Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 301, December 22, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
I know this can be one of the most stressful times of year. Simplifying your schedule and finding blocks of time to just relax can make for some of the best holiday memories. In that spirit, I am happy to announce our Holiday publishing schedule. :-) We will not publish on Christmas Eve, Christmas or the three days following Christmas. Tomorrow will be the last newsletter before our little break.
We have more cool Christmas ideas today as well as 11 new requests, please look them over if you get a chance.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photos:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
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Today's Photos
Megan's First Christmas
Here's Megan all decked out for her first Christmas!
By Stacey from Mascotte, Fl
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Punched Aluminum Ornament
If you like the look of punched tin ornaments, but think they're too much work, try punched aluminum. Cut the bottom out of a small aluminum pan (like a pot pie pan). Tape an image that you like to the aluminum circle and tape the circle to a piece of styrofoam. Poke holes following the image with an icepick or barbecue skewer. When you're done, poke a larger hole at the top for hanging and peel the paper off. You're left with a pretty punched aluminum ornament!
By Camilla from Atchison, KS
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Zeak (Beagle Terrier Mix)
Zeak is 2 years old and is a Beagle/terrier mix. We got him when he was 6 weeks old. Was driving into Hillsboro to do some shopping and passed a sign for free puppies. My son and I decided to check it out. I told my son that we would only take one if they had a male left. We already had 2 dogs at home. They happened to have one male left ... Zeak.
He likes to take walks in the snow, play with chew toys, get petted, petted, petted !
Zeak is a very devoted, loving pet. He is the center of attention for my husband and I. Our "little boy" (ha ha). Everyone who sees him does the "ohhh, awww" thing and tells us how cute. We are sending Christmas cards this year with this photo and the inside of the card has "doggy etiquette" for the holidays.
By hvnlyhills from Peebles, OH
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Coco-Nutty Clusters
These tasty coconut candies are a great holiday treat.
Ingredients:
- Mini muffin paper cups
- 2 2/3 cups sweetened flaked coconut
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate
- Mini muffin tin
For the Glaze:
- 1/3 cup white chocolate melted with 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening.
Directions:
Brown coconut and pecans in the oven at 350 degrees F on separate cookie sheets for approximately 9 minutes, a little longer for the coconut. Stir every few minutes to prevent burning. Let cool.
Combine pecans and coconut in a bowl.
Melt the cup of chocolate on a double boiler or in a microwave safe bowl following the directions on the package of the chocolate chips.
Mix the melted chocolate and pecan and coconut mixture together. Drop the mixture into the paper cups.
Let set in the fridge for 45 minutes.
Melt white chocolate with vegetable shortening. Once melted pour into a plastic baggy and cut a little piece off one of the corners.
Drizzle chocolate over the clusters. Chill in fridge for about 15 minutes.
I made these for a Christmas Gathering and they were a big hit!
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Doodle Bug (Chihuahua)
Doodle Bug is our 3 month old Chihuahua. She was born here on our Mini-Farm.
Doodle Bug enjoys ripping paper to shreds. Yikes! So we have diverted her energy to a Red Fuzzy Toy that we call FuzzBuddy.
By JuneBug from Trinity, NC
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Holiday Shelf Liner Table Runner
By Stella Rivet This table runner, make out of shelf liner, makes a decrotive addition to your holiday table.
View Project: Click Here
Bead and Sequin Ornaments (Grandma Tutu's)
By Stella Rivet My Grandma made the most beautiful bead and sequin ornaments and they have always been my favorites on our tree. This year I attempted to recreate these stunning ornaments. These are great decorations and also make a wonderful gift.
View Project: Click Here
Today's Tips
Organizing Plastic Bags
My Japanese friend held a garage sale just before moving back to Japan. I helped her tally the prices in American money. One customer bought many items, so I asked Megumi if she had any plastic bags to give out. She showed me a brown grocery sack full of them, but what a surprise! Instead of wadded bags stuffed higgledy-piggledy (like at my house), Megumi had taken each bag by the bottom and the handles and smoothed it to a thin, upright column. Then she had laid the brown paper sack on its side and placed each plastic bag inside, with the handles up. When I looked in the paper sack, I saw neat rows of handles. All I had to do was pull a set of handles and out slid a bag, ready for service!
By Stef from Dublin, Ohio
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Hanging and Displaying the Baseball Hat Collection
For my son's baseball hat collection I mounted a curtain rod at the top of his closet door. From it I hung the baseball hats, using metal shower curtain rings. (through the part in the back where you adjust the hat size) It is now a one of a kind "valance", and is a neat way to keep the hats and still be able to see them.
By Chris from Levittown, Pa
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Local Technical Schools
Remember to look into your local Technical High School. Ours has a bakery, open to the public once a week with inexpensive and delicious baked goods. You can even order birthday cakes from there.
The horticulture class sells starter plants in the spring, and the electronics class makes repairs, all at low cost.
By Chris from Levittown, Pa
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My Dog's Spine is Sticking Up
Mary first posted this request on Novermber 8, 2005:
I have a 7 year old Boston Terrier, for the past two months her spine has been sticking up and so are her hip bones. Today she looked a little bloated. She is somewhat active and eats her meals fine. Does anyone have any idea on what her problem could be? My vet said that it is normal but I don't think it is, he also said you have to remember that she's a senior now. Pleas help. Thanks
Mary from Michigan
She has offered this sad update to her request:
I wrote a while ago about my dog's spine sticking up, I want to thank everyone that responded. The result was she had a tumor and she passed away on Tuesday. Please, if anything doesn't look or seem right with you pet, request further tests to be done. If she would of had more tests done when I first took her to the vet I'm sure she would still be with us today. Don't hesitate to ask for furthur testing to be done.
Mary from MI
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Jack Frost Frosty the Snowman Joke
What did Jack Frost say to Frosty the Snowman?
Have an ice day!
By Chell from MO
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Borrowing Against Your Home Equity
Borrowing against your home equity looks good on paper. But don't do so, unless it's a dire emergency, such as a medical emergency. It shouldn't be done as you'll be putting yourself more in debt. For if you were to want or need to sell your house, you'd not be making any profit and your mortgage lender will end up with the money you make off the sale.
By Terri from NV
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Removing Wax with Dawn
When washing dishes with Dawn, I put the washables with wax on them in the dish water. VOILA! The wax just slid off. I tried placing a warm sponge with the dish water on the wax on the counter top and again, the wax just slid off. So I tried it with a washable tea towel. It worked again.
I was impressed a tip to use Dawn for cleaning tubs and showers. It really works.
This I came upon quite by accident. I was trying to put a small candle into a larger, almost melted candle. I gave just enough to splash warm wax everywhere.
By Faye from Garland, TX
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"Habit Changing" Calendar
Simple Savings have just released a FREE "Habit Changing" calendar. It is brilliant. I recommend it to everyone. There is an US and Australian version. Bloody fantastic. The URL is http://www.simplesavings.com.au/wealthyhabits/
By Caroline from Australia
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Be Kind to Your Animals
This winter, don't forget to be kind to your animals. They need fresh water and food and shelter just as much in the cold weather just as much as they do in the hot weather.
By Robin from Washington, IA
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Making Photo Magnets
Ever end up with too many business magnets (such as pizza) for the fridge? These are often paper-glued on top of a really nice magnetic sheet, and the perfect size for your own "make your own" magnet! Simply peel back between the sheet and the magnet. Usually there's enough adhesive left that you don't even need glue. Something I did once was measure/cut a photo first, then peeled off the business card, and stuck the photo to the magnet. It looked really nice, and was a pleasurable display on our fridge.
By Jen from Rock Hill, SC
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Removing Gravy Stains from Damask Tablecloth
This Thanksgiving my guests got lots of gravy on my brand new white Damask tablecloth and napkins. Instead of using bleach (that is "hit and miss" in removing some stains), I used 3% hydrogen peroxide on the gravy stains.
Carefully pour some on each stain, rub, wait a minute and the stain literally disappears before your eyes! Then launder as usual. The cloth and napkins are now "good to go" for Christmas.
By Shelly E from Las Vegas
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New Contest
Submit Your Holiday Tips and Photos!
Tip Contest!
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Photo Contest!
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Contest ends December 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
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Dear Webby's Humor Letter
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New Requests
Wedding Expenses - Who Should Pay For What?
I was just wondering if anyone knows where I can find a link of who pays for what expenses in a wedding?
Chastity from Claysville, PA
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Gas Spilled on Laundry Basket!
I need help fast. I had to 2 full laundry baskets full of clean clothes and my sister's dog knocked a gas can over and gas spilled all over them. Now both baskets smell like gas. I can't afford a new wardrobe. Help quick!
Thanks,
M'LYKA from Shelby, NC
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Color Advice for Kitchen Counter Tops
I need some advice. I thought I was doing the right thing here but now I'm second guessing myself. I am in the middle of remodeling our home. We added a good sized kitchen which I painted the walls with the cabinets on them a dark apple red, we have hickory cabinets and wood floors. I would like to have hunter green countertops and go with an apple theme. Do you think the hunter counters would be too dark?
Wendy from Blanchardville, WI
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Low Cost Veterinary Care
I have a two part question I hope you can help with.
What does one do when they don't have the money for veterinary care? Are there any groups that can help with the cost? I have two cats, (Sugar and Spice, they're sisters) and Sugar is very overweight and has what appears to be a mild case of dandruff on her back. So I'm thinking a thyroid problem. She is in very good spirits and plays and eats just fine. Her sister is a little overweight, but not bad. I'd like to take Sugar to the vet about her weight especially, but if it's her thyroid, I don't even want to think about what that treatment would cost.
The other part of my question is that Sugar can be a real witch. No one can make her do anything she doesn't want to do. She'll hiss and bite, even the hand that feeds her. She had a serious health scare a few years ago (from snacking on a 5 ft piece of elastic string, but that's another story), and she's been very mean ever since. A trip to the vet would be VERY traumatic for her and no one would be able to touch her. How do they handle animals like that?
Surely they have a way.
Sorry this is so long! I could use any advice.
Donna from Maryland
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Training a Rottweiler
I have a female rotty and I was wondering if you had any ideas on what to teach her. She already knows, sit, down, stay, heel, come, bite, and out. I need to know where to go from here. Please help.
Thanks,
Rodney from Acon, Maine
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Diabetic Cookie Recipes
Do you have any recipes for Diabetic Cookies, etc.?
Jane from Richmond, B.C.
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Scorched Sugar on a Pan
I need advice for removing scorched sugar from a pan.
Marilyn from Falmouth, MA
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Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll
Does anyone know how to get ink pen stain off baby dolls? My almost 2 year old daughter drew on my favorite doll, I had as a child. I am heart broken. Orange cleaner, nail polish remover, nothing is working. Any help will be greatly apprediated.
Elisabeth needs help from Sanford, N.C.
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Kitchen Counters and Cabinets that Go With Oak Floors
I am thinking about replacing my kitchen cabinets and counter tops, but I am not sure what color I should choose for the cabinet and counter top in order to match my floor (oak wood floor with natural color).
Thanks,
Wendy from Phoenix, AZ
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Lamp with a Fillable Base
I'm trying to find a lamp base that is fillable. I can't find one for under $100.
Tiffany from Gig Harbor
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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Does anyone have a really good homemade chicken noodle soup recipe? I have tried so many times to make it, but it never tastes that good even though there is plenty of chicken in it, and spices. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
P.J. from Delaware
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"Pimple" On My Tongue
Do you ever get a "pimple" on your tongue that is small but painful and usually last only a few days? Anyone know what causes them? I have had one now for over a month and it's painful 24/7. It's a little larger than they usually are, but it's not huge.
I know I should be swishing my mouth with salt water, but I hate it! Makes me gag. My dentist wants me to see an oral surgeon and have it removed. Hello! That sure sounds painful! Is there anything else anyone can suggest besides warm salt water? I sure would love to know what causes them.
Thanks,
Donna from Maryland
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Attaching Shells to Mirrors
I love shell mirrors. Can you tell me the best way to attach the shells, the best mounting material and what kind of finish to make it last?
Tiffany from Gig Harbor
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