Daily Thrifty Tips - January 22, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 15, January 22, 2008 (Read It Online) Here are the contest winners for last week! Photo Contest Winner Tea Bag Wallet By MCW from NY Tip Contest Winners Preparing For A Winter Power Outage By April from NW Missouri Keep Track Of Deductibles On Checks All Year Long By Betty from Paducah, KY Thank you to everyone that submitted something! 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: Decorated Ceramic Lamp Caiden At Christmas Sir Eeagads (Giant Green Iguana) Today's Tips: Store Craft Supplies In Tackle Boxes Many Uses For Dollar Store Shower Curtains Mark Your Gas Cap With Your Address Add The Juice From Canned Fruit To Your Juice Pitcher Use Swiffer Cloth To Clean Out Filter Ways To Stretch Liquid Hand Soap Buy and Freeze Overripe Bananas Use Dishwashing Gloves When Putting On Pantyhose Use Cereal Liner as Wax Paper Drafty Window Tips Joke of the Day New Requests: Dog With Arthritis Koka Instant Cup of Noodles Dog With an Ear Infection Getting Crayon Out of Clothes That Have Been Washed Cleaning White Film Off Fish Tank Hood Plumping Up Raisins Directions for Cooking Thai Rice Sticks 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: Decorated Ceramic Lamp It's easy (and cheap) to give new life to a boring ceramic lamp. I purchased the ceramic lamp on sale for $4.99. I used a sponge (cut into a square and rectangle with a utility knife) and a foam stencil brush, some acrylic paint, and some spray gloss. Dip the sponge stencil and foam brush in the acrylic paint to make a simple design. When dry, spray with a light coat of gloss. By Laura from Long Beach, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49202443.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Caiden At Christmas This is my just turned one-year-old son, Caiden. I took this a few weeks before Christmas. He had pulled the tree skirt from around the tree. I was in another room, and he called to me. When I looked in, he was wrapped up in it just like this! I didn't pose him this way. This ended up being my favorite photo from Christmas time, and one of my favorite memories from his first Christmas. By Cynthia from Pittsburgh PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25029226.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Sir Eeagads (Giant Green Iguana) Everyone calls him Eeagads, but his given name is Sir Eeagads. I'm unsure of his age but I think he is around 9 or 10 years old. Eeagads is a giant green iguana This beautiful boy is my friend (Kris') large green iguana, I took their picture a couple of years ago. He likes to go outside and walk around, and he loves to climb anything and everything. If your child wants an iguana, show him/her this photo and tell them that Eeagads is only a few years old and is nowhere near finished growing, so he will probably get much biggerrrrr By Igmommy from Sweetwater, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72927508.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: Store Craft Supplies In Tackle Boxes Foldout fishing tackle boxes make great storage boxes for craft supplies and projects. You don't have to search for paint brushes or other items, and you can easily transport your supplies. Source: My own idea By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62410577.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Many Uses For Dollar Store Shower Curtains I do many painting and craft projects, both inside and outside. Each spring, I pick up 5 or 6 plastic shower curtains from the dollar store. You wouldn't believe how many uses I've found for them. They even come in clear, to cover drafty windows in the winter! I lined my propagation boxes with pieces of them then poked holes for the drainage. I also use the colorful ones for table cloths in my craft/sewing room! They work great when painting cupboards or other painting projects, because they are much stronger than "regular" plastic sheeting. I bought an Olive Green one to cover my lawn mower with. They're small, but make great make-shift tarps too. Keep one in your car for a sturdy emergency "Poncho": simply cut a hole for your head in the center! They can be cut smaller for easy-clean curtains: hang them with the holes already punched or punch your own with a paper punch from the Dollar Store. When painting lattice last summer, I put one of these under my work. Use them and string to cover lawn furniture! And when camping, these plastic shower curtains are great to put under your sleeping bags and tents to keep the dew and bugs away! Don't throw them away after use. Just fold them up and keep them in a plastic bag, because you can use them over and over, or cut smaller pieces for other uses. These ARE plastic... so keep them away from young children! By Cyinda from near Seattle Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12043810.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mark Your Gas Cap With Your Address Tape or affix an address label to your gas cap so that it may be returned if left at the gas station accidentally. By Trude from Lima, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64895799.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Add The Juice From Canned Fruit To Your Juice Pitcher To extend your juice supply, use the liquid from canned fruit. Drain the liquid into the juice pitcher and stir. You can add the liquid at any time and I've never seen it turn out with a bad taste. I love peach! Source: My mom By Beth from Tuscaloosa, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41210809.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Swiffer Cloth To Clean Out Filter After shaking out the filter in my swiffer floor vac/sweeper, I find that dust, lint and cat hair are still stuck to the filter and not so easy to remove. So, after removing the swiffer duster cloth, I fold the used side in half and use the clean side of the cloth to the remove the stuck on debris from the filter. By Anne from Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92549348.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ways To Stretch Liquid Hand Soap Stretch liquid hand soap by refilling your pump dispenser 1/2 and 1/2 with a top brand and an off brand and adding a little mouthwash for extra germ killing power! It doesn't have to be used full thickness which a lot of people have known about and have touted watering it down some, but the mouthwash has 2 pluses. 1: it thins the soap a bit and 2: it adds a nice mint scent! If you don't like the mint, you can add the mediciny kind or citrus or cinnamon. I add cinnamon during the holidays! By Veronica Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86183367.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Buy and Freeze Overripe Bananas I make a habit of buying overripe bananas whenever I find them at a significant savings. Don't let the dark skins fool you! I've actually brought them home to find out they are as nice as the regular bananas. We eat what we can and then freeze the rest for banana bread or cake later on. You can mash or chop them for freezing or freeze them whole in the skins. If you peel and mash them, stir in a little lemon juice, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months. I freeze them whole if freezer space allows, then just remove 2-3 for a recipe. (That's the general amount needed in most recipes.) You can defrost the bananas briefly in the microwave or at room temperature until they can be peeled, then mash and use in your recipe. Once defrosted, use in breads, muffins, cakes, puddings, smoothies, or add to yogurt, etc. By Earth Heart from Polk, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74216393.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Dishwashing Gloves When Putting On Pantyhose Pantyhose can be expensive and nothing makes me any madder than to poke my finger through a pair when putting them on for the first time. To avoid this, put on a pair of dishwashing gloves. They grip well enough that you can place your hands against the lower part of your leg and pull your hose up without having to grab them with your fingers and causing a hole or run. Source: My own tip By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47035162.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Cereal Liner as Wax Paper I don't use very much waxed paper-usually just for crafts or to make hamburgers on for the grill, so I don't like buying it. What I have been doing is saving the wax coated bags inside the cereal boxes. When I do need wax paper, I just grab one of those bags out of the drawer. Saves me several dollars a year. By April from NW Missouri Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf399759.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Drafty Window Tips Blue Painters Tape It's almost impossible to totally seal any window. A quick solution, though not pretty, is to use that blue painter's tape around the inside of the window. It stops drafts, and is easy to remove without taking paint with it. By Don (02-07-1999) Seal and Peel Caulk Another method is for you to use Seal & Peel. This clear caulk lets you fill the gaps around the window. Come spring it just peels right off. No paint loss or staining. You will need a caulk gun, which is inexpensive. Ask a clerk how to use it. 1) Cut off the tip of the caulk canister at a slight angle. Do this near to the tip. You can always cut a bit more to make the hole bigger. 2) While pulling the trigger on the caulk gun, run a bead of caulk around the window and sash edges. Let go of the trigger about 5 inches before the end. The caulk will continue to flow out of the tube. 3) You will have skips and blobs. This is OK. Wet your index finger with plain water and smooth out the caulk so it seals along the window and sash. 4) Wipe any excess caulk off you fingers on a paper towel. 5) If you have left-over caulk seal the tube by shoving a nail or a screw into the tube. 6) You may want to go out for an hour or so when you are finished. There will be a strong smell of "rubber cement" that can be annoying. By PT (02/07/2007) Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000641.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Dog With Arthritis My old Sheltie is starting to limp and shows he is in pain from Arthritis. I have him on glucosamine and chondroitin and I forgot which pain killer is good for dogs, Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuprofen? Susan from Hamilton, Ont Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41170873.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Koka Instant Cup of Noodles Does anyone know where I can buy Koka Instant Cup of Noodles? Sylvon from Plantation, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78223681.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dog With an Ear Infection I recently brought my dog Simba which is a Yorkie to a groomer and she told me he has a severe ear infection one that is hard to get rid of. I know that it will cost a lot and I am not financially stable enough to afford it. I want to know if anyone can give me ideas on what to do? Please help! I hate seeing him in pain. Katelyn from Minneapolis, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27556968.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Crayon Out of Clothes That Have Been Washed I washed and dried a load of clothes only to find crayon spots all over the load when I took them out of the dryer. I have tried the suggestion of laundry detergent, Shout, vinegar, and Oxyclean. However I had to soak the clothes in the sink because I have an HE washer that showers the clothes. The clothes do not get to wash in the solution. Could this be the reason the solution is not working as well as others have experienced. Anyone have any other suggestions? Wendy from Portsmouth, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82043215.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning White Film Off Fish Tank Hood What can I use to clean a fish tank hood/lighting that has white film over it. I cannot seem to find anything to take the white stuff off the black hood. Linda Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37143621.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Plumping Up Raisins Can you plump up raisins? I want to make cinnamon rolls. I have a new box of raisins but they seem a little dry. Any way to make them moister? Pam S. from Wichita, KS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30025775.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Directions for Cooking Thai Rice Sticks I was just given a package of "rice sticks". They are the type of noodles used in Chinese chicken salad. There is no cooking directions on the package - at least none that I can read. The entire package is in Thai. Well, I am guessing Thai, since they were made in Thailand. Thank you in advance! Sheri from Rathdrum, ID Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11645952.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 Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.