Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 180, November 12, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Help us write our first ebook!
Do you have any Holiday travel tips or stories to share? We are putting together an eBook full of travel tips and stories. If you have anything to share, please submit them on our contest form. We will compile the tips and stories into a printable ebook format that can be carried when travelling.
You may notice two Holloween tips in this newsletter (oops). They were submitted on Halloween or the day before and sadly we didn't see them in time to publish them before the holiday. The nice thing about ThriftyFun is that once information is posted, it will be available for many years to come, so the tips will come in handy next Halloween.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Caring For A Marble Slab
- Marinating Food
- Empty Yogurt Containers For Starting Seeds
- Uses for Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces
- PB&J Tip
- Cucumber Water
- Halloween Cheese Cake
- Halloween Makeup Tip
- Taming Frizzy Hair
- Ski Mask For Winter Cycling
- Removing Eye Makeup
- When Taking Antibiotics
- Wash Away The Salt
- Make a Treat Out of Leftover Cereal
- Idea For Reusing Tidy-Cat Kitty Litter Containers
- New Life For An Old Lamp
- Credit Card Tip
- Bed Warmers
- Burnt Pots
- Caring For Wooden Salad Bowls
- Grind Up Bananas For Your Roses
- Hamster or Gerbil?
- Pumpkin Bars
- Hand Raising Kittens
- Removing Odors from Shoes
New Requests:
- Repairing Dings In the Varnish On a Hardwood Floor
- CD Scratch Removal
- Rash on Top of Feet
- The Incredible 4th Birthday Party
More Reading:
- 7 Tips To Give Your College Student About Credit Cards
- Chocolate Pecan Pie
- Potato Mushroom Soup
- Free Audio Stories for Children
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If you are looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem,
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Today's Tips
Caring For A Marble Slab
If you use a marble slab for rolling pastry (which is recommended because the surface is always cool) never allow acidic foods like vinegar, lemons or tomatoes to come in contact with the surface. Acid corrodes marble.
By joesgirl
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Marinating Food
A marinade should completely cover the food. If necessary, weight the food down by placing a flat dish on it, than a water-filled jar on top of the dish. Turn the food occasionally in the marinade. You can also place the whole mixture in a large screw-top jar and invert the jar from time to time.
Most salad dressings made with flavored oil and vinegar, lemon or lime juice make fine marinades for mushrooms, ripe olives, meat or fish.
By joesgirl
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Empty Yogurt Containers For Starting Seeds
Save empty yogurt cartons to start plant seedlings for your garden in the spring. Empty cardboard egg cartons also work good. So do clear plastic containers from the bakery-mini greenhouses.
By Melanie
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Uses for Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces
Don't throw away that jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing. Paint a few pieces, stamp or write a letter on each one and use them to make a title on a scrapbook page. Then use the corner pieces on the corners of your photos. (Cover the backs with acid free paint or paper if you are unable to determine if the puzzle is acid free.)
By Kate Larson
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PB&J Tip
To keep the jelly in a peanut butter sandwich from soaking into the bread or oozing out, put peanut butter, thinly spread, on both sides of the bread instead of one. Then put the jelly in the middle.
By Lynn
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Cucumber Water
Cucumber water is one of the most refreshing drinks I have ever tasted. Cut and slice half a cucumber, peeled or not, doesn't matter and mix into a pitcher of ice water. Sit for five minutes, then stir and drink. It refreshes, inside and out! It is great!
By Racingagainstthimerasol
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Halloween Cheese Cake
Ingredients:
1 jello no-bake cheese cake (plain)
1 package of Oreo type cookies (chocolate)
red and yellow food coloring
Gummie sour worms
Directions:
Mix cheese cake according to directions until thick. Mix a little yellow and red food coloring together and add to cheese cake mixture and stir until blended to an orange color.
Crush cookies in a gallon ziploc bag real well, putting aside enough to cover the top of the cake. Use the rest to line the bottom of the cake pan as the crust.
Put the cake mix topping on top of the cookie crumbs and spread it out then add, the rest of the cookie crumbs, then stick gummie worms down into the cake, standing just a little, then chill until ready to serve. Great recipe for a kids halloween party.
By Lucretia G.
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Halloween Makeup Tip
A quick Halloween tip for the little ones. Through trial and error over the years I've found this great tip. Before applying color makeup to the face of your little trick or treaters, or to yourself, first apply moisturizer. It sure comes off a lot easier when you are done !
By Susan
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Taming Frizzy Hair
Here's a good trick from a professional salon for people who are plagued by frizzy hair, especially in humid weather or after damp drying it. Take a small section at a time and twist it into a spiral, then blow-dry the sections one by one, keeping the dryer moving. You'll find that your hair will be more manageable and will fall into a more natural shape.
By joesgirl
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Ski Mask For Winter Cycling
Cold weather cycling can be made much more comfortable by a trip to your local ski shop. Ski gear is designed for breaking the cold wind you're likely to face when winter cycling. A knit ski mask with a vapor-permeable membrane will protect your face from icy winds but won't get soggy as you breathe hard during exertion. It should fit closely enough to allow you to wear your normal helmet on top.
By joesgirl
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Removing Eye Makeup
Mineral oil, baby oil or petroleum jelly remove mascara just as well as any fancy makeup remover and keep the cost to a minimal amount. They are more effective and gentle than soap and water, and they leave behind a thin, protective film that moisturizes lids and lashes. When removing eye makeup wipe gently, don't rub, each eyelash you lose will take 9 months to replace.
By joesgirl
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When Taking Antibiotics
When taking antibiotics for a few days or more, you should also take Lactobacillus acidophilus, or a yogurt that contains these "friendly germs." This will counteract the antibiotic treatment which kills off the good germs with the bad, sometimes resulting in yeast infections in women and diarrhea in children.
By joesgirl
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Wash Away The Salt
You can reduce the amount of salt in some prepared foods merely by washing them. A team of researchers from Durham University found that rinsing food under tap water for 1 minute can cut its salt level by as much as 80%. The researchers rinsed canned green beans and found a 41% reduction; rinsing tuna fish yielded a 79% reduction, and rinsing cottage cheese, a 56% reduction.. A 3-minute rinse cuts salt by even more.
By joesgirl
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Make a Treat Out of Leftover Cereal
I am a child caregiver. I end up with lots of small amounts of dry cereal every week.I take the extra cereal and crush them. Then I melt some white coating bark, pour it over the cereal and mix. When it is cool I cut it in squares,and you have a treat that kids love.
Jane from Ky.
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Idea For Reusing Tidy-Cat Kitty Litter Containers
The Tidy-Cat 27 lb. plastic container with the handle, when empty, and washed out, makes a really sturdy catch all for small toys to store! I've got 3 of them for the grandkids and they love them! And they are not too heavy to carry around, either.
By Las Vegas Angel
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New Life For An Old Lamp
Did you know that old lamps can be painted? Start by cleaning the lamp of dust and dirt. Then apply Rustoleum type paint with a sponge or sponge brush. It will probably require two coats but the textured finish that the sponge gives is great for hiding flaws. We used this technique to transform an old brass lamp into a wrought iron looking lamp that fit in perfectly with our rustic decor.
By Katie in NY
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Credit Card Tip
When you have a new credit card, don't sign your name on the back, instead write your driver's license number. The clerk will have to ask you to see your driver's license but that only takes a minute to check. If your credit card is stolen no one can see your signature to use it.
By Havanagirl
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Bed Warmers
They are telling us we are going to get our first snow tonight here in Colorado and I was thinking that I needed to do something to warm up our bed to keep us warm at night when we turn down the furnace. So here is what I am going to do. I am going to get some of that polar fleece and make some bed warmers.
Make a square out of polar fleece and fill it with clean kitty litter. These then can be popped into the microwave and put in our bed to warm it up before we get in. Since the kitty litter will hold the heat, it should keep us very warm this winter.
By Debra in Colorado
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Burnt Pots
Sprinkle powdered cleanser or baking soda liberally over the burned portion of the pot, then add only enough water to moisten the powder or soda well. Cover the pot with plastic wrap so that the moisture won't evaporate and let stand several hours or overnight. You can sometimes lift the burned portion out of the pot with only a little scraping. If the pot is very badly burned it may need 2 such treatments.
By joesgirl
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Caring For Wooden Salad Bowls
Because metal sometimes imparts a slightly unpleasant flavor to fruits and vegetables, avoid metal bowls when mixing or serving salads. China, glass or prepared wooden bowls are best.
To season an unfinished wooden salad bowl, rub the inside and outside with salad oil until the surfaces can absorb no more. Let stand overnight. Then wipe dry and use. Bowls prepared in the way can be washed like any other bowl, but not soaked. Give them an occasional oil rubbing a few times a year.
Particularly in hot weather, try chilling the large salad bowl, the individual serving plates and the salad before bringing it to the table. Your guests will be in for a crisp surprise.
By joesgirl
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Grind Up Bananas For Your Roses
Take banana peels and put them around your rose bushes. The aphids will be gone. I take my banana peels, add water, and grind them up in the blender then pour the mixture around the roses. It works like magic.
By anniebug
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Hamster or Gerbil?
If you are debating on whether to get a Hamster, or a Gerbil as a rodent pet, I would suggest you get a Gerbil. Unlike Hamsters, who are nocturnal, and the run in that darn wheel that squeaks all night, Gerbils are active during the day. These little guys are so interesting to watch. They run around, chew on things, bury food, and other things. Also, hamster urinate constantly, but Gerbils only urinate every so often, so your Gerbil cage almost never smells. Also, if you decide to get a Gerbil, I suggest you get two, and if you want a family of Gerbils, get a male and female. It's amazing how careful the female Gerbil will handle those pink, tiny babies. The babies will grow fur, and run around like crazy while their eyes are still closed! So, I highly recommend a Gerbil because they are a lot of fun for only around Six dollars per Gerbil. - Steven S
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Pumpkin Bars
Crumb Crust:
1 1/2 C rolled oats
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp. soda
3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C butter or margarine
1/2 C chopped nuts
Combine oats and dry ingredients. Add butter; beat at low speed until crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups and press remaining on bottom of greased 13 X 9 inch pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Filling:
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
1 egg
2/3 C milk
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1/3 C brown sugar
Beat together all ingredients. Spread over partially baked crust; sprinkle remaining crumb mix over pumpkin mix. Continue baking 25 minutes. Cool. Chill. Cut into bars. Can freeze up to 2-3 months. That at room temperature (still wrapped) for 2-3 hours.
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Hand Raising Kittens
Emergency Formulas to make at Home:
Formula #1
8 oz. homogenized whole milk 2 egg yolks 1 teaspoon salad oil 1 drop liquid pediatric vitamins (optional)
Mix well and warm before using. Keep refrigerated.
Formula #2
1 part boiled water to 5 parts evaporated milk 1/2 teaspoon bone meal per 16 oz fluid
Mix well, refrigerate, warm before using .
I have found it is very difficult to hand raise kittens but worth it. You have to work to get them to take the formula, and then make them go to the bathroom all the time. I kept mine in a little drawer with a hot water bottle and fed formula out of a bottle and washed the kit's face off after each time. It is like trying to stuff toothpaste back into a tube but they get it. They only need a small amount. They have to be burped. Little back let lifts get rid of constipation, as does a little milk. They need the exercise to get the bowels to moving.
They are so sweet, I end up keeping some of the kittens I hand feed especially if I messed up and spoiled them rotten!
-Robyn
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Removing Odors from Shoes
To remove even the toughest odor from shoes, simply place them in a plastic bag (I use old Bread bags) and put them in the freezer overnight. The bacteria causing the odor can not live in freezing temperatures and your shoes will be "cured" of odor overnight.
By Susan J.
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Other Active Topics
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http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
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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 November 15th.
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:
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New Requests:
Repairing Dings In the Varnish On a Hardwood Floor
We recently installed hardwood floors in our house and sadly have some pretty major dings and scratches on the varnish from a chair. We had a chair with metal feet with rubber ends on the feet. The metal broke through one of the rubber feet and scratched the floor. Does anyone know of a way to buff these out to make them less noticeable? We have rearranged our furniture in a way that puts them in a high traffic area, the rest of the floor looks fantastic.
Any ideas would be appreciated, Thanks.
Jimmy
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CD Scratch Removal
Does anybody know some good ways of removing scratches from CD's?
Thanks,
Steven S.
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Rash on Top of Feet
Hi There! My name is Vannesa and I'm new! This is a great site. I have had a problem with my feet for a few months now and I need help, I get bad itchy skin on the tops of my feet, after I scratch the the itch it gets worse until I break the skin and bleed, Only then the itch stops for a few days then returns. I get this all the time on both feet, but only on the top, there are now lumps, rashes or spots there and no itching between the toes. Does anyone else have this problem? Or is there a fix?
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The Incredible 4th Birthday Party
Any idea for decoration and games. I will throwing 4th birthday party for my son in our home. Please help! - Elizabeth
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More Reading:
7 Tips To Give Your College Student About Credit Cards
By Lois Center-Shabazz
When my niece moved to our town to go to college she gave her university our home as her permanent address. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to experience something I had little knowledge about. Over the course of several months I received dozens of calls a week from credit card companies offering my niece her own credit card. I was shocked!
View Article: Click Here
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Garnish with whipped cream to serve.
View Article: Click Here
Potato Mushroom Soup
By Charlie Burke
Hearty soups are great fall fare for lunch or a light supper. They improve when held a day or two and make a quick meal with a salad and bread.. My wife, Joanne, came up with this long ago and it always seems to show up on a cold fall day. Caraway seeds add an unusual touch.
View Article: Click Here
Free Audio Stories for Children
The link below is for storyplace.org and there are a lot of great stories with audio that kids love, especially Clyde's Smile, where he loses a tooth and the turtle finds it! - Robyn
http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/other.asp
View Article: Click Here
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