Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 138, September 29, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
It's rare that we have jokes submitted at ThriftyFun so I wanted to call your attention to this one...
What did the duck say to the bartender after ordering his drink?
Answer: Put it on my Bill!
Maria UK
Bad joke? Perhaps, but I laughed and I have heard that one before. :-)
Thanks for reading,
Susan
PS: We do accept clean jokes as contest entries.
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- Make Pet Blankets With Fleece Scraps
- Cleaning Hard to Reach Places
- Drying Onions, Carrots and Celery for the Winter
- Lemon Air Freshener
- Save Electricity with Motion Detector Light Switches
- Keys That Float
- Removing Chewing Gum From Hair
- Tips for Flavoring a Low Salt Diet
- Cooking Uses for Beer
- Protecting Your Marble Slab
- Dissolving All The Sugar
- Preparing for Winter - Buy Essentials Before Winter Hits
- Fall Centerpiece Idea
- Nursing Home Donations
- Pine Cone Christmas Craft
- Gazing Ball Yard Decorations
- Snow Man Making Kit
- Feedback: Alternative Uses for Dryer Sheets
- Feedback: Frugal Deli Fried Chicken
- Feedback: Creative Uses for Upholstery Samples
- Feedback: Drying Clothes Inside
- Feedback: Saving Money on Paper Towels
- Feedback: Alternative Uses for Dryer Sheets
- Today's Recipe (Craft): How to Make an Apple Wreath
New Requests:
- Riding Mower Won't Start
- Removing Smoke Smell From Wood China Cabinet
- Removing Ink From Leather Purse
- The Best Time to Cut Cattails
- Recipes for Bariatric Patients
- Drying Apples in the Oven
- Decorating My Dream House
- Creative Uses for Upholstery Samples
More Reading:
- How Did I Get In This Mess?
- Collection Company After 23-Year-Old Debt
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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
HomeMade Living Blog
This fantastic blog featured our tips this week. It's maintained
by Brandie Valenzuela, the author of today's "How to Make an
Apple Wreath" craft recipe.
http://homemadeliving.blogspot.com/
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Today's Tips
Make Pet Blankets With Fleece Scraps
If you make the no sew fleece blankets, don't throw away the squares you cut out from the corners! I gather them up and sew them together to make pet blankets for the local shelter. They wash nicely and need not be perfect.
Mara
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Cleaning Hard to Reach Places
To clean behind faucets, can-openers, around sink trim or any small hard to get to areas I use a denture brush. This is very handy and inexpensive.
By Cindi G.
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Drying Onions, Carrots and Celery for the Winter
It is now the end of the season for local farmers markets so I am trying to stock up on my soup supplies. My Husband made me some racks to go into my oven and on these I dry my vegetables. I dry about 3 pounds of onions, two bunches of celery and two bags of carrots. I use these in soups, casseroles or that odd side dish that needs something else to make it complete.
When they are put in the pot they come back tasting as if I just bought them. I do this on a weekend and I try to pick one of those nippy fall days so I don't mind the build up of heat in the house.
By Debra in Colorado
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Lemon Air Freshener
Freshen your air for pennies and in a more natural way! Go to your local health food store and purchase Lemon oil. This should cost around $4.00 for a 1 ounce bottle. Since it's an oil, it's highly concentrated. In a spray bottle, mix 4 cups rubbing alcohol, 4 cups distilled water and six drops lemon oil. Whenever you want to freshen the air, spray the mixture. A 1 oz bottle of lemon oil will last about a year.
By Maria Reis
(Editors Note: This would make 1/2 gallon and most spray bottles are smaller. Make mix in another bottle and pour into your spray bottle if you don't have one that is that big.)
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Save Electricity with Motion Detector Light Switches
You can eliminate lights being left on accidentally by replacing many of the light switches with cheap motion detector light switches. They fit into the old box and are simply a switch with a small motion detector built in. You can use them as a manual switch or automatic. You can set how long the light stays on. A motion detector switch by the coffee maker turning on a low wattage under-the-cupboard light can eliminate having to turn on the big kitchen lights when you just want to refill your coffee.
If you upgrade your switches one per month, they often pay for themselves in that month, and are net savings after that.
By Dear Webby
http://www.webby.com/humor/
View Article: Click Here
Keys That Float
I seal RV keys, boat keys, etc. in a ziploc bag (leave some air in the bag). Then if they are dropped in the water (i.e. pool, lake, river and the like) they float!
By Mari
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Removing Chewing Gum From Hair
Remove chewing gum from your child's hair by rubbing a spoonful of peanut butter into the gum, leave on for a bit and then wipe the mess out with a paper towel. Shampoo. You might have to do the peanut butter thing twice if the gum is a really huge chunk. Beats cutting out a chunk of hair like my mom did to me!
By Linda
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Tips for Flavoring a Low Salt Diet
Here are some good tips if you have to start and/or are on a low salt diet:
1) When you use salt substitutes, add them to the food just before serving. Cooking often neutralizes their taste.
2) Dishes which contain little or no added salt can be made more palatable by any of the following:
- judicious use of fruit juices such as pineapple, apricot, lemon or lime, particularly with vegetables and meats;
- the addition of liberal amounts of paprika to chicken, fish and meats;
- the addition of honey;
- adding caraway seeds and a pinch of sugar to greens such as spinach;
- adding a bit of sugar to the water in which you cook fresh vegetables;
- the addition of nutmeg and other spices and herbs.
Sometimes by eliminating all the salt that we are used to we really get to appreciate the full flavor of foods. HAPPY EATING.
By Joesgirl
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Cooking Uses for Beer
2 Good Hints for Using Beer
1) When boiling shrimp, try using beer for the cooking liquid. Season as you wish, but don't overcook. The flavor is marvelous - a little reminiscent of lobster.
2) Use beer in place of water or stock to make an excellent beef stew. This is what the Belgians do-it's called a carbonade.
HAPPY EATING.
By joesgirl
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Protecting Your Marble Slab
If you use a marble slab for rolling pastry (which is recommended because the surface is always cool) never allow acidic food like vinegar, lemons or tomatoes to come in contact with the surface, acid corrodes marble.
HAPPY MARBLING
By joesgirl
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Dissolving All The Sugar
If you make instant iced tea, or any kind of powdered drink mix, heres a solution to always having undissolved sugar at the bottom of the pitcher. First measure in however many scoops of mix you need into your pitcher (we use a cleaned out gallon milk jug with a screw top. Using a funnel helps). Then put in a couple inches of HOT tap water and swish it around till all the sugar is dissolved. Then you can add a tray of ice if you have a big enough opening, and fill the rest with cold water. No more weak tasting drinks or sugar at the bottom of the pitcher!
By Kim in NJ
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Preparing for Winter - Buy Essentials Before Winter Hits
The best way is to prepare before winter (or bad weather). Stock up on things that disappear literally in hours from stores: batteries, water, flashlights. Buy a few things every few weeks and keep them in a certain place. We don't have "winter" here, but we do have hurricanes, tornadoes, etc., and the preparation is similar.
Also, a generator is a good investment for power outages.
By Dannie
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Fall Centerpiece Idea
For an easy woodsy centerpiece for your table all you need to do is raid your wood pile or go to the woods and find a cool branch. Using a hole saw, cut a hole the size of a tea candle in the side of your branch. Drop a tea candle into the hole and put some beautiful fall leaves or pine cones around it and you will have a lovely rustic centerpiece that just screams fall.
By Debra in Colorado
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Nursing Home Donations
I recently went to a yard sale and they had several jars of sample size body lotion, hand lotion & small bars of soap. I offered $1 for the whole lot and they accepted. I brought the items to a nursing home. It makes someone happy.
By Joesgirl
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Pine Cone Christmas Craft
Next time you take your kids out for a walk or you visit your local craft store, get yourself some pine cones. Take plain old white glue and coat just the tips of the pine cones. Take silver, gold or the new irridescent white glitter and sprinkle on the glue. These little trees look good bunched together on a table. You can also spray paint the pine cones and put in a big bowl with some Christmas balls and set out by your door.
By Debra in Colorado
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Gazing Ball Yard Decorations
Soon the stores will be putting out their Christmas decorations for sale. You need to find the huge balls they sell to decorate the outside of your house or trees. Take a length of copper tubing and wrap around the christmas ball leaving enough for a part of it to sink into the ground. Beautiful gazing balls for your yard at a fraction of the cost of one. Makes a great gift for a gardener also.
By Debra in Colorado
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Snow Man Making Kit
To Make one snow man kit you will need:
- 1 watch cap
- 1 knit scarf
- 4 lids from soda bottles for buttons
- 1 plastic carrot for nose (Walmart carries these in there silk flower section approximately $.88)
- 2 small plastic disks for eyes Poker chips work real well.
- 2 small branches for arms
- 1 canvas tote to carry it all in
Decorate canvas tote with snowmen and the words "Snowman kit" This makes a great gift for kids of all ages.
By Debra in Colorado
View Article: Click Here
Feedback: Alternative Uses for Dryer Sheets
I do a lot of crocheting and quilting to projects and give the finished items as gifts. I have found that tumbling the item in the dryer for a few minutes with a dryer sheet and then tucking the sheet into the folded item before wrapping makes it come out of the gift packaging smelling wonderful. The thank you cards that I receive almost always mention how good the item smells! :^)
By Mimi from GA
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Feedback: Frugal Deli Fried Chicken
I used to work for KFC and after closing we would sell leftover chicken for 25 cents a piece. Managers do this because they're not supposed to have over a certain amount of chicken left at closing. You can call them a few minutes before closing and ask if they're going to have leftovers to sell. Usually there are leftovers. I imagine this goes at any chicken or fish place. They'd rather sell it for a little than throw it in the trash.
By Elaine in Arkansas
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Feedback: Creative Uses for Upholstery Samples
They would make GREAT purses. All sizes, some patchwork ones. Placemats. Table runners. Cover boxes and tins with the fabric. School kits (make pouches for the different supplies). Knitting needle cases. Pot holders. Dresser scarves (doilies, mats). Belts. Covered barrettes. Pin cushions. Picture frames. Oh! Can I come over and sew and craft with you?!?
By Jayne
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Feedback: Drying Clothes Inside
I found a great way to dry my clothes inside during the winter months. I have a furnace closet and I had my husband put hooks on each opposing wall so I can string clothes lines from the ceiling down to about 2 feet from the floor. I staggered the hooks so I get better ventilation between the clothes and it makes a great "drying closet"! Just be sure you do not have a pilot light in the area you use. I have used this for several years and it is great. The closet has louvered doors so I get to close off the closet and air circulates as well. Hope this helps!
By cookiepom
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Feedback: Saving Money on Paper Towels
I have found that cutting up an old cotton tee shirt, sheet or a flannel sheet has worked great at making cheap napkins. I keep them folded in a little basket on the kitchen table so we just pull one out when we need it. Now if I have company at the table I break out the good napkins. When I have bought paper towels, on sale w/a coupon, I take my serrated knife and cut the roll in half and that give me twice the towels for one price. Of course, you have watch yourself and not just use more from the halved roll.
By cookiepom
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Feedback: Alternative Uses for Dryer Sheets
If you don't do much traveling, tuck a couple in your luggage before you store it away. No more musty smell when you pack for your next trip.
By Harlean from Arkansas
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Other Active Topics
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Today's Recipe: How to Make an Apple Wreath
By Brandie Valenzuela
Do you remember the last time you were in someone's home that had an apple pie baking in the oven? Ahhh, the aromas of a fresh baked pie -- it is simply irresistible! Well, now you can recreate this delicious scent in your own home, or in the homes of your loved ones, by making scented apple wreaths. Scented apple wreaths are not hard to make, and the results are heavenly! Hang one of these on your wall and you will surely impress all of your guests.
What you will need:
- Juice of approximately 10 lemons
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 8 - 10 large firm apples
- 8 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons allspice
- 1 teaspoon cloves
- 8" - 10" sturdy, heavy gauge wire
- 1 - 1 1/2 yards of a 1" ribbon
How to make your apple wreath:
1) Place lemon juice in a large bowl, and stir in salt.
2) Peel, core, and slice apples horizontally into 1/4" thick circles. Soak slices in lemon juice bowl for approximately 6-10 minutes, making sure each side of the slices has a chance to absorb some of the lemon juice.
3) Meanwhile, mix spices in a bowl and blend well.
4) Remove the slices from the bowl and place them on paper towels. Pat tops of apple slices with paper towels.
5) Dust apples slices with spice mixture. Turn slices over and repeat on opposite side.
6) Place apples slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 150-200 degrees F for 4 to 6 hours or until completely dried. Apple slices should be slightly pliable.
7) Carefully shape wire into desired shape. I recommend creating a circle or a heart.
8) Fold each apple slice in half, and then into quarters and thread the apples slices onto the wire. Continue to pack on the folded apples until the wire is completely filled. Note: Folding into quarters may not be possible if you use small apples or if your apples are not pliable enough. If so, folding in half or leaving each slice unfolded is perfectly acceptable.
9) When the wire is completely covered, use pliers to bend ends into hooks so that they can connect and close.
10) Using your ribbon, create a hanger for your wreath.
11) Hang on your wall, or package as a gift for someone special.
About the Author: Brandie Valenzuela is a wife and homeschooling
mom of three, who loves scrapbooking, cooking, and spending time
with her family.Ä In her spare time, she publishes "HomeMade
Living", a popular weblog for mothers, at
http://homemadeliving.blogspot.com
View Article: Click Here
Tip Contest
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Foodsaver Vac 300
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New Requests:
Riding Mower Won't Start
My riding mower's engine just spins. All of the belts are ok. I was using it when a loud pop happened. After that, when I tried to restart it, the motor just spun as if something in the engine broke. Any suggestions?
fairfax409
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Removing Smoke Smell From Wood China Cabinet
Hi, Just bought a used china cabinet from a co-worker who was moving. The cabinet is really nice but they were heavy smokers and everything smells like smoke. I have tried a few home remedies putting scented candles in there, putting a dish of vinegar in there, incense, newspaper, carcoal, etc... but some of it just seems to make it worse. Help? is there anything out there that will help me get rid of the smoke smell? If there is I would really appreciate knowing?
Thanks
Kelley in Texas
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Removing Ink From Leather Purse
Want to remove ink stains from a Coach leather purse. I got it at the local Goodwill where they wrote the price in ink on the inside of the purse.
joanne
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The Best Time to Cut Cattails
Getting married next Aug. I'm in charge of getting two things lined up for the big day; getting all the pheasant feathers I can get this fall and getting cattails for the arrangements.
My questions is when is the best time to cut these? Now or should I wait until next July or early August?
Thanks,
Don
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Recipes for Bariatric Patients
Could you provide a variety of recipes which can be used by those of us that have undergone a gastric bypass? Our intake must consist of soft/easily digestible foods/atleast 68-70grams of protein a day and containing no sugars.
De'Lanese
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Drying Apples in the Oven
I came into a bunch of Granny Smith Apples and I want to dry them in my oven. I am not sure how to do this and what temp to set the oven on and for how long. Any advice would be nice.
Thank You,
Cindie
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Decorating My Dream House
We are soon moving to our "dream house". I need some decorating ideas (cheap). The house is more formal traditional. I lean more
toward antique.
B from Texas
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Creative Uses for Upholstery Samples
Hello,
I have just picked up some free treasures at a yard sale: upholstery samples. They are various sizes; most are about the size of your average sofa pillow. The lady says she has as many as I can use at her decorating store.
My daughter and I plan to use them as a fundraiser for the local food bank. We are looking for unusual ideas of things to make out of them (Things that don't require many more supplies).
Obviousy they would make nice pillow tops or placemates.
Any seamstress/crafty people out there have some other ideas?
Thanks,
Cindy in PA
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More Reading
How Did I Get In This Mess?
By Terry Rigg
When I was younger and having all kinds of money problems, I ask myself this question a thousand times. It seemed like one day we were doing fine financially and the next we owed everybody. How can it happen so quick?
View Article: Click Here
Collection Company After 23-Year-Old Debt
By Scott Bilker
I received a letter telling me that I owed a debt of $535.73, but, "if I paid $214.00 immediately," they would cancel the debt. I cannot recall owing this debt. It was made, according to the company (I called this AM) in 1980, under my husband's name. We retired in 1978 and live on Social Security.
View Article: Click Here
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Thanks
Susan
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