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Thrifty Tip Contest
(December 5 - 11, 2009)

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Duration	Entries
December 5 - 11, 2009	47

Tip: Make Your Own Thermal Drapes

December 10, 2009

Make your own "thermal draperies". I did this: I lined my regular pinch pleated drapes with see through plastic (the kind you put on your windows to keep out drafts) or you can substitute any other kind you may have just lying around.

Comment Was this helpful? 10

Tip: Reuse Chip Bags as Gift Bags

December 8, 2009

Wash the inside and let dry. When dry, turn inside out and you have a beautiful silver gift bag. Tie the top off with ribbon, put on a pretty bow, and you have a beautiful and frugal gift, wrapped and ready to give.

Comment Was this helpful? 17

Always Run Water When Using Garbage DisposalI read tips on clogged garbage disposals and tried the vinegar/baking soda trick. It didn't work because the pipe from the disposal was filled with chopped up Brussels sprouts! The lesson learned is always send enough water when chopping up vegetables as recommended.

2 Comments Comment

Fels-Naptha For Many UsesFels Naptha soap is a wonderful product for cleaning ones hands after staining furniture, woodwork, etc.

2 Comments Comment

Freezing And Using PumpkinPumpkin can be peeled cut in cubes and blanched in water, cooled and packed in ziplock bags to freeze.

Plastic Lids for Moving FurnitureKeep all of your plastic lids. They are very handy to place under furniture when moving it around. They are slick so furniture will glide easily even on carpet, and they will protect your wood or vinyl floors.

2 Comments Comment

Extensions wrapped around a curler.

Store Hair Extensions Around a CurlerDo you wear hair extensions? I have recently purchased some and was at a loss for how to store them when not in use.

1 Comment Comment

Tiny Christmas Lights on the DeckI have a deck on the back of my house and at night it's pitch dark out there. So I came up with a great idea. I took the tiny Christmas lights, and strung them under the railing all the way around.

7 Comments Comment

Warm Tortillas in the MicrowaveI found out if you microwave a tortilla shell with a paper dampened paper towel on it, the tortilla will be moist and not hard and brittle.

3 Comments Comment

Buy Solid Color Gift Wrap and Bags After ChristmasAfter Christmas, I buy all the red, green, gold and silver paper and bags I can find at a very cheap price, sometimes at 75 to 90% off. They can be used for occasions all throughout the year.

2 Comments Comment

Covering Food In The MicrowavePlace a wet paper towel over container when heating something in the microwave. Voila, no more splatters.

1 Comment Comment

Family Coupon Gifts for PreschoolersAbout 10 years ago, I wanted to help my then 4 year old granddaughter make something for her to give to everyone for Christmas.

Red Light Bulb for Night FeedingAnyone in your life just have a baby? Next time you visit, give her a red light bulb for nighttime feedings. The bulb gives just enough light for you to see and be able to read the markings on a bottle, or to change a diaper, but is not so harsh as to wake up your spouse.

5 Comments Comment

Removing Sharpie With Nail Polish RemoverThere was sharpie marker on my daughter's brass cat and we used nail polish remover to take it off. It worked beautifully.

1 Comment Comment

Review: Pet Supplies from Pet EdgeI found a great company to order pet supplies from. It's name is Pet Edge. It is located in Woburn, MA. It also has an outlet store there. Things can also be ordered online. Check out their prices, it's amazing!

Wax Paper EnvelopesIf you are a card maker, you can save money on envelopes. You will need an envelope template or just cut it out free-handed. Grab a roll of wax paper and make your own envelopes.

3 Comments Comment

Buy Savings Bonds for a Great Savings RateSavings Bonds are now paying over 3% for the next few months. The only catch, they change interest rates every May and Nov. and you must hold them 5 years or pay 3 months of interest.

1 Comment Comment

Christmas Lights for Night LightsI know most people love their home inside to be perfectly dark whether for better sleep or for being frugal by extending light bulb life and/or electric bill but if you're like me and night blind, then just use night lights that have an automatic light sensor.

7 Comments Comment

Downloading Netflix Using Your Playstation 3If you have a Playstation 3 and a Netflix account, you can watch movies on your TV. I asked for a free DVD to just this. You can download the instant watch movies to your Instant queue and watch them on your TV.

1 Comment Comment

Homemade Skin OilI have come to the conclusion that I will try whenever possible to only put things on my skin that I would actually eat. I learned the hard way that those things that touch your skin in your water or lotion, etc. will go right through your skin and affect your health.

4 Comments Comment

Link: Canning InformationFor those interested in canning foods and storing them safely. This is a site put out by the government that has a lot of information. I have been canning for years from meats to veggies and fruits, and soups and sauces.

Small Boots for a Christmas ArrangementHere is a craft for too small boots or ones no longer wanted. Place a rolled up magazine inside to keep it upright. Stuff some tissue paper, foam, or moss in the boot, artificial flowers or greenery inside, and you have a great floral arrangement.

1 Comment Comment

Start With Youngest Child For Christmas GiftsWhen it comes to opening gifts it can get a little hectic. When I married my husband, he introduced my family to his way of opening the gifts. His family started with the youngest opening one gift and worked their way up the line to the oldest then started over again.

10 Comments Comment

Thrifty Denim for ApronsI needed some denim to make a couple of sturdy aprons, but it can cost over $10 a yard for the good stuff! (Even with store coupons, it is expensive). So I went to the thrift store and bought two long denim dresses for only $5 each and I have plenty of fabric for 4 aprons.

3 Comments Comment

Use Boiling Water With Liquid Plumbr GelI found that Liquid Plumbr Gel works the best when rinsed with boiling water (bring water to a boil on stove). You may need to repeat, but it works awesome. Then as a maintenance use you baking soda and vinegar.

3 Comments Comment

Using a French PressFrench press or coffee pot? I just re-kindled my love for coffee recently and found myself in line at Starbucks glancing over and noticing they sold French presses. Verdict: French press all the way!

American Girl Doll Dress from Blouse CuffsI make very simple dresses for American Girl Dolls by reusing the elastic cuffs from blouses I don't wear any more. By hemming them at around 9 or so inches, all you have to do is add simple straps and you have a pull on summer dress.

Combine Pressed Powders Into One CompactWhen your face powder or blush compact is almost empty, or if the powder breaks into pieces, don't throw it away! I keep all the old compacts until I have a few, then I scrape out all the powder into one compact.

3 Comments Comment

Controlling Christmas Tree DebrisTired of those flying Christmas tree needles? Control them by wrapping your tree in a fitted sheet. Before we bring our tree inside we first spray our tree with a hose to wash the dust and bugs off. Let it dry sitting in a bucket of water.

2 Comments Comment

Easy Deviled EggsTo make easy deviled eggs, put the cooked egg yolk in a zip lock bag. Then mash until they are all broken up. Add the remainder of the ingredients, reseal, and keep mashing until it is thoroughly mixed. Cut the tip off of the baggy and squeeze the mixture into the eggs.

Freeze Extra Bread For LaterBuy several loaves of bread at a time and freeze them. It saves many quick trips to the store just to get a loaf of bread. To prevent the bottom of the loaf from being soggy or hard, DO NOT place it on the counter to thaw.

2 Comments Comment

Joke: Beer AdvertisementMy husband's friend Harvey told me this joke and, after hearing it, I realized one more reason why Harvey is still single. It goes:

4 Comments Comment

Keeping Track Of Insurance FormsAfter a few grueling hours filling out health insurance forms, my eyes crossed and I knew it was time to quit for the day. However, although I hadn't moved from my seat, I had misplaced a few pages of the forms! The next day, I had this idea.

Make Reindeer Food For Christmas EveFirst, take a small, clear bag, and add about a tablespoon of dried oats to the bag, add a tiny amount of glitter, and label the bag "reindeer food." Put the reindeer food on the front lawn, if you can.

Making Pincushions Out of ScrapsYou can get crafters you know to give you their leftover ends and pieces of pretty fabric, ribbons, etc., and make up little pincushions for small gifts. You don't need a sewing machine, you can make these by hand.

Permanent Marker on HardwoodLast week as I was cleaning, I noticed that I had a temporary card from a store stuck to the bottom of my wet shoe. I found that the temporary card has stuck itself to my hardwood floor...

1 Comment Comment

Product Review: Americraft CookwareDon't ever buy Americraft cookware. It cost a lot more than what it is worth. If you see a demo of this cookware run, don't walk away.

7 Comments Comment

Soda Bottle Plant WatererIf you don't have time to water your houseplant, take a plastic soda bottle, fill it with water and insert the spout in the earth of your plant, the bottle will empty as the plant need water. It is especially good if you are going on holiday or have a busy schedule.

Using a Warm Towel After a Dog BathI have a Rat Terrier, which is a medium sized dog (about 17 lbs). When I give him a bath, I give him a bath in our laundry tub. While he is in the laundry tub, I heat up a bath sheet in my dryer.

3 Comments Comment

Christmas: Try a Mexican Meal InsteadWhen my children were small we would celebrate Christmas with my Mother, my Mother-in-law and Grandmother. By the time it came for our own celebration everyone was getting a little tired of the 'Turkey' and all the trimmings.

2 Comments Comment

Growing Cardinal Vines From SeedThe cardinal vine seeds are hard. What I do is rub the seeds with some sand paper, instead of nicking them. Also soak in warm water overnight.

1 Comment Comment

Have Bathing Children "Paint" With Soap Let your small children clean the tub! when they are taking their bath at night, they love to play with something in the tub, give them the little tiny sponge paintbrushes, and let them (paint) clean the tiles on the tub with the colored soap bubbles you buy at Walmart!

Hot Dog Bun for Garlic ToastI was clear out of garlic bread to go with my spaghetti, so I used split hot dog buns to make garlic toast. I slathered on the butter, sprinkled heavy with garlic powder and placed it under the broiler til toasted. Turned out very good.

2 Comments Comment

Keep Kitty Litter Smelling FreshTo keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.

4 Comments Comment

Use a Post-it to Keep Your Place in a Crochet PatternIf you always lose your place reading a crochet pattern, keep a 3x5 inch Post-it pad handy. Stick a note on the row you're working on. You can use the note to write on too!

1 Comment Comment

Use Stovetop Glass Cleaner on Baking DishesI have a lot of glass baking dishes and I also have a glass top range. I recently found a glass top spray cleaner out by "Easy Off", It can also be used on glass dishes too. You just spray it on and let it set for a short time then wipe it off.

Walnut Shells Filled With SurprisesAn easy, inexpensive and fun stocking stuffer that my grandchildren have enjoyed. Crack walnuts in half, clean out the nut meat and save the shells. You can fill them with change, small jewelry, miniature animals, I.O.U. notes, etc.

5 Comments Comment

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