Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 176, November 8, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We have a great newsletter today. A lot of wonderful tips.
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Keep Spices at Eye Level
- An Orange Treat With Maple Sugar
- Dryer Sheets In Place of Potpourri and More
- Keep a Jar for Extra Screws and Nails
- Suitcase Tip - Protecting Your Laptop
- Mushroom Slicers for Eggs
- Hershey's Zero Candy Bars Don't Melt
- Shop for Craft Supplies at Thrift Stores
- Cleaning Eyeglasses - Homemade Cleaner
- Send People Happy Thoughts
- Oregano Oil For Unruly Hair
- A Popsicle Makes the Medicine Go Down
- Zachary's Crème Drops Fudge
- Raking the Leaves Onto a Tarp
- Kitten Flea Bath
- Coffee Cubes With Leftover Coffee
- Check for Internet connection
- Save Energy - Turn Off The TV
- Sourdough Coffee Cake Recipe
- Making Inexpensive Throw Pillows
- Keeping Bags Closed Tightly
- Storing Toiletries in a Small Space
- Onions Making You Cry?
- 5 Painting Tips
New Requests:
- Wedding Anniversary on a Tight Budget
- Long Term Solution for Smell on Furniture
- Crafts Patterns Using PVC Pipe
- Jewelry Cleaner for Costume Jewelry
- Solution for Cracked Dashboard
- Small Christmas Gift Ideas
- Washing Down Comforters
More Reading:
- Recycle Those Plastic Shopping Bags!
- Use H-O-L-L-Y to Beat Christmas Cooking Stress
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Today's Tips
Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 cups of Creamed Cottage Cheese small curd
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 3/4 tsp salt
- dash of pepper
- 8 oz. processed American Cheese, shredded
- paprika
Directions:
Cook macaroni according to instructions on box. Drain well. In bowl combine cottage cheese, sour cream, egg, salt, and pepper. Add to cooked macaroni and put mixture into a greased 9" square pan. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min.
By Joan
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Keep Spices at Eye Level
I saved an old tin foil or a plastic wrap box and put it in the back of my spice cabinet. That way I can put some of the spices at a higher level and they don't get pushed into the back of the cabinet. You can make more than one level and you can even decorate the box with contact paper if you desire.
By SharonP
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An Orange Treat With Maple Sugar
Take 3 oranges (make sure they are eating oranges & not juice oranges). Peel them into slices and make sure to remove all peels and white pithy stuff. Layer them on a flat plate and sprinkle them with 4 teaspoons of maple sugar. Then sprinkle with 4 Tablespoons of toasted almonds. Cover with plastic wrap and chill either overnight or atleast until they cool thoroughly. This serves 3 to 4 people depending on the size of the oranges.
Happy Eating.
By Joesgirl
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Dryer Sheets In Place of Potpourri and More
We have a coal stove for heat and in the winter it can get quite dry. Also living in an old farm house can get a bit stagnant smelling. I found a great tip that will work on any type of stove. I absolutely love the smell of fabric softener. I usually keep the used dryer sheets and reuse them for dusting, etc.
However, I took a few of them and placed them in an old pan (with water in it) on top of my coal stove. Not only did it put moisture in the air but it also added a light aroma in my home and took that nasty closed up smell away. You can also add orange peels to it or spices etc. It seems to work better then my potpourri pots.
My sister has a regular furnace and she placed her dryer sheets under the edge of the grate and it puts off a great smell each and every time her heat turns on. Don't forget to reuse those sheets. They work great for dusting, getting stuck on food off dishes, placing in a vacuum bag, also run one through long hair, it keeps the static down. I also place them in drawers, my stored clothes, closets etc. And when the smell is gone, just place them in a ziplock bag with a few drops of liquid fabric softener and voila! new sheets to reuse. Oh and one last tip. My daughter runs track and she has some stinky feet (lol). I place a dryer sheet inside her sneakers and it takes the smell right away.
By Melissa
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Keep a Jar for Extra Screws and Nails
I keep a jar handy to place all those extra screws, nails, etc. that came with the put-it-together yourself items that you buy. When my husband has only a nail, screw, nut, washer, or wall anchor or two left in what he is doing, I take them to place in my jar. It is amazing how many times I have found just the right screw to fix a small project at home.
By Debbie in OKC
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Suitcase Tip - Protecting Your Laptop
If you are flying, NEVER put a laptop, camera or other fragile items near the top of a suitcase. Because most suitcases nowadays have little wheels on the bottom, which could help a suitcase to roll off a conveyor, they are always slammed onto the conveyor with the soft top side down, and the wheels up.
By DearWebby
http://webby.com/humor
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Mushroom Slicers for Eggs
I use a mushroom slicer to cut my boiled eggs with, when making potato salad, tuna salad, or just lettuce salads. Put the egg on the slicer base and bring the slicer wires down over and thru the egg, in one slick move, then cup your hand over the sliced egg, holding it together, turn it the other way, and repeat with slicer. That's all you have to do, and then rake it in your salad bowl!! So much easier than anything else I've tried!
By Terri H.
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Hershey's Zero Candy Bars Don't Melt
For those who don't know this, Hershey's Zero candy bars don't melt when left in a hot car, like their other candies do. Zero's are known to be the construction workers candy bar. Ones they can have after work, as they're as good then as anytime!
By Terri H.
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Shop for Craft Supplies at Thrift Stores
For those into crafting, with the upcoming holidays and all, check out your local thrift stores for cheap craft supplies. I have a pal who runs one, she said she runs out of fabrics frequently, but donations come in every day, so remember to check back often. You never know what you'll find there that you can use. If it is convenient, check the thrift store first for what you're needing before shopping elsewhere for it. You might find it a lot cheaper.
By Terri H.
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Cleaning Eyeglasses - Homemade Cleaner
My optician has told me the best formula no matter what type of eyeglasses or coatings you have on your lenses is as follows: Fill a spray bottle (any size will do) with 3/4 rubbing alcohol and 1/4 water. Put in a few drops of dish soap. Spray both sides of each lens and rub clean with a soft cloth. Never use paper towels, toilet paper or Kleenex as they contain harsh abrasives that will scratch your lenses.
By Kathy
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Send People Happy Thoughts
I collect the happy thoughts I read in magazines or hear on TV into a notebook. Once a month, I write them down on colorful paper and mail them to my nieces and nephews. It keeps us close even from miles away!
By Kathy
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Oregano Oil For Unruly Hair
Wrestling with unruly hair is a top cause of tears and tantrums on school mornings. And itis at its worst in the fall because most girlshair is extra dry from the sun, salt and chlorine of summer. The result: twice as many tangles as usual. Add several drops of oregano oil to your daughters regular shampoo. It softens hair, which gently loosens tangles and cuts combing time dramatically.
By Kathy
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A Popsicle Makes the Medicine Go Down
Before you give your child a nasty tasting pill or medicine, try giving him a flavored frozen Popsicle to suck on. It'll help to anesthetize their sense of taste long enough to make the swallowing a little easier.
By Kathy
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Zachary's Crème Drops Fudge
Ingredients:
- 1 package Zachary's Crème Drops*
- 1 cup Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter
- 2 tablespoons butter
Drections:
Prepare an 8" x 8" square baking dish by lining with wax paper or parchment paper. Mix all 3 ingredients in a bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir until well mixed. Spread in the paper lined square baking dish. Set in the refrigerator about 15 to 20 minutes to set. Cut into small squares and enjoy.
* Don't know what Zachary's Crème Drops are? You will find these in the candy isle of grocery stores, Wal-Mart or drug stores. They are in a "whiteish" looking bag about 6 inches high and about 4 inches wide. On the bag it shows a picture of the candy. They are rather cone shaped and are white crème on the inside and dipped in chocolate on the outside. They cost about $1.00 a bag. To eat them, they aren't very good, but the fudge that they produce is delicious.
By Kathy
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Raking the Leaves Onto a Tarp
It's the time of year for raking leaves! Make it easier on your back by using an old sheet, large tablecloth or discarded shower curtain as a tarp. Rake the leaves onto your "tarp" and then simply pick up one corner and drag it to the roadside, then tip to pile the leaves for pick-up! Even if you have to bag the leaves, you will at least have them all in one spot.
By Becki in Indiana
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Kitten Flea Bath
If I am fostering a kitten and it is full of fleas, I always give it a warm bath with Dawn dishwashing soap well rubbed and bubbly into its fur. It has to stay under water for at least five or more minutes, (not the head, lol,) and the fleas will make their way to the head and then you pick them off and drop them into water set aside in a cup where they drown.
You have to talk to and reassure the kitten while bathing, and also be ready to pick the fleas off on the facial area. Also, Kittens love to have warm breath blown on them if they are docile. Also, kittens need to have their claws trimmed, just a little bit, before handling, just enough not to hook you in the face when you are cuddling them!
By Racer
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Coffee Cubes With Leftover Coffee
Instead of discarding that last bit of coffee at the bottom of the pot, pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze. The next time you're anxious to begin drinking your piping hot coffee, you can simply pop in a "coffee cube" to cool it a bit without diluting it. This works well for nearly any beverage.
By Leann D
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Check for Internet connection
When planning a trip, check for internet connections.
http://www.wiredfreespot.com/ and http://www.wififreespot.com/ list hotels and motels with free high speed Internet access. Those lists are not complete, but they are a start. Also check Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Most, but not all of them also have free high speed Internet access. When your time is limited, that high speed access can make a huge difference.
If you are on a budget, BestWestern has regular dial-up data ports in every one of their hotels anywhere in the world.
Always book your hotels on-line. Most give you a discount for on-line ordering.
Avoid hotels with internet access only in the lobby.
Have FUN!
DearWebby
http://webby.com/humor
View Article: Click Here
Save Energy - Turn Off The TV
Many times people turn on the TV and walk away to do other things without turning it back off. Most people will say that it provides needed "background noise." Try turning on the radio instead. It uses less energy, and is actually intended for background noise.
By Leann D
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Sourdough Coffee Cake Recipe
I saw the request for the sourdough starter and it reminded me that I have a nice Sourdough Coffee Cake Recipe. I have already sent a starter recipe to feedback ( Click here for recipes) but wanted to share this recipe with you too.
Sourdough Coffee Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F
- 1 cup sourdough
- 1/3 cup salad oil
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 egg (slightly beaten)
Combine sourdough, oil and egg.
Stir together dry ingredients and add to sourdough mixture.
Put dough into greased 9 inch square pan
Sprinkle topping on (see topping recipe below).
Bake for 35 minutes.
Topping
- 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp butter or margarine
- 1 tbsp flour
Crumble together.
By Darlene
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Making Inexpensive Throw Pillows
To make inexpensive throw pillows for a couch or bed, buy cloth dinner napkins and sew 2 of them right sides together leaving an opening, flip inside out and stuff as you would a pillow, then slip stitch shut. I can find beautiful napkins to use at yard sales, thrift stores etc. This is also quick work because no cutting is needed :)
By Melanie
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Keeping Bags Closed Tightly
Put those old clothespins to use. Instead of bread ties to keep your bread closed use clothespins. Also works well for keeping frozen french fries closed in the freezer and a multitude of other things.
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Storing Toiletries in a Small Space
Don't have enough space to store all your toiletries in the bathroom? Hang a see-through shoe bag on the back of the door. Everything slips right in and you can see what you need. If there is a lot of people in your family each can have a row of their own.
By Tracey
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Onions Making You Cry?
The best thing I have found is to keep the onions in the refrigerator until you need one. The colder the onion is the less you'll cry. Peel them under cold water.
By Tracey
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5 Painting Tips
After opening a new can of paint, using a hammer and a larger nail, punch five or 6 holes in the retaining groove of the can. Of course, be careful not to slop paint around. When you dip the brush in the paint and then wipe it against the side of the can rim, the paint fills the groove as it always does, but with the holes it runs right back into the can.
Write the date, brand, and color used under the light switch for a handy reference in each room.
A skateboard makes a nifty scoot-along seat when painting baseboards.
Tape a paper plate to the bottom of the gallon paint can to avoid splatter and spills.
Wrap all your hardware in foil before painting. This means metal parts like door knobs, hinges, pulls etc.
By Tracey
View Article: Click Here
Other Active Topics
Be sure to check out our active topics page to follow the discussion.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
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New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on November 15th.
Enter the contest!
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
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New Requests:
Wedding Anniversary on a Tight Budget
We want an anniversary party with a tight budget. Our anniversary is March 8, 2005. We are still very much in love. Even more than ever. I would like at least one slow dance with Alan Jackson's song "Remember When". Is there any suggestions you could give us without this getting out of our financial range? I look forward to your reply.
Marie
Editor's Note: This was posted as feedback on a request for 25th anniversary ideas so I assume Marie is also looking for ideas for their 25th.
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Long Term Solution for Smell on Furniture
Can anyone help me? I keep buying fabreeze for my furniture but it only works short term.Is there anything I can make at home to work the same to stop buying expensive Fabreeze?
Carla
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Crafts Patterns Using PVC Pipe
Can someone help me find a website where I can find patterns (free!) for making various items from PVC pipe? I saw birdhouses made from 6" PVC at a craftshow and also a tall bird (like a crane or egret). I would love to make them but can't find a website for any free patterns.
Vicky
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Jewelry Cleaner for Costume Jewelry
Does anyone have any hints for cleaning costume jewelry? Anything special that needs to be used on sterling silver or gold?
Laverne from NE
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Solution for Cracked Dashboard
Does anyone out there know how to stop a crack in the dashboard of a car? We're a little tight on money right now and can't afford to have it professionally done. We aren't looking to repair it right now, only to stop it before it gets worse! thanks!
Alica from Missouri
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Small Christmas Gift Ideas
I need to make 20-60 small gifts for my families for Christmas. Any inexpensive ideas? It's all for ages 10 and up. Can anyone give me any ideas?
Kristen
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Washing Down Comforters
After you machine wash the down comforter. does the dryer get the wrinkles out?
- Michael
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
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More Reading:
Recycle Those Plastic Shopping Bags!
By Cyndi Roberts
I don't know about you, but I can't bear to throw away those plastic bags that we get every time we go to the store. They are so handy for lots of things!
View Article: Click Here
Use H-O-L-L-Y to Beat Christmas Cooking Stress
By Kristin Johnson
What does holly, that untidy traditional greenery you just have to festoon your house with every year, have to do with not tearing your hair out before it's even Thanksgiving? Plenty. You can use H-O-L-L-Y to help you get organized.
View Article: Click Here
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