Volume Five, Number 75, April 19, 2006
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Thank you to everyone that has taken time to submit a My Frugal Life essay. Readers are really enjoying your insights. If you have a frugal story to share, you can submit at the link below. At the end of August, we will pick the best essay and award the writer with a $100 dollar prize.
My Frugal Life Submission Form:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml
Here are the results to yesterday's poll:
Do you have health insurance?
Yes (180) 83%
No (37) 17%
Here is our new poll:
Do you make any freezer meals?
Post Your Answer:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15224051.tip.html
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Tip Contest!
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Photo Contest!
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Frugal solutions to everyday problems: Submit a request...
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photos:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
More Reading:
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Today's Photos
| The French Quarter, New Orleans 3 Years Ago
This is a picture I took in the French Quarter, New Orleans, La about three years ago.
By Needa from Kokomo, MS
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| Sunny in the Mud (Goldendoodle)
Sunny is a 3 month old Goldendoodle. We purchased her from a breeder in Colorado three months ago.
She likes to play with her toys, bite our ankles, run in the yard, go for long walks, and dig in the dirt!
Sunny is a non-shedding dog, perfect for people with allergies. Her father is a red Golden Retriever and her mother is a white standard Poodle. Sunny has an excellent temperament.
She is very intelligent, learns quickly, loves all people and other animals and she looks like a little teddy bear. Doodle dogs were produced in the 90's and are very popular today. They are not an inexpensive dog however, so expect to pay anywhere from 800.00 to over a thousand dollars for a puppy.
Here is Sunny's previous entry when she first came home:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80993528.tip.html
By Sandra Johnson from Orlando, Florida
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| Bowling Pin Costume - Lorelynn the Bowling Pin and Memaw
Memaw with Granddaughter before going to her bowling party. Lorelynn (the bowling pin) won 1st place and was featured on Ebonite's web-site. She loves to bowl and Memaw always supported her.
By Summer Davis from Oak Grove, Ky
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| Chewie (Shih Tzu)
Chewie is a 1 year old Shih Tzu. We got him from a breeder. He likes to chase balls with my son.
He is the sweetest, lovable dog and our family loves him like one of the family!
By Leisa from New Brunswick, Canada
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Stamp or Potato Print Pictures
By Rebecca LanhamYou and children of any age can make these simple paintings with just some construction paper, paint, and stamps (or cut potatoes).
View Photos and Instructions: Click Here
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Today's Tips
| Cleaning Home and Car Windows
How to shine those windows in your home and autos. I use plain ole vinegar in a spray bottle and crumbled news paper. It shines great.
By Barb Allsopp from Summerhill, Pa.
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| Blank Note Cards for Your Own Greetings
You can make your own personalized greeting cards by using blank note cards and writing in your own greeting. I use color-coordinated calligraphy pens to make the writing special. That way, you always will have a card on hand for whatever occasion
By Pam from L.A., CA
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| Dog Bowls as Serving Dishes
When I have my rescue group over (I'm a member of a local dog rescue group) I serve nuts, candy and other snacks in cute dog bowls that have never been used for dogs. Some of these bowls are really cute and everyone gets a kick out of them.
By Kelly Thuet from Eureka, MO
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| Kids Using Too Many Bandaids?
This tip may only work for families with boys. There may be a way to adapt it to girls but, as a mother of five boys ranging in age from 10 to 30, I can only attest to its effectiveness with the male species. Any parent can probably relate to the bandaid dilemma. Kids seem to think they need a bandaid for every bump, bruise, scrape or whatever they receive. This can cause a shortage of bandaids when one is really needed.
I solved this problem with my male children one day when I received that troubling phone call at work that I needed to stop at the store and buy bandaids. Looking at my choices (always looking for the best deal), I came across some "Hello, Kitty" bandaids. Knowing that my manly children would only wear those if the need was REALLY there, I bought those and it worked! Now, no more careless and extravagant uses of the bandaids. Sometimes, it's hard to get them to wear them even if I think they need to, but it has worked out really well for me. I don't know what parents of girls could do to make it work for them but it sure works for me!
By Janis from Cinebar, Wa
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| Tomato and Hamburger Sauce
When the tomatoes are ripe on the vine and you have more than you can handle I put them in the freezer. I do skin them and freeze them in freezer bags and then when hamburger goes on sale I cook up a bunch of burger and take out my tomatoes and make a large pot of sauce. I put my basic spices in it and can it.
So when I have a night that I do not feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen I get a can of sauce off the shelf and add spices for what I am making. A quick meal. I have also canned my sauces without the meat.
By dameemag from Rothbury, Mi
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| Buying Original Art and Music Covers
You can get nice original art at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. I have gotten into collecting thrift shop oil paintings most $5-15, and some of them would cost hundreds of dollars if bought elsewhere. I also have framed vintage music covers for their art work. (They are just the right size for standard diploma-size frames, too.) Where do you think antique pickers find their stuff to sell on to the dealers?
By Pam from L.A., CA
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| Salesman Joke
A salesman knocked on the door of a house and a little boy holding a cigar answered. The salesman looked at the boy in surprise and said, "Is your mommy or daddy at home?" The little boy flicked some ashes on the carpet and said, "What do you think?"
By Stacey from Orem, UT
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My Frugal Life - Decluttering Started Me Down the Road Towards Frugality
As a little girl I used to save up a lot of money. Most of my pocket money went into my piggy bank, to save up for bigger items I would want to buy. Soon I found out that doing this, made me a target. Family members came to borrow money, as I always had some. Most of the time my piggy bank was left emptier, and even though I got paid back most of the time, I started to see my saving as a bad habit.
That is when I started the downward spiral. I became addicted to stuff. My piggy bank was empty, and my room filled with toys. 7 years ago, I was married by that time, I reached the pinnacle of spendthriftiness. Due to medication I became depressed, and my answer to the depression was Ebay. I started to like those maneki neko (beckoning cat) statues... I bought 20. I started to knit again... I bought boxes and boxes of yarns.
Until, one moment last year, I started to realize that surrounding myself with stuff, didn't make me a happier person. Cleaning the house became a chore that I detested. I was spending lots of time putting our stuff in various hiding places, and then had no energy left to spend on the actual cleaning.
That was when I began decluttering.
The decluttering was my first step on the way to frugality. I started to collect things from the house, asking two very simple questions with every item in my hands: "Does this item bring me joy?" or "Do I still use this item?" I collected the items, for which both answers were no, and sent them to the thrift shop or sold them on Ebay. I still do both these steps, and every time something leaves the house, I feel more fresh air chasing the staleness away.
Read More of This Essay: Click Here
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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New Requests
| Candle Wax off the Wall
I spilt a red candle all over my white wall. I scraped off the wax, used an iron and a blow dryer and most of the wax is gone. However, there is still a pinkish residue on the wall. I tried vinegar and nothing seems to work. I have to get this of the wall!
Please help,
Wyn from Orlando, Florida
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| Boosting My Energy Level
I wondered if anyone knew of anything that would boost up my energy level? I am just starting a diet and would love to be more active, but have no energy at all. I do take a multi-vitamin, but that doesn't seem to help. I had blood work done and everything was fine. I just wondered if anyone had any ideas on what I can do about it.
Thanks,
Katie from PA
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| Homemade Laundry Soap Advice
This is for anyone out there who makes their own laundry soap with the borax, washing soda, and grated soap: Have any of you used this with children's clothes, especially those with eczema? Also, does it rinse well? After time, do your clothes stay bright? Does it gum up your washer?
I'd love to hear from you before I attempt this.
Thanks,
Lee from Canada
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| Looking for Aluminum Sheets
Does anyone have suggestions for where to find scraps of aluminum sheets or pieces? Not coke cans.
Thanks,
carolb4 from Fairview, TN
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| Waxing Your Own Eyebrows
I don't know if there is such a thing, but I was wondering if anyone has a recipe and/or tip for waxing eyebrows. I had mine done at a salon for my wedding last year and cannot afford to keep paying for this. Is there a recipe for making your own eyebrow wax? and does anyone have tips for waxing so I don't look scary after doing this? Thank you in advance for any advice on this!
jmz2005 from illinois
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| Another Freecycle?
I was wondering if there is another site like Freecycle on the internet. A friend is trying to find a site to locate furniture by bartering, swapping or for free. Thank you for any suggestions.
Lois from Colton, California
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| Cooking for One Without Waste
I live alone and have been trying to save money by cooking my meals at home. I know buying a whole chicken is cheaper but I'm afraid that the leftovers will go to waste, any ideas? The same goes for a roast.
Mimi Gonzalez from San Antonio, TX
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| "Montgomery Inn" BBQ sauce
I was wondering if anyone may have a recipe similar to the "Montgomery Inn" BBQ sauce? Thank You in advance for any help on this.
jmz2005 from illinois
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| Recipes Using Hard Boiled Eggs
Any ideas of what I can do with all my leftover hard boiled eggs? I know the usual, egg salad, tuna salad, deviled eggs... any other ideas and or recipes would be appreciated!
MicheleLM from Houston, TX
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| Maple Syrup Reviews
I am looking for a really good maple syrup. If you know of one and where I can get it, please let me know. I like a good strong maple taste.
Thank you,
Betty From Summerville, S.C.
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| Make Your Own Egg Beaters
Does anyone have a recipe for making your own egg beaters?
Thanks,
Cynthia from Orlando
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| Caring for My Dog After It Has Been Spayed
My little pug a poo, Molly, is going to be spayed in a month. She's 6 lbs. Any advice for a quick recovery and for dealing with her incision? I'll take her to the People for Animals here and she comes home the same day. What about pain? Any advice would would be appreciated.
Valery from NJ
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| Things To Do With Avon Skin So Soft
At one time Avon had a list of "Things To Do With Skin So Soft". Does anyone know or have a copy.
Rona from Las Vegas
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| Drilling a Well
I am thinking about drilling my own water well for watering my lawn and garden. Does anyone have any helpful hints on doing this and what it take and cost? Any help would be appreciated. I am pretty handy with handy work so there's not much I won't tackle.
Thanks,
Joe from Texas
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| Removing Furniture Polish Build Up
I have 3 wonderful wood tables in my living room but they are sticky. I think it is polish build up. How con I get rid of the stickiness and then give them a good polish?
Lucy from Mexico
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More Reading
How To Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up
By Catherine FormanJumping up -- on family or on strangers -- is a very common complaint among dog owners. So why do dogs jump up? Part of it has to do with inherited pack behaviors. When wolves return to the pack after hunting, the lower pack members lick their faces in greeting. It's natural for some dogs to want to lick their humans' faces when they have been away! But since human faces are so far above dogs' heads, the dogs will jump up.
Read More: Click Here | Breed Information: Portuguese Water Dog
By Ellen BrownBreed Description: The Portuguese Water Dog is a strong, medium-sized dog of great stamina and endurance. It has a large head, deep chest and webbed feet for swimming. The entire body is covered in a single profuse coat of strong hair that is either wavy or curly and continues to grow in a manner that human hair does. Obedient, friendly and affectionate, the Portuguese Water Dog makes a good watch dog and a loving family pet.
Read More: Click Here | Your Cat, Your Hairballs, and You!
By Catherine FormanBecause your cat is such a conscientious groomer, you will find that from time to time he experiences a delightful phenomenon known as a hairball. Ah, hairballs. The hacking, the spitting up, and the singular delight of accidentally stepping in a fresh one.
Read More: Click Here | Breed Information: Siamese
By Ellen BrownBreed Description: The Siamese is a medium-sized cat with a long, elegant and muscular body with a long, thin tail that tapers to a fine point. Their legs are long and slender (longer in the rear than in front) and end with small, oval paws. The Siamese head is wedge-shaped and forms an almost equilateral triangle with its large, diagonally set ears. Their eyes are almond shaped, and they have a long nose and a very fine coat that feels silky to the touch. They have an overall appearance that is extremely elegant sculpted and refined. Even people who know nothing about cats can usually recognize the Siamese breed.
Read More: Click Here | One Chicken, Three Meals
By Shaunta AlburgerBefore we started on our quest to get the most for our grocery dollar, we wasted a lot of our meat budget. I'd stick left-overs in the fridge until they could have gotten up and thrown themselves away. Sometimes (not often, but more than once) I'd buy meat and never get around to cooking it at all.
Read More: Click Here | Breed Information: Poodle
By Ellen BrownBreed Description: The Poodle is a squarely built and well proportioned dog breed that comes in three distinct sizes, Standard (large), Miniature (medium) and Toy (small). First developed by Europeans as gun dogs for retrieving from water, they are one of the most intelligent and versatile breeds of dog and make wonderful family pets.
Read More: Click Here |
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