Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 14, January 14, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We have two new photo submissions and 9 new requests. The tip contest ends tomorrow at midnight. The photo contest will end at the end of this month. Thanks for all the great submissions so far. We had wondered if submissions would taper off after the holiday and they really have been holding steady.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- Budget Page
- Daisy at 8 Weeks
Today's Tips:
- Uses for WD-40
- Freezing Bulk Garlic
- Pants Hangers For Wrapping Paper
- Sharpening Eye and Lip Pencils
- Getting Rid of Paint Fumes
- Cleaning Tub Grout
- Using Soap Slivers
- Homemade Baby Wipes
- Make Chicken Go A Long Way
- Uses for Candle Wax
- Reuse Shopping Bags With Twine Handles
- Master Claim Form for Medical Insurance
- Air Drying Laundry
- Keeping Track of What You Have
- To Get Gum Out Of The Dryer
- Baby Oil For Cradle Cap
- Getting Pine Sap Off Hands
- Our Budget Safety Net
- Saving Money on Hand Soap
- Wine And Cheese Chops
New Requests:
- Getting Top Off Pressure Cooker
- Why Is My Laundry Dingy?
- Can You Hand Wash Velvet?
- Cleaning Mineral Deposits From Vases
- Antique Desk Smells Like Urine
- Looking For Flour Tortilla Recipe
- What to give a patient in hospital and his wife?
- 50th Anniversary Party For The In-Laws
- Burn On Porcelain Countertop
More Reading:
- Simple and Low Cost Tips for a Valentines Celebration for Two
- College Debt - How To Avoid It, And How To Get Out Of It
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Today's Sponsor
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
Budget Page
I have seen so many different ways to make a budget but none of them ever worked for me. So I made my own.
I used Microsoft Word and made a table of 3 columns and 4 rows. Each column is one month. Each box in that column is payday and what bills are due that week.
All of our bills pretty much come at the same time every month so it was easy to make the budget for the whole year this way.I know how much most of the bills are so I can figure out each payday how much is going out. We get paid every two weeks so that is why I only have three boxes in my columns.
Hard to explain so I made a picture of one page.
By Tami
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Daisy at 8 Weeks
This is a picture of Daisy who turned 8 weeks old yesterday, we think. Daisy's mom was a yellow lab and I am not sure about her dad, either a rottie or dobbie. I rescued this little cutie from a local rescue place, she was a Christmas gift to my husband. Jan 2, 2002 my husbands dog had died tragically at the age of 4 and I felt like he was ready for another baby. When I went to see the puppies, she had 8 brothers and sisters, she ran up to me and sat there looking at me, it was instant love. For fun she likes to play with our beagle, Shiloh. She is a proud puppy, wherever my husband is, she will go and sit facing forward between his feet, she is so proud. She is a great addition to our family. Our 2 year old likes to run from her, she usually catches him by the pants and tugs. She thinks that is a fun game!
By Dawn Sposato
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Uses for WD-40
Using WD-40, As A Hand Cleaner
When you are painting, or any type of mechanical work, or working with dirt, anything that will leave your hands with a substance that is hard to take off. This will work.
Note: Be careful not mix any harmful chemicals together.
By Eddie Salinas
View Article: Click Here
Freezing Bulk Garlic
I buy garlic in bulk since it is cheaper, but can't always finish using it before it goes bad. So now, I buy in bulk, and I clean the skin off and chop each clove in half. Then I freeze it in a zip lock bag. When I need to use the garlic, I just take a couple of cloves from the freezer. It saves time and I have garlic at my finger tips.
By SK
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Pants Hangers For Wrapping Paper
I have bought pants hangers from the thrift store and I use them to hang all my wrapping paper that I have received (with gifts). By hanging up the paper, it stays it better shape and it is easier to get to it when I need it. Hang your wrapping paper or bags in different categories like Christmas, Children, Weddings etc.
By SK
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Sharpening Eye and Lip Pencils
Before sharpening eye pencils or lip pencils, place in freezer to firm up a bit. Less breakage.
By Dee
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Getting Rid of Paint Fumes
A great way to rid the house of strong paint fumes is with plain white vinegar. Just pour into bowls and leave them out around the house!
By Chris
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Cleaning Tub Grout
I HATE grime and gunk on my tub grout. You can scrub and scrub and it will still stay stained in your tub. Extremely unsightly. I always keep the sliding glass shower doors closed.
My solution - Soft Scrub! This liquid, squeezed directly on the grout, left on for 5-10 minutes, wipe and rinse dry. It looks NEW! All other bleach-type cleaning solvents, name brand or generic, just don't work.
By Chris
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Using Soap Slivers
If you have small children, save all your soap slivers that are a bit too small to use but you just don't want to waste them. Put the into a washcloth and tie it closed. Small children can hold it easier than a big bar of soap. Wet it and use it to scrub in the bathtub. Not only is it easier for a child to hold, but they are scrubbing with a washcloth and using those tiny slivers of leftover soap up!
By JCR7676
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Homemade Baby Wipes
Instead of buying baby wipes at the store, I make mine homemade. All it costs is a roll of double quilted bounty paper towels and baby soap and baby oil which you already have for the baby. You cut the towel roll in half so you have 2 round halves. Pull the cardboard out of the center of one.
Buy a container with a lid that the towels will fit tightly into. Put 2 cups of water, 8 squirts of baby soap and 3 short squirts of baby oil. shake it up and put the towel roll into the container and close the lid. Turn upside down and let sit for about 10 minutes so the liquid can soak through.
Put the other half of the paper towels away for next time. Cheap and efficient! I discovered it when my son had an allergic reaction to store wipes and found it to be much cheaper and they last longer!
By JCR7676
View Article: Click Here
Make Chicken Go A Long Way
My husband and I don't have kids - so cooking for two leaves a lot of wasted food and tons of leftovers. He loves chicken, but only the breasts. I will eat dark meat. I usually don't buy chicken breasts too often becuase it is very expensive, so what I do is buy the whole chicken fryers, they are not that expensive. I cut off the breasts and cook those for him and boil the rest of the chicken. I use the remaining chicken for chicken salad, chicken noodles soup and casseroles, all from 1 chicken!
Erin
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Uses for Candle Wax
Tips for using leftover wax from candles. Post your ideas.
To make pump hand soap last longer I just put an elastic band (hair ones work best) around the top of the pump and it allows a much smaller amount of soap to come out. You can adjust the elastic to your desired amount.
It really eliminates excess.
By michelle race
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Reuse Shopping Bags With Twine Handles
If you ever come into possession of the shopping bags with twine handles, used by some of the more "upscale" stores, turn them into gift bags! For example, cut the front off of a Christmas card picturing Santa, a winter scene, etc. Glue the card front to the bag over the store name. Now use it as a Christmas gift bag! Gluing a generic picture, such as a flower, sunset, etc over the store name would make the gift bag suitable for birthdays and other occasions.
By Becki in Indiana
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Master Claim Form for Medical Insurance
If your medical insurance requires you to pay for doctors visits, etc. and then file a claim for reimbursement, make yourself a master claim form. Type in all the usual required info, such as your name, date of birth, policy number, etc. Then have blanks labeled "doctor's name", "date of office visit", etc. Store this in your word processor, or print it out and make copies. Then when you have an expense to file with the insurance company, you already have a head start on completing the form! The sooner you get your claim filed, the sooner that money will come back to you.
By Becki in Indiana
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Air Drying Laundry
I save on utility bills by air-drying virtually ALL of my laundry. In good weather, I use my backyard clothesline (my environmentally friendly solar-powered dryer!). In bad weather, I hang items on a sturdy wooden folding clothes rack I bought at an auction. Most of the folding clothes racks available in stores now are not as sturdy, but they will still work just fine for lightweight items.
My drying rack is in a spare room, but if space is tight in your house, you might want to set up the drying rack in your bathtub or shower, and let clothes dry all day until the tub is needed.
Once the clothes have air-dried, I toss them in the dryer for about 5 minutes to "fluff" and soften, using a dryer sheet -- I use the same dryer sheet for multiple loads. Even if the clothes are still a little wet when you have to take them off the rack, you have reduced the amount of time they will need in the dryer. Every little bit helps!
By Becki in Indiana
View Article: Click Here
Keeping Track of What You Have
Sometimes I get carried away by specials or forget I already have a lot of something and buy more. After my last pantry cleaning, I posted two lists on the refrigerator. One titled "do not buy" which lists the items I am oversupplied with. The other is titled "use up" and lists the items that need to be used first, such as frozen vegetables or fruits. I preserve a lot of foods so this helps me keep current and gives me ideas for meals when I need inspiration.
By Lynn
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To Get Gum Out Of The Dryer
Just use Spot Shot Emergency Stain Wipes. It only took about 5 minutes to wipe down the inside of the dryer and didn't leave any offensive odor afterward!
By Angela Brunning
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Baby Oil For Cradle Cap
My son had cradle cap until the day before his first birthday. The doctor kept telling me it would go away on its own. Well, I had had it by the time he was almost one so I found this home remedy. Rub baby oil or olive oil into the baby's scalp an hour before washing (I only did it a few minutes before). Use a soft toothbrush to gently rub in circles over the scales. They came right up and haven't reoccurred!
By Deanna
Editor's Note: These sites have more information about Cradle Cap.
DrGreene.com - Cradle Cap
http://www.drgreene.com/21_1062.html
BabyCentre.co.uk - Cradle Cap
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/80.html
Medem - Treatment and Preventing Cradle Cap
http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ0IP6DEEC&sub_cat=25
View Article: Click Here
Getting Pine Sap Off Hands
While arranging some pine boughs in a vase as a centerpiece, I ended up with pine sap all over my hands. I tried soap, Dawn, scrubbed, and scrubbed... nothing... still sticky.
I went upstairs and got some toothpaste (not the gel kind) and put a quarter size dallop in my hand then added a bit of water. Washed my hands like you normally do and the pine sap was gone....no sticky!
Jenny in KY
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Our Budget Safety Net
My husband and I have a separate bank account. I try my hardest to pay all of our bills from my account and we try to never touch his except for extras. Sometimes we might have an extra bill and I have to use money from his account, but rarely. This has helped us save alot of money. I don't know why it works, but it does. If we split the bills, we could never save money!(?) Plus, if one of us loses our jobs, we can learn to survive on 1 paycheck. Works great.
Erin
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Wine And Cheese Chops
Ingredients:
- 4 pork chops
- 1 can Cheddar Cheese Soup
- Dry white wine
- fresh ground black pepper
Directions:
Preheat a large skillet over med-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops lightly with pepper. Sear the chops in hot skillet on each side just until browned. Place browned chops in a covered casserole dish. Combine soup and 1 can of wine, mixing well. Pour over pork chops, cover and bake for 30-45 minutes at 350°F until cooked through.
By Anna
View Article: Click Here
Other Active Topics
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Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
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 January 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:
Getting Top Off Pressure Cooker
Any one know how to get presser cooker top off? it's a large one that can be used for canning, It was closed after it was washed by mistake, We tried running hot & cold water over it. I sure would like you help. Thanks Sharry
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Why Is My Laundry Dingy?
Why do my clothes get dingy-yellow-brown-like after I wash them? Granted, I have washed them many times, but it looks like I have washed some of my clothes in dirt! Even whites. Even though I use tons of bleach. Please help!
Erin in TN
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Can You Hand Wash Velvet?
Can you hand wash velvet that is "dry clean only"? Has anyone ever tried? I don't have a lot to lose as this is a runner that was on sale.
Let me know if you have tried with success or failure to wash your velvet fabric.
Thank you!
Ginny
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Cleaning Mineral Deposits From Vases
Can anyone tell me how to clean water/mineral deposits from a vase? I have an antique bud vase - glass - that has deposits. I've tried vinegar thinking that if it works in irons and coffee machines it would work here, but it didn't.
All suggestions are welcome!
Judi in Orlando
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Antique Desk Smells Like Urine
I purchased an antique desk and didn't notice the terrible odor until I brought it home. It smells like urine. I washed with a lemon scented mr. clean and other products but nothing seems to work. Anyone have any suggestions, Thank you.
Sunny
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Looking For Flour Tortilla Recipe
Could some kind person give me a recipe for flour tortillas.
Here in New Zealand they are very expensive to buy and are prepacked and nasty tasting.
Your suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Ang
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What to give a patient in hospital and his wife?
What can you give a friend whose husband is in hospital. He is now paralized from waste down. His wife has stayed by his side for the past few weeks. What kind of gift can I give her to use/enjoy while staying in hospital with him and what can I give him that he may be able to use?
Erin
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50th Anniversary Party For The In-Laws
My in-laws are having a 50th anniversary and we are all scattered regionally. Other siblings are not able to help financially very much so i need ideas as i don't want them forgotten. This creates a lot of expense for us (read that as a lot falling on me). i'd really like to do something nice for them, have thought of a cruise, or something else. Any ideas would be appreciated.
MC
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Burn On Porcelain Countertop
I set my curling iron down on the bathroom countertop for a short period of time, and when I returned I found that it had burned the countertop. Does anyone know how I may be able to remove the burn stain?
Steph from Arizona
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Eversave.com...
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name savings, free samples and much more.
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More Reading:
Simple and Low Cost Tips for a Valentines Celebration for Two
By Angela Billings
Here are some tips to use for a Valentines Celebration for Two on a small budget or no budget!
View Article: Click Here
College Debt - How To Avoid It, And How To Get Out Of It
By Vanessa McHooley
Because most college students are using loans to finance their college education, the debt level of recent graduates is rising rapidly. On average, students graduate owing $12,000-$16,000 in student loans and another $2,000 in credit card debt. Is this the price you have to pay for higher education, or can you avoid college debt in the first place?
View Article: Click Here
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