dip the handle end of the paintbrush in the white paint and paint random dots on the straws; allow to dry. Cut out stars from the craft foam and glue on desired areas of frame. Glue a small photo to the center of the frame. Fold the strip of cardboard about one inch from one end to create a stand for the frame. Glue the stand to the center back of the frame for support. You could use more (or longer) straws and a larger piece of cardboard to make a larger frame, if desired. By Mom of 1 from Wilkesboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65706144.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! 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 Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Paper Bag for Small Recycling I don't use plastic bags anymore, so everything I buy comes in paper bags. I use one paper bag for odds and ends of paper, such as labels from tin cans, receipts that I don't need to keep. I keep it by the back door so when it's full I fold over the top and off to the recycle bin it goes and it's so handy and after a while everybody in the house uses it. On top of that you don't have little pieces of paper in your blue box. Source: Thought this one up all by myself. By Barb from Calgary, Alberta Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18945870.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Substitute for Laptop Cooler Why go out and pay a big price for a laptop cooler? Try this tip and have one for next to nothing. I use a cake cooling rack as my laptop cooler. It works great! I bought this rack at a dollar store for $1, so I have saved a lot of money using it. Good luck! By Hvnlyhills from Peebles, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56854116.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Check the Ingredients in Your Lip Balm I have always been a frequent user of lip balm. In fact I used it day in and day out. I was concerned that it was becoming a bad habit not to mention the amount of money I was spending on all different types of lip balms. I had a used lip balm in every purse and drawer in the house. I did some online research and thought I would share it with you. Many of the lip balms I have been using contain fragrances and preservatives that can actually cause dryness. I found that a very interesting tidbit! Also the flavored tasted fairly good thus causing me to lick it off and then apply more often then needed. I am now reading the labels on the lip balm packages and buying the least expensive without all the flavors and fancy packaging. This is not only saving me money but I have honestly found my lips are not as dry and I am using the lip balm much less. Source: I love the internet and the easy access to information on unlimited subjects. This tip is my own. By Bobbie G from Rockwall Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65928927.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ultimate Earring Organizer! Years ago, I bought a lovely crocheted tank top from a local thrift store (possibly on half-price day!); I hung it on a pretty wooden hanger, in my bathroom, and used it for holding all my earrings. Since the wooden hanger had notches in it (for securing straps, etc.), I also hung a few necklaces from there, perfectly useful and a very attractive "wall hanging". By Vicki from Eugene, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83734336.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cure for a Flat Dog or Cat Bed Do you have a dog or cat bed that's flattened out. Here's what I did to put a little life back in it. I bought some polyfill from the store and restuffed the bed. Most of the newer beds have zippers so you can do this. The polyfill costs about 5-8 bucks for a box and my dog was very happy when her bed was restuffed and more comfortable for her to sleep on. And it's a cheap way to do it instead of the expense of buying a new bed. Better yet, hit the garage sales and find some pillows on sale and do it that way! By Debradj from Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18987523.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Benefits of Thin Towels Buy thin towels so more will fit in your washing machine: Buy the THIN, cheaper towels for your family, NOT the big fluffy ones. This way, you can fit twice as many in your washer and dryer and you'll save all kinds of money by doing less wash loads! This is especially useful if you have to use the Laundromat. But also, since I started buying thinner towels, I've found that not only can I fit more towels per load, but they also dry quicker AND it's less wear and tear on my wash machine! By Cyinda from Seattle Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85783696.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print To Quit Smoking, Keep Quitting March 27, 2008 marks my 16th anniversary of kicking a nasty 20-year, 2-plus pack a day nicotine habit. If you REALLY want to quit smoking, here is the key tip that helped me to do it: "KEEP QUITTING" I started January 1992 and smoked my "last" cigarette every Friday night. It is a very difficult habit to break to which anyone who has tried will attest, and inevitably I would start again Saturday. I quit again and again each and every Friday night. My "last" cigarette was the one before I went to bed. It took me three months of quitting every weekend and finally, FINALLY. I didn't break down and have that cigarette on Saturday. Or Sunday. That cigarette was truly my last. I had the phone number for my local American Lung Association chapter handy and I called them with all my questions. They were so nice and helpful! Here's their website: http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22542 Truly, if I can do it you can do it too. Here's a piece of trivia: nicotine is more addictive than heroin. Need proof? Think of all the addicts who quit heroin, yet still smoke cigarettes. Good luck, and KEEP QUITTING! By Laura from Long Beach, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68052296.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Macrame Ruler Board When making macrame jewelry or friendship bracelets it is sometimes hard to measure the length of your project. By photocopying a ruler and taping it onto your clipboard or macrame board, you will save a lot of time! By Dominique S. from Kalamazoo, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80931722.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Make Your Own 2% Milk At Home I do not pay for the store to water down my milk, as in 2% and such. We found that we can do this at home. Buy whole milk and add cold water to it. Since this is a matter of taste, you will have to find what suits your family best. It is a great way to get more bang for the buck, plus my 8 year old who loves dairy does not know I am cutting out some of his milk fats. Also do not forget when you get deals on milk, add them to your freezer. I keep several gallons in the freezer. I dilute when I remove from the freezer and thaw in the fridge. By Shirley C. from Calumet City, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73187289.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Your Own Colored Elastic When I sew or do crafts, I sometimes need elastic that matches my project. The less expensive discount elastic only comes in white, so I bought a pack of multi-colored permanent marking pens which I keep with my sewing supplies. It's amazing how well these work to "dye" the elastic. Simply stretch the elastic as far as you can (it's better if someone else does this for you) then color the stretched elastic with your felt-tipped permanent marker on the front and back. You can even make colorful stripes, plaids and polka-dots which are great for kids hair scrunchies and headbands. Next time you need a piece of red, navy or purple elastic, remember this handy trick! By Cyinda from Seattle Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11850343.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day A little boy was roughhousing with his dog. His mother said to him, "Now, Peter, I know you love Granger, but you're loving him too much. How would you feel if someone huge picked you up and squeezed you so hard you couldn't breathe?" The boy thought a moment and then said, "I guess I'd feel like it was Easter and Aunt Doreen was here!" Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Butter Stains On Leather Purse I have spilled butter on my new red leather purse. Now it has dark spots. How can I remove them? Distressed from Wyoming Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63852817.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Registering For Wedding Gifts When You Don't Need Anything I'm getting married this summer, and between the two of us we already have everything and more than we need in our home. So when it comes to wedding gifts we don't really need anything. (Other than a little extra cash!) Where should I register and what for? My parents, friends, and family all want to get us stuff, but we don't know what we need. Help! Brittney from Delta, Colorado Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71554623.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dog Has Become Aggressive With Owner My boyfriend has had his pit bull for 5 years and got him when he was a puppy. He has never had any problems with him as far as being aggressive. But last year his dog bit a girl in the face after he had warning her several times to leave the dog alone. She had to get several stitches. Ever since this has happened Shorty (the dog) will sometimes growl and get in my boyfriend's face. Last weekend my boyfriend went to give Shorty a kiss on his snout which he always does and Shorty bit him in the face, no warning whats so ever. No growl or anything. I had to take him to the ER and he got 22 stitches. We then made the decision that he needed to be put down. I have a cocker spaniel and they have gotten into a few fights with no one getting hurt thank the lord! He is so sweet other wise. He cuddles, he is super spoiled. We do not understand what is going on with him. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or advice they can give me. I am not going to take him to the pound. If we do get him put to sleep I want to make sure it is done the right way, in a humane way. I was wondering if there were any other options though. Maybe a place that takes aggressive pets and turns them around? He was our child and we are more heart broken then anything. Please help! Heather from Alpharetta Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88562437.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ink Off Suede Jacket How can I remove a Biro ink stain from my suede jacket? Val Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf310821.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Your Arm Hair Lighter? I have really dark arm hair. I need a homemade recipe that will lighten it without using sun. I tried the lemon juice recipe but I think I did it wrong because my hair isn't getting lighter. I would prefer if it was something that would lighten my hair really quickly. Sarah from Seattle, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80905323.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How To Remove Wax From A Berghaus Jacket? The Berghaus jacket is black. It's material : shell is nylon shell 100% with a polyurethane coating. Please help as it cost a lot of money. Chez from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74513143.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Feeding A 3 Week Old Puppy I have a 3 wk. old blue pit bull puppy that is away from mother. What should I feed him and for how long? Ahmad Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59652470.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dying Straw Purse My favorite straw purse has become really faded. Could I revitalize it by brushing on something like RIT dye? What would be more colorfast, liquid or powder? I don't want the color to come off on my clothes. The purse is real straw and the shoulder strap is cotton rope. Peanut from Virginia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13711478.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Surprise Birthday Party for an Adult I need suggestions for plan a surprise party for my mother. She is turning 53 this year. What theme should I do? Ishael from Roselle, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74145738.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Problem With Norfolk Pine I'm having a real problem with a Norfolk Pine. It seems to have signs of both too much water and not enough water. It was beautiful when I bought it in November but is starting to look bad. The lower branches are getting shriveled and the needles are hard and falling off. The upper branches look fine, but it also has yellowish/brown areas that fall off easily. The drainage is good, I mist it several times a week, and give it about a pint of water per week. It seems to dry out in the week period. Also, there isn't any place in the house where it will get much direct light. Thanks for any help! Gary from Oregon City, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf458833.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Stains In A Fiberglass Whirlpool Tub We moved into a 11 year old house that has a HUGE fiberglass whirlpool tub in the master bath. Its original color is beige but it has, what I believe is water staining, that I cannot get out. Its not rust, lime, or any other one I know of. I've tried CLR, Lime Away, Clorox etc. All the common type cleaners. Anyone got a suggestion how to clean this thing? Debidew from Rural, Indiana Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31813755.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mud Stains on Clothing I have a pair of white polyester, rayon and spandex dress pants. They have a set-in mud stain that I cannot get out. I have tried numerous things but the mud stains will not come out. Unfortunately the pants went through the washer and dryer before realizing the stains where there. Any ideas on how to remove these set-in mud stains? Linda Ross Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62828800.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Shoe Polish On Leather Furniture I have beautiful leather living room furniture in a dark reddish brown color. It was expensive and (I thought) good quality. I'm very careful with it and use leather cleaning products regularly. My husband's recliner has patches where the leather is "crinkling" as opposed to cracking. It's not a deep crack but a lighter area is showing. I'm wondering if I can apply shoe polish (creme or paste) and buff like I would a pair of leather shoes to cover this area. Also, I will not be offended if somebody tells me I paid too much for low quality furniture. If it all does this I would like to know also. This furniture is only 2 years old. Judi from Elgin, Oregon Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51783066.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Cat Urine Off Luggage I have a carry on bag that was stored in a closet that a cat urinated in. Now the bag smells TERRIBLE! Anything that is put into the bag also stinks when I take it out. I can't throw it in the washer because it has a cardboard panel in the bottom to help keep its shape. How do I clean it? HELP! There are also other luggage pieces from that closet that will need to be cleaned as well. Marie from Idaho Falls, Idaho Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31108780.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Track Sales With A Price Book My household consists of just me and my Basset Hound, Chettie. I would like some tips and/or suggestions on starting a price book for grocery shopping. I don't buy a lot of groceries, but with prices going up every week, I know I need to keep better track of my spending and the schedule the store has for putting certain items on sale. Any help is greatly appreciated! Jenny from Enola, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf513434.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting An Opossum To Go Away I live in a suburb of Los Angeles and my problem is an opossum that is getting into my bagged trash. I want to know how to get rid of him without killing him. He is very cute, I've seen him face to face several times. But I have a cat so I want to get rid of the opossum. Vickie from Montebello, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99719450.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Crickets I am lucky to have a source from the local race track for straw that has been in the stalls, and enriched by the horses for mulching my garden. I love not having to pull weeds, and then tilling it into the soil in the fall to enrich the soil. But it has caused one effect that I need some help with. Last summer, I had a hard time growing pole beans because they were eaten off as soon as the poked up out of the soil. I blamed the rabbits at first, bun then discovered that my straw mulch was hiding lots of crickets, and they were observed chewing on my young bean plants. I would like to treat my garden with something to deter the crickets. Would it help to put down something on the ground before I add the mulch, and what would work best? I use insecticides sparingly, but I do use them when nothing else works. I am thinking a little Sevin dust under the mulch might work. But am definitely open to other suggestions. Hardiness Zone: 7b Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55270310.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Black Stuff In Bosch Nexxt Washer My Bosch Nexxt Washer has black stuff on rubber. Denisesa from Winnipeg Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12808062.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Today's Sponsor: 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 More Reading: Deadly Hazards that Arise After the Flood Waters Recede As flood waters begin to recede and residents return home, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues a warning to those affected by the floods in the Midwest. When there's a power outage, NEVER use portable generators inside the home, in an attached garage or in any other partially enclosed space. Generator exhaust contains high levels of colorless, odorless carbon monoxide (CO) which can kill in minutes. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49017413.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Imagine: Global Understanding Day I interpret living frugally as living peacefully. Hence, this essay. March 26th is my birthday and I can't think of a better day to be born on than "Global Understanding Day" Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69566454.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How To Just Do It: Creativity By Claire Bush Often creativity seems like a mysterious process or something that "happens" to people, outside of themselves. In reality, it couldn't be simpler. Creativity may be born through an idea but it grows through use, and to learn by doing is by far the simplest and most effective way to become creative and enjoy the process. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62299983.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.