Daily Thrifty Tips - August 28, 2006

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Cassie is my 3 year old tan tabby. I got her at the humane society 3 yrs ago.

She likes lots of playing, following and cuddling. I would never part with her, she talks, comes when she is called, she is an excellent cat

By HBS135 from Stonewall, MB Canada

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Elly is my 17 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We got her from a breeder when she was 8 weeks old.

She likes to tug with the rope and eat tissues. Elly loves to have her belly scratched by everyone she meets.

By Wendy from Victoria Australia

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My son started middle school this year and he has his own locker. Of course, he wants to "decorate" his locker. I explained to him that stickers and other semi-permanent things would not be good. He was bummed until I sat him down with his paintball magazines and remote control car magazines and told him to pick a few things out. He didn't understand what I was doing but I then took the 5 x 7 inch magnet that had last year's school calendar on it and a jar of rubber cement. I showed him how he could have cooler things than stickers in his locker by cutting out pictures, logos or whatever out of his magazine, using rubber cement to attach to the magnet and when this was dry, he cut out the pictures in different shapes so they didn't look the same.

He was so excited that he called his grandparents to ask if he could have their old magnet calendar that is provided free from the schools. They also gave him some magnets from the local grocery store that they received for free. All he could say was he was so excited to go to school tomorrow to put his great magnets in his locker. The great thing is that these can be used each year and if the interest changes, you can cover the magnet with a different picture. Have fun and what a great way to let your child personalize his/her locker without causing any damage.

By Leslie from Cedar Rapids, IA

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My next door neighbor just called to ask if I wanted two toyboxes for my little boys. She brought them over and they are almost new. I am going to use one outside for balls and such, and one inside for my three year old's sea of toys. This summer, we have given them: mint plants and cuttings, banana bread, strawberries and cherries, space in our yard waste container when it was empty anyway, and some old toys and baby furniture for her daycare. They have given us: a 50 gallon aquarium with three large Oscars, a garden shed, hand-me-down clothes from her older boys, rice bowls and, now, the toyboxes. I also had her boys water our garden and feed our pets when we were on vacation.

I always check with her as well as my family and friends before I give something to the Goodwill and I'm sure that I have received much more than what the tax writeoff would have been. Plus, it is nice to wave across our yard and know that I live in a community instead of one lonely house out of many. I plan to leave Christmas baskets for three neighbors this year and want to give them Mayday flowers as well, to keep the community spirit alive.

Jess in Portland, OR

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Someone wrote me on another channel about using toilet paper tubes to fill with treats and give to the Tricker Treaters. These tubes were, of course, decorated in the Halloween style.

I am going to pull a trick on those treaters. I will use those same
toilet paper tubes, but wrap them up to celebrate all the other
holidays. Just drop them in their bags. I usually get less then 20
kids anyway so I believe I can do this. Imagine one tube decorated up for St. Patrick's Day, another with Easter Bunnies, lol. Oh and I think I might put a little something different in those tubes, maybe a toy, a few coins, a Halloween poem. Whatever I can come up with.

I better start saving those toilet paper tubes today.

Trick Or Treat
Mr. Thrifty from Shermansdale, PA

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My husband who paints cars at home uses our empty single serving water bottles for mixing paint. He cuts the tops off, which he can then use as a funnel, and the bottom of the plastic bottle is strong for the chemicals he needs to mix. No money wasted here, every little bit helps. Thank you.

By Michelle F from Pawnee, IL

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As we get ever closer to retirement, I have found it very helpful to create a 3-ring notebook with dividers (home made out of old discarded file folders) for all the retirement accounts, Social Security info sheets, 401K investment reports, etc., for both my husband and myself.

Each divider is carefully labeled and the reports we receive are filed with the most recent one on the top of the appropriate section. Also in this notebook (by section) are all the insurance papers and policies along with contact info for each company, a copy of our living wills, a copy of our personal will, funeral and burial instructions, our lawyer's name, address, telephone number, as well as a section with pertinent bank account numbers, safety deposit box numbers and bank name, etc.

This allows me to track where these important papers are, but even more so, every one of our grown children know that the red notebook on the bottom shelf of the library in my office is the place where they will find every scrap of information they need should they be put into a position to have to handle this information on our behalf. This notebook, in existence for five years now, gives me incredible peace of mind.

By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri

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Having read in alternative medicine info sites that women are taking WAY too much calcium supplements that are actually harmful, I discovered a wonderful way to utilize the remaining calcium tablets I have left. Since most fruit juices are acidic, and do not have added calcium from the processor, I have been dropping two tablets of calcium into the gallon of fresh
Juice as I place it into the refrigerator.

Next day I stir and shake, and OUILA! It keeps us from getting too acetic from that juice and makes any juice just like the juices that have added calcium and expense

Now we can drink most any fruit juice without difficulty, in moderation, whereas for years it set our digestive, intestinal and urinary mucous membranes on fire and we could only have 1/2 cup at a time, about every other day, of most juices while craving more. Now we can have about a glass a day without burning and without overdosing on calcium. Also, I know exactly how much and what kind of calcium is going into our bodies!

By Lynda from Richardson, TX

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We've tried several different ways to cut the desert heat out, especially during our Summer months. Our mobile home came with venetian blinds. First, we put awnings up over our windows facing the West. It helped, but not to the amount we wanted. Second, we put up solar screens on all of our windows. This, too, helped some, but not to our liking. Third, and our last try, we finally got what we needed. We put up room darkening blinds. This cut our power bill a lot. When we go to pull them up sometimes in the daytime, the heat from the desert sun hits you in the face. With these r. d. blinds pulled, we don't feel that heat seeping thru the windows like we did before.

By Terri from NV

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This may sound outdated, but I am so glad I learned to can! It costs a bit the first year to get set, but you could just get a boiling water bath the first year and use next year's savings to buy a pressure canner. It's a way of investing to save money, and that's the same as earning in my book. The Ball Blue Book is accepted as safe recipe guidelines by our county Extension Service.

It lets me enter my relish, fruit, salsa, etc. in the fair, and I make a modest check from that every year. I bought jars from people who were quitting their canning for a dollar or two per dozen. Lids are cheap, but for fair entries, Ball lids are required now.

We found an old ice vending building (remember when you bought a block for the ice box?) that had been gutted, and we buried it part way to keep it cool, and my husband made shelves for it. We got the shelving very cheaply from a small grocery store that was closing. I keep it full. We could live out of it for the next year or two without a qualm, if necessary. Some of the other things I put up are marinara sauce, our favorite pickles, all kinds of veggies, juice, fish, chicken and beef. It's the main reason our grocery bill is so low.

One year I found a box of bananas that had gotten frozen accidentally, and the grocery store manager gave it to me. I mashed them up with a bit of lemon juice and froze them. We now have banana bread whenever we want it. Pesto is next on my list. The basil is doing great this year!

When we have extra milk, it goes into a jar and is pressure canned. My husband and I agree that if we have a lot of something, we need to put it by for later. If we can't eat it, we give it to the chickens or calves.

This year I'm really looking forward to doing salsa verde with our crop of tomatillos! It's heavenly on chicken enchiladas! I have done 35 pints of sweet pickle sticks easy as pie and the cucumbers are still producing by the bushel (about a 10 foot row). But next year the cucumbers may fail, so we'll be all set. And no, it doesn't take your whole day! I hope some of you will give it a try. You will see your menus get better as your food budget shrinks!

By Coreen from Rupert, ID

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Operator's manuals are valuable. They tell how to safely use an appliance or tool, where to get it repaired, and often how to make adjustments or repairs yourself. They also enhance the value of an item if you eventually decide to sell it. But these manuals tend to disappear, in the shop or in the bottoms of drawers. Place them in a folder and tuck the folder in the home files. In the workshop, manuals can be hung on a nail near the tool they pertain to.

By joesgirl

When you buy a new product, create a file folder for the warranty information and manual. If you dispose of the box it came in, be sure to cut off the UPC code and put that in the file folder as well. If something goes wrong with the product you will know exactly where the warranty information is.

By Fisher

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When traveling, I avoid expensive trips to the corner store or hotel store by making sure I have packed everything I need. I have a list, on my computer, of all items I take whenever I travel. At packing time, I print out the list and cross off each item as it gets packed. The list has changed over the years and I never forget important and potentially costly necessities this way.

By Robbie from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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I have a pineapple plant that is fully matured and the pineapple is ripe. How do I actually "pick it"?

Hardiness Zone: 10a

SMOODY from SACRAMENTO, CA

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I noticed Potato Bread mentioned in a post. Could someone give me the recipe please?

Thanks,
Wendy M. from Hervey Bay, Oz.

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I have searched the Q&A for answers on lilacs. I have done all that is suggested, no cutting after July, right amount of nurients. All day light and still no blooms. It suckers like crazy, new sprouts all around the parent bush, but no blooms. What to do?

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Jenny from Nashville, TN

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<b>Product:</b> Small and Mighty

<P><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.allwashclub.com/">ALL</a>

<P><b>Request:</b> Has anyone used Small and Mighty and like it? What are your thoughts on it? Does it really clean? It seems like you don't use much.

<P>Laurie from Watertown

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Can a puppy wear a flea collar?

Christie from Japan

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I am having a company picnic, we have the prizes but want fun ways to give them away besides just pulling names out of a hat. Any suggestions?

Martha from Virginia

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I am in charge of my junior float at MVHS and the theme is Indiana Jones. We have a some good ideas, but I need help on how to make a paper mache ball roll on a track. Do I use a pulley system? Any suggestion?

Brandon from Murrieta, CA

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I want to start cleaning with vinegar and baking soda, but my problem is I don't know how to go about using them. I need all suggestions on how to mix and use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning.

Thanks
Rhonda from Michigsn

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Where can I find the cafe curtain rods with the extra long return for the bottom of the bistro curtain?

Karen from Frankfort, KS

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Manufacture: Bissell

Product: SpotBot

Request: Has anyone tried Bissel's SpotBot?

Kim from Mineral, VA

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I have a dog I am treating for parvo under the care of a veterinarian. The vet prescribed Rebound but the dog hates it. Has anyone ever used pedialyte for children? Is it safe for dogs? Pup is recovering slowly and more spunky each day making it difficult to get the rebound in him.

CB from NY

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I would like to make a pinata (or a few) for my son's second birthday. Has anyone done this? Thank you!

Mindy from Oregon

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How do I get my sons "white" football pants white again?

Leeza from Auburn, NY

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When and how do I harvest horseradish? How do I prepare the root? I have searched for this for two years, and can't seem to find any information. Any input would be appreciated.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Mary from Langhorne, PA

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My IE (internet explorer) becomes slightly corrupt every time I get an update from Microsoft. Do you have any suggestions? I like g-mail, but Firefox is having trouble with it, so abandoning IE is something I can't do.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Holly from Richardson, TX

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I have 4 rose bushes and I'm having trouble with brown leaves. Most of the leaves are green but, then I find on every bush some brown with white power looking stuff. The new growth the leaves are a yellow/green color. I live in AZ. Could it also be the heat? Also, every summer my front yard has 1 brown spot, what is this from?

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Gepe from Queen Creek, AZ

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Do you leave your crockpot on while you are at work all day? I'll be gone about 9 1/2 hours and something about leaving it on that long bothers me. I grew up with a not the firefighter dad and while I haven't heard a crockpot fire story, I've heard probably every other kitchen fire story.

On weekends, we'll leave it for a while but not the whole day. What do you do? Does it matter if the pot is 10-12 years old or should only the new ones with timers? Thanks for the advice.

seemenow from oregon

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What is makeup made of? I am trying to make up my own science project.

Amanda from Bartow Florida

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All of my herbs have gone to seed. I was wanting to bring some inside for the winter. Have I waited too long?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Becky from Charlotte, NC

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What is the best and easiest method for getting rid of crabgrass? This year is probably too late to do anything. What should I do for next year? My lawn was over run with crabgrass this year more than any other year.

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Vanet from Saugerties, NY

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