Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 30, January 30, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We have a very informative article about garage sales in the More Reading section today.
The photo contest and latest tip contest end tomorrow night at midnight. The links to enter are below.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Enter The Tip Contest:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Enter The Photo Contest:
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- Painted Envelopes
- Joey (Akita/Retriever)
Today's Tips:
- Cardboard Tube From A Fabric Bolt As A Curtain Rod
- Saving Money On Bread
- Stain Remover For Tough Baby Stains
- Pick An Inexpensive Day For Your Wedding
- Throw a Decorating Party
- Save On Watering By Collecting Rain Water
- Storing Sugar
- Storing Marshmallows
- Garbage Dispsal Odors
- Stains on Leather or Suede
- Ink Stains From Clothing
- Cloves Instead of Mothballs
- Washing Clothing With Bleach (Without Having Them Smell Like Bleach)
- Feed Corn for Slippery Sidewalks
- Making Your Own Large Valentine's Day Kiss
- 25 Ways That I Love You For Valentine's Day
- Making Dish Towels From Old Sheets
- Chili and Tortillas From Scratch, For Stretching A Food Budget
- First Aid Kit for Diaper Bag
- Organizing Drawers
- Super Glue For Minor Cuts
- Chinese Take Out Container Centerpieces
New Requests:
- Removing Cat Urine Smell from Plastic Picnic Table
- What Material to Wear?
- Mouldy School Bag
- Area Rug over Carpet
More Reading:
- Sending Flowers - Shop Locally
- Cash Not Trash
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Today's Sponsor
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
Painted Envelopes
Maybe this will inspire some of you painters out there for next Christmas, I always paint the envelopes of my Christmas cards, this is what I did for this last Christmas, I have been doing this for about 6 years, it is fun to come up with something new every year.
By Phyllis Powell
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Joey (Akita/Retriever)
Meet Joey. She will be 9 years young on March 13. We adopted her when she was 5 weeks old from the Animal Foundation through PetSmart. Her mom is an Akita and we believe, based on her personality, that her dad is some sort of retriever.
At age 7 months she began doing unusual things like opening all the doors in the house, carrying in the groceries and at night getting a pillow from the bed and bringing it into the den where I watch TV. She even began taking other dogs on walks by gently grabbing their leashes from their owner's hands and holding on to the "handle". All we ever taught her to do is: Come, Sit, Down & Wait. Everything else she's taught herself.
For fun Joey likes to play with Maggie Mae, the Scottie next door. Joey found Maggie Mae on her morning walk with my husband. We couldn't find Maggie's owners (no tag or chip) and since our neighbors had lost their pet they adopted Maggie.
By Shelly E
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Cardboard Tube From A Fabric Bolt As A Curtain Rod
I used the round tube from a fabric bolt for a curtain rod once and it worked wonderfully! I had some contact paper in the wood-look pattern and covered the tube with it and on the ends I poofed up some fabric and covered the ends with it and rubberbands. Being it was a smaller sized window I used one curtain panel and pulled it to one side. It turned out terrific. And best of all, it cost nothing since I had it all on hand.
You can get the cardboard tubes from any fabric store since they throw them away anyway and most are glad to give them to you.
By Kat
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Saving Money On Bread
Tips for saving money on bread. Post your ideas.
Buying Bread
Many people do not realize you can freeze loaves of bread for up to 3 months and it will be fine. I go to the bread outlets and will stock up on it, especially the markdown rack of loaves that are about to expire. Even cakes and cookies. Just place inside several plastic shopping bags and close tight and freeze. Let thaw to room temperature and you will never know it was frozen.
And at bread outlets you can usually get 3 loaves for the price of one at a normal grocery store.
By Kat
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Stain Remover For Tough Baby Stains
To remove tough baby stains, mix equal amounts of Dawn dish soap and liquid dishwashing detergent together in a squirt bottle. Apply directly to stain and wash as normal. Saves lots of baby clothes!
By Jennifer Metz
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Pick An Inexpensive Day For Your Wedding
Have your wedding on a Sunday afternoon or even on a weeknight.
The demand is way less for these days and you can get better rates and deals. I personally love Sunday weddings in the middle of the afternoons. It seems like there is always more attendance, too.
By Kat
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Throw a Decorating Party
And instead of a wedding shower or bachelorette party ask your family and friends to help you with decorating the establishment you choose. The day before just plan a 'party' and lunch. And most the time family and friends are great at donating for the occasion without being asked!
By Kat
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Save On Watering By Collecting Rain Water
Save on watering by collecting rain water in containers. Pretty tin buckets make cute 'collectors'. If you have a tin roof, you can place barrels under the eaves to catch rain water and then it can be gathered in watering cans to take where needed. In case of mosquitos check with garden centers and there is a tablet to rid water of the larvae but safe for plants.
By Kat
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Storing Sugar
Tips for storing sugar. Post your ideas.
Using Milk Containers for Sugar
Has anyone ever done this? I don't know what your milk comes in but ours comes in plastic containers with screw on lids. I use it to store sugar! It pours easily so it is usually not too messy. It holds at least a bag of sugar.
By Maureen W
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Storing Marshmallows
Marshmallows will keep for an indefinite time in the freezer.
By Robin
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Garbage Dispsal Odors
If your garbage disposal has a foul odor don't despair. Some time after you have eaten an orange, grapefruit, or peeled lemons put the rind in the disposal along with some water and run them through. It will help the smell to disappear and freshen the air in your kitchen.
By Robin
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Stains on Leather or Suede
If you have stains on a leather or suede garment all you have to do is use a little club soda to take them out. Just use the club soda and an old toothbrush, rubbing the stain well. You can use a suede brush after the stain is gone to return the flattened nap on the suede to its original condition.
By Robin
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Ink Stains From Clothing
If you have an article of clothing that has ink stain on it, don't throw it away. Just use a little aerosol hairspray to get the stain out. Just spray it on, rub with a stiff cloth, and launder as you normally would.
By Robin
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Cloves Instead of Mothballs
Cloves work as well as mothballs on your stored garments. The smell is nice and fresh. Put them in cloth bags and put them in the pockets of garments and into bags holding garments while they are in storage.
By Robin
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Washing Clothing With Bleach (Without Having Them Smell Like Bleach)
Here is something I discovered by accident. When washing items that require bleach let them go through the wash cycle as usual. When you come to the rinse, be sure to put your softener in the water after it is full and let it swish around a few times, about a minute. Then turn the machine off and let it sit in the mixture for a few hours. Then turn on the machine to continue the cycle and dry as you would normally. I found that there was no bleach smell on the clothes yet they smelled fresh.
By RoseMary
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Feed Corn for Slippery Sidewalks
Try using cracked feed corn on slippery sidewalks instead of salt. It doesn't damage your lawns and it provides food for the birds. It's very reasonably price, too, about seven dollars for fifty pounds at any feed store. Granular fertilizer also works if you don't have access to feed corn.
By Lynn
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Making Your Own Large Valentine's Day Kiss
Ingredients:
- 2 pkgs Chocolate Chips
- 1/2 pkg of nuts of your choice
Directions:
Melt chocolate in the microwave. Stir in nuts. Take a large brand new funnel and grease with butter. Cover end of funnel with a piece of tin foil. Pour melted chocolate into funnel and put funnel into a plastic glass then into the freezer until solid. Wrap in tin foil and add a Ribbon with your own sentiments written on it.
By Debra in Colorado
View Article: Click Here
25 Ways That I Love You For Valentine's Day
Here is a great way to tell your loved one why you love them.
On your computer write sentences like "I love how you love me", "I love your eyes", "I love how you play with the kids". You get the idea. Put double spacing in between each sentence. Cut strips apart and fold to go into a small jar or peanut can that you have decorated. Layer the folded sentences with wrapped candies like kisses. My husband said this is the best gift he has ever received and he had reread them all year long.
By Debra in Colorado
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Making Dish Towels From Old Sheets
I make dish towels out of my old sheets. My children may use these to wipe their hands or whatever--they do it whether or not I give permission. These get stained but I don't mind. I keep my good ones for me to use.
By Jill
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Chili and Tortillas From Scratch, For Stretching A Food Budget
We have always been on a food budget and 2 of our 5 kids were boys who had hollow legs, especially when they started playing football. I always buy dry beans to soak for chili, burritos, soup or whatever. I get twice as much for more than half the price. I also to find farmers who sell them at bulk amounts. Then I can store them for quite awhile. I put them in seal a meal type bags and vacuum seal them.
For the tortillas which are about 1.50-2.00 a dozen which we would need 2 pkgs, I started making my own, therefore also purchasing flour in bulk form. Recipe: 2 Cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, mix, 1/4 cup shortening, mix. 1 cup of cold water mix, pinch off about the size of a golf ball, roll, and fry in dry skillet till it bubbles, turn and fry dry about 15 - 25 seconds. Good!
When the store has two for one on tortillas, I always stock up on those too.
By RoseMary
View Article: Click Here
First Aid Kit for Diaper Bag
To make a first aid kit for your baby's diaper bag, take a cleaned out peanut butter jar, then put your tylenol, band aids, bottle of mommy aspirin, bee sting pen, alcohol pads, etc. inside. This is quick to locate and keeps the bag neater looking.
By Melanie
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Organizing Drawers
Tips for organizing drawers, especially junk and desk drawers. Post your ideas.
Keeping Small Items Organized
To help keep small items organized in drawers use empty Q tip boxes or the bottom cardboard box from velveeta cheese containers.
By Melanie
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Super Glue For Minor Cuts
If you get a paper cut use super glue to get it to stay shut. Also for a small cut that might have required a stitch or two, first use butterfly sterile strips for a day then that evening remove bandaids and top the cut with super glue. You may have to repeat the covering a time or two, but this will be waterproof and better then messing with wet bandaids all the time. Also cheaper then my $100 copay for emergency room stitches.
By Melanie
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Chinese Take Out Container Centerpieces
An inexpensive and cute centerpiece that I did for a birthday party was using the 32oz chinese take out containers! Since they are white, you can decorate it to your decor. I cut and taped clear party bags to one side and used stickers on the other side and filled it with candy (or cookies, or your idea.)
The handle is great to tie balloons on, and the guest can easily carry it out when they leave. I purchase them on E-Bay for about $10.00 for 24. You can use the leftover boxes to pack extra desserts in. I am a firm believer in giving things away to guests who took time to be there. It makes them happy and I don't have to carry it home. Liz from indiana
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Other Active Topics
Be sure to check out our active topics page to follow the discussion.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on January 31st.
Enter the contest!
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/syndication.html
New Requests:
Removing Cat Urine Smell from Plastic Picnic Table
My kids have a plastic picnic table that we keep outside under our carport. A tom has sprayed it and now it reeks to high heaven. Anyone know a way to get rid of the smell? thanks KC
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What Material to Wear?
Is Rayon hot to wear in dry heat & hot humidity? What are the breathable fabric's? What fabric's keep you warm?
Thanks!
Trish in AZ
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Mouldy School Bag
My daughter's school bag has gone mouldy and we can't find anything to get out the mould stains.The bag is pink so we can't bleach it. Does anyone have any ideas?
Becky lee from Australia
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Area Rug over Carpet
Is it wise too put an area rug over carpet? I have one but it has a jute back and I am afraid it might be to abrasive on my plush carpet but I love the looks of them. - Ginger
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your request here: Click Here
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More Reading:
Sending Flowers - Shop Locally
The internet is a great resource for information. But when ordering flowers, you should be aware that things are not always as they seem. More and more, "order gatherers" have built websites to entice you to purchase your flowers through them. Some of them even buy ads in your local yellow pages. These companies often work in a call center, far removed from the recipient of your flower gift. Oddly enough, they call your order out to a local florist after retaining a portion of your money! Local florists are looking to re-educate the public about how consumers can get a better value when ordering DIRECT. A recent conversation with a Southern region florist;
View Article: Click Here
Cash Not Trash
By Sara Noel
Hosting a garage sale is a great solution for ridding yourself of clutter and making some extra money. To have an effective, efficient, and successful garage sale, it takes some preparation and basic know-how. Part of the apprehension in having a garage sale is the fear of a negative outcome. Let's cover the basics to optimize the best results.
View Article: Click Here
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