Daily Thrifty Tips - January 9, 2007

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Here is Gracie with Santa Claus. This is her 3rd Christmas.

By Misti from Carthage Tennessee

Editor's Note: Gracie has some other entries. She is a miracle baby that has had 2 open heart surgeries!

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These bracelets cost very little to make, are extremely easy to make and can be sold for a good profit! There is a website that charges about $150 for this exact bracelet, plus shipping and handling!

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This is the cutest purse. To prepare the juice pouches I removed the glue and cleaned the packs. I slice the bottoms, fill the sink with warm soapy water. Rinse and set in bucket to dry over night. I set them outdoors.

Then I take the desired colors and line the edges about one half inch. Zig zag stitch the middle and continue to the other side. Make 2 of these. The bottom is 3 packs and zig zag stitched as well. Leave about a inch of each corner open. This will help to get the corners correct at the end.

Sides get added to the front and back. I now straight stitch this part. The handle are made of 2 packs cut in half. Then edges sewn to make 4 panels of handle. Zig zag stitch the handles to the bag, add your favorite boa and you're done.

By Sharon from North Miami Beach

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Maggie is a Golden Retriever mutt who is about 8. We are not sure of her birthdate because she was a rescued pet. We found her at a shelter and fell in love with her.

She loves to go on walks, eat treats and go to grandma's

By Diana from Prospect

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But your calendars and datebooks in January, not before, because everything goes on SALE. I splurged this year and got leather notebooks and a lighthouse calendar for 50% at Barnes and Noble. Other years, I have waited until they hit the dollar store and made do until then.

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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When throwing out dried up markers, keep the lids! You can use them later if you should misplace a lid. This comes in handy particularly with children's markers.

By Melissa from Pennsylvania

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When planting a plant that is liable to take over your garden, it is best to get a small plastic bucket (such as ice cream comes in) and set it into a previously dug hole. Put small drainage holes in the container, then add part dirt mixed with fertilizer and place the plant in the bucket and cover over the roots and enjoy without having the invasive plant spread roots all over your garden. You can use any size container. I love many invasive plants and now can enjoy them.

By Edna McTeague from West Bath, Maine

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I usually check the lid of a detergent bottle by trying to tighten it. The one time I forgot, the bottle turned over in the car trunk and spilled. Fortunately, most of the liquid detergent ended up in the plastic bag instead of the floor of the car trunk.

I now leave a heavy duty plastic basket in the trunk to hold the groceries. I had the same thing happen with a gallon of milk some twenty years ago.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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For any craft that has a "paper" pattern that has to be pinned/taped down (especially sewing patterns), transfer/cut them out onto contact paper. You can write on the side with the lines (arrows for the grain, etc.). They retain their shape and are durable.

By Pam from Elkhart, IN

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I saw this on TV. $2.00 coupon offer for Dryel Home Dry Cleaning Product, call 1-800-461-2713.

Terri

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Be thrifty and generous! If your kids are married, offer to celebrate Christmas the weekend AFTER December 25th. That way the other family gets to have them on Christmas and you get to buy all of your gifts at the after Christmas sales. Lines are shorter, prices are way lower. I saw many of the gifts we got for Christmas at half price just one day later. OUCH!

By Jeneene from Cincinnati, OH

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I had some leftover print-it-yourself business card forms and found out that they make homemade gift cards in a pinch!

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Get ready for next Christmas while you pack away the decorations this year. Start with your Christmas tree lights, replace non-working bulbs. Wrap strands in a loop, sort of like wrapping up the garden hose, and rubberband each strand. Folded net lights should be loosely stored in paper boxes. Write out box contents using leftover self-adhesive gift tags. The tags are easy to spot in dim basements. Next Christmas won't have you, "bah, humbuging" as you unpack your lights.

By Carole from Clay City, IN

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The perfect accessory for a little girl's room is a pink dress lampshade. Wrap a baby girl's dress around a lampshade, tuck it underneath and then glue it onto the bottom. A little pink trim and some beads add the finishing touch.

Featured Trash to Treasure Products with Brenda and Tom Weber.

By IMAQT1962 from ILLINOIS

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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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I would like to use wide planked dark walnut flooring in my new home. I also have medium walnut cabinets. I have 11' ceilings a lots of glass. Will this be too dark?

Judi from Friendswood, TX

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I washed a new white blouse with new black pants, now the bright white blouse is dingy gray. How can I make it back to bright white again?

Sandymcpk from Buffalo, NY

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How do I remove skunk smell from my automobile? I ran over a skunk last night and now my car smells horrid! I took a bath in lemon juice to get the smell off of me and washed my clothes in lemon juice and Cheer to get the smell out of them but what do I do about my car? Right now it's sitting out in the driveway, as far away from the house as possible,in the pouring down rain with 3 bowls of vinegar inside but if the smell is on the outside how do I get under the car to get the smell off?

Sandy from Demorest, GA

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How do you clean the soot off the window of a wood fireplace?

Louise from Nipawin, SK, Canada

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I have a 2 year old Shih-Tzu with what I believe is food allergies. She's been on a commercial 'allergy' diet of fish and sweet potato. After two years,.. I'm seeing a relapse of scratching and itching. Wondering if anyone has suggestions as to an alternative allergy food trial? She's been exposed to so many protein and carbohydrate sources due to the many ingredients in commercial foods that she was on as a puppy, prior to the fish and sweet potato. I was adding fresh fish to her dry food along with coconut oil for the inflammation. She's been exposed to; chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, venison, fish, bison, rice, eggs,potato, etc. I need a new 'novel' protein and carbohydrate source. Any suggestions?

3-Dog Mom

Reen from Long Island, N.Y.

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I have pimples on my head and I am addicted to popping them. They leave scars that are darker than my skin on my forehead. I was wondering if these scars are permanent or do they go away if they go away? Is there something I need to do for that to happen?

Shelby

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I've recently moved into a new rented house, i have 6 months left to run on the lease. I have a wallpaper/wall problem, it's something I want to resolve myself rather than be over charged by my landlord at the end of my tenancy (deductable off my deposit). I've scuffed the wall with the end of my seat back rest and it has left a nice jaggy white thick line (doesnt stretch too far) on the wall.

Basically, I'm unsure of the wall combination i.e. does it have wallpaper under the coated paint, I think it does, judging by crease lines running down all sections of the walls. Going with that theory they've wallpapered with white foam stlye, (has bits sticking out of wall) wallpaper and painted over that in a light blue paint.

Has anyone got any advice at all to help me solve this problem/reduce the costs. Call out professionals or do it myself?

From a poor student :/

Anyone?

Vampire from Newcastle, UK

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How do I get Slingo Extress on my PC?

HAROLD from AZ

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How do I set up a budget? I work in construction so there is no set amount I make each week. I have tried the Microsoft Money and a couple others but usually run out of time during the week to enter all the information in. Maybe I need to budget my time better too and make it a priority.

Thanks,
Suzan from Renton, WA

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ow do I remove dried milk stains from my stove? I did not get it wiped up right away and it will not come off. Please help since it is a new stove.

Sage05 from PA

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My wife is having a luncheon for 8 of her women friends and is looking for some fun ways they can have fun together. They have known each other for 8 years and get together regularly. Any ideas of games, food, party favors etc. I would be greatly appreciated. The ladies are between 40 and 60 years of age.

Steven

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Just moved into my first home. The home sits at the bottom of two hills and yard is somewhat not level. Which has caused puddling and softening of soil in back yard due to water runoff from neighboring yards. it's a huge mess and with a limited budget I need some temporary fixes that can by me time!

Katie from Richmond, VA

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I would like to find the recipes for the rolls they serve at HOPS in Charlotte NC. They are very light and drizzled with powder sugar.

Thanks,
David from Charlotte, NC

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We recently had to "snake" the bathroom toilet, leaving scratch marks - got most off with comet, but does anyone have suggestions for the tougher scratch marks?

Teri from St Louis, MO

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We have a new brown microfiber sofa, loveseat and recliner, and we are having troubles getting dog hair off it. We tried the lint brush did not work well. We also have a cat that sneezes a lot and leaves her sneezes on the furniture (when we find it it is hard). Any ideas?

Donna from MD

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I got new red sheet and went to take them off the bed to wash them and they had stained my bed! How can I get the stain off my bed? It is a white pillow top bed?

Jessica

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Does Borax work to kill fleas on hardwood floors? I don't have pets and have lived in this house for 3 months. I have been getting bit by fleas the whole time. I don't know where they hide but I typically find one or two on my socks when I am in the kitchen or the upstairs bedroom.

Mel from Rutland, VT

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I have run out of party ideas for my daughter's upcoming 8th birthday party in February. Some of the parties given previously include Build-A-Bear Workshop, Diva Party, Jumping/Rock Wall Climbing Party, and Celebration Station. Some of the activities that she is involved in are Tae Kwon Do, Sports (basketball, soccer, swimming and volleyball), Dancing, and Singing. She really wants a party but something different.

KDee from Houston, Texas

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Product: Yoga Booty Ballet

Model: DV15068

Manufacturer: ANCHOR BAY

Request: I am looking for reviews of the Yoga Booty Ballet Complete workout system. Is it a good workout plan?

Michael from Los Angeles, California

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I need a site that tells what different make up is made of. Please Help. =)

Samantha from Portsmouth, OH

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How can I remove stains from leather that has bled into a clear vinyl bag I have. Is there anything that can lift these stains as I have tried many cleaners with no luck. I left leather bag on top of clear vinyl bag and color from bag has bled onto clear.

Alan from Florida

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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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I request that anyone out there DO NOT buy a Maytag Dishwasher Model MDB7100. We have had this dishwasher only 5 years. Here are some of the things that have gone wrong:

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Kick off 2007 with these 7 money resolutions and get a fresh financial start to the new year. At year's end, you'll be surprised at how much you've reduced your debt load and the money you've saved!

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