Thrifty Tip Contest (March 27 - April 2, 2010) | ThriftyFun

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(March 27 - April 2, 2010)

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

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Duration	Entries
March 27 - April 2, 2010	55

Tip: Reducing the Cost of Feeding a Family

April 2, 2010

I was in the grocery store yesterday and was talking with a lady in the dairy section about the rising cost of food. She was very upset that her kids were eating her out of house and home.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 30

Tip: Let Mushrooms Dry Out

cecile marie buteau

April 1, 2010

Do you like fresh mushrooms? So do I. When you buy more mushy-roomy-rooms than you need, what happens then? They go slimy and get dark spots. Very unappealing and disgusting. The best way to store mushrooms is in a small paper bag in the fridge.

Comment Was this helpful? 15

"DAW" Prescription - Dispense as WrittenMy husband had trouble in the past with one generic drug. Our pharmacy always gave generics when available as the price is so much cheaper. Most insurance companies will not pay for name brand if there is a generic.

1 Comment Comment

Freezing EggsUntil a good friend shared this tip with me, I did not know that fresh eggs can be whisked together and frozen for up to six months. I have been doing this for over a year now.

7 Comments Comment

Have the Baby Shower at the Expectant Mother's HomeThe ladies in our family hosted a baby shower for my niece and we decided that the shower should be held at my niece's home. The ladies appointed a host which would plan the shower; we were asked to bring a finger food or salad or a light dessert item.

4 Comments Comment

Shop After Easter for Next YearI shop after the holiday for next year, You'll usually get 50-75% off. I have four grand kids ranging from the ages of 2-6.

1 Comment Comment

Spreadsheet for Travel ItemsTo ensure items are not missed when preparing for a trip, I have a spreadsheet with all the items needed to travel, whether for winter or summer. These include personal and business items.

Store Oil Based Paint Brush During PaintingBecause of the long wearing factor of oil based paint, I hardly ever use anything else but clean up is a little messy. So if I have to stop in the middle of my project, I just put my brush in a container of water, until I am ready to use it next time.

1 Comment Comment

Too Much Fat in Dog Treats?For the past six days, I have been nursing a dog back to health, and I'm still not quite certain that she will make it. Our vet's prognosis is that she was getting brand name treats that have too much fat in them, and it's all unregulated by the government.

6 Comments Comment

Use Fan to Defrost FreezerFast and easy way to clean your freezer, use a fan. Simply empty the freezer and direct at top speed in front of a stand up or on top of a chest freezer. The frost will melt in a matter of minutes!

4 Comments Comment

Use Hand Soap to Clean LeatherTo clean a leather settee, don't buy all the expensive cleaning products, buy some soap that you wash your hands with. Get a bucket of warm water, wet the soap and rub the soap onto the leather with a wet cloth it brings out all the dirt, etc.

3 Comments Comment

Use Lid to Measure VanillaWhen using vanilla or other flavor extracts in a recipe, you can save your measuring spoon and use the lid instead. The lid on every bottle of vanilla I've used for years holds almost exactly 1 tsp. Check yours and see if I'm right!

3 Comments Comment

Jello TipsThis is not anything really new, but several ideas put together. I rarely use cold water when making jello. I use juices or syrups from canned fruits, sour cream or plain yogurt, cottage cheese and almost any canned fruit or fresh banana slices.

1 Comment Comment

Low Carb PizzaI am on low carb diet for past year (lost 70 lbs!) and missed pizza! I make mine with low carb, high fiber tortillas, 3 tablespoons bottled pizza sauce, one layer of pepperoni, and cheese.

Make Replacement Boxes For Playing CardsMy kids are always tearing the boxes that playing cards come in. I cut a Little Debbie oatmeal box down to where it is a little taller than the cards and put the cards in it.

Shaving TipsWhen shaving, first I use an electric shaver. Before I finish up with a straight razor, I use some moisturizer on my face. It eliminates razor burns and cuts. It really works quite well.

1 Comment Comment

Show Up REALLY Early at Garage SalesThis is a tip for all those garage sale fiends out there. Everyone knows that the first person at the garage sale gets the best pick of items. Instead of trying to get up early to be the first at garage sales.

13 Comments Comment

Use a Post-It to Clean a KeyboardA few years ago I thought I was so bright when I cleaned my keyboard with the edge of an index card. That is completely outdated. Today I learned to use the sticky edge of a Post It. I got gunk out of there I didn't even know I had brought near my computer.

8 Comments Comment

Use Grocery Sanitary Wipes When ShoppingDid you know that the supermarket is dangerous? This goes for any cart-pushing, scooter-riding establishment. Ask yourself if you've ever felt at some kind of risk in the grocery store (besides being run over by some kid racing around with a cart)?

9 Comments Comment

Cleaning a Burnt Coffee CarafeAlmost everyone I know has forgotten to turn off the coffee pot from time to time. We tend to think a cleanser will get the grime out but, in reality, it scratches the carafe and it will break easier.

5 Comments Comment

Grate Soap to Form New BarsBuy bar soap at rummage and garage sales-any kind including guest soaps. They can be beat-up, dried up, broken,etc. Grate them up with a coarse grater and add in any leftover soap slivers you may have on hand.

1 Comment Comment

How to Save on Your Pets ShotsPet shots and meds are very expensive, especially when you have to cut back due to job loss, etc.

2 Comments Comment

Old Costume Jewelry for Greeting Card EmbellishmentsAs I went through my boxes (I'm a pack rat), I stumbled upon some of my old costume jewelry. Unfortunately, maybe fortunately, I found stud earrings with one missing.

Planting Small SeedsAn easy method for planting smaller seeds over a large area is to use a "fan" or leaf rake to disrupt the top of the soil, sprinkle the seeds over the surface of the area, and then gently re-rake to combine the loose soil with the seeds.

Removing Moss from Asphalt Roof TilesFor the past 30+ years I have done the following; dilute plain laundry bleach with water, one part bleach and three parts water. Apply with a pump garden sprayer. Apply when the moss is reasonably dry and thirsty, like several days after the last rain.

2 Comments Comment

Salt Paste for Stains on PorcelainCoffee cups stained with coffee? Make a thick paste with simple table salt and warm water and use a soft rag and wipe the coffee cup inside and out with the salt paste. Sparking new!

Share Your Family MemoriesThis isn't really a tip but rather a hopeful 'ThriftyFun Family Shares Memories' idea. There was just a tip posted for how to keep your shoelaces tied and it brought back memories of when I was first learning to tie my own shoes (over fifty years ago).

7 Comments Comment

Sweet Tomato SoupWhenever I wanted something sweet for lunch, I would get a packet of instant tomato soup, heat up some hot water, then add 2 Tbsp. of cremora and a packet of sweetener. It really quenched my sweet tooth, not to mention a healthy lunch.

1 Comment Comment

Cat Playhouse From Recycled BoxesMy Mom has a cat and she loves to crawl into boxes and other things to hide. I have this idea in my head about making her a cat condo or playhouse. I have some large boxes that I will be using.

4 Comments Comment

Enhance Your Gravy With VeggiesWhen you roast meats and use onions, celery, garlic and carrots to enhance the flavor, be sure to save all those veggies for when you make gravy.

1 Comment Comment

Fill Out Important Dates on a New CalendarNever miss an important date again. At the beginning of each year when the new calendars come out, I get two; one for my husband and one for myself. We each copy birthdays and other important recurring dates to our calendars.

2 Comments Comment

Freeze Leftover Bread As CubesI always have a couple of pieces of a loaf of bread left over that are getting dried up. I cut them into 3/4 inch cubes and store them in a zip-loc bag in the freezer.

Make Photo Albums for Your ChildrenWith the computer age, many people now store their pictures on discs. But for those of us who still like standard photo albums, here's an idea.

3 Comments Comment

Making Your Own BowsWhen finishing making a bow, twist the bow instead of the wire. Doing it this way makes a much tighter bow and is easier on your fingers.

1 Comment Comment

branch with money attached for birthday gift

Money TreeThis is a money tree created for a 50th surprise birthday party. It is constructed of a sassafras branch (dogwood works good as well), curling ribbon in various lengths tied onto the branches. I used a vase as tall as the branch and added sand and rocks for stability.

1 Comment Comment

Newspaper DustpanWhen I sweep the floor, I take a saved newspaper (just one page ). Fold it over gently lengthwise (do not crease), it should be about four inches folded. Dip quickly into a basin of water and unfold gently on floor behind swept up trash.

Turn Your Refrigerator into an IceboxMy old refrigerator was running almost constantly so I decided to turn it into an icebox. I pulled the plug and put duct tape over the vents in the freezer section. I filled some containers two thirds full with water and froze them in my small chest freezer.

3 Comments Comment

Use an Electric Pants Press for Wrinkled PantsHubby found an electric pants presser for $20 at a thrift store. I am learning to use it to "press" his khaki work pants, which come out of the wash all wrinkled. The press is not supposed to DO that. I find I can more or less iron out pants with it while watching TV.

2 Comments Comment

Use Vodka for DisinfectantI read in this book on cancer years ago that the best why to disinfect your house is with vodka. It was found to be the only disinfectant that wasn't toxic to cancer patients. You use 4 parts water, one part full strength vodka.

4 Comments Comment

Water Acid Loving Herbs With Leftover CoffeeI planted my acid loving herbs near my kitchen door, and in the morning when my morning coffee finishes brewing, I put the used grounds directly onto the soil, instead of having to walk them to the compost bin or throw them away!

1 Comment Comment

Cleaning With Small ChildrenIt is hard to get the house clean with little ones under your feet. I put my 2 year old daughter, standing in a chair, at the kitchen sink, with old towels all around the floor. I give her measuring cups, spoons, bowls, etc.

Cutting Cell Phone CostsI remember when cellphones came out. My dad had one in his car but most people didn't have one. I would walk down the street in the city I lived in at the time and saw these business people with them, they were the size of a walkie-talkie and very ugly-looking.

4 Comments Comment

Discussing Menstruation With Your DaughterA topic not usually discussed but I hope this helps someone. My daughter was very young when she started her menstruation cycle. She was so embarrassed and did not want to go to school. At that point, purses were not carried by her friends.

2 Comments Comment

Get The Brand Prescribed By Your DoctorMy doctor called in a prescription for me, and specified the particular brand he wanted me to have. But instead of getting the brand he prescribed, I was given a different brand by the pharmacy, which had a terrible reaction to my system.

8 Comments Comment

Get Yarn From Thrift StoresDo you like to knit or crochet? Yarn can be quite expensive and you can't always hit the sales.

2 Comments Comment

Have Fun While Cleaning With MusicEarlier in the day I had downloaded a good hour's worth of my favorite songs onto my MP3 player so I had something to listen too while I exercised out in the garage. Later that evening, I decided to listen to it again as I cleaned the kitchen after supper.

4 Comments Comment

Minimizing Deep ScarsI have a very deep scar from leg surgery. My sister, a podiatrist recommended a product called "Scar Guard." I have been using it for 3 weeks and the results are amazing.

1 Comment Comment

Moist Roast ChickenTo prevent a chicken from drying out while it is roasting, place a whole apple inside the chicken. When the chicken is done, just throw the apple away.

1 Comment Comment

Oven Cleaner for Thrifty RefinishingIf you want a thrifty and effective way to refinish something, use oven cleaner! Do not use this method on a valuable antique (but then if it is a valuable antique, you should not be refinishing it anyway as it will ruin the patina).

Pantyhose Onion HolderI use worn out pantyhose to separate my onions. I put an onion in the toe of the pantyhose then tie a knot in it. Then I add another onion, tie another knot and so on until I run out of a pantyhose leg. Then I take the leg of onions and hang it from a hook in my pantry

2 Comments Comment

Removing Glue Residue From Pots and PansRemoving glue used for labels from cooking pans. I tried everything. WD40, mineral spirits, nail polish remover, dish detergent poured directly on the glue, nothing worked.

3 Comments Comment

Save Bread Ends for Bread CrumbsSave your bread-ends in a plastic bag in the freezer until you have a quart or more.These should not be dried out first. Thaw out and process in a blender or food processor until crumbs are coarse.

1 Comment Comment

Under Shelf Placemat Holder for Keyboard TraySometimes I like to stow away my keyboard so that I can use my desktop surface for something else. It's generally not a great idea to put things on top of a closed laptop, which is what I had been doing.

1 Comment Comment

Use Oil Based Primer on Old PaintWhen you are not sure what a cabinet is painted with, always go with oil based primer. Then you are set to use oil or water paint on top. Think of it this way; if you pour oil and water together, the oil just lays on top. It doesn't mix.

1 Comment Comment

Weed Grass From Garden And Plant In LawnGot bare spots in your lawn? Get out and weed your garden. Save all the grass and transplant it in the lawn. Just scratch up the soil in the spot, put the grass in and water it. It fills in quickly and costs nothing.

1 Comment Comment

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