Daily Thrifty Tips - May 19, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 98, May 19, 2008 (Read It Online) I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We had wonderful weather here. We have two new topics this week for the Saving Money On... Newsletter. Do you have any tips to share? Also, happy birthday to Jess! Jess does a lot of the editing and posting of tips at ThriftyFun (She also is my daughter). Saving Money on Carrots Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12605096.tip.html Saving Money on Wine Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75947429.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: Recycled Bleached Jeans Blooming Lilac Scenery: Lake Bistineau, Louisiana Poncho and Mija (Chihuahuas) Craft Project: Welcome Rock Today's Tips: Easy Grow Potatoes In Boxes When Moving, Set Up Beds First Book Review: Spaghetti And Meatballs For All Lemonade Koolade For Cleaning Dishwasher Personalize Party Favors Handy Headbands From Colored Tights Lock Tabs on Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap Boxes Gardening: Colorful Pots Boil Eggs With Potatoes Or Macaroni For Salad Getting Rid of Weeds To Plant Ground Cover Joke of the Day New Requests: Melted Crayon Dried on Clothing Shooting Pain in Neck What is the Best Carpet Cleaning Method? Can I Plant Different Colored Daylilies Close to Orange Ones? Frugal Wedding Gift Ideas Mice Coming In Through a Hole in My Foundation What Breed Is My Dog? Lawn Mower Stops Running What is this flower? Recommendations for Eureka Springs, AR Companion Plant Ideas with Tomatoes Need Ideas for 4H Project What Vegetables Grow Well in Western Tennessee? Crochet Pattern for Plastic Purse Can This Split Tree Be Saved? Removing Pet Urine Smell From Carpet Washing Dry Clean Only Pants More Reading: Time For Spring Cleaning Irises Aren't Blooming 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: Recycled Bleached Jeans Make your jeans into a fun fashion statement. Make the most unique jeans around! Jeans are tied, scrunched, folded and secured with rubber bands, soaked in bleach and hot water. Approximate Time: 15 to 30 minutes in the bleach, wash and dry done! Supplies: jeans bucket bleach hot water rubber bands washer and dryer Instructions: Wash jeans and dry with no fabric softener or sheets. Fold jeans, twist, and tie with rubber bands. There is no set way to do this but I kept twisting, securing with bands folding securing with more rubber bands. No two will be alike and it is similar to tie dyeing, only with bleach. Place the jeans in bucket with half hot water and half bleach, soak and turn, push around for 15 minutes. Pull back a band and see what's happening. I left mine in 1 hour, use your own judgment. Rinse and place in washer and dryer. By over and over from Middleton WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34205129.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Blooming Lilac I planted this Lilac late June and am very surprised how fast it grew, it was so small, and it is actually blooming! I thought it would take a second year before it would bloom. I am so excited, I planted it right by a window so I can enjoy the smell. By Linda from Bellevue, N.E Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52410603.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Scenery: Lake Bistineau, Louisiana Lake Bistineau (Bis-ti-no), Louisiana. Summertime... and the living is easy. By Carolyn from Shreveport, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77904772.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Poncho and Mija (Chihuahuas) This is my little Poncho. He is 9 years old. His full name is Poncho Villa El Bandido. He is a Chihuahua. I rescued Poncho when I bought him from a woman breeder who was not taking care of the dogs she bred or the pups like she is supposed to. He was only 7 weeks old, not even nearly a pound yet, and when I got him, he had fleas. The AKC and the local Animal Control shut her down later on. Poncho is now 9 years old and has had health problems since he was about 2 yrs old. I am told they are from bad genes. He has really bad hips now, and a underbite, he also has arthritis in his elbows, knees and back. His Vet just put him on a med for pain. He will be 10 on November 26th. My precious little boy has been a great blessing to me, and I thank God for him every day of my life. When he was 4 years old we got him a sister. I named her Mija, pronounced Mya. She also came from a breeder that refused to let any of her dogs or puppies outside. She bought Mija from a breeder in Ken. and when she grew and the woman saw she wasn't a small Chihuahua, but rather a Long Legged Chihuahua, she didn't want her any more. Thank goodness we came along. I told her she was exactly what I wanted and we took her home. She was 7 months old then and is now 6 years old. That lady was also shut down due to poor living conditions. No I didn't turn either of them in. lol. Mija also is loved every bit as much as Poncho, and they both love each other. I believe in spaying and neutering so both my babies are spayed and neutered. Here's a picture of my baby boy when I got him. Poncho saved me then. And he's still taking care of me! Careful though, he'll steal your heart. Poncho is the brown male and Mija is the black female. And I forgot to tell you that Poncho is winking at ya in his picture, he'll do that every so often, lol! Soooo cute! By Sherry from Portsmouth, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73682135.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Welcome Rock A new way to use rocks Approximate Time: 30 minutes Supplies: Big smooth rock Acrylic paints Sealer Instructions: Take a big smooth rock and clean it well, let dry. If the rock is dark, use light colored paints, if light, use dark paints. You could also paint the whole rock one color but make sure it is dry before painting on the design. Then you can paint on anything you want. I chose to put our last name on ours but you can put any thing you like. Paint flowers or other designs around the words. When paint is dry spray with sealer. By Sandy from Bluff City, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94985239.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: Easy Grow Potatoes In Boxes Want to grow potatoes? Lacking the gumption to dig them up? Here's the answer: Boxes. Pick a spot in your yard where you'd like to improve the soil a bit and set out your boxes (at least the size of a 5 gallon bucket). Fill the boxes with dirt and plant your potatoes, remember to water and weed. When it comes time, either break, tear, or dump the dirt from the boxes and pick up the 'taters! By Sarah from Berrien Springs, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74299930.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print When Moving, Set Up Beds First When moving, the first piece of furniture you want to move into your new house are the beds. Place them in the designated bedrooms, put them together, and make them up. At the end of the day, all you want to think about is a shower, food, and a good night's rest. Other things can wait until the next day. This way you will not have to sleep on the floor or groan about having to make beds when you are so tired. This is very important if you are moving and have children. Source: This is my own idea. By Linda S. from Arlington, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18637188.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Book Review: Spaghetti And Meatballs For All "Spaghetti and Meatballs for All" is a great book for teaching area and perimeter. The book also contains other activities . You can order a teacher's guide to expand your lessons at www.letsreadmath.com By Gary Dominicus from NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22380842.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Lemonade Koolade For Cleaning Dishwasher Use one packet of Lemonade Kool Aide (and it can be this flavor only) Place in dishwasher soap cup and run dishwasher. Leaves your dishwasher sparkling clean and fresh. Source: From a friend By Sherry from Silverdale, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96866045.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Personalize Party Favors Party favors can be expensive. Personalize handmade party favors using Foam Craft cut out shapes and letters and include the theme using the pictures cut from wrapping paper, valentines, cards, etc. For my granddaughter's birthday, I cut bookmarks and heart-shaped magnets and used valentines, which were purchased after they were marked down, to add the Tinkerbell, which was the theme of her party. By Sharon from Ravenna, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49500425.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Handy Headbands From Colored Tights I love headbands, for fashion (especially on a bad hair day) and for washing my face to keep my hair from getting wet. Now that spring is here, I like to use colorful headbands - here is a great frugal way to make your own "stretchy" headbands that stay in place and are cute and cheap, cheap, cheap and don't leave dents in the side of your head. Look around for colored tights, you can get them in any color (I myself am a Goodwill gal, so I get mine second hand - hey! that's what a washing machine is for). Cut off a "leg", and cut the foot part off. Wrap around your head, stretching so you have some tension to hold it in place once it's on. Then cut to desired length, you can sew together, or simply tie the ends in a know. Obviously you will get more than one from one pair. I love these and use them all the time! I even have one in orange. :) By Carol from Lancaster, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37546492.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Lock Tabs on Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap Boxes How often are we frustrated when the roll of foil or plastic wrap pops out of the box when we are using it causing much frustration and waste of the product and time? You know what I am talking about. ;-) Go ahead, go to the kitchen and check. If you're like myself, and most likely the majority of others, your first thought will be, "How come no one ever told me about this before and why is it I never noticed until now!" The next thing you'll do is 'press the tabs' to test it. On each end of the box of aluminum foil or plastic wrap, generic or not, it will say "Press here to lock tab." Press them both and you will never have the roll of foil or plastic wrap popping out of the box again. :-) By Deeli from Richland, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12838572.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Gardening: Colorful Pots I like to plant my flowers in pots and use different color combinations. It makes the yard look fun and colorful! By Monica from Gastonia, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49408751.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Boil Eggs With Potatoes Or Macaroni For Salad Ever make potato or macaroni salad only to remember you forgot to boil the eggs? I always toss the eggs in with the potatoes or macaroni and boil at the same time. ALWAYS REMEMBER TO WASH THE EGGS COMPLETELY BEFORE PUTTING IN THE PAN! This is the only way I can ever have boiled eggs AND potatoes/macaroni at the same time. Again, don't forget to wash the eggs first! Source: I didn't find this anywhere, just made sense when I stopped to think about how I could avoid this problem every time. By Sandie from Curtice, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21427650.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Weeds To Plant Ground Cover Question: Can you tell me, do I have to remove the roots of weeds or can I just cut them down? I had spent hours breaking my back last yr digging up the weeds out of my flowerbeds and cannot bear to do it again, now with neck problems etc. I would like to get it all out and plant ground cover, as the front beds are empty except the weeds. We are going to be moving and I don't want to leave it looking so bad. We cannot purchase any other supplies or services at this time. Thank you for your help. Hardiness Zone: 7a Breighdi from Statesville, NC Answer: Breighdi, Are you moving soon? If so, I'm afraid the fastest way out of this situation involves manually digging out the weeds. If you have some time (up to several weeks), you might try covering the beds with some black plastic (garbage bags would work fine). The plastic will prevent light and moisture from reaching the weeds. It will also intensify heat from the sun and trap it under the plastic, which will act to slowly cook the weeds. How long it will take to kill the weeds underneath the plastic will depend on how much sun the beds receive each day, and how long you can leave the plastic on before you feel like you have to replant. You can speed up the whole process if you pour boiling water over the weeds before you cover them, or torch them first with a flame-weeder. The potential for weeds to come back still exists after this process (from dormant weed seeds or deeply buried roots), but it should give new plantings enough time to take hold before the weeds return. Avoid spraying the beds with chemicals (including home remedies like vinegar) since you plan to replant a ground cover right away. Even so-called "safe" chemicals may temporarily alter the soil chemistry and negatively affect soil microorganisms in such a way that new plantings will have trouble taking hold. Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88302001.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day Rick, fresh out of accounting school, went to a interview for a good paying job. The company boss asked various questions about him and his education, but then asked him, "What is three times seven?" "22," Rick replied. After he left, he double-checked it on his calculator (he *knew* he should have taken it to the interview!) and realized he wouldn't get the job. About two weeks later, he got a letter that said he was hired for the job! He was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but was still very curious. The next day, he went in and asked why he got the job, even though he got such a simple question wrong. The boss shrugged and said, "Well, you were the closest." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Melted Crayon Dried on Clothing Is it possible to get crayon out of clothes? Crayons were left in the dryer. Shelba T. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001203.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Shooting Pain in Neck Ever since I was a teenager, I get a shooting pain in my neck when I turn my head right. What could it be? Does a pinched nerve last that long? I am 31 now and it started when I was like 15. Tom from Winthrop, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14052307.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What is the Best Carpet Cleaning Method? Which method cleans really dirty carpets better: steam extraction or dry chemical? Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28303104.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Can I Plant Different Colored Daylilies Close to Orange Ones? I've always heard that you shouldn't plant different color daylilies close to the orange ones because it will cause them all to be orange.Is this true? Orange ones seem to grow wild here. Karen L. from West TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53589063.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Frugal Wedding Gift Ideas Looking for alternative wedding gift ideas! I've done searches to find ideas for frugal wedding gifts but most of them are quite traditional. These days, couples live together awhile before tying the knot. My friend and his fiance were previously married, and don't need/want any of the typical wedding gifts. The wedding is also very low key and casual. The couple is really funky. I am 38 and have never had to buy a wedding gift for anyone so I am at a loss! I've done searches but nothing seems right for them. Any ideas for wedding gifts for fun groovy couples? They both have kids from previous relationships, maybe a basket? Any suggestions would be helpful. thanks!!! Lisa from Halifax Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24568660.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mice Coming In Through a Hole in My Foundation I would like to try and deter mice from our house. My problem is this: There is a hole on the outside of the house where the top of the foundation meets the house. I am afraid that if I put mint in the hole they will find "another" point of exit for the mice that are already in the hole, creating yet another hole, or there could be dead mice in the house walls if they have no other exit. Another thing is that I have a lot of wildlife (including squirrels) that come to that area. I do not want them to be effected by or repelled by this. Does anyone know if squirrels, and or birds would be repelled as well? Debbie from Nevada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38616519.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Breed Is My Dog? What breed does my dog look like she has in her? Looks like boxer mix, but not too sure. Meghan from Louisiana Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21143634.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Lawn Mower Stops Running My lawnmower starts, runs for a few seconds, then cuts out. I prime it with the bulb, same thing... over and over. How to fix? Joel from New Hampshire Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48085691.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What is this flower? Anybody know what this flower is? It is growing on a large, thorny bush. I thought at first it might be a rose bush but the buds are tiny, tiny and very fragrant! Hardiness Zone: 7a Charlene Woods from Stafford, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37344851.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recommendations for Eureka Springs, AR We are planning a trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas at the end of May, but will only to be there for one day. We would like recommendations for any areas of interest on the route originating from Tulsa. We also need suggestions for lodging, restaurants and places to visit in Eureka Springs (not camping or sport related). We like art exhibits and shopping for antiques. Thank you. Lola M. from Dallas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13868345.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Companion Plant Ideas with Tomatoes I planted two Early Girl tomato plants in a large raised bed. I have room for something else but I know from experience not just anything will grow with tomatoes. Any suggestions? Hardiness Zone: 8b Judy from Yelm, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75617615.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Need Ideas for 4H Project I need some good ideas for 4-H projects under ANY category. I'm signed up for just about every single one of them. Help me out if you can! Thank you Kassie from Park Rapids, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf517223.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Vegetables Grow Well in Western Tennessee? What grows very well in western TN? I'm thinking vegetables. Mostly sandy soil with some going toward clay. It rains a lot here. Hardiness Zone: 6b LJS from Lexington, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78080429.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Crochet Pattern for Plastic Purse Does anyone have a pattern for plastic crochet purses? Julia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81187574.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Can This Split Tree Be Saved? Can a split dogwood tree trunk be mended from tornado wind damage. It has a 2 inch trunk and is 6 feet tall. The trunk is split half way through. Can it be saved? Can it be bound in any way? Hardiness Zone: 8a Dianne G from Augusta, Ga. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60097901.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Pet Urine Smell From Carpet How do I get the smell of pet urine out of the carpet? The whole room smells. I've had a shitzu for about 3 months. She is house trained. I stopped putting her in a crate because I am gone for most of the day. She wasn't' peeing in the house, so I decided to leave her in my daughters room. Now she has started to pee at the door, and other places in her room. I have cleaned it up but it smells bad. I don't know what to do. I don't' want to crate her for too long, but I can not continue to let her pee. The room smells horrible. Any suggestions? Delilah from TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf250655.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Washing Dry Clean Only Pants Can I wash clothes that say Dry Clean Only? The pants I want to wash are made of 95% polyester, and 5% elastano. What could happen if I wash them? Rosey from Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14029414.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: Time For Spring Cleaning By Kelly Ann Butterbaugh Spring is here and it's time for spring cleaning. Nature does it with spring storms that clear dead branches, and her animals clear their winter bedding from their dens as the days get longer. The feeling of starting anew and freshening up can rejuvenate the entire household after a long winter; do it frugally. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63734172.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Irises Aren't Blooming Question: Does mowing your Irises after they've bloomed cause them to not bloom again the next year? I'm not much of a gardener, which is probably obvious. We've had them planted for several years, and they bloomed pretty well for the first 2-3 years. My husband then mowed over them the last couple of years (after their blooming season), and now very few have bloomed back. Is there anything we can do now to help? Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36669626.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.