Daily Thrifty Tips - June 26, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 125, June 26, 2008 (Read It Online) What are you doing to save money with gas and food prices going through the roof? Do you have any tips to share with ThriftyFun users? Feel free to share them on one of the cotest pages. 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 Your Own Kitchen Towel Rack Craft: Recycled Plastic Bag Keeper Harley-Girl (Golden Retriever Mix) Craft: Selling Recycled Bag Rugs Today's Tips: Don't Use Banks For Your Banking Magnetize Your Screwdriver Make A Freezer Pac With Rice Save Money By Saving Trees Use Heat To Remove Lug Nuts Craft Project: Rose Beads Use White Paper to Help Thread Needles Use a Magnet to Retrieve Pins and Needles Build Your Own Smoker Joke of the Day New Requests: Homemade Aloe Vera Juice What are these bugs? Ink on My Laptop Cover Broken Board Inside a Sofa Help My Azalea What is this bug? Underage Clubs Near Revere, MA Gnats on Houseplants Soil Recommendation for Petunias Removing Tar from Clothing Am I Getting a Good Deal at My Farmer's Market? Frigidaire Owners Manuals Using Vinegar to Clean Above Ground Pools Nail Polish on a LCD Monitor Credit Card Spare Key Hair Dye on a Linoleum Floor Cleaning a White Leather Purse Kenmore Washer Not Spinning Removing Stains from White Clothes Best Paint Roller for Tongue and Groove Paneling Burnt Food on Stove Burners Is there a way to make homemade fabric softener? Getting Rid Of Clover In Lawn Seasoning a Cast Iron Pot Butterfly Bush Not Blooming Why Did Puppy Get Parvo After Starting Shots? Effects and Benefits of Biotin Recipes for Sugar Free Desserts Uses for Leftover Frosting Preventing Canine Bladder Stones More Reading: My Frugal Life: Saluting The "Freegans" 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 Your Own Kitchen Towel Rack I recently got tired of opening my cabinet doors under the sink to have my hand towel fall off. I came up with a great idea. I went to Walmart and got 2 over the door coat hooks. I slipped them on the "junk drawer" (you can also use a cabinet door)and put a leftover leg support from those plastic shelf units you put together. If you don't have that, you can use an old dowel, or anything that is round and fits inside the cooks. You can also use it for things like your rolling pin, (inside the cabinet if you choose). It can be a nice papertowel holder, great for guest towel over the bathroom door, or for wrapping paper or ribbons (the dowel would need to be smaller in diameter) in the craft room. Since the hooks are separate, you can make them as far apart as you want, but keep in mind too far might need a third one in the middle. My drawers are on the gliders, so it won't close all the way, and you have to keep that in mind if you have the old fashioned wooden doors or drawers. Enjoy!! Source: This was my idea and started out to be for a towel rack over my shower doors, but the hook wasn't wide enough. So, I tried it over the bathroom door, but not only was it too tall, but the door wouldn't shut. So, I thought "towel...lower door" and viola! By Sandi from Salem, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12942393.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Recycled Plastic Bag Keeper Recycle a soda pop cup into a plastic bag keeper. This is an easy recycled craft project for kids and adults. Here is the picture tutorial link with step-by-step instructions. Recycle a Cup into a Plastic Bag Keeper By RecycleCindy from WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32980169.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Harley-Girl (Golden Retriever Mix) Harley-girl is our Golden Retriever mix and will be 5 years old this August. Her favorite hobby, besides chasing squirrels and catching frisbees, is digging for moles. She has been helping to keep the mole population in our yard down for the last couple of years, while entertaining us with her method. She's good at spotting the mole "runs" and will dig at several intervals checking for movement. When she spots the earth move, she points; the tail is horizontal and one front paw lifts off the ground. She stands perfectly still and waits for the earth to move again, and, when it does, BAM! She lunges forward, head first into the soft earth and plucks out the mole, her face covered with dirt. We lost count last year, but I believe she caught about 20 moles. This year she's off to a good start. Just this past weekend she's caught two moles! No traps or poisons necessary with our Harley-girl on the job! By Mary Moo from Wilmington, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16048590.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Selling Recycled Bag Rugs There was plenty of reusable shirt bags behind a clothier here and a handy video to make short work of making the plarn necessary to create handmade items. YouTube: Cutting Plastic Bags The pink areas are made from 30 bags for a dollar plastic kitchen bags providing much needed color for interest! The fringe took nearly all of 3 whole pink bags. My problem is that I am not in a zone that I can sell retail from which I had hoped. So, on Sundays across from me at a park ,it is busier than any other day. Taking advantage of that, I backed my truck up to near the end of my driveway, leaving enough room for 1 other vehicle to get off the street. I have an over-the-door towel rack that I don't use for towels that fit nicely over the top of my tailgate and I fastened my crocheted rug to it with with my price tag clearly visible! No one bought my rug but I know I can at least TRY, which is 1/2 the success! By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16789583.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: Don't Use Banks For Your Banking I never set foot in a bank. I only do my "banking" at credit unions where I am never charged a fee for any services. Interest and other rates are comparable or better than banks, and service is way better, as credit unions are member owned and they are federally insured. When I have a credit card dispute or very occasional error on something, it never takes more than 1 phone call to straighten things out. You do have to belong to a group of some sort to belong to a credit union, but often that group is a broad as living in a certain county, or having a religious or employment affiliation. By Linda from Vista, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97097331.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Magnetize Your Screwdriver Having two brothers who loved to tinker around the house, they enjoyed showing me a few tricks. I surprised my darling husband with this one: When you rub a screwdriver or other metals with a magnet you create a magnetized screwdriver, etc. Especially with little screws it was fun to show my husband how that screwdriver hung on to those screws and prevented their getting lost. It wasn't long after that I found every screwdriver, heads of hammers and other metal tools, etc. magnetized by hubby. He's gone now but I still enjoy using his magnetized tools. By Angela from Glendale, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65938392.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Make A Freezer Pac With Rice To make a excellent cold pac, fill a large tube sock about 3/4 full with rice. Keep in freezer for those headaches, aches and pains, etc. By Fred from Michigan Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30987849.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Save Money By Saving Trees I save money and the environment by reusing paper to print on. I reuse printable paper from my own household, as well as my children's papers that come home from school, to print on the blank side. In order to further save, I go online weekly and print online grocery coupons from websites on my "recycled" paper, and then I recycle any scraps that are left after cutting out my coupons. If the coupons expire, they go into the recycling bin, not the garbage. This saves me money in printing paper, as well as in groceries as I use my coupons. It also makes me feel good because I know I am helping to save the environment by reusing and later recycling. By Jennifer from Delavan, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92178512.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Heat To Remove Lug Nuts Heat the lug nuts with a butane cigarette lighter. The heat causes the nut, but less so the bolt, to expand making it easier to loosen. And, of course, loosen nuts a bit before jacking car. By R Gambel from New Orleans, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15000349.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Rose Beads By Debra Frick These beads are made from the petals of the rose. It is a great way to save the beauties of the spring and summer. When you wear any jewelry made with these beads the heat of your skin releases the fragrance of the roses they are made from. No need for extra perfume. It is said that these are what the original rosaries were made of. This is a craft easy enough for children to do and can be quite fun as long as the kids have some adult supervision. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97229002.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use White Paper to Help Thread Needles Being an 'older lady', I find my eyesight is not as good as it once was and threading a sewing machine needle was a frustrating experience. One day I picked up a piece of white paper and put it behind the needle and easily threaded it. I think it would work for hand sewing needles as well. Source: I think this is something that just occurred to me when I was sewing though it could have been something I read at one time. By Pat from Phoenix, AZ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73231899.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use a Magnet to Retrieve Pins and Needles This one is for sewers, (or if you drop a nail when hanging a picture) whether you have a "bad" back or need to reach into a tight space, this works for me. Stick a magnet onto the end of a knitting needle or yardstick, etc. Then you can easily pick up those pins, etc. that always seem to fall where they cannot be reached. By Barbara from B.C. Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16217003.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Build Your Own Smoker Where we live, the wind blows pretty much non-stop, and we just try to keep fetching things off the fences and returning them to the neighbors. One thing that didn't survive well was the electric smoker. Or the second one. Or the third one. My husband became very frustrated (read irate and cussing here for frustrated). He wanted to throw the rest of the pieces into the dumpster, but being a packrat...I mean "thrifty", I said, "Baby--don't do it!" So one day when he was feeling both moderate insanity and also the urge to smoke a chicken (please, no rude jokes here!), he decided to take the electric pan, burner and stainless steel shelf that were left and BUILD HIMSELF A WINDPROOF SMOKER! HE took cinder blocks, ya know the concrete kind, and built a little rectangular hut out of them, then put the pan and burner in the bottom. He even found an extra shelf out of an old fridge and added more space. A piece of siding that was lying around became the lid, with another block on top to keep the kids and cats out. Very cool, we had smoked rosemary chicken for dinner and soup the next day. I even got to throw on a little bit of goat cheese, which we found out is completely awesome when smoked. So, if you have an old smoker whose main body parts have been trashed for one reason or another, FEAR NOT! Just build your own. I'm thinking that if we get a wind big enough to take out this one, then we won't be around to care! Source: General depravity of entire family. Ok, we're also cheap, I mean thrifty! By Gina J. from Colorado Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54469095.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day The groom to be said to his fiancee, "Three-thousand eight-hundred dollars for a dress that's only going to be worn once?!" "Who says it's only going to be worn once?" "Oh? You're planning to get married again? You know you can't wear white the second time!" "No, but I do plan to have a daughter and she'll wear it on her wedding day. And she'll have a daughter who will wear it on her wedding day. And her daughter will wear it on her wedding day. It will become a family heirloom." "I'll bet your mother never bought such an extravagant dress." "Oh yeah? Well, she did too, smarty!" "Okay, then why don't you wear hers?" "Who wants to get married in that old thing?" Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Homemade Aloe Vera Juice How do you make homemade made aloe vera juice? Tony from Salt Lake City Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf314242.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What are these bugs? I have tiny white somethings (bugs?) in my home and cannot get rid of them. I have no idea what they are. I can feel them when they get on me and cannot see them unless they get on something dark. Once they are on something they are too small even with a magnifying glass to see what they are. I have tried all kinds of sprays and foggers and can't get rid of them. Has anyone else had this kind of problem and if so how did you get rid of them? WHAT ARE THEY? I'm going crazy with them. Louise from Danville, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96111928.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ink on My Laptop Cover How do I remove ball point pen ink from my laptop cover? Dave from Chester, UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26608446.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Broken Board Inside a Sofa The wooden board inside of my sofa that holds the springs in place and gives support is broken and now the sofa sags all the way when you sit down. Can this be repaired and how. Dionne Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19231323.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Help My Azalea A friend gave me her azalea before moving. Before replanting, I removed baby's breath that had wrapped itself into and over the plant. I even rinsed the root system to keep it from returning. The first year, it didn't flower and the leaves were sparse. I attributed it to the transplanting. Last year, we expanded our deck, and I had to move it again. Now, there are no leaves, and I think the stems/branches haven't even extended. It is completely bare. Have I killed it? Can I get it to come back? If so, how? And how do I help it become stronger? (Obviously, I'm new to caring for this plant) Hardiness Zone: 5a Li from Lisbon, ME Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43289534.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What is this bug? What bug that looks like a small black fly with a red underside eats hibiscus plants? What kills them? Hardiness Zone: 6a Sally from Hampden, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52154958.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Underage Clubs Near Revere, MA My daughter Samantha is turning 16 on July 19th. She wants to have her birthday at an underage club but I can't find one. Could you help? We live in Revere, MA. Thanks so much, Theresa Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63112581.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Gnats on Houseplants I recently purchased four beautiful Massangeana Cane plants from Lowe's and some good potting soil. I potted my plants in nice planters and within a week there are millions of gnats crawling out of the soil and flying everywhere. I just purchased Knock-Out Gnat from Gardensalive.com and waiting for its arrival. Hopefully it works but in the meantime, is there anything I can do to get rid of these pests? Madi from Oceanside, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf949883.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Soil Recommendation for Petunias I planted wave petunias for the last two years in beds and they start out fine. I water and fertilize, but then they just die. I think the soil must have too much of something. What do petunias need in the soil? Hardiness Zone: 5a Mary from Green Bay, Wisconsin Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88792407.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Tar from Clothing My boyfriend and I went to the beach and he got tar all over his brand new swim shorts. How does he get it out? Lauren from Los Angeles, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000322.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Am I Getting a Good Deal at My Farmer's Market? I am just wondering how I can know if I am getting a good deal at my Farmer's Market? We only have one available near me from the first Saturday in May until the last Saturday in October. Saturdays from 9am-2pm. Anyway, sometimes I find things that aren't in my local store and I wonder if they are a good deal or not. Like green beans today for $2/lb. I haven't seen any in my local stores for a long time. The farmer said originally that they were half price but I doubt that it was. I am just getting into canning and I don't want to end up spending more for canning stuff that I could get in the store - you know? But then again everything is going up in the stores as well... can you tell that I am confused? Thank you so much for your help! Nikkiev from Piqua, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85472213.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Frigidaire Owners Manuals We just bought a home with a Frigidaire Model GLEFS76AQG oven. The previous owners didn't leave a user's manual for us. How can I get one? Thanks! Sally Cooper Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61139614.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Vinegar to Clean Above Ground Pools Can you use vinegar to safely clean your above ground pool? Mary from Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23108681.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Nail Polish on a LCD Monitor I have nail varnish all over my LCD screen. Does anyone know how to get if off without any damage? Becky Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39087354.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Credit Card Spare Key Where can I find a spare key made out of a credit card that you put in your wallet? Jeff from Paxton, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11506572.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Hair Dye on a Linoleum Floor How do I remove hair dye stains from linoleum flooring? Melinda from Milwaukee, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32774232.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning a White Leather Purse How do I clean my white coach bag? I have a white leather coach bag and is dirty and it looks real bad. I have used all kinds of cleaning stuff and nothing works. Maybe you can help me. Eliza from Trenton, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf650114.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Kenmore Washer Not Spinning My Kenmore washer is not spinning. You can hear the motor running but it won't spin unless I start turning it first. All other cycles work okay. Please help. Charlene from Gallatin, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98127192.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Stains from White Clothes How do I remove tea stains from white clothes? Iraj Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf664043.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Best Paint Roller for Tongue and Groove Paneling What is the best type and size of roller to use when painting over tongue and groove paneling? Patti T. from Union, SC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47232221.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Burnt Food on Stove Burners How do you clean greasy, grimy, burnt on food from the top of your stove? It is probably a few years of burnt on cooking around the burners. Kathleen from Hawthorne, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53149783.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Is there a way to make homemade fabric softener? Does anyone have any new ideas on making your own fabric softeners? I am tired of spending a fortune on the products available in the store. Also, I would like to have a very good recipe for laundry detergent and something to remove spots from clothes (those that appear after you wash them in regular detergent or from other things fading on them). Thanks for any suggestions. Elizabeth from Dawsonville, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf105050.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid Of Clover In Lawn How do I get rid of clover that is invading my lawn and flower beds? Does anyone have a recipe I can make? Hardiness Zone: 6b Rose from Malvern, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47349077.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Seasoning a Cast Iron Pot I have a new cast iron pan that I would like to oil or season before using it? What is the best way? Rita from Manitoba, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf544388.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Butterfly Bush Not Blooming My butterfly bush is not blooming this year, why? I have the one with blooms that look like little purple butterflies. It's about six ft. tall and three ft. wide, healthy but no blooms Hardiness Zone: 9b Norma from Deep South Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86099366.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Why Did Puppy Get Parvo After Starting Shots? My Shih Tzu is 10 weeks old today and was diagnosed with Parvo. He has already started his shots, will that help him out or will it be worse? He's hospitalized on an i.v.. He weighed 3lbs, now he's down to 2lbs. Can he survive and why did he get the virus after he had started his shots? Dana from Gadsden, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91244724.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Effects and Benefits of Biotin There is a certain type of B vitamin called Biotin. It is supposed to improve nail, skin, and hair growth by working with carbohydrates that you consume during the day. Can anyone tell me more about its effects and what it does? Aliesha Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53156406.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipes for Sugar Free Desserts Does anyone have a recipe for diabetic homemade ice cream, sorbet, etc.? I just got a new ice cream maker, and am trying to eat sugar free foods since I found out I have Gestational Diabetes. Thanks for the info. Jessica Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32868548.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Uses for Leftover Frosting Any suggestions for using leftover frosting? I have two containers that are half full and would like to be able to do something with them besides on a cake. Kim H. from Joppa, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21200728.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Preventing Canine Bladder Stones Does anyone know a recipe for a dog that is prone to bladder stones? Anne J. from Innisfail, Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11402053.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: My Frugal Life: Saluting The "Freegans" It is amazing to me just how many things get thrown out on a daily basis. It is equally sad that the "flavor of the week" fashion item or latest toy is purchased by the avid consumer, only to be discarded shortly thereafter. Imagine the amount of natural resources that are wasted just to satiate unquenchable desires to have the latest and the greatest? Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58376909.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.