Daily Thrifty Tips - January 15, 2007

Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

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This craft projects shows you how to crochet Oreo cookies!

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Muffin is 5 months old. She is a Papillon/ShihTzu/Poodle We got her from an ad in the paper.

Muffin has a brother Sparky, and together they run and play and go exploring around the acreage - sometimes even to the neighbours! A big NO NO! She is a real tease, always ready for a game or run!

This picture is so funny, just had to have a memory of her spaying. You can see the tummy stitches! Her back legs are bandaged because she had her dew claws removed. Muffin loves sleeping in that little tub, even though it's getting small for her, but she ends up at all angles to fit in, and upside down is her favourite position! She is all healed now and doing great. Now it's teething time!

By Betty from Cowichan Bay, BC

Here's Muffin's other picture:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70785322.tip.html

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This is more of a picture of a beautiful sunrise, letting me know that each day is fresh and new.

By Chris from Hopewell PA

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• Tip Contest
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The above 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
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I've got one more tip that I just discovered. I try real hard to use products that are as natural as can be with as few synthetic ingredients as possible. Well, the old shampoo, VO5, if you check out the label, uses pretty much fewer ingredients than anybody else. Well, a few weeks ago, I ran out of my liquid shower gel soap and decided to try my V05 shampoo as a shower gel soap. I have very sensitive skin that reacts very easily so I was a bit hesitant but went ahead and tried it anyway. Voila! A wonderful shower gel that really foams up nicely with no skin reactions and all for a large bottle for .99 cents! You can add about 1/8-1/4 tsp of pure essential oil to one 15 oz bottle to scent it with lavender, or whatever fragrance you like :-)))

Hope you think so too!

By Gina from Oklahoma City

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We get so many emails to our inboxes, how do you know what you can believe and can't.

Check on an urban legends website such as http://www.snopes.com/

This trusted website dedicates it's time to sorting through the mess so we don't have to take the time. It can help us before we invest our hard earned money or time into something that isn't even real or before we inundate our friends inboxes with untrue stories.

By Joelygirl from Ceres, CA

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Here's a tip I learned the hard way. I don't have a lot of room in my bathroom so I have some of those shoebox size plastic boxes, one for each member of the family and a big one for miscellaneous stuff. Well, for some reason, I stuck my rolls of Rolaids in the box that also contains extra bars of soap. Well, you guessed it, the chalkiness soaked up the smell and taste of soap. I had heartburn the other night and popped a couple in my mouth and it tasted like I had just said a bad word in front of my mother. So just be careful where you store your Rolaids.

By Christi from Paducah, KY

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I noticed that there are a lot of requests for coupons for baby formulas. Most baby formulas companies have clubs that you can join for free. They send bunches of formula coupons.

By Laura from Chicago Illinois

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I have read that people will turn their natural peanut butter jars upside down (and store it that way in the cabinet) so that when the time comes to open the jar, they don't have to mix it. I did that and, after opening and refrigeration, found the oil had risen to the top again. Just to be on the safe side, I put my jar back in the fridge in a bowl, upside down and cap tightly screwed on, to see if the oil would rise to the top and re-mixing the rock hard, cold peanut butter would not be required.

Well, I am happy to report that storing it in the fridge upside down has caused the PB oil to rise to the top (which is the bottom of the jar) and this produces a slightly lower fat product. When I get to the oily part on the bottom of the near empty jar, I remove it and use the jar to the end.

I would suggest that you check the consistency of the PB at the very bottom of the jar, as it sometimes needs a smidge of the oil mixed back in to become pliable. To date, none of the PB upside down jars have leaked. However, if you share the PB with other family members, they may not be as cautious as you by tightening the lid.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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Give your gifts in this huge WOW factor container.

Supplies

• Cleaned dried cylindrical container (example: coffee tin, oatmeal holder)
• Artificial flowers, leaves, berries, birds, including one long strand which wraps around the container about 1 1/2 to 2 times
• Contact paper or paint
• Hot glue gun

Steps

1. Cover the container with contact paper to eliminate any label. Alternatively, spray or craft paint the container and let dry.
2. Starting at the top edge of the container (not inside), hot glue the long strand of leaves working in a downward spiral direction.
3. Hot glue an arrangement of artificial leaves and flowers near the top of the container. Hide wires with single leaves.
4. Working in a downward spiral direction, hot glue another arrangement of items on the container.
5. Repeat until you reach the bottom of the container. There should be only 3 or 4 arrangements depending on the container size.
6. Hot glue an arrangement on the lid, including a focal piece such as a bird.

By pretty cheap jewelry from California

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You can get access your credit report from the three major credit reporting companies for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are required by law to give you access to your credit report once a year for free. This website makes it easy to request this information.

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Check with your local humane society; ours will implant a chip in your pet for $25 versus the $50+ by the vet.

By Pam from Elkhart, IN

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If you have plants or trees that you don't want, recycle by calling your City Hall and asking if their Parks and Rec. dept can pick them up for replanting. I do and it saves the city money and adds beauty to the parks. I plant the extras in pots for easy pick up. New home owners: use this tip when you move in if you don't like the landscaping. No need to throw away those rose bushes in the trash. Happy Gardening!

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, CA

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter. Webby now has a blog, read his latest newsletter as well as back issues here: http://webby.com/humor/blog/

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http://webby.com/humor

How do you clean a down comforter? Are they washable?

Rose from Bloomer, WI

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How do you clean a down comforter? Are they washable?

Rose from Bloomer, WI

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I used to make scones with oatmeal and flour but I no longer have the recipe. I think the recipe came from a Better Homes and Garden cookbook, I just haven't located the correct edition. Does anyone have a recipe for scones using oatmeal and flour?

David from Santa Cruz, California

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I adopted an adult male American Shorthair tabby. He's 6 1/2 years old and he's 17 1/2 pounds. The vet told me he would like my cat to lose 3 pounds. How can I safely help him lose weight and not compromise his health?

Karen from Big Rapids, MI

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I saw an article in the paper about using private on-line credit cards when purchasing on-line. They are impossible for thieves to steal any info. from. I've searched and can't find anything. Does anyone have any info? Thanks.

Vicki

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What can I use in place of bleach for whitening whites?

Brian from St. Petersburg, FL

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How do I remove a mustard stain from a sweater that is 65% viscose and 35% nylon?

Beth from Madison, AL

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With the mild winter we've been having my bulbs have started sprouting and my trees are budding. I'm sure winter will soon be arriving and be getting plenty of snow - should I be concerned about them?

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Elizabeth Ehmen from Warsaw, IN

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A question for you guys in Tennessee. There is a furniture store called D.T. McCall and Sons in Tennessee. They have several locations in Tennessee. Does anyone have any experience with this company either good or bad? I found them on the internet and spoke with a salesperson over the phone. He was very helpful and the price he quoted on a sofa was very reasonable. If you have shopped there or know someone who has, is it worth it for me to drive 2 hours to do business with them?

Ronda from North Alabama

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I have this plant that has sentimental value to me and it is not looking to good. It came in a funeral plant basket. I have no idea what kind of plant it is I do not know if I am watering to much or not enough. Any help is appreciated.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Debbi B from Brownstown, MI

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I have orange marking pen on new sheets. Please help.

Merle from Cary, North Carolina

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I have an antique dining table and 6 chairs and would like to know how I can find out how valuable they are? They need refinishing. Is there a website where I can get more information from or who would I call?

Ace from Nashville, TN

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How much dish soap do I use for a load of laundry?

Brian from St. Petersburg, FL

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Is there a way to make your own clorox clean-up?

Anita from IL

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What does it mean when my cinnamon rolls turn out dry?

Mary from Ypsilanti, MI

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My neighbor has an African tulip tree that they refuse to take responsibility for, despite repeated requests (by myself) over several years and repeated promises (by them) to do so. It is planted right next to my brick wall and the invasive roots are not only damaging my pool pipes (right next to the wall) and popping up in my lawn, but now the wall is buckling as well. How can I kill this tree cheaply as they don't seem to care about the damage it is causing.

Cathy from Townsville, QLD

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Does anyone have any suggestions for inexpensive dog toys?

Ladybug from Huntsville, Ohio

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Does anyone know anything about ING saving account? I found it online, but I'm more than a little skeptical about it. Anyone have any ideas or tips?

Thanks,
Brenda from Rutledge, Tenn.

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If you have someone come in twice a week to clean your home, what do you pay for for 2, 3, and 4 bedroom house? And how many people and how long does it take them? I am starting my own business and not sure of how to charge. Is $20 per hour fair? I do provide excellent service and live in central NJ.

Thanks,
Kim from Howell

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I dipped a full set of sterling silverware in TarnX and it now is very dull. Is it ruined? What can I do to restore it? If it has to be recoated, where can I have that done?

Karel from Champaign, IL

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I washed a black bag that leaked dye onto my white clothes, how can I get the whites clean and get the dye out?

Wendy from Florida

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I need some ideas for a registrable name for my blue brindle American Staffordshire Terrier named Boomer, but the AKC stated to me if I was to register him as just Boomer than a roman numeral five would need to be added to the end. Please help me to decide on a name.

Alaina from Lynchburg, VA

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I know you can give potato water to a plants, what about rice water?

Debbi B from Brownstown, MI

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I have gone through the web and still can't find anything to clean cat pee on leather pants. Please help

Anne from Denver, CO

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In July my family is planning to take a trip to Maryland and then to Cooperstown, NY. We are very excited but need some help making this trip as inexpensive as possible. Any advice on what to take and how to pack for 3-4 people would be much appreciated. As well as one of those is my daughter. She will be 9 months at the time of the trip. She is our first and will be breastfeeding only until 6 months of age and I'm not sure what/how much she should be eating at that time. Once again any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jessica

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What can I use to clean my outdoor furniture cushions with? My cushions need to be cleaned and I was thinking about taking them to the Laundromat and using automatic dish washing detergent (as they have mold stains in the creases). Has anyone else done this, or do you have something that you use that works well?

Thanks,
Liz from New Baden, IL

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Are you facing a lot of different tax questions this year? IRS experts have pulled together an overview of common tax issues in one convenient place  Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax. This updated publication, available on the IRS Web site, IRS.gov, contains a vast array of helpful information for individual taxpayers.

From stock sales to student loans, this nearly 300-page publication holds the answers to many of your questions.

You can get the guide here:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=131175,00.html

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