Daily Thrifty Tips - August 13, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 157, August 13, 2008 (Read It Online) Clutter control is a problem in many households. Do you have any tried and true tips for controlling clutter in your household? Feel free and submit them here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml From time to time, Debra Frick share reviews of video games. Today we have a review of Mysteryville in the More Reading section. Is there a video game that you like that is family friendly and/or suitable for children? Feel free to submit your video game reviews here: Submit a Video Game Review 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: Make Blackout Windows With Black Plastic Garden: A Cabbage as Big as His Head Use Stickers To Decorate Party Plates Hendrix (Saint Bernard) Today's Tips: Use Unwanted Ice for Houseplants Product Review: Ikea's Foldable Drying Rack (ANTONIUS) Homemade Fire Starters Microfiber to Clean Up Dog Hair Put Your Shredded Documents In A Paper Bag Beware Of Fraudulent Billing Practices Fixing A Door That Sticks After Painting Shop For Christmas During Back To School Canning Your Homemade Soup Smashing Bananas For Banana Bread Joke of the Day New Requests: Does My Water Heater Need To Be Replaced? Tips For Using Freezer Chest Painting Kitchen With Orangish Oak Cabinets Is Car Wax Obsolete? Cleaning Headlights With Toothpaste Alpha Omega Lifepak for Homeschooling What Is This Plant? Substitutions For Fennel In Recipes Removing Blue Jeans Dye From Pink Top What Is This Tree? What Makes A Dog A Pure Bred? Recipes For Someone On Dialysis More Reading: Video Game Review: Mysteryville Baby Appleseed Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard DEWALT Recalls Cordless Brad Nailers Due to Injury Hazard Children's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Request Jeans Due to Strangulation Hazard Children's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Raw Blue Due to Strangulation Hazard Fire and Burn Hazards Prompt Recall of Gas Grills Sold at Lowe's Stores Saving Money on Packed Lunches Saving Money on Picture Frames 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: Make Blackout Windows With Black Plastic Do you have problems sleeping when the moon is full? Are you bothered by street lights or yard lights brightening up your room at night? Do you work at night and have to sleep during the day? Maybe you can benefit from this tip. To darken your room, cover your windows with black plastic. Materials needed: Heavy duty large trash bags or black plastic that will shield the light. 2 inch masking tape Self sticking Velcro Measure window so plastic will overlap on sides and hang below the window blinds. Place a strip of masking tape across top of the plastic for facing and to hold the Velcro. Stick a 2 inch set of the Velcro to the top corners of the plastic curtain and then press into place to the window molding. At bedtime, close your blinds, dim the lights and hang the black plastic. Tuck the bottoms under the blinds so air from the heat vent will not disturb. When you get up, take the plastic down, fold it up and stick it in a drawer or under the bed. The neighbors will never know. By Not Telling from NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11214663.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Garden: A Cabbage as Big as His Head A photo of my son Joseph with a "cabbage as big as his head" grown in our last year's garden. By Patty D. from Darrington Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93843104.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Stickers To Decorate Party Plates Rather than buying expensive themed party supplies, decorate plain or colored plates and cups with stickers that follow the party's theme. We used metallic star stickers for our fairy and wizard themed birthday party and we found them at the dollar store in packs of 500! By Dominique from Kalamazoo, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36893983.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Hendrix (Saint Bernard) Hendrix is a Saint Bernard and just turned 3. I got him 3 years ago from a farm a little south of my home. He likes to sleep, drool, chase, eat shoes, steal socks, cuddle. He's about 160-ish pounds and is the exact definition of a gentile giant. I took this picture originally for a photography class. The eyes were cut-outs from magazines and taped to the glasses. He posed wonderfully. By Addi from LaGrange, Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80957692.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: Use Unwanted Ice for Houseplants If you drop an ice cube on the floor, don't just toss it into the sink. Place it in a potted plant or your pet's water dish instead. Use the same technique for any leftover cubes in mealtime water glasses. By Patricia from Imperial, NE Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15576043.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Product Review: Ikea's Foldable Drying Rack (ANTONIUS) I'd purchased a nifty large powder coated steel drying rack with foldable sides at Container Store right before it was discontinued several years ago. I have this rack set up in my back bedroom and dry most of my clothing on it, instead of over the washer and dryer which are in a hallway and tend to slap us in the face with wet garments as we walk by. I was happy to see it now stocked by IKEA for $39.99 and am including this info if you are interested (some people had contacted me about where they could find it). It's now called, "The Antonius Foldable Drying Rack, #898.533.50". Search for it on the web site by name rather than by item number. The Container Store clerk at the check out register raved about it and told me she'd been using hers for some 3 years when I originally purchased it. The shelves and the frame can be folded so that it takes up less floor space, then opened up again as needed. There is one small negative which is far outweighed by the positives. Although this rack has wheels, one of them always falls off when I move it (but it's light weight enough to pick up and carry into a different room). The benefits are that it provides a nice out of the way space for drying my clothing, I use the dryer less, and I feel great about my contribution toward lessening pollution. When we have visitors, it can provide extra towel racks in the guest bathroom, and the rest of the time reside in the back room. Source: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80119043 By Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60465585.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Fire Starters Fire starters for camping are easy to make with things you have around the house. All you need is a paper egg carton, dryer lint and wax. I use old candle wax. Fill each section of the egg crate with dryer lint, then pour melted wax over each section. After the wax hardens, pack for your next camping trip. When ready to start the fire, break off a piece of the egg carton and light it up. It lights easy and burns long enough to get the rest of the fire started. By Leslie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11686291.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Microfiber to Clean Up Dog Hair Brooms don't do a very good job at picking up dog hair from the floor. I put a microfiber cloth around my broom bristles and secure it with a rubberband. TADA! It picks up the dog hair! By Ramona from Granby, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90733653.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Put Your Shredded Documents In A Paper Bag I try to shred my junk mail and papers that has any ID information. I was putting the shredding into a walmart bag, but that is not very green for the land fill, so now I put it into paper bags and staple the top. I would rather find a way to recycle it, but this is better than the plastic bag. By Lee from Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25880600.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Beware Of Fraudulent Billing Practices Telephone companies like to pad the bill, and claim that 'you requested' this/that feature. Read them the riot act. Insurance companies like to keep your premiums close to last years, so that you will think there hasn't been an increase in the premium, but some have been known to reduce/remove some coverages without you being notified to accomplish this: "You requested this" so review your insurance policy coverages side-by-side with last year's policy (assuming that it was exactly as you desired) By Cajun from Collinsville Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20424031.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fixing A Door That Sticks After Painting If you have a door that sticks to the door jam after painting just put a light coating of vaseline, hair conditioner or baby oil on the edges. Works every time. By Freds Tips from Marysville, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25554226.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Shop For Christmas During Back To School This may sound really crazy to a lot of people but I have a way of saving money at Christmas time that is unique. In August when the kids go back to school, our state has a no tax weekend for school supplies and other school related items. I buy up a lot of .22,.50,17, etc. items such as glue, pencils, paper, scissors crayons. I make a package of these items using a brown lunch bag with Christmas candy inside. I make 16 of these for my Bible class. 16 gifts would be a LOT of money but not doing it this way. Besides by Christmas they have lost pencils, broken crayons and are ready for a new batch. It ends up costing less than $2.00 for each child. What else can you buy for 16 children and not break the bank. Connie A. from Tenn. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11775281.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Canning Your Homemade Soup I have a pal, who cans her own homemade soups. She'll prepare a BIG batch of soups and home can them. You can walk in her pantry right now and see a whole shelf of her canned homemade soups. She said it really comes in handy when she's not feeling well or when she needs a meal to prepare in a hurry. None of those canned, overly salted soups for them! To me, it seems to be an old time necessity gone awry, that not many folks do anymore. In my household, it's so easy to make a large pan of soup. I don't know that I could even make a small pan of homemade soup, it always turns out to be enough to feed the neighborhood. So instead of my usual freezing of soup, I'm going to start canning my own, too. By Terri from NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17977663.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Smashing Bananas For Banana Bread My oldest daughter and I were discussing baking and cooking. When we came to bananas and how to prepare them for banana bread, she clued me in on the easy way of mashing them. She has her son, Daniel, use a hammer and smash them in the skin. I thought that clever. By Judy from Grand Rapids, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75220618.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day I heard the dog barking before he and his owner actually barreled into our vet practice. Spotting a training video we sell, the owner wisely decided to buy one. "How does this work?" she asked, handing me a check. "Do I just have him watch this?" Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Does My Water Heater Need To Be Replaced? My electric water heater is 25 years old. Within the last few weeks it will suddenly not heat water all the time. The first time my brother-in-law told me to hit the reset button. Since I could not find one at all, he told me to turn off the circuit breaker, wait 15-30 minutes, and turn it back on. This makes the heater work and I get hot water. Lately it is happening more frequently (sometimes daily, other times every 2-3 days). The breaker does not trip by itself, I turn it on/off to "reset". A plumber gave me an estimate of $2,000 to replace the 50 gallon tank -- this includes city permit, electrical work (he insists city requires new breaker), replace the faucet that turns water off (it is frozen), hot water tank, city inspection afterwards, and draining/removing old tank. Before he gave me this price, he said the tank was in great shape for its age (no rust, looks good, water runs clear) and that it probably was the thermostat. But he will not just replace the thermostat because he says it is 25 years old, too old for him to fix (yet he just said it was in good shape). $2,000 is a lot of money, and there is nothing wrong with the circuit breaker, but he says it is "best to do it all at once". 1. Am I being ripped off? 2. Is it bad to try to just replace the thermostat and then replace the heater when the element (only has one) breaks? 3. What should I pay to replace the thermostat? 4. If most agree I need to replace the heater, what is a reasonable cost in the Dallas area (for a 50 gallon tank). 5. Until I save money, am I hurting anything by flipping the breaker, waiting 20-30 minutes, and turning it back on? Thank goodness the weather is so hot --the water heater is on my balcony in a storage room, so what warm water remains is generally OK to bathe in! Thank you. Fran from Dallas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28083371.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips For Using Freezer Chest I just bought a Kenmore 5.0 freezer chest. It is the first one I have ever owned and I am just looking for tips. I want freeze as much as I can for reusing. I guess I should ask what not to freeze too? Joyce from Danvers, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11990506.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Painting Kitchen With Orangish Oak Cabinets What wall color goes with a very rich (orangish) golden oak kitchen cabinets? I have tried Nantucket Gray (BM paint) and other muted gray greens and they look horrible. I do not know what to do because I have stripped my wall paper and need to paint. Laurie from Saint Louis Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47579132.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Is Car Wax Obsolete? With all the problems associated with the application and removal of car wax, are the new acrylic conditioners the way to go? I have been told by several in the automotive detail business that old fashion wax is too outdated for today's new acrylic finishes. Toni Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90368623.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Headlights With Toothpaste Why won't toothpaste clean my headlights? I have a friend who cleaned his headlights on his '72 Chevy with toothpaste and they looked great but when I tried it on my '89 Mustang they just clouded up. Why didn't it work for me? How can I get them back clear again? Toni Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20120464.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Alpha Omega Lifepak for Homeschooling Where can I find Alpha Omega Lifepak, Grade 5 for homeschooling. Containing Science, Math, Language, History With teachers key. Charlotte from Rainsville, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31494672.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Is This Plant? This plant grows very well in my front yard. I received it from my parents. They didn't know the name of the plant. They did know that this plant was useful for curing some diseases, it acts as an antibiotic. The leaves can be eaten and the fruit tastes very sour. Maybe you can help me to find out what is this plant? Thank you. Hardiness Zone: 11 Eddy from Surabaya, Indonesia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59640630.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Substitutions For Fennel In Recipes I have several recipes that call for fennel. Since I dislike the licorice taste of fennel, I am wondering what is a suitable substitute in cooking. Celery? Celeriac? I would appreciate any help anyone can give me. Nicki from Amarillo, Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57453973.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Blue Jeans Dye From Pink Top I washed jeans with a pink top. Now there is blue dye all over top. How can I take the dye out? Louise from New Zealand Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14964757.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Is This Tree? What is this tree? Hardiness Zone: 7a Maryjo from Vancouver, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16057101.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Makes A Dog A Pure Bred? If I breed my smooth, short haired Dachshund with a long haired one, would it still be pure bred? When I bought her we were told that she is pedigree. What makes her a pedigree and how can we prove it? Thanks. e.rod Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36033659.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipes For Someone On Dialysis My father-in-law, to whom I am primary caregiver, has started dialysis. It seems that I am serving him the same meals over and over. Can anyone help me with some recipes that contain no tomatoes, artichokes, dried beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, greens, lentils, lima beans, mushrooms, parsnips, winter squash, coconut, nuts/seeds as these are all high in potassium and we have to really limit that and salt. Potatoes are also high in potassium but he can have those if we dialyze them first. Thanks in advance for any and all help! Cindy from Breaux Bridge, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29022156.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: Video Game Review: Mysteryville By Debra Frick If you have a daughter who has a love affair with cats and also loves mysteries this is a game you should consider for her Christmas or birthday present. Though young detectives male and female will also love this game. It is also a game that many with memory problems, like those associated with Fibromyalgia, will like as it helps to stimulate your memory skills. I am always on the look out for games that are non-violent and that my grandsons and I can play together. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63776092.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Baby Appleseed Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard Hazard: The cribs fail to meet the federal safety standards for cribs. The cribs have a two mattress support system. The secondary mattress support, used for the lowest position, does not meet the full 26 inch minimum height in its lowest position, allowing children inside to crawl over the railing, posing a fall hazard. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48375836.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print DEWALT Recalls Cordless Brad Nailers Due to Injury Hazard Hazard: The nailer can operate when the lock-off (safety) is in the locked position. Also, the nailer can operate when the trigger is not pulled and the contact trip is depressed. The unexpected ejection of a nail poses a serious injury hazard to consumers. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23339185.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Children's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Request Jeans Due to Strangulation Hazard Hazard: The hoodies have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59646109.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Children's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Raw Blue Due to Strangulation Hazard Hazard: The sweatshirts have drawstrings through the hood which pose a strangulation hazard to young children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18096695.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fire and Burn Hazards Prompt Recall of Gas Grills Sold at Lowe's Stores Hazard: The cooking chamber of the grill can melt and/or ignite, posing a risk of fires and burn injuries to consumers. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54783874.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Saving Money on Packed Lunches With kids going back to school soon, it's a good time to start looking for ways to save money on packed lunches. Here are some tips shared by the ThriftyFun community. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf353101.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Saving Money on Picture Frames Tips and advice for Saving Money on Picture Frames. Feel free to post your ideas below. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72909095.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.