Daily Thrifty Tips - November 13, 2007

Volume Six, Number 220, November 13, 2007 (Read It Online) I hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday. If are planning to submit any Holiday crafts to Crafts for Fun and Money, be sure to submit them soon so we can use them before the holidays. Crafts for Fun and Money is a program where we pay $15 for craft projects with pictures that are published. For more information visit the link below. 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: Recycled Benches From Fence Wood Reflection Tank (Basset/Lab) Craft: Handprint Turkey Today's Tips: Purchase Gift Cards Throughout The Year Add Tuna To Mac And Cheese Making Your Own Butter Protect Delicate Plants With Sand Keep Last Bit Of Laundry Detergent Upside Down DVD's and CD's for Paint Palettes How to Refresh Honey Craft Swap Ideas Save On Your Grocery Bill With Angel Food Ministries Joke of the Day New Requests: What Percentage of My Income Should I Pay for Rent or a Mortgage Cathedral Window Quilt Christmas Card Picture Cleaning vs New Liner for Pool 20th Anniversary Ideas Getting Rid of Gnats Corn Pudding/Casserole That Can Feed 40-50 People How to Make Dog Less Afraid of People How to Get Into Locked Desk How to Join Coupon Train Whiteflys on Indoor Plants BMG Coupn Codes Pregnant Shepherd With Blood in Stool Fixing Glider Rocker That Squeaks Microsoft EHome MCIR 109 Keyboards Number Pad Not Working Christmas Card Stockings Advice For Taking Care Of Roses In Spain Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden German Shepherd Keeps Running Away What Color to Paint Kitchen With Cherry Cabinets and Bamboo Floors How To Cut Plexiglas Cooking Red Beans Azuki From Oriental Trading Co. Drilling Slot For Glass Block Bank Baking a Frozen Apple Pie Recipe For Mock Crab Cakes Made With Zucchini Tasty Sugar Free Cookie or Cakes More Reading: Saving Money on Thanksgiving 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: Recycled Benches From Fence Wood Our neighbors wood fence blew down in a storm. I eyed the mess for a day or so, then offered to clean it up for them, if I could have the boards. They were happy and so was I! Made a total of 25 benches from the wood, sold them for $40.00 each. Kept 3 for my yard :0) By Maggie from Bloomington, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41064510.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Reflection Take time to enjoy the unexpected beauty you encounter. By Heather from Canton, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17109101.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tank (Basset/Lab) Tank is 7 and a Basset and Lab or a BASSA-DOR. My husband found him in a dumpster in Florida seven years ago He loves to play on the bed with his daddy, but best of all he likes going in daddy's truck, even if it is not moving. He is the light of our life and he gives kisses and unconditional love. By Judie from Eatonton, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53327356.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Handprint Turkey Easy to make paper turkey that is perfect for decorating your home or to give as a gift. It uses tracings of your child's hands and feet creating a great keepsake that can be kept well beyond this holiday season! View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18578722.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: Purchase Gift Cards Throughout The Year For Christmas shopping, start purchasing gift cards every paycheck or month in January. By the time you get to Christmas, you won't have to dip into your regular budget to purchase Christmas gifts. Source: I originally read this suggestion in a Woman's Day magazine. By ALS from Columbia, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52865328.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Add Tuna To Mac And Cheese Spruce up a box of plain old mac and cheese with a can of tuna fish! Now you've got cheesy tuna noodle casserole! You can even add a cup of frozen peas and carrots (add while the noodles are boiling) to make it more special. My son loves this and he gets a more balanced meal. By Christine from Spanaway, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90028464.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Your Own Butter You don't need a churn to make butter. You can do it THIS way using a hand whisk or an electric mixer at slow speed. In the summer, churn your cream at temperatures between 52 and 60 degrees. In the cooler seasons, try for between 58 and 66 degrees. The length of time it takes for churning and eventual texture of butter depends on bringing the cream to these temperatures ranges. You can adjust the temperatures by placing the cream container in a water bath of the correct temp. Beat or whisk the cream with a steady regularity. Continue beating until part of it turns butterlike (sudden, hard texture) with liquid (buttermilk) in the bowl. This happens after about 15 minutes. Pour the buttermilk out (you can save it to use for something else) and add cool water, beat gently some more, drain again. When the butter beads are completely washed, add a small amount of salt. (1/4 tsp. of sea or kosher salt to lb. of butter). If you are only making a tiny bit, you don't have to salt it because it will be consumed quickly with no spoilage. Beat the butter on a flat surface (marble top or clean counter) Use a rolling pin or flat meat tenderizer large wooden spoon to press out ALL the water you can. Do not use any plastic in the above steps. Do not store in plastic. Use a glass jar or a wooden box. Plastic will greatly affect the taste.The whole process takes about 30 minutes, no matter how much cream you use. By MasterMom from Hutto, TeXas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51803254.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Protect Delicate Plants With Sand Some plants in your area will be a tender perennial which means they may or may not make it through a severe cold snap, or you may have plants you want to protect from the cold. To protect such plants better, when weather gets cooler in the fall time of year, put a mound of builders sand or other sand around the plant, then mulch heavily over the sand and water well. This will protect the plant over the winter. In the spring when warm weather arrives, remove the sand and mulch. Put new mulch around the plant leaving space around the trunk of the plant for plenty of air ventilation, this will keep your plant from becoming so thirsty in hot weather and the mulch will decompose into good nutrients for your soil. By Linda from Fort Walton Beach, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78109555.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keep Last Bit Of Laundry Detergent Upside Down I am doing laundry today. As usual I purchased a new bottle because I was getting low. I have been doing this for several years and think it's time I shared it. When you do what appears to be the last load from a bottle of detergent, screw the cap on and set it on the shelf upside down. You will get a capful for your next load. At least one extra load per bottle will amount to some savings eventually. By Marty from Houston, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27840794.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print DVD's and CD's for Paint Palettes Used CD/DVD disks make great paint palettes for acrylic or oil paints, or even the oil sticks used for stenciling. You can wash them off and reuse them if you like, or if you have the DVD case you can even store your palettes in there with the oil sticks still on them, and use them again at a later date. I used packing tape and cord to make little loops inside the DVD case cover to hold my stenciling brushes - and it becomes a portable palette I can take with me when I am doing projects, or to keep everything sorted and stored and away from the cats and kids. By Regina from Rochester, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65960059.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How to Refresh Honey To refresh honey, loosen lid (remove if metal). Place in microwave for ten seconds and it's as good as new. By Tim from Gallitzin, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79866207.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Swap Ideas Start a craft swap between yourself, co-workers, family or friends or in your neighborhood. You can eliminate extras you won't use anytime soon yet have to store. Some local newspapers allow notices for group functions or happenings to be placed in an ad free of charge. Pick a time and place, put up index cards at grocery stores or check into free ads or use your communities bulletin board to pass on the word. By Veronica from Sedalia, Missouri Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26586909.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Save On Your Grocery Bill With Angel Food Ministries Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization that distributes food to those in need. You do not need to meet income requirements. You can get a box of food containing both fresh and frozen items for approx. $25.00. I have been doing this for quite some time and enjoy the quality of food and the great savings. Here is the website: http://www.angelfoodministries.com/default.asp By Kelly from Atlanta, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90504100.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day The young lady walked over to the hospital room where she knew her friend was. "May I see Irving, please?" she asked the woman blocking the door. "We don't allow anyone but relatives to see the patients," replied the woman. "Are you a member of the family?" "Why-er-why, yes. I'm his sister," said the lady. "Oh, I'm so glad to meet you," said the woman. "I'm his mother!" Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: What Percentage of My Income Should I Pay for Rent or a Mortgage Does anyone know what the good rule of thumb is for the ideal and maximum percentage of your income that you should be paying for rent or a mortgage? Thanks, LS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56446070.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cathedral Window Quilt I would like to make a Cathedral Window quilt. Does anybody have a pattern or instructions? Viki from Abbeville, Alabama Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20744322.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Christmas Card Picture I am looking for a fun, cute, creative Christmas card picture. I have 3 girls 10, 6 and 3 . I have always done formal and want something different. Thank you Kristi from IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16903970.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning vs New Liner for Pool My above ground pool was 'let go' last winter, it was green and slimy. I have been at it for months and am about half way there, should I persevere with chlorinating, scrubbing and vacuuming or get a new liner? Has anyone got any better cleaning tips? A.C. from NSW, Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68897064.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print 20th Anniversary Ideas My 20th anniversary will soon be approaching and we would like to do something special. I am looking for ideas. I can't afford to spend a lot of money so please keep that in mind. imaqt1962 from Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15501662.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Gnats Please help! I have gnats in my house. I am using the cider vinegar and dish soap but it isn't doing it. We live in a 100 year old house turned duplex that has flooded in the basement. The landlord doesn't care. He also just cleaned out the upstairs apartment which had a fridge and freezer full of rotten food. Any ideas of help would be appreciated. They are making my husband who is recouperating from major surgery which in turn, makes me crazy dealing with him. Karen from Port Clinton, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000909.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Corn Pudding/Casserole That Can Feed 40-50 People I need a good recipe for Corn pudding/Casserole that can easily be expanded to feed 40-50 people. I need to use a large (111 oz.) can of corn, so preferably with only or mainly corn, not creamed. This is for my church Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks in advance! Kim from Crawford, CO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46491804.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How to Make Dog Less Afraid of People My daughter was coming out of Target Store and saw a pitiful mutt on a leash attached to a construction worker's truck. It said, "Adopt me". She took it to the vet, got shots, got a large doggie indoor carrier/house and a cushy pad, a brush, a longer leash and a new collar, performed a flea doggie shampoo (seems to be very clean but we wanted to make sure), bought appropriate puppy pet food and water bowl...lots of love. It's approx. 1 year old male terrier mix. Unbelievably skinny, malnourished, abused, afraid of people... but very nice with a sweet personality. So how do we make this adorable pooch less afraid? I know precious little about dogs. Help! It doesn't want to go into it's doggie house --needs a couple of pushes, (pet store said house was suitable in size for this dog), doesn't come when called (more likely to just sit there). We told our daughter the dog has to stay in the pet house when no one is home or at night (for the safety of the house and the pet) - of course we are going to give it an outside walk before it gets shut in and it's certainly not for all day, either). We have a nice fenced in back yard, - but the dog goes directly to the trailer and hides between it and the fence- doesn't come when called. I'd like to be able to indicate to him that he needs to get in the doggie house. I can't be doing all this pooch shoving and pushing and I'd like to open the back door, tell the dog to go and expect it to come back to the door when I call it in 10 mins. If we try to put on a leash and take him for a walk, he has to be dragged through the house out to the front door. Obviously, he doesn't know how to respond to a walk on a leash. In the meantime, he sits by my daughter and follows her around the house, like her shadow. So, now what? We like the dog, we just need to 'civilize' it and get it to forget the abuse history. Thanks, Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97768988.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How to Get Into Locked Desk My desk is locked and I've lost the keys. How do I get in? Lisa from Wall, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62558750.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How to Join Coupon Train I am looking to join a coupon train please. ginaNelson from Franklin, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54098674.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Whiteflys on Indoor Plants Please tell me how to get rid of whitefly on my indoor plants like fine herbs: basil, tomatoes, sage, mint etc. Thanks Hardiness Zone: 1 Sylvie from Mongolia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35068700.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print BMG Coupn Codes Does anyone have a code for getting music cd on bmg or dvds? Vickie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87127556.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pregnant Shepherd With Blood in Stool Is it normal for a pregnant shepherd to have some blood with stool when they are very close to delivery date for puppies? Ed from York, SC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77723887.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fixing Glider Rocker That Squeaks We have a glider wooden chair in our living room, it came with a gliding stool. The rocker squeaks so loud that you can't sit in it and watch TV or have a conversation. HELP! My husband wants to get rid of it, but we have a lot of company and no other chair to replace it. Connie S from Swansea, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70524488.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Microsoft EHome MCIR 109 Keyboards Number Pad Not Working I bought a new notebook yesterday, and yes its great. But my NumPad isn't working. This has nothing to do with my NumLock Key, because it does not react when i press it. The hole block isn't responding [Numbers, Enter, / + - *] What shall I do? The drivers are installed. Keyboard Model: Microsoft EHome MCIR 109 Notebook: Acer Aspire 7520 System: Win Vista 32 Steph from LU Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55261277.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Christmas Card Stockings Years ago my husband's grandmother made crocheted recycled Christmas cards in the form of a stocking. There was an opening along the top and the 3 sides were all attached. the whole card was hole punched then crocheted as mentioned before, but the top was open so you could insert cash or a gift card. Does anyone know how these were made? Does anyone have a pattern? We'd love to continue the tradition, but aren't sure how to make them thanks! Joanne from Brisbane, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87979734.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Advice For Taking Care Of Roses In Spain I live in Madrid, Spain and I have some roses. Right now they look really terrible because I have never really taken care of them. Yes, I am ashamed of myself and now I want to do everything I can to learn on how to take care of them properly and have some really nice roses. I know nothing or very little about roses and much less about taking care of them. But I want to learn. I want to get these roses in somewhat into shape and start experimenting. How do you suggest I start? I do want to mention that there are about 4 months of really hot summer weather like in the 90-100 and there are about 8 months of really cold winters with some snow. I am a basket case, but I am willing to learn. Anxiously awaiting for your response. Thank you. The Alien! Michael Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27505403.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden I found some unused bags of ground coffee from several years ago in the back of a cabinet. I don't want to use them for brewed coffee to drink. I know there are many uses for USED coffee grounds, but do they have to be used? Can I use them unbrewed or will it be to acidic for the yard or garden? Kristen from Austin, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78985556.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print German Shepherd Keeps Running Away I have a German Shepherd that keeps running away she's 10 years old I let her out to go potty and if it's dark she will take off in less then 5 minutes why? Julie from Anderson, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37751463.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Color to Paint Kitchen With Cherry Cabinets and Bamboo Floors Please help with kitchen color! We can't decide. We have bamboo floors and cherry cabinets. What would you suggest for a kitchen color? Valerie from Madison, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99019387.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How To Cut Plexiglas How do I cut Plexiglas? Colleen from Buffalo,NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86591395.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cooking Red Beans Azuki From Oriental Trading Co. Are ALL Orchids brand RED BEANS-AZUKI sold by the Oriental Trading Co as hard to cook as my mother (r.i.p.) discovered they were? I gave her a pack several years ago and found several packages while moving. I recall she said she cooked them and cooked them and they were STILL not tender! So I wonder if it's the variety of the bean or the method used or WHAT? Anyone who has experience with these PLEASE HELP! Thanks ! melody_yesterday from Sedalia, Missouri Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43842546.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Drilling Slot For Glass Block Bank Does anyone out there know how to drill the slot for a glass block bank? Please Help! Thanks. Suzanne from West Seneca, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76229346.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Baking a Frozen Apple Pie How to bake a frozen apple pie? Thaw first? Temperature? Time? ELAINE from Trenton, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49833774.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipe For Mock Crab Cakes Made With Zucchini Searching for the recipe for mock crab cakes made with zucchini? Janice from Eastern NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58401833.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tasty Sugar Free Cookie or Cakes How about some sugar free cookies/cakes? The cookies we've tried seem not that tasty. CharlieRS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59018227.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: Saving Money on Thanksgiving Tips and ideas for saving money on making Thanksgiving dinner. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40724196.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.