Daily Thrifty Tips - November 16, 2007

The day after Thanksgiving we are going to publish Saving Money on... Newsletter about Saving Money on Christmas. If you have any tips to share, feel free to submit them here:

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Susan

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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.

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Craft: Girl's Bank from Mayo Jar

This is a bank made from mayo jar.

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A Plastic Bag Dispenser

To organize your plastic bags, try making a plastic bag dispenser. With the plastic bag dispenser, you can now store your plastic bags nicely. Simply fold each plastic bag and drop it into the dispenser and retrieve it at the bottom of the box when you need it.

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Kandy (Border Collie Mix)

Kandy is 24 months old she is Border Collie and ? I got her from a friend She likes to run. Kandy is very hyper, I got her to breed with my other dog, Kane. That's why her name is Kandy and his is Kane.

By Deloris from Indiana

Editor's Note: Here is the previous entry about Kane:

• Kane (Black Lab/Rottweiler)

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Creeping Phlox

I just wanted to send in a photo of my creeping phlox in full bloom in the spring. Every several years, they grow out onto the sidewalk. I cut them off with a pruner and take the excess and plant them in an area we have in the back of our lot in order to start new plants (We refer to it as the nursery). I just lay them on the ground and put soil on top of the bottom half of the plant. Be sure the soil comes in contact with the roots. They may look dried up and dead but they are just dormant. In the spring when they start re-establishing their selves, you'll see new green plants emerging. It'll make you smile to see how you've created new plants to grow in your garden.

By Sewing Granny from Millbury, OH

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Birdbath from Found Items

This project consists of two item found at the thrift store. A pedestal of some sort and a dinner plate plus some other items to dress it up. The end result a very pretty bird bath By John Peterson from Wichita, Ks

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Use Buttons For Earring Organization

Can't find one of your favorite earrings in your jewelry box? Keep them easily paired and organized by looping them through the holes of buttons. This works with hanging earrings and studs, and it’s also an easy way to keep your earrings stored when traveling.

By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC

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Use Dryer Sheets On Shower Doors While Showering

Why use all those harsh chemicals trying to clean shower doors? Here's a great replacement. Take this into the shower with you: a couple of "dryer fabric sheets",. After you clean yourself, use the "dryer sheets" to clean the shower doors! Two sheets normally clean both both doors! Try it! You will be amazed!

By Nelda from Dundee, FL

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Use Entire Length Of Emery Boards For Nails

When starting to use a new emery board, start at one end and just use about an inch and a half for your nail filing, as that section gets dull then move along another inch and a half. This way, the emery board will last longer than if you just filed you nails in the middle of each emery board and left each end of the board unused and threw it away. You would not have to buy emery boards so often.

By Pearl from Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Make Rooting Hormone From Willow

Making your own rooting hormone with willow water. Here's what you do:

1. Get a handful of willow twigs (any Salix species will do)
2. Cut them into pieces a few inches long
3. Soak the twigs in a few inches of water for a day or two; then remove the twigs.
4. Use the willow water to soak cuttings in overnight, or to water flats of newly started cuttings, or to help transplants.

By Sherry from Silverdale, WA

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Use a Toothbrush Holder For Pens

I found the cutest "retro" toothbrush holder at a garage sale, which did not go with the decor in either bath, but which I also couldn't resist - green and blue mushroom with a ladybug sitting on top. Anyway, once I got home, I found the perfect place for it-, next to the phone in the kitchen along with a note pad. I filled it with pens and pencils and it makes a really cute holder. So, think twice before you toss yours when you redecorate. You might be able to use one on your desk or some other place where you find you always need something to write with.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Use Egg Crate Foam Mattress For Pet Bed

We got a new bed about the same time we adopted a stray puppy. I folded the old foam egg carton twin mattress in half, wrapped it with the fitted sheet and tucked in the flat sheet. It's easy to take the sheets off to wash. Our puppy has grown into a 75 lb dog and her recycled bed is the perfect size!

By Jane from Stone Mountain, GA

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Spray Bottle With Diluted Dish Soap

My handy kitchen tip is to keep a spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish soap in it by the sink. This is excellent for quick clean ups on the cupboard and also if you are only washing one or two items. Instead of using soap straight from the dish soap container and using way too much this is ready to go, uses less soap and lasts a long time. My neighbor showed me this years ago and I have done it ever since.

By Joyce from Regina, Sask, Canada

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Store Wipes Upside Down

When storing the disinfecting wipes (that I use daily!), turn the container upside down and the wipes will not dry out so quickly.

Source: from Real Simple Magazine

By lucyann from Georgia

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Recipe for Praline Pecan Halves

Does anyone have a recipe for Praline Pecan Halves? They have butter, brown sugar, and other things. They are baked in the oven .
Thanks

Barbara from East Tennessee

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Pricing Baby Clothes for Yard Sale

I have tons of baby clothes and I am having a yard sale. My question is what do I price the baby clothes at? I have brand new sleepers that were never worn by my baby because he was too big! Tags are not on them. What do I price overalls, outfits, onesies at?

Tabetha from FL

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Jack Russell Corgi Mix

Was wondering if anyone else had a Jack Russell/Corgi mix dog like mine, I hear they call them CoJacks! Her name is Dakota, she's the best dog I've ever had. Look at her Big Dark Brown eyes! LOL I really do love this dog!

Alex from Alexandria, va

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Can This Split Tree Be Saved?

Can this tree be saved? Please see the picture.
Thanks.
Hardiness Zone: 9b

Pi Sheng Chang from San Jose, CA

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Picture Collage Christmas Card

I saw a great idea for a Christmas card on here and wondered if someone could tell me how to do it. They took individual pictures of their kids and made them into one picture. I've tried to figure it out but haven't had any success. Thanks!

Katie from SC

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Quilt Made With Fleece Squares

I am looking for a pattern for a fun quilt made out of fleece in squares. I have seen one but I am not sure where.

Glenda from Kenora

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Darkening Hair Color with Coffee

I recently spent a lot of $$$ I did not have to have my hair low lighted and high-lighted. The original goal was to have my bleached red/orange/gold yellow hair darker. However, I got a hair color a tiny bit darker (very little) then what I had been dying it myself. No contrast in color at all. Looks the same to me. No major highlight either.

Here's the question, I read that you can use cold coffee as a way to make your hair darker. Has anyone else heard this? Also, after I did this could I use the powder hair bleach high light kit to put 4 or 5 strips of blond in my front.

Thank you!

Lisa

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Crafts Using Wooden Clementine Boxes

Has anyone found anything useful or pretty to do with those wood boxes that Clementines come in? I'm about to throw 2 away and thought there's got to be something to do with those!



NeeNoon from Quebec, Canada

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Crock Pot Apple Cobbler

I am looking for an apple cobbler or similar dessert to make in a crock pot to take to Thanksgiving dinner.

Jo from NY

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Weight Loss Themed Christmas Cards

I'm in a weight loss group online, and we are going to send Christmas cards to each other.

I want to send a regular card and also put something inside the card that has to do with weight loss, and that can actually fit inside of the card.

I was thinking about coupons for healthy food. But I really don't know where to get a bunch of coupons.

Does anyone else have an idea of what I could put in the cards, that has a theme of weight loss, fitness or healthy lifestyle? Thanks!

Jennifer

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Advice for How to Gain Weight

I am 24 and weigh 50 kg. After giving birth to my first son almost 6 years ago I just lost 10kg within days even though I was eating normal. When I had my second son 2 years ago I lost even more weight and I can't put any weight on what so ever!

I'm so unhappy about it. You can see every single bone in my face. I don't know what to do next. I'ive been to 4 different doctors, they took blood tests but said everything was normal and that I'm just a skinny person. I want to put on 8-10 kg.

Thank you! (I'm the blonde one in the pic., just look at my cheek bones!) Horrible!

Nadia from Nrw, Germany

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Party Mix Recipes

Does anyone have recipes for 'party mixes' that uses nuts, fruits, or cereal. My family loves the Chex party mix and would love to try some new ones. THANKS

Debra from Hampton, TN

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Finding a Gift for Husband

What can I buy for a 59 year old man that isn't interested in sports of any kind? And he has too many clothes now. This man is my husband!

Deb816 from Hampton, Tenn

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Reese Witherspoon Haircut Styling

I just got side swept bangs like Reese Witherspoon. I gave her the picture and she did it totally wrong. But it looks odd middle parted but all my friends make fun of me for not having side part. When I side part it, it cowlicks and the bangs stick up. Can anyone help.

Kim

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Old House Needs New Paint in Kitchen

I'm looking for suggestions on paint color for my kitchen. The house is 98 years old, the previous owner installed new natural colored wood cabinets (1/2 with glass fronts) and white high gloss 10" sq.ceramic floor tile. The counter top is a medium gray and the wood trim, 2 windows, French doors to another room and the back door (mostly glass) are all white. The appliances are white. The walls are blue - which I do not like. It gives it a "country feel". So what goes with lots of white, light cabinets, and non-descript counters? The kitchen is rectangular with no sitting area space.

Margaret from Oak Park, IL

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Birds Showing Up at Your Bird Feeder

I would like to hear what people in other parts of the country are seeing at their bird feeders. Since the winter finches are making a southerly push this fall, there may be some interesting birds showing up at your feeders. Some of the birds to look out for will be Pine Siskins, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Bohemian Waxwings, Common and Hoary Redpolls, Red-breasted Nuthatches, maybe some others.

Larry from Saint Joseph, Missouri

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"Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" Christmas Float

I need some ideas for a Christmas Parade float for my daughter's Christian school. The theme is "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas". Any ideas?

Christy from MS

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Recipe Substitute For Onion

I've only been recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (in an out of the hospital a lot to the point we are trying Remicade); but my biggest problem with my diet is I can't have onions or tomato sauces. Does anyone know of some kind of onion substitute because it's in almost every recipe!?

Erin from Louisiana

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Product Review For Colonix

Has anyone ever tried Colonix Colon Cleansing program, and if so, what were the results? I would like to know as my father is interested in trying it.

Jarron from Florida

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Fixing Smoke Damaged Leather Jacket

I have a leather coat that survived a house fire I cant seem to get the odor out of it. Please help.

Penny from Stuart, VA

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Drilling a Hole in a Wine Bottle

Anyone know how to drill a hole in the side of a wine bottle without it cracking. I make glass blocks as well but I don't think drilling will work as glass is thin.

Carrie from Canada

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Dryer Leaving Oily Spots on Clothing

I am having issues with my dryer leaving what looks like oil spots on a lot of my clothes that will not wash out. I have tried to eliminate all possibilities, cheap detergent, dryer sheets, even filling the washer with water and detergent before adding clothes. It doesn't happen to all my clothes, but enough. Is there anybody that has experienced this type of issue, and if so, how did you resolve it. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Bryson from Nashville, TN

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Prizes for Theater Contest

So, what would be a nice and cheap prize for a theater contest?

cathsrg from Seattle, WA

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Cleaning Oil Stains from Car Carpets

We have a new car and the carpets are tan, we want to keep them up so we can sell the car in a couple of years. Any tips for getting out stains? I think its oil stains from workers boots and some general dirt.

Robin from Marietta,GA

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Is OxiClean Powder Any Good?

I have been using OxiClean spray for the kids stains on their clothes, however they didn't have it at the store when I went last and I picked up the granules instead. I haven't had much luck adding scoops directly to the load or even adding some to the pre-soak cycle. Any tips?

Robin from Marietta,GA

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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

Uses for Formula Cans

Creative uses for empty formula containers as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Post your own tips here.

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