Daily Thrifty Tips - October 27, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 209, October 27, 2008 (Read It Online) I hope everyone had a nice weekend! Here are the new Saving Money On... topics for this week. Saving Money on Pet Prescriptions Tips for Saving Money on Pet Prescriptions. Post your ideas below. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25988343.tip.html Saving Money on Baby Food Tips for Saving Money on Baby Food. Post you ideas below. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44673435.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: Craft Project: Halloween Skeleton Decoration Black Flamingos For Halloween Craft: Jade's Mending Jar Kitty Boy (Tuxedo Cat) Scooby, Scrappy and Porkchop (Olde English Bulldogges) Samson (Newfie, Shepherd, Lab Mix) Today's Tips: Colorado Potato Beetle Spray Covering Baseboard Heating Paper Shredder on a Small Garbage Pail Buy Your Halloween Costume Larger For Warm Clothes Underneath Halloween Costume: Stick Of Butter Lady (Paula Deen) Flea Shampoo and Raw Diets Homemade Holiday Cards Lightening Self Tanners Making Your Own Piñata Make Sauce With Your Garden Tomatoes Joke of the Day New Requests: Cleaning Silver Curtains To Coordinate With Gold and Rust Colored Walls Scratches on a Plasma Screen TV Septic Tank Safe Cleaners Space Bags Reviews Homemade Polymer Clay Getting Dogs To Stop Marking Territory Ideas for Mobile Food Service Business Bird Feeder Suet Recipe Wax Stains on Clothing Crown Royal Bag Quilt Making Adult Cry Baby Costume Child Will Not Eat Hamburger Meat Decorating A Barn For A Wedding Reception Tips For Tiling Bathroom Floor Fixing Elastic In Knee High Hosiery Protecting A Geranium Plant In Winter Giving Teachers Plants As Gifts Guinea Pig Is Biting Me Budget-Friendly, Healthy Recipes Removing Polyurethane From Fiberglass Tub Altering A Formal Dress Smaller Is Planning Your Own Birthday Party Tacky? Green Slime on Surface Of Pond Getting Guinea Pig Used to People Vinegar and Dish Soap Not Working for Gnats Power Pro Riding Lawn Mower Won't Start White Cookies with Marshmallow and Coconut Topping Roaster's Digital Timer Light Burned Out Making Knifty Knitter Christmas Stocking More Reading: My Frugal Holiday: Planning Frugal Gifts Saving Money on Health Care and Insurance Using Dragon Fruit 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: Craft Project: Halloween Skeleton Decoration By Harlean Greathouse These skeletons are great fun to make and hang around for Halloween. They can be made of wood 1/4 inch plywood. Easy to make from scraps. Or if you don't have the tools to do wood, you could make them with a sheet of art foam. I made mine about 17 inches tall, but you can reduce or increase the size to suit your wishes. My picture is of a wooden one. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43944459.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Black Flamingos For Halloween When my pink flamingos faded I decided to spray paint them black for Halloween decoration. Sorry the picture is a little blurry. By Karen from Bolivar, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54333726.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Jade's Mending Jar This is Jade's Mending jar. Jade is my niece who has just left school, aged 16 and is now commuting to college everyday. She is studying to become a veterinary surgeon. I keep all my glass jars to recycle or make crafts out of and decided that Jade might need some things to help her seeing as she is a long way from home. I have called it her Mending Jar. Firstly I got a small jar - in this case a Vegemite jar. Took off the label and washed and dried it thoroughly. (I cut off the yellow plastic ring too). Next I inscribed Jade's name on the front with my engraver tool but you could as easily use stickers. I then used stickers spelling out 'Mending Jar'. A thin strip of lacy material was glued (PVA) around the rim. For the lid I used the glue with thin yellow tissue paper and covered the top and sides - enough to cover the words 'Vegemite'. A strip of lace went round the rim. When this was dry (I left overnight) I super-glued a decorative wooden heart I had in my craft drawer but you could cut out a person's name or stick just about anything there instead. Inside the lid I used 3 double-sided sticky pads and layered them on top of then pushed and secured 3 drawing pins to it. Then I went off hunting around the house for things that Jade might need to mend things when she was away from home. In Jade's case I found: Elastic bands, some coins for the phone wrapped in some pretty paper, a pipe cleaner, 2 Birthday candles, a few matches with some strike (I cut from a match box), a thimble, cotton thread, cello tape, string, nail file, strong ribbon, small nail clippers, safety pins, thin wire and wire ties, hair clips, a popper, two aspirin and a small pen. I have yet to pop in a needle in a safe housing, some Blu-Tac and some thin elastic. Oh, and I popped in some jelly beans for a sugar fix! I am hoping that some of these things may come in handy for her. I also popped a piece of round card in the bottom before putting everything in- this had her name and the number of her house and postcode written so you can see it underneath. In case her bag gets lost. I think I'll make some for other members of my family and just change the contents to suit each person. This might be especially useful to my four brothers to keep in their cars and work vans! I'll make those ones look more manly though! I hope you might make your own mending jar. Best wishes from Monique Source: I had a little mending 'box' when I was a child - I just updated it. By Monique from Somerset, UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54849241.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Kitty Boy (Tuxedo Cat) Kitty Boy is five years old and a Tuxedo Cat, black and white. He came to the door one cold winter day, meowing, meowing and then when he saw us he purred, purred, purred, He has been our joy ever since. He loves to walk the top of our fence, take walks in the field with our two jack Russells and his Mom. He loves to roll over and have his belly scratched He loves to play with our dogs, likes to jump and play. He will stand in the tub to be washed like the dogs, one reason he is so beautiful! By NellieMary from West Virginia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69486741.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Scooby, Scrappy and Porkchop (Olde English Bulldogges) These are three of our first litter of puppies: Scooby, Scrappy and Porkchop. The kids came up with the names. This is Scooby, Scrappy and Porkchop. At the time of the picture, the puppies were 9wks old. They are Olde English Bulldogges. These puppies are out of our dogs Pandora and Loki. The puppies liked to jump and bite ankles, be petted and run around the back yard. My youngest daughter took this picture. By wendopolis from Galesburg, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79440143.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Samson (Newfie, Shepherd, Lab Mix) Samson will turn nine in early December. He is a mix breed - possibly Newfie, Shepherd, and lab. We adopted him from The North Shore Animal League in NY when he was about 12 weeks old. Samson loves playing in the snow, watching the seagulls, blue heron and boats by our lake, and playing with his stuffed frog. Samson is a very large dog at 140 lbs. He loves people and other dogs. By Elaine from Memphis, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65852030.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: Colorado Potato Beetle Spray If you have problems with the Colorado Potato Beetle, this is the recipe for you. 6 tea bags to 1 pint of water 1 cup camomile tea 1 cup tobacco juice (see below) 1 cup antiseptic mouth wash Combine the above ingredients and put in sprayer and spray onto plants. This works well. Apply liberally and repeat often as necessary. Tobacco juice - combine a couple of dried tobacco leaves in 1/2 gallon of water. Bring to a boil and let stand until cool. Strain to use as tobacco juice. Source: My brother-in-law By Beth from Bloomfield, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53683889.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Covering Baseboard Heating Many people in apartments have baseboard heating that sticks out a few inches from the wall just at floor level. When not in use, you can hide this unattractive element by using coordinating elasticized bed ruffles (or cutting apart ones that fit over your box springs). All you need to do is cut the ruffle to fit each unit, then fasten with hook 'n loop tape and you have a great looking room accent. By Patricia1951 from Imperial, NE Editor's Note: Make sure you remove the ruffles before using the heater to avoid a fire danger. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88850101.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Paper Shredder on a Small Garbage Pail Here is a tip for your home office. I place the head of my shredder on top of a small garbage pail, with a bag ready to catch the strips. I have eliminated one step to make easy clean up. By Georgetta R. from Waterloo, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30983231.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Buy Your Halloween Costume Larger For Warm Clothes Underneath If you live in a colder climate, buy your child's costume a size or two larger so s/he can wear sweats or a jacket underneath without ruining the effect. By bebhinne from Chicago Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81541127.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Halloween Costume: Stick Of Butter Lady (Paula Deen) For a fast and inexpensive costume that won't look like those at the store, why don't you go as Paula Deen? Or, as my husband affectionately calls her, 'The stick-of-butter lady' with the cooking show. Every recipe she makes seems to begin with a stick of butter, lol... so guys all seem to adore her recipes. Just a couple days ago I saw a small photo of her with her head sticking out of the end of a stick of butter costume, and thought how easy that would be to make. Anyone who can sew a straight line could cut out four rectangles of bright yellow fabric for the body of it. Just measure across the wearer's (either adult or child) shoulders and add 4 inches for movement and seams. That would give you the width of the rectangle. Measure from their shoulders to their knees for the length of the rectangle. Sew the 4 rectangles along all the long sides, and look in your fridge at your butter stick and use a felt tip marker to mark the tablespoon measurement lines down the front and write 'BUTTER' in huge block letters down one side, leaving room at the top for the arm holes to be cut later. The other two rectangles could be left blank. You could turn up the bottom edges twice and sew around it as a 'hem'. To stiffen the shape, place four strips of clothesline rope inside the seams on all four sides, between the corners, before you sew the hem. It should then fall more squared. As for the top, just measure a yellow square about the same width as the top of the rectangles to make the end of the butter where the head would stick out, and cut a center hole large enough for the head to go through. You could then pin and stitch the edges to the top of the rectangles. Now all you'd have to do would be cut a square piece of cardboard from a large box, the same size as the top, and make a matching hole for the head, and wear it inside the costume to hold it up and keep the top end square, then cut holes in the rectangles on either side of the 'measurement' front rectangle, just below the 'shoulder' area for arms to go through. This would be easy to adjust for the wearer, to make sure arms would have plenty of room. All it really would cost would be some cheap yellow fabric, or if it's for an adult who won't outgrow it, make it a little more 'finished' by edging the arms and neck with bias tape so that you can re-use it from time to time and wash it. The real kicker would be to wear a really fluffy white wig and big eyelashes so you're sure to be recognized as Paula, lol... but a new mop head instead of a wig, and some lines drawn up from the eyes with eyebrow pencil would do for eyelashes. Anyone who's ever watched Paula on HGTV would recognize this costume. :^) Source: I'm pretty sure the little photo I saw was from TV Guide. By Mary from Mountain Pine, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15415869.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Flea Shampoo and Raw Diets The simplest way to get rid of fleas on your pet is to shampoo it. It doesn't have to be a special flea shampoo. Any shampoo (or liquid soap, like Dawn) will do since any shampoo will suffocate the fleas. We've used both baby shampoo and regular dog shampoo with great success. Remember to start with the head so that the fleas can't run into your pet's ears and nose. Also, I highly recommend a raw diet for your pets. Cutting out the carbohydrates and other useless ingredients contained in pet "food" will make your pet less tasty to both fleas and mosquitoes. Source: Shampoo tip from our experience. To learn about raw diets, please see http://www.usrmb.net/index.html http://www.rawfed.com/ http://www.rawfed.com/myths/index.html By Sherry and Three Rescue Westies from Dallas, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82109954.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Holiday Cards I buy plain cards and envelopes and a stamp for my holiday cards. I use clear fixative on the stamp, stamp the card, sprinkle with glitter (usually silver) and then use a heat gun to set the design. I use a smaller stamp and do the same thing on the envelope. I have used a Victorian house stamp, a Nativity stamp, holly, garland, etc. and they all turn out very nice and professional looking. Everyone always enjoys getting these 'high-end' homemade cards! Give it a try - see what you think! By Vickie from Phoenix, AZ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21083327.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Lightening Self Tanners I use facial self tanners so I don't have to use liquid foundation when I am pale but even the lighter shades are sometimes too concentrated and don't look natural :-( I tried this tip last night and it works great !!! I used 2/3rds self tanner and 1/3 inexpensive lotion :-) I happened upon this tip at Dollar Stretcher: "If you use self-tanning lotions, you can dilute it a little by mixing in regular body lotion. It reduces streaking, doesn't come out looking as orange, and makes your expensive self-tanner last a lot longer. It also reduces some of the smell." By Deeli from Richland, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72341820.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Your Own Piñata For a children's party, make your own pinata and have your child help. Kids love busting open a pinata. When you make one at home, it won't look like all the others, you customize it to your theme, your child gets involved and learns a new craft, and you save a lot of money. Store-bought pinatas are expensive, and you can make one for the cost of one balloon, old newspaper waiting to be re-used or recycled, a few cups of flour, and decorations that you probably already have. There are lots of Web sites with instructions on how to make your own pinata. The key is to start about a week before the party, because it will take about 30 minutes a day for 3-to-5 days to allow for the layers to dry and decorate it. By Britt from Boston, MA Editor's Note: Here is an article on ThriftyFun about making your own pinata: Making a Pinata Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94987612.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Make Sauce With Your Garden Tomatoes What to do with all those garden tomatoes? I washed a big bowl of them, sliced them open, took out the seeds and pulp, cut them into any old size (about eight pieces per tomato) and put them in the slow cooker (on low) before I went to bed. Stirred them in the morning and around noon. By dinner time they were thick and sweet. I used them in a homemade spaghetti sauce for dinner and my children actually said they liked it better than the store bought sauce. I learned to cut and clean the tomatoes this way for oven-drying, but this is much easier. I'm guessing that the skins are good roughage, and you really don't notice them in the sauce. By Lindainthekitchen from Weirton, WV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71549314.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day A salesman was trying to talk a farmer into buying a bicycle, but was meeting with considerable sales resistance. "Shucks, I'd sooner spend my money on a cow," said the farmer. "Ah," replied the salesman, "but think how silly you'd look riding around on a cow." "Humph!" retorted the farmer. "Not near as silly as you'd look trying to milk a bicycle!" Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Cleaning Silver I purchased at a garage sale approximately 20 silver and silver plated serving pieces, such as trays, casserole stands, pitchers, etc. Some are in good shape, some have a lot of tarnish on them. What is the best way to clean these pieces, as most are pretty old? Also, where would you take them (as is) to try and sell them, if I decide not to take the time to clean them myself? Marsha Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf718288.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Curtains To Coordinate With Gold and Rust Colored Walls I just painted my living room Cider Toddy and on accent wall Fragrant Clovers, (Gold and Rust). Now I'm trying to figure out what color and type of curtains would go best with these colors. What do you guys think of chocolate? What do you guys think would be great with these colors? Thanks. Montgomery from Alexandria, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50009000.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Scratches on a Plasma Screen TV My two year old granddaughter put some scratches on the large screen plasma TV. How can we fix them? Lori Rogers from Hatfield, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91385259.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Septic Tank Safe Cleaners We have a septic tank . The problem we have is the stains that are in the toilet bowls. We have to be very careful what we use to clean with due to the septic tank. Any solutions on how to clean without harming the septic tank? Betty from Missouri Valley, Iowa Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf66645645.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Space Bags Reviews Has anyone had luck with space bags? Ava from Annapolis, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88844552.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Polymer Clay I read the recipe for making my own polymer clay and I'm excited to try it. However, when I mix the cornstarch and glue, will I be free to work and condition it? Does it need to be baked? And will it stay soft like the Sculpey clay (for later use) or will it dry out? Leighann from Richmond, Virginia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf681300.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Dogs To Stop Marking Territory I need someone to tell me how best to get my son's dog to quit wetting on everything in sight. I know dogs mark the territory but this is worse than that. I have never seen a dog wet so much in my life. I have scolded him, but it doesn't seem to matter to him. He can go wet on something and then something else. You know most dogs at least have to wait a little while before doing it again, not him. Anyone have any ideas for me? Jennifer from Scottsville, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20945203.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ideas for Mobile Food Service Business My fiance and I are going to be starting a food service business for fairs and what not. We aren't sure what we want to sell yet. Does anyone have any advice on getting started or anything regarding this? Any ideas would help. Thank you in advance. Dana H. from Omaha, NE Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96613875.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bird Feeder Suet Recipe Would anyone out there know how to make homemade suet? We have lots of beautiful birds around in the winter and we try to keep them happy. Thanks. Barb from Mountaindale, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf66891909.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Wax Stains on Clothing How do I remove melted wax from clothing? genydicken Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf489746.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Crown Royal Bag Quilt Anyone making crown royal quilts? April from Blackwell, OK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79817899.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Adult Cry Baby Costume I need easy ideas for making my own adult cry baby costume, or the adult in the high chair costume. lillbitcrazy from Wauseon, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34118758.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Child Will Not Eat Hamburger Meat I have a five year old that will not eat hamburger meat whatsoever! Does anyone have any ideas for some recipes on a strict budget? Allison from Odessa, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76273690.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Decorating A Barn For A Wedding Reception I am helping my girlfriend with her May 3rd wedding in North Carolina. It is a spring theme, although by then most flowers are already blooming and bulbs are done! The reception is in a rented barn. Can anyone help me with ideas for decorating the barn? Deborah from North Carolina Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57692733.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips For Tiling Bathroom Floor Does anyone know how to tile around a bathtub and toilet? We are doing it all ourselves and never have done tiling period! We're handy, just need to know the secret. We have a wet saw we can use just don't know how to make round edges. Thanks! Sheena from Greenville, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35770482.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fixing Elastic In Knee High Hosiery Does anyone have suggestions for fixing elastic in knee high hosiery for women? I have several pair that have not been worn but the elastic is loose from being exposed to changing temperatures. I don't want to throw them them out but they slip down to may ankles after walking for only about 5 minutes. Janet from Rochester, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82230157.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Protecting A Geranium Plant In Winter I have a huge geranium plant planted in a pot and would love to try to save it. However, I really have no where to sit it indoors. I'm afraid the red pedals will fall on the carpet and stain it if they are stepped on. I know I've seen on this website suggestions about how to save them when dormant for the next growing season. Can someone give me those instructions again please? I can store it under the house in a crawl place. I need to know how to prepare it. Do I cut the blooms all off? Water it? Cover it up with a grocery bag? Take it out of the pot? At what time exactly to I move it and prepare it for the hibernation? Hardiness Zone: 6a Donna from Millbury, Oh Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61095790.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Giving Teachers Plants As Gifts Teachers, would you like a potted plant for Christmas? Our children have grown plants all year round and they are looking pretty good. Would these be appropriate Christmas gifts from kiddos or would they just be seen as more work? Thanks for your input. MomtoAll from In Bliss Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11981964.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Guinea Pig Is Biting Me My guinea pig bites me. Any ideas why? Victoria from Wales Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83623309.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Budget-Friendly, Healthy Recipes Does anyone have any recipes that are healthy and also budget-friendly? Thanks! Serena from Austin, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53099121.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Polyurethane From Fiberglass Tub Does anyone know what to use to get dried polyurethane off a fiberglass tub? Thanks. Meri Beth from North Carolina Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27019019.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Altering A Formal Dress Smaller I was wondering how hard it would be to take in a dress if it's too big. I found my dream dress to wear at a special occasion next year but I have been losing weight. I'm afraid that if I order the dress a size or two too small then I might not lose all the weight. But if I order at my size I may have to alter it. The dress is silk and has boning in the bodice. Anyone know if that will be too hard to take in? Gratefulbree from VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87236325.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Is Planning Your Own Birthday Party Tacky? I decided to plan my own 30th birthday party next year because I want to make sure it's really special and exactly what I want. But I have received a lot of feedback that planning my own party would be tacky. The more I think about it the more it bothers me. Is it really that bad? I just don't think anyone else has the time or energy to plan a party for me like I would want and I want it to be a perfect day. My mom is disabled, my boyfriend is not the party planner kind of guy, and my friends are all busy with work and their own lives. What should I do? Gratefulbree from VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58548221.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Green Slime on Surface Of Pond We have a green (almost a fluorescent green color) algae-like material covering the whole surface of our pond. If you put your hand in it to scoop it up it looks almost like a bunch of tiny seeds and slime that sticks to your hand. Each year it gets worse and this year there are actually plants growing about 6-10 inches high on it. It hardly resembles a pond any more. Does anyone know what this is and how to get rid of it? jho from Chassell Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19353153.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Guinea Pig Used to People How long does it take to get a guinea pig used to you and the family? We have had him for 2 weeks and he still runs and hides when I go to his cage to get him out. Once he is out, he is happy and ok. Then bites me when I go to put him back in his cage. He comes to me when he is out. I have tried giving him carrots, his favorite, to coax him, but that doesn't seem to be working. Help! I want him to not be so scared. Please help. Thanks! jmz2005 from Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22240734.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Vinegar and Dish Soap Not Working for Gnats I have gnats or fruit flies. I got rid of most of them, but the apple cider vinegar and dish soap is not working any more. Now they are mostly staying on the ceiling in the kitchen . I keep putting down fly paper, then I slide a broom near them and they fly into the paper. What are your tips? Sue Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65404985.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Power Pro Riding Lawn Mower Won't Start I have an 18 hp Power Pro riding mower (MTD) which doesn't start. I bought it at a yard sale, replaced battery with a new one rated for this hp, but it didn't start. I replaced the starter switch, plugs, cleaned all contacts/switches, put in new fuel and filter. I jumped the solenoid since the ignition and on/off switch does nothing along with amp gauge on the dash not giving a reading. The starter barely clicks while the engine barely turns over 2 or 3 times. Please help. Thanks in advance. Mark from Northeast Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71947817.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print White Cookies with Marshmallow and Coconut Topping I am looking for a cookie recipe that my family loves and I of course have lost! They are a delicious soft white cookie that you roll and cut out, then when they are baked and cooled they are topped with a marshmallow topping which is made from Knox unflavored gelatin. You then dip the topped cookies into coconut and let them dry. I have looked on the Knox site and no luck. We moved and I lost my favorite little recipe box. They have always been a holiday favorite. Help? Thanks so much. Nallorey from SK, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11234054.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Roaster's Digital Timer Light Burned Out I have had my grilling/roaster for some years now but the digital timer light on top next to the on/off switch has two bits of light out now. I was wondering if you would tell me where to get a new one as I do not want to throw it way, its too good. David Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20539963.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Knifty Knitter Christmas Stocking I need help making the Large Christmas stocking. I got to the point where it tells me to wrap to the 15th peg Knit Off (I don't know what that means) and then wrap and knit back to peg one? Can anyone help me finish my heel in my sock Karen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10955530.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: My Frugal Holiday: Planning Frugal Gifts How to get through gift giving for the holidays without breaking the bank. I'm the first to admit I am one of the least organized people I know. That being said, when it comes to saving money I am a little less lazy than some people but don't get it confused with my terrible organization skills! When the weather starts getting cooler and the leaves are changing colours, it's always my cue to start preparing gifts for the holidays. Because I make handmade soap, it does require at least a month to cure before I can give them away which means in this respect I need to be on the ball. Since I am already in gift giving mode at this point, I start thinking about what I can do for everyone in my life. Most people get a bag with my preserves, bath bombs, soaps and candles but on top of that I like to give everyone something special and unique to them. Soap is made in the fall, preserves in summer and fall and candles also in the fall. This takes care of the bulk of the gift but I still need to come up with special things for everyone which is the tough part. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74349262.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Saving Money on Health Care and Insurance Tips for Saving Money on Health Care and Insurance as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49283925.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Dragon Fruit Description: The Dragon fruit is simply an amazing fruit, like no other. On the outside the fruit is bright fuchsia with lime green on the tips of the long leathery leaves that spurt off the entire fruit. When cut open the fruit reveals its stunning white pulp speckled with tiny black seeds. This fruit is grown in Mexico, Central and South America, and in many South East Asian counties such as, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. Dragon fruit is low in calories, sweet and is said to help lower blood glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes. > Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16492766.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.