Thrifty Tip Contest (September 12 - 18, 2009) | ThriftyFun

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(September 12 - 18, 2009)

This contest is over. See the winners and other entries below.

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Duration	Entries
September 12 - 18, 2009	63

Tip: Canning Jars for Blending

September 17, 2009

If your blender cap, gasket, and blades will fit onto a standard canning jar, you have your very own Magic Bullet, coffee grinder, and baby food grinder in one.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 11

Tip: Warning: Don't Use Bleach To Clean Up Mold

September 16, 2009

I have posted this many times when I see the request for mold or mildew clean up but I continue to see the question asked so I felt this would be a better way to get the message across.

Comment Was this helpful? 26

"Mock" Soap on a RopeAfter having both neck and back surgery I was not able to pick things up from the floor if I dropped them. I was concerned about dropping the bar of soap and having no way to retrieve it without an assistant. I came up with the idea of a "mock" soap on a rope.

3 Comments Comment

Ask For Christmas Gift Ideas In OctoberDuring the first week of October, I send a "gift ideas" list to every person for whom I'll be buying a gift all year long (not just at Christmas). They have a month to get the completed list back to me.

5 Comments Comment

Buy Refills Of Baby Wipes To SaveWhen buying baby wipes buy in bulk. That's what we do. We then use an older baby wipes container to store the individual package we are using. We also keep a container of wipes in the vehicle for easy clean up on the road and in our diaper bag.

Crochet Hook Can Clean Disposable Fabric SweeperI just bought one of those new Pledge Fabric Sweepers for about $5. It worked well, but I was a little disappointed to find out that it is meant to be disposed of, after it gets filled with pet hair.

1 Comment Comment

Decorate Your Cake With 3-D WritingWhen you are making a birthday cake and need to do some writing, like a name, etc., try writing it with the original frosting first, if it looks OK then go over it with a different color. It will give the words a 3-D effect as well as make the job easier on you.

Dryer Lint for Starting FiresSave the lint from your dryer screen; it can be used as kindling to start fires in your fireplace.

3 Comments Comment

Packing Kids For Multi Day TripsWhen my son (early teens) went away on a church mission trip, I was worried that he would wear mismatched clothes or wear the same pair of socks for several days. You know how young boys are.

15 Comments Comment

Planning a Halloween WeddingWe have a wedding date set for the evening (dusk in our backyard) of 10/31/09, with a Haunted Costume Ball to follow and I'm so excited! We absolutely LOVE Halloween!

3 Comments Comment

Remove Both Ends of Cans to Get Every BitThis is a tip about getting all the tomato paste out of the can. Cut off both ends. Holding on to the can and push out the amount that you need. No more scraping!

1 Comment Comment

Search For Copycat Recipes For Your Favorite FoodsI moved to the UK from NY over 12 years ago and even now there are certain products that I can't get here, although it has improved a lot since 1997, or I can get them but they are ridiculously expensive because they are imported.

1 Comment Comment

Use Antiperspirant For More Than Under ArmsIf A person is heavy, like myself, they need to understand that deodorant is needed in more areas then underarms. Any place skin touches, it is important to keep cleansed and followed with antiperspirant to keep this area dry and odor free!

3 Comments Comment

Use Mesh Bag to Separate Stained Clothes in LaundryAny time you have a stained item, pretreat it and then place it in a mesh washing bag before putting it in the washer. When you unload the washer's contents into the dryer, the bag acts as a reminder for you to check its contents for stains.

1 Comment Comment

Expand Your Vocabulary With Dictionary SitesIn newsletter I just read, a reader told about her word of the day project for her kids. But, why stop with the kids, I have for several years gotten newsletters from two sites that provide a word-of-the-day, with pronunciation, definition and example of its use.

6 Comments Comment

Keep a Family Piggy BankKeep a piggy bank, and add change to it whenever you have extra. Make it a game with the kids to add "found" change. Save the money for a special outing, maybe a supper at a fancy restaurant or a camping trip.

Oil Cleansing Method For Facial CleanserInstead of spending money on high priced facial cleansers, I now use the Oil Cleansing Method. Take a clean bottle and fill it with 1/3 Castor oil and the remainder olive oil. Shake well to combine.

7 Comments Comment

Organize Band Aids by SizeI would find that when I needed a band aid, it would take me going through several boxes to find the size I need. If I could not find it, I would end up buying another box of band aids and the collection would grow.

3 Comments Comment

Panty Hose on Vacuum Wand When DustingTo dust knick knacks, jewelry stands, books, and other precious items, I stretch a leg of an old pair of pantyhose over the end of the vacuum cleaner wand, then clean away.

2 Comments Comment

Photograph Your Belongings for Insurance PurposesWhen contemplating your homeowners or renters insurance, consider this idea to speed things along. Use your digital camera and take pictures of all four walls in each room, close ups of opened drawers and closets, bathroom cabinets, garage contents opened tool boxes, etc.

Pre-Cook Onions in the MicrowaveI figured this out one day when I was heating up a can of my husband's favorite brand name baked beans. If I just add a diced onion to the beans, the beans are heated through before the onion is cooked.

1 Comment Comment

Protecting Window Sills from Pet ScratchesGo to a hardware store and purchase plastic stair protectors. Turn the protectors upside down with the little plastic tips are sticking up, and place on window sill.

5 Comments Comment

Scenery: Sunset on Lake Missaukee (Michigan)Sunset on Lake Missaukee (9/10/09)

1 Comment Comment

Shake Your Clothes Out Before DryingSimple tip to save energy and money when washing / drying clothes. After you wash your clothes shake your clothes out prior to putting them in the dryer. This will save energy and $ getting your clothes more dry.

4 Comments Comment

Spice Up Your Coffee With Cinnamon StickGive yourself a no-calorie treat by adding a drop of quality real vanilla to your coffee. A sprinkle of cinnamon powder or pumpkin pie spice can also be added for those wanting a spicier fare.

1 Comment Comment

Stretching Chicken SaladI happened on this when I had some chicken salad left, but not enough to serve 3 people since my son's return home to finish his degree at a local university.

2 Comments Comment

Use Plastic Bin for Kids Gift WrapMy daughter in law has been going through the granddaughter's toys and arranging them by type, like Barbie's, etc. She purchased some plastic bins of different sizes for this task.

Curfew Time Set to Grade LevelA good way to set a time for curfew is to let the time home be whatever grade they are in. When in 9th grade - 9:00, 10th grade - 10:00 and so on. At our house, the time changed on the first day of each school year.

4 Comments Comment

Freezing Whole TomatoesAll we do with them is rinse them off and blot dry, Put in Ziploc bags and freeze. To use them, I drop into hot liquid, and use my Chinese spider strainer to pull out of broth, slip off skins and core or not.

Mark Christmas Presents With Numbers Instead Of NamesIf you have little impatient gift-peepers at your house who can't stay away from their gift under the tree, here's what I do.

7 Comments Comment

Mark Computer Cords for Easy Set UpI am by no means electronically gifted. And any time I have to unplug my computer, then plug it all back in again, I used to invariably have to holler for help!

1 Comment Comment

Reusing Cleaner Spray BottlesDon't throw away your empty cleaning spray bottles. I usually save a couple or two for other purposes. Just clean them out really good and use again.

3 Comments Comment

Save Money With 3 Wick CandlesI love to burn candles every evening but they have been getting so expensive I needed to find a way to make them burn longer. I bought one of those 3 wick candles, that they have at the Dollar Store. I would only light one of the wicks instead of all 3.

1 Comment Comment

Scrape Inside of Egg ShellAfter cracking an egg, always run your finger in the shell. You'll be surprised how much egg is left in the shell.

Set a Cleaning TimerBeing 7 months pregnant, working full-time, with a 5-year-old, a 7-year-old, and a husband overseas, energy is at a premium. I just don't have the energy to do long bursts of cleaning.

4 Comments Comment

Soak Sponges In Fabric SoftenerThis isn't homemade, but it stretches your softener. Get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and add to it: 1 large bottle of fabric softener, 2 bottles (use fabric softener bottle) water, 4 all purpose sponges cut in 1/2.

Top Baked Goods With Nuts Instead Of MixingWhenever a quick bread or muffin recipe calls for nuts (and often even when it doesn't), I put them on top of the batter in the pan instead of mixing them in.

1 Comment Comment

Use Twist Tie to Clean Hummingbird FeederI found a simple and thrifty way to clean the feeding holes in the hummingbird feeder. When the holes get clogged up, run a twist tie through them a couple of times and then run hot water through them. It works every time.

1 Comment Comment

Add Laundry Detergent Before ClothesWhen doing laundry, I fill washer with water, adding 1 cup baking soda and your choice of laundry detergent while it is filling. I run the washer for 30 seconds to distribute the detergent and soda.

1 Comment Comment

Cover Garden At Night To Protect Against Early FrostWhen it's time for frost to hit and we still have veggies that are still producing, we drape sheets or blankets over the veggies before dark. Then when we get up in the morning before the sun is fully out, we take the sheets or blankets off.

1 Comment Comment

Hanging TowelsThis is an old idea and the crocheted topped towels are all the rage; a comeback from awhile ago. I am making a batch of kitchen towels for Christmas gifts; here is how easy it is to create these.

2 Comments Comment

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Link: PocketMod Personal PlannerThis is wonderful, and so useful. Print this on the back of ads in newspapers that are inserts, and they don't have any printing on the backs, I get plenty of these each week, because the little booklets are only printed on one side.

3 Comments Comment

Making Banana PancakesDon't know what do to with those leftover bananas? I mash up left over bananas that are starting to brown into pancake mix and add cinnamon and chocolate syrup.

1 Comment Comment

Mark Coupon Holder With Phone NumberIf you use a coupon holder when you shop, it is a good idea to put your phone number in it and a note saying: "If found, please call...". Last week I decided to do this because I have been so forgetful lately. To me, coupons are valuable since they help me save money.

Save And Dry Flowers For Child's WeddingA great way to save the flowers from your beloved is to use a large clear designer jar of your choosing. Start off with every time you receive flowers. After the beauty has faded, dry them and add into the jar.

Share Your Children's InterestsAs my children were growing up, I often read the books and watched the programs they enjoyed. Then I could discuss what they'd watched or read from a more knowledgeable position. This was a great way to keep our mother-child bond strong.

2 Comments Comment

Use A Box Lid To Organize CupboardCut down a box lid to custom fit the shelf in your cupboard to place pans or dishes on, grab and slide out for easy reach and storage!

1 Comment Comment

Use A Sanitary Napkin As A Wound DressingMy friend recently had breast surgery for cancer and when the drainage tube was taken out she had an infection. She was told to keep a clean bandage on at all times.

1 Comment Comment

Use Soup Bases Instead of BouillonBouillon cubes are basically flavored squares of salt, whereas the paste bases are not as high in salt, and impart a much better flavor. You only use one or two tablespoons and the bases come in beef, chicken, mushroom, lobster, etc.

3 Comments Comment

Use Ziplock Bags With Your Handi-VacThis is for all the folks that have purchased the Reynolds Handi-Vac and now have to find an alternative for their machine. Please DO NOT THROW IT AWAY. Ziploc Brand bags work with your Handi-Vac pump and they cost about a third the price.

8 Comments Comment

Watch Store Receipts For ContestsLately I've been looking at my store receipts. Almost every time, I notice a website to go to to complete a satisfaction survey. You seem to either get coupons or a chance to win gift cards from the store.

2 Comments Comment

Buy an Inexpensive Bed Pillow for FiberfillCheaper stuffing. I went to by some stuffing for some pillows I was making and was shocked at the price. Then I saw some regular bed pillows with polyester filling that were 1/2 the price of bagged stuffing.

Empty Can to Hold Utensils When CookingI usually use more than one utensil when I am cooking but never know where to place them during the cooking time as I am still using them. Well, since I usually use some type of canned goods with all my meals, I came up with the following idea.

12 Comments Comment

Help Organizations Start A Recycling ProgramCompared to others, I am new to recycling or green living. I learn more each day. Many people say they don't have time to recycle. Help them get started.

Homemade Stain Remover for ClothingI recently had gotten cherry stains on a off-white cotton top. I tried many things and the stains did not come out. I finally found this recipe and soaked the shirt for 30 minutes and all the stains were removed.

1 Comment Comment

Low Calorie Ranch DressingHubby and I just got diagnosed with high cholesterol, and the doc said, cut out Ranch dressing! Well, that's our favorite, so I've come up with a way to drastically reduce the fat content, with no compromise in flavor.

3 Comments Comment

Make Flash Cards To Learn New SubjectsMake a set of flash cards using index cards and the glossary in your text book. Review them during commercials, in the car, on the bus, while waiting for text messages, etc.

3 Comments Comment

Organizing Extension Cords and Other WiresI bought a 50 cent tin to match the decor of the room and cut a square hole in the back. We pushed all the phone cord and extra computer line through, hooked it all up, put the lid on the tin and now all the mess is "contained".

2 Comments Comment

Pack Clutter Into Trash Bags and Organize LaterDo you feel overwhelmed that your home is a big mess? Just looking at it, you do not know where to begin? Try this:

14 Comments Comment

Reuse Air Conditioning Water in the GardenI noticed water coming from a pipe from in the attic of the house and traced it back to the unit for an air conditioner, that is in the attic of a lot of Florida homes.

Saving Money on FlowersOne of the best tips I can give a young homemaker is to always save money for flowers. If you don't have a garden and live in an apartment, they can get pretty dreary.

3 Comments Comment

Vinegar As An All Purpose CleanerOnce a month, I run vinegar through the coffee maker to clean out the residue that builds up. Make sure you run a pot of clean water through before you make your next pot of coffee.

4 Comments Comment

Wax Paper Place MatsCut 2 sheets of wax paper, about 8x10 inches. Place card or a picture on one sheet. Next, place second sheet of wax paper on top.

1 Comment Comment

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