Daily Thrifty Tips - May 2, 2007

Our local PBS station, KCTS, interviewed one of our editor's for a segment about Saving Money on Entertainment. You can read a write up about the segment on their website.

About the Money - Saving Money on Entertainment

Here's today's featured request:

There have been some new pet food recalls announced by the FDA, you can read more about them here:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/Consumer%20Advice_Product%20Recalls_Pet%20Food_1285_6245_7732.html

Here's today's featured request:

Cross Stitch Tips for Beginners

Can anyone give me some simple and very basic tips for beginning to cross stitch? I mean basic beginners tips, for the clueless, LOL.

Thanks!
Hagathna from Louisiana

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Orchid at Local Show

I went to a local Orchid show, I could not pass up taking these pics.

By Diana from Highland, MI

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Mini Sticky Notes for Bookmarks

I love to use mini sticky notes as bookmarks. They make a smaller version for just such a use, but rather than buy those, I make my own! Using leftover sticky notes, I cut them into strips perfect for helping me keep my place (or several places!) in my book. Works great for recipe books so I can find my favorites in a snap.

By Carrie from Yakima, WA

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Isis and Belle (Malamute/American Eskimo)

Isis is 5 and is a Malamute mix. Belle is 3 and is a American Eskimo Mix. My uncle gave me Isis when his dog had an unexpected litter of pups. I got Belle from an animal shelter. They like to play with their toys, especially tugging them, run around the yard, ride in the car, go to the beach and sometimes just be lazy. I adore them both. They are sweet and loveable.

By Mythi from WA

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Positive Potty Training

My tip today is for all you mothers out there needing an inventive way to reward your child for doing the right thing. When your potty training, it gets really frustrating trying to catch your child when they need to use the bathroom. My tip is to get a plastic jar and keep it in rest room. Fill it with little toys from the dollar store (you know the ones you get at birthday parties) and allow the child to have one each time they use the restroom, brush their teeth, comb their own hair, etc. This rewards the child with positive attention instead of negative and allows them to build healthy self esteem while they learn to take care of themselves.

By Denise from McRae, GA

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Pizza and a Movie Party

It is going to be my party in 13 days on the 10th of May, I will be 13 years old. What I am doing is, first going to the cinema then going to Pizza Hut then limo back to my place. Then we will go out then come back and I have a piñata so we will play that as well then they will all sleepover. There are 10 coming to my party.

By Michelle from Scotland

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Newspaper Your Weeds Away

Start putting in your plants; work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers and put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic, they will not get through wet newspapers.

By Kate from Vermont

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Flexible Vacuum Attachment

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge, add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

By Kate from Vermont

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Being Frugal Is Fun

Love what you are doing, being frugal, is such fun! Stay focused on living frugally. Don't give up, saving money in today's world takes time, but I feel my time is well invested. When sitting down to watch a television program, I cut and file coupons, or look through the newspaper for other money saving offers. I am passionate about saving and talk to friends and family to find out what ideas they can share in living frugally. I never fail to read the ThriftyFun newsletter. If I don't have time, I move them from my email inbox to a folder created just for the ThriftyFun newsletter. Have fun saving and remember to share with others!

By Bobbie G. from Rockwall, TX

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Dry Off Your Razor To Make It Last

This is one of the best kept secrets by the razor companies. After using a Schick or other type of straight razer, dry it off. You should be able to get 50-60 shaves from one razor, as it is water, not whiskers that will corrode a razor.

By Unk Wes from San Jose

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Counting Cattle Joke

Here's one I saw on a discussion list this morning:

A Wyoming cowboy was herding his herd in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give me a calf?"

The cowboy looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Sure, Why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his AT&T cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany.

Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Soon he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, "You have exactly 1586 cows and calves."

"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves," says the cowboy. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then the cowboy says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"

"You're a consultant for the GOVERNMENT." says the cowboy.

"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"

"No guessing required." answered the cowboy. "You showed up here even though nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know didley about cows...

Now give me back my dog."

Shared by Fisher

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Mother's Day - Queen For A Day

My favorite Mother's Day is when I am queen for a day! I like the kids to make breakfast for me, my husband to make lunch, the kids set the table, and then we all sit down to eat and watch a movie or play games together afterwards. Then they all get to clean up while I enjoy not having to do it! My most precious gift is time with my family, and them spoiling me a little. It is priceless!

By Tina from Katy, Texas

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Opening Jars

Run hot water over top of glass jar (will expand top and loosen it slightly). You can also use the lower part of the palm of your hand to solidly hit (like serving a volleyball) the bottom of the jar, while holding the jar upside down over the sink. The second one has never failed me.

By Kim from Willoughby, Ohio

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Cross Stitch Tips for Beginners

Can anyone give me some simple and very basic tips for beginning to cross stitch? I mean basic beginners tips, for the clueless, LOL.

Thanks!
Hagathna from Louisiana

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Hunting Theme Party

I am trying to plan a SURPRISE 40th Birthday party for my husband. I am not very creative and I am having trouble with decorating ideas and food. My father inlaw is going to BBQ, but I am just lost from here. My husband is a BIG Turkey hunter so I wanted to decorate around hunting, but I am lost where to even start. Please keep in mind I am on a small budget, so thrifty ideas would be great. I am having 3 casino tables (black jack, roullete and texas holden) brought in with dealers. The party is going to be outside around a pool and in the yard. I am expecting about 50 people. The party is in 3 weeks so I don't have much time. Please help me if you can.

Thanks!
Graciesmom2002 from Birmingham, AL

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Putting a Microwave on a Washing Machine

I have a small sized kitchen. I wish to know whether it is safe to keep microwave oven on top of front-load washing machine? I intend to use only one appliance at one time.

Tagorepark

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Browning Turkey Cutlets

The recipe said to lightly brown the turkey (thin) cutlets in olive oil on med heat. I did and all they did was turn white. Wouldn't brown. The rest of the recipe calls for it to be placed on top of stuffing, covered with cream of mushroom soup and then cooked on med lo for 10 minutes.

It's one of those expensive teflon types of pans and the directions say not to expose it to more than med. heat. So, how could they be browned, fast, and yet still be tasty and not dried out?

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Phyllo Crust Instructions

Can some one please tell me the proper way to use Phyllo crust. I want to use this crust for Chicken pot pie. I bought it frozen and the package has no instructions.

Nancy from Moncton N.B. Canada

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My Dog is a Picky Eater

My dog is training me, he is a picky eater. I started to make him his food, because he would not eat his regular kibble, which was good quality. Yesterday after heating his pre-made food from me, he smelled it and did not eat. I have come to the conclusion he is just really picky. I love him, but if he is going to be that picky, I will just feed him regular high quality dog food. How long can he go without eating? He is not sick, just picky. Any ideas of what to feed him. Lady at store suggested wellness dog food. I tried to give it to him and he put his nose in the air and walked away. Thank you for any help. Picture is of when he was a puppy, he is Chu/Terrior.

Lisa from Westland

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Repairing Carpet Dents

Can anyone tell me how to get the dent imprints out of the carpet when I move a piece of heavy furniture?

Lynn from VA

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Body Odor Remedies

I have B.O. problems and wet circles under my armpits. Deodorant doesn't work for me. Please help!

Em from Seattle, WA

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Rock Concert Theme Party

For my 18th birthday I'm doing a rock concert theme, what kind of stuff should I get for it besides a fog machine?

Sylvia from Maryville, Tennessee

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Recycling Locations in Seattle

Does any one know where in the Seattle area can I recycle my tin cans?

Ibe

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Frog Repellants

How do you get rid of frogs?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Verna from Upper Marlboro, MD

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Oil of Cloves

Where do I find oil of cloves to clean musty flooded carpet floors? Someone said to spray this oil of cloves lightly on carpet and that it will help the carpet with the smell(?).

Connie from Des Moines, Iowa

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Weeds In a Gravel Driveway

I have a beautiful gravel driveway but the weeds are driving me crazy (no pun intended). Do you have a low cost solution?

D Dunn from Shreveport, LA

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Permanent Marker on Flat Based Paint

My almost 3 year old has colored numerous places in my house with permanent markers. All different colors! I cannot just scrub it off because the house we are renting has flat based paint. Any type of chemical and/or cleaning will take the paint right off. It's mostly black marker. Would painting over it be the best way to fix it? And if so, is it going to take a lot of white paint to cover black marker?

Crystal from Phoenix, Arizona

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Cigarette Burn on Wood Furniture

I posted this before but haven't got any hits. My problem is this: I have a jewelry armoire with a cigarette burn on it. right near the front for the whole world to see. A friend laid her smoke there without me knowing and now I am up a creek trying to reduce the look of the burn. The armoire is of tannish better than average veneer. I am lost as to what to do. Any suggestions? I am desperate!

Thanks!
KATHY from PHILADELPHIA, PA

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Broken Pull Cord on Gas Mower

How do you repair a pull rope on a lawn mower? The rope just came off on my last try to start the mower.

Elio from Staten Island, New York

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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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Warning Signs For International Internet And Text Messaging Scams

Not every scam has each of these warning signs, but if you recognize several of them, you probably have cause for concern.

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