Daily Thrifty Tips - January 16, 2006

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Skittle Katherine is a 2 year old Pacific Parrotlet. We adopted her after Hurricane Katrina. She was running around in New Orleans and a friend found her. She was all torn up her wing was broken and feather for all mess up. He rushed her to the vet and she doing great now. We have had her about six months now.

She likes to eat and she will chew your clothes to pieces if you let her. She loves looking in a mirror.

We love her so much but she has a personality problem. She is mean she bites all the time. She not afraid of anything. She thinks she is the Queen and she is really spoiled rotten. The vet said it is from her staying out in the wild and fending for herself.

By Ashley from Lafayette La

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Spooky is a 3 year old Boston Terrier. I received Spooky as a birthday present. My birthday is in December, but because I wanted him so badly I received him 2 months early in October, close to Halloween. That is how he received his "Spooky" name.

Spooky loves to play ball. He loves company; everyone comes to see Spooky. He likes to slide on the floor. And for comfort he sucks on his stuffed animal.

By Contessa Meacham from Huguley, Alabama

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My husband and I recently repainted our house, removed all the front hedges, poured in 17 bags of river rock over landscaping fabric, built and installed porch railings and installed a new garage door and opener.

I sanded, primed and painted the front door red. It was an ugly dark brown and the house color was a faded tan before.

We will plant flowers in the Spring but until then, the flower bed has two lonely hibiscus plants.

Our house is twenty years old, is on a corner lot and is a 1/4 acre.

By Sandra from Orlando, Florida

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After being approached numerous times at mall kiosks to try one of those small, filled "tension relief" pads (pillows) I decided to make my own. The kiosk was charging $20.00 and up for a small neck pillow that can be heated and releases a relaxing scent. I took one of my husband's sports socks (tube socks) and stuffed it with rice and a bit of scented lavender mixed in. I tied off one end and had my own!

This worked wonderfully! The sock was perfect to place around the back of the neck while releasing the subtle aroma. Granted, it's not real pretty but it works! I put it in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes. After many uses I just make a new one...cheap!

By Cheryl from Winston Salem, NC

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A married couple, Dave and Mary, had not been out on a date in quite some time.

One Saturday, as Mary was finishing the dinner dishes, Dave stepped up behind her.

"Would you like to go out, girl?" he asked.

Not even turning around, Mary quickly replied, "Oh, yes, I'd love to!"

They had a wonderful evening, and it wasn't until the end of the night that Dave confessed...

His question had actually been directed to the family dog, lying near Mary's feet on the kitchen floor.

By GB

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We have never been able to afford a vacation so my family of three have decided to put aside a little each month (equal amounts) but my daughter is in charge of the account so that the money will never be used for emergencies! Younger children can put in a fixed amount. It teaches them how to save and they have contributed to the vacation. If someone doesn't pay his sum by the given date he has to pay $1 interest for each day that he is late.

By Kara from Trinidad

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I use the Snyder's of Hanover pretzel pieces that are called
Buttermilk Ranch. The cost was about $1.00 for a 10 oz. bag.

DH likes these better than the croutons from the grocery store which he says, "Have an aftertaste, or no taste."

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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If I see a big storm coming in the spring or summer, when power is most likely to go out, I do these things.

- Fill 5 gallon bucket with water, leave in tub. Also fill tub full of water. Both are used to flush toilet.

- Fill 4-5 pitchers with water. Leave on kitchen counter.

- Get out candles and matches and flashlights. Some of my flashlights turn on when the power goes out.

During winter, much heat is lost through the head and feet. Therefore if you are cold, wear socks and a hat, even to bed. A thick knit hat is uncomfortable to sleep on so I found a cheap, thin knit hat.

Using a tent in the middle of the living room keeps the warmth from your bodies close by. Pitch a tent in a large room and have everyone sleep in it to conserve heat. Use a tent that can be set up without hammering stakes in the ground. Most dome tents can do this.

If you have a gas fireplace, you can turn it on to keep the pipes from freezing. Fan won't work in a power outage though.

I also have a solar charged, battery powered flashlight, and one where you charge the battery by pumping it. One uses a regular light bulb, one uses an LED. LEDs use much less battery power.

I also bought a water filter from a camping store since I used to live in the country with a well. The well won't pump if there is no power and I wanted to be ready to get drinking water from a stream. Get a gravity powered filter so you can fill it up at night and have a pot full of water in the morning.

For cooking I found a German army alcohol stove with stove, alcohol bottle, pot and stand, all for about $6 (shipping extra). It boils a pot full of water in 10 minutes! You cannot use rubbing alcohol because that is 30% water. Try to get methanol in the paint section of your hardware store. It is used to clean up and thin paints.

Chuck R. from Grand Rapids, MI

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What do you do when you see the bomb squad running?

Try to catch up!

By Rodney Welch from Acton, Me

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I will be beginning next fall as a freshman in college and I have no idea what to pack. What are some things that I definitely should bring with me to college and what should I leave behind?

AC from MN

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I have a concrete driveway that has been painted with regular latex house paint. What I can do so that I can apply a good stain sealer and it won't peel off?

Ronnie from New Smyrna Beach, FL

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My husband is a mechanic and gets very greasy at times. When he showers the tub gets so nasty and I clean it constantly. However, I still have black places in the tub from grease and oil stains. I have tried a number of things but just can't figure it out.

Crystal from SC

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I would like a template for a wedding cootie catcher. My daughter is getting married and wants to make them for her guests at the reception. I went to Casey's site but it is down.

Maybride from Sallisaw, OK

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I am looking for a recipe called "monday's washday pound cake" that was on a Clabber Girl baking powder can many years ago. I have contacted Clabber Girl, but they say they have been unable to locate it or won't call me back. This was a recipe my grandmother (now deceased) made back in the 50's and 60's. Please can anyone help. It really is a good pound cake with a flaky-like top.

Thanks in advance,
Donna from JASPER, AL

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We want to sell our home and build a smaller one. Our home is only three and a half years old. I need some staging tips before we put it on the market.

Thanks!

ktbelle_1 from Mooresville, NC

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After some helpful suggestions, I've decided to go with an 80s theme for my sister's 40th birthday party. I've decided to make it fancy dress and will be playing 80's music. I have a few decorating ideas so far, I am going to paint large cardboard boxes black and stick coloured card squares all over to look like giant rubik's cubes, I am also going to hang some old vinyl records around along with streamers and balloons. Any more decorating ideas would be appreciated. I also need ideas for games to play and food to serve.

Thanks :)
jojo from Aus

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Any tips to remove fish oil stain from suede desert boots?

Margaret from Ayr, Scotland

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Save my sanity! I bought an old house built in the 1930's, The walls are originally lath & plaster. The kitchen, living room and family room all have cheap, old, tacky paneling. What can I do to make my walls look nice? One room has the paneling painted and it also looks tacky. Putting up new walls sounds expensive as I am told most of the lath & plaster will fall out and simply have to be removed.

Debbie from Ontario, Canada

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I have a very thin coat of wax on the inside of a hurricane glass candle holder. I cannot seem to find anything to remove it, and it is too tall to fit in the freezer.

Thanks in advance!
Mary Mattern from Ocean Shores, WA

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How do you remove the labels from laundry detergent and kitty litter jugs? Some of them seem to be sealed on. - M

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I recently purchased a home which was built in 2003. When I moved in I was informed by my neighbors that my smoke alarms were going off. They had to contact my realtor to have them removed. Now that I am here, I replaced all the batteries in the smoke detectors and checked them for proper operation. The problem comes when I install them and plug them into the power plug. They begin to alarm and only stop after I remove them from the power plug.

What do you believe the problem is and what do you recommend to correct it?

Thanks,
Jay from Lehigh Acres FL

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I will be graduating from high school in June and I am throwing a luau graduation party. I am wondering if anyone has any good ideas for cheap decorating and any recipes that include the hawaiian theme, but aren't too hard to make in large quantities. Or if there are any ideas for entertainment and games that would be fun.

AC from MN

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I have taken the batteries out of my omega electronic safe and now cannot close it. Any ideas?

Fino from England, Lincolshire

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I am looking to buy a non electric washing machine to do laundry in. I saw one years ago. The cost of electricity is so high now, it's time to go electric free. Do you know of a any websites to go to to see some of these products? Thank you. Hope you can help.

Debra from Newburgh, IN

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I currently have a gas range. The pilot light stays lit. I bought the range thinking if the power went out I would always be able to cook, as opposed to an electric ignition range. Well now that gas prices are sky high I am wondering if I would be better off getting a range that has the electric ignition on it?

This would keep the pilot light from burning all of the time thus not constantly consuming gas or heating up the kitchen in the summer.

Can anyone give me some guidance on this topic?

I do not need a fancy range, in fact I have the very most basic gas range now/so I would not buy a top of the line range if I replace this one and the one I have now is 9 years old. I bought it new when I built my house.

Thanks in advance for any help on this topic.

Cookiepom from Owensboro, KY

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I use Outlook Express, and I am suddenly being invaded by junk mail soliciting either refinancing, stocks et. I did not have this before, I am replying to them to stop but some are returning as undelivered. We have Norton, Antispyware, etc.

Please help!

Ana from Pembroke Pines, Florida

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I want to take on a huge project of painting my entire house and ripping out all the carpeting to put in floors. What would be the easiest way to do this? I look around and sigh, where to begin?

Amy from Illinois

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