Daily Thrifty Tips - March 3, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 44, March 3, 2008 (Read It Online) I hope everyone had a nice weekend. This week's Saving Money On... Newsletter is about Saving Money on Tickets. Do you have any tips to share? http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17833946.tip.html 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: Hot Mitts Homemade Deep Litter Box Behind The Lines Of Time In Memory of Boots Today's Tips: Swiffer Cleaning Cloths Are Good For Bathtubs Thrifty Organizational Tips Recycling Crayons Acrylic Remover for Dried Paint on Leather Sofa Reusing Heads from Power Toothbrushes Homemade Spatini Recipe Stretch Eggs With Powdered Eggs Cleaning Condiment and Toiletry Lids Save Beef and Veggie Leftovers In The Freezer Joke of the Day New Requests: Laundry Products for Sensitive Skin Ideas for Fence Post Tops Making an Herbal Heat Wrap Spiders In My House Craft Ideas For Used T-shirts Leapster L-Max vs. Non-L-Max Wood Banister Cleaning Graham & Brown Wallpaper #15017 Free Baby Bib Pattern With Sleeves Shining Quartz Counter Tops Fix a Squeaky Shoe Inexpensive Seasonal Flags Looking for an Easy Potato Soup Recipe Neighbors Cook with Curry Hanging Lightweight Wooden Carving Tomato Plants with Yellow Leaves Name Ideas for Artificial and Dried Flower Business What is 'Packed' Brown Sugar? New Brake Pads Still Squeaky Craft Ideas Using Crib Bumper Pads Adding Texture to Paint Trouble Growing Marigolds More Reading: Saving Money on Window Cleaner 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: Hot Mitts Hot mitts are very simple to sew and can be made in any desired length. Here is a website that shows you how to sew a hot mitt pattern. How to Trace a Pot Holder Pattern By MCW from NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64180238.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Deep Litter Box I always had a hard time finding a litter box that was deep enough for my cats. They kicked loads of litter out the side with traditional boxes. Then I tried a covered box and it just made them stinky when they came out. So I made my own litter box. I simply bought two deep Rubbermaid containers (I think Rubbermaid would be better than Sterilite since Rubbermaid is a little more flexible) and cut two openings in the front of the containers. I had my dad actually cut the openings with a saw, but I think a sharp box cutter (and a little safety precaution) would work, too. This has been the PERFECT solution for my cats because they only spill litter out the front, and even then it's not very much. I hope someone finds this tip useful! By Kathy from South Dakota Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72567396.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Behind The Lines Of Time This is a photo that I took of my 85 year old daddy. I watched him for a few moments without him noticing me. Do you ever wonder what's on an elderly persons mind when you catch them thinking? Is it where they've been or where their going? I call it "Behind the lines of Time" Each line in his face tells a different sorry. I'm BLESSED, he's still in my Life :) By Helen from Kingston, Tennessee Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72255932.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print In Memory of Boots Boots was 15 here and of an unknown breed, but possibly a Maine Coon. I got Boots 13 years ago, the same summer that I met my husband! She needed a home as her owner was pregnant and didn't want the cat around the baby. Boots liked to jump in the bathtub and splash in the water after I got out of the shower, loved to chase things that the kids would throw for her, loved to be petted! She liked to eat Pringles, tuna and chicken. Boots died on January 28 this year, very peacefully and calmly. I still can't believe that she is gone. I wanted to share her story with everyone, and remind you to love your pets while you can, they leave us way too soon. R.I.P Boots. By Melanie from Ontario, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39608630.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: Swiffer Cleaning Cloths Are Good For Bathtubs In trying to use less chemicals around my son, I have discovered that the swiffer-dry cleaning cloth (no name brands as well) is great for cleaning acrylic bath tubs. I use a small amount of dish soap, a small amount of elbow grease and voila, I have a perfectly clean tub minus the fumes of harsh chemicals. Depending on how dirty the tub is I sometimes can even reuse the cleaning cloth. Try it and you will be surprised at how well it works. By Lisa from Halifax, NS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89113013.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Thrifty Organizational Tips To get organized, use: Empty big cereal boxes in the pantry to group similar things together Organize shoes in shoe boxes. Put away extra clothes on cardboard boxes. These stack easily. They are FREE if you ask the secretarty to save you some boxes, when they have paper for the printer. They are GREEN (environment friendly). You save yourself from buying more plastic. Source: My own idea By Vasu from Cleveland Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71127722.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recycling Crayons I recycle my grandchildren's broken crayons into new crayons. Take all pieces of the same color crayon and melt in a can set in water on the stove. Be careful, this is very hot. Pour into a mold and cool. I use a candy mold. This makes crayons in new fun shapes. You can also mix colors to get some new colors. Also, if you make heart shaped red ones, you can pair them with a hand made Valentine, saying "you color my world, be mine". Perfect for preschool parties. By Randa from San Marcos, Tx Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74367719.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Acrylic Remover for Dried Paint on Leather Sofa To remove old dried up paint from my leather sofa, my husband suggested I try his Acrylic Remover and Brush Cleaner. I dabbed it on the old stains, and voila! The stains are gone and leather in perfect condition. (The olive oil didn't work very well for me.) By Katie from Orlando, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87841068.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Reusing Heads from Power Toothbrushes Ever wonder what to do with your old electric toothbrush heads? Instead of discarding them, you can attach them to your electric toothbrush, add a little baking soda paste (mix water and baking soda) and use it to clean the hard to reach areas of your house hold taps! By Juggs from Calgary, AB Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58531720.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Spatini Recipe Ingredients 1 beef bouillon cube (crushed with kitchen mallet) or 1 tsp of bouillon 1 and 1/2 teaspoons 10x sugar 1 teaspoon cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder pinch of ground black pepper (apparently this is the amount that's in one packet) Directions I made it several times and it does the trick. The first time it was a bit too tangy but I only added 1/2 tsp. of powdered sugar and not the full 1 and 1/2 tsp. called for. After that it was just like old times. Well worth the search. Consumers need to band together and stop buying from these corporate weasels when they pull stunts like this and downsizing products with jacked up prices. I promise you it is worth the cost of ingredients and measuring them each time to make the sauce. I mix it in a small dish with a fork then add it like usual. In fact I am going to make some right now. By Jala Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33775810.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Stretch Eggs With Powdered Eggs As expensive as a dozen of eggs have gotten over the recent months, a good way to extend them is to add some dry powdered cafeteria eggs or Army powdered eggs or other if you can get them! Sometimes you can find them at the Mennenite stores if you are lucky enough to have one near you! Mix a little and add it to regular scrambled eggs to make them go farther and they taste really good! Here is a farmers Market FINDER so you can check them out! http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/ Source: myself :) By melody_yesterday Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20077711.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Condiment and Toiletry Lids Condiment lids get really icky and need to be cleaned like most anything else does. My ickiest one is catsup! Every once in awhile, take off the cap and soak it a little while in water (I drop mine into a coffee cup that also needs soaked a bit) and the buildup comes off easy. The same goes for the chocolate syrup lid. A really great way to make short work of all the dirty lids (including in the bathrooms) is to use the steamer! It cleans all those little ridges out (like on the lid of the mouthwash and toothpaste) with basically no effort! The salt and pepper shakers get the dusty kitchen grease-like build up as well, so place a small bit of plastic wrap under the cap and twist it back on (like you would to take it camping - to moisture proof it) and steam them. By Veronica from Sedalia, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77440205.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Save Beef and Veggie Leftovers In The Freezer Experts say that the best way to SLASH your grocery bill is to eliminate the waste-stop throwing things out! Here is my way of salvaging the tablespoon of corn or green beans that is not enough to eat but I can't bear to throw out. Here is my recipe for leftover soup: Place a large Tupperware-like container in the freezer. At the end of every meal, throw all your leftover vegetables and their broth into this container. In addition, add any beef scraps from roasts, steak, etc. When the container is FULL, place in your crock pot with a large can of tomato sauce. You may have to add vegetables (or a small piece of round steak if necessary) to to balance it out. I do NOT place broccoli, beets or asparagus in this pot (Save your broccoli in a separate container for Cream of Broccoli soup if you desire). I do not place ground beef, chicken or pork in this container. It is delicious! NO more leftovers! Serve with crusty French bread for a delicious and hearty meal that's good enough to serve for company! Enjoy! I make Swiss Steak (crock-pot round steak with tomato sauce) and the leftovers of this dish are a rich base for my leftover soup! By Diana from Prospect, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf66856446.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day A bus driver is conducting a tour of famous Civil War battle sites. "Here," he points out at one spot, "is where the Southern troops routed a whole regiment of Yankees. Over there, the Reb's wiped out a whole platoon of Yanks. Down about a mile, there's another valley where we captured a thousand Union soldiers." A tourist says, "Didn't the North ever win a battle?" "Maybe, Ma'am. But not while I'm driving this bus." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Laundry Products for Sensitive Skin I found Arm and Hammer for Sensitive Skin laundry detergent once about a year ago. I loved it because it was not only good for sensitive skin but also I need the no perfume. I have not been able to find it in any of our stores, even drug stores. How can I find this line and also are there dryer sheets with no perfume? My zip code is 63628 if that will help in locating a store. Roberta Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46449072.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ideas for Fence Post Tops Does anyone have any ideas for making or buying inexpensive fence post tops that look nice? Many that I have seen cost nearly as much as the 4x4 posts, which seem excessive. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated! LS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11283531.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making an Herbal Heat Wrap Can anyone give me the instructions to make an herbal heat wrap that goes in the microwave? I know that you can use rice or corn, however I would like to put some herbs in it as well. Rose S from Malvern, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33465031.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Spiders In My House My friend has an enormous amount of spiders in her basement. It's gotten to the point where there are numerous spiders crawling on the walls and floors. She needs something that will not only be safe around kids and pets, but will also kill spiders on contact and not screw up the paint job on the walls. Got any ideas? Manuel Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001094.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Ideas For Used T-shirts Does anyone know what I can make out of old T-shirts? Something I can wear or what not. Amanda from SC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf819801.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Leapster L-Max vs. Non-L-Max What is better about the L-Max vs. the cheaper Leapster. Is it just the ability to hook up to a TV? LS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16722123.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Wood Banister Cleaning I just bought a house and the banisters are gummy-sticky dirty. You can actually scrape some of the yucky stuff off them. I'm wondering if there is anything that would dissolve this stuff. They are nice wood so I don't want to mess them up. Thanks! Jeneene Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27770405.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Graham & Brown Wallpaper #15017 I am looking for "Super Fresco" paintable white wallpaper by Graham and Brown, Pattern No. 15017, Batch C. Thank you. Thomas A from Stafford Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65780125.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Free Baby Bib Pattern With Sleeves I am looking for a bib pattern for a baby/toddler that has long sleeves and Velcros in the back. Thanks very much. Jeanne from Englewood, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45049513.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Shining Quartz Counter Tops Is there a way to shine Quartz counter tops? Sherry from Gaithersburg, Maryland Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36030845.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fix a Squeaky Shoe I bought a pair of high heels that squeak so badly I can never sneak up on anyone! Does anyone have a solution to squeaky shoes? Casey from Plano, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf864007.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Inexpensive Seasonal Flags Does anyone know where I might find a set or several garden/decorative flags with holiday or seasonal themes at a thrifty price? I have several small flags (about 12in x 18in) for the mini flag poles, but would like to mount a flagpole on my porch for the larger house/decorative flags (about 2' x 3'). These flags are pretty expensive ($10-15 each), but I'd like to get several at a much more affordable price, even if they are used but in good condition. I've checked eBay, but only found a few sold as a set/lot. Most are sold separately and costly! THANKS for any suggestions! Leah from Shelbyville, Tn Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17742294.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking for an Easy Potato Soup Recipe Does anyone have an easy potato soup recipe? Nicholas from Salinas, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65565065.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Neighbors Cook with Curry I have just recently moved into a 2nd and 3rd floor apartment. My neighbors below cook with curry every day (twice a day) and the curry scent is so powerful in my apartment, it makes my roommate and I sick. The aroma is so strong in my sleeping room that my eyes burn from the odor. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to rid our apartment of the smell? Katie from Columbus OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36789302.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Hanging Lightweight Wooden Carving I have a 5' L x 1/4in carved piece I have sanded and finished. It is light in weight and I want to hang it as a cornice in my kitchen bay window. I don't want to nail it to the shelf over the window as I don't want to put nails in it. Since it is light in weight I considered velcro. Are there any other suggestions as to how to hang this from the shelf edging? Mahalo Jo Ann from Hauula, HI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19129486.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tomato Plants with Yellow Leaves Can someone tell me why some of the leaves are turning yellow on my patio tomato plant? I would greatly appreciate an answer. Hardiness Zone: 10a mitch914 from South Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf482428.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Name Ideas for Artificial and Dried Flower Business I need a name for my new business which is printing words and graphics on real or artificial roses and dried flowers for confetti and favors. Theresa from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80832957.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What is 'Packed' Brown Sugar? When a recipe calls for 'packed brown sugar' what is this? We have ordinary brown sugar and treacle sugar here in South Africa. I'm not sure what the 'packed' is. Carolyn from South Africa Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69455270.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print New Brake Pads Still Squeaky I just had my pads replaced at Christmas on an '06 Malibu. They are still squeaking and seem to be getting worse. They stop fine but I'm wondering if I should be concerned. Anyone have any advice? Erin from Baton Rouge, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18365192.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Ideas Using Crib Bumper Pads I have crib bumpers for my twins that I am not using because of safety issues. But they came with the bedding set and are so cute! Any creative ideas for things I can do with them, besides making pillows out of them? Lulu from Fanwood, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49339637.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Adding Texture to Paint I need instructions on different ways to texture paint, before I decide which to do. For example: sand, tissue, etc. Any suggestions? Kelena from Tuskegee, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49373371.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Trouble Growing Marigolds I CANNOT grow marigolds. I plant them and go out the next morning and the little leaves are stripped off the stems and the marigold bud is all that is left on the stem - no leaves. What is doing this? Hardiness Zone: 6a Peggy from Springboro, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27705243.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: Saving Money on Window Cleaner Tips for saving money on window cleaner as posted from the ThriftyFun community. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf713927.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.