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Thrifty Tip Contest
(April 3 - 9, 2010)

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

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Duration	Entries
April 3 - 9, 2010	52

Tip: Keep House Cool Without AC

Cricket
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 205 Posts

April 5, 2010

Where I live the summer's get pretty hot and muggy, many times temps will be 90s and 100s, with humidity at or above 50 percent. And if I ran the A/C, my electric bill would be close to or above $400 a month, way more than I can afford!

Comment Was this helpful? 16

Catch Garbage Leaks With NewspapersLine your trashcans with newspapers to catch leaks. This will help keep our cans cleaner.

3 Comments Comment

Change Entrance to Cat BoxI have a cat who was going inside the litter box but accidentally urinating outside the entrance. I remedied this problem by placing two strips of duct tape across the inside and outside base of the dome cover opening, elevating the access approximately 2 inches.

1 Comment Comment

Drying the Inside of Narrow Necked BottlesA quick and easy way to dry the inside of bottles or decanter that can't be dried with a brush or rag on the inside is to take about 3/4 cup of quinoa grain and swirl it around the inside of the bottle.

3 Comments Comment

Extending the Life of Perfumed GelHere is a tip to increase the life of your perfumed gel. When it's just a thin dry skim around the top and bottom of the jar, add warmed up coconut oil. Shake, allow to cool and use as you did before.

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Link: Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a DayRecently there was a post for making bread from a book called "Bread in 5 Minutes a Day". Someone wanted to know how to shape it. It was difficult to explain in words, but now the authors have a second book out called "Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day".

Party Game: Texting Hide And SeekOne person goes to hide and the others wait. When the person has hidden, they send a text off of their phone to everyone else and provide a clue to where they are hiding via text message.

Product Review: Amway's Legacy of CleanI found one of the best cleaning and laundry products I've seen in a long time. I used to clean homes and resort rentals in Florida. Try the Legacy of Clean by Amway. The shower cleaner and the laundry soap are awesome.

3 Comments Comment

Switch Burners When SimmeringTo avoid the wait, and possible boiling over, just turn on another burner (of the same size) on "low" and transfer your boiling pot to it. No more boiled over sauces, soups, or chili.

7 Comments Comment

Use Salt To Absorb Urine AccidentsIf you're potty training your child or even a pet and they have an accident, immediately pour salt over the top. Watch the spot when you can see moisture on top of the pile of salt. Continue to add more salt until it remains dry on top.

2 Comments Comment

Frying Salt PorkTo fry salt pork bacon, first cut off all the rind as this causes grease to pop really bad. Place slices in pan of water and add 1 or 2 Tbsp. syrup or honey. The syrup helps the meat to brown.

5 Comments Comment

Homemade Spackle for Small HolesBack, way back in college dorm life, at the end of the year they would charge us if there were holes in the wall or marks etc. My room mate would take out the spearmint green tooth paste and fill all the holes to clean up any holes.

Keep Cut Flowers LongerTo keep your freshly picked flowers alive longer, add sugar. Add 1/2 tsp sugar for every cup of water.

Other Uses for Your Coffee MakerInstead of boiling water on the stove to make boxed scalloped potatoes or any other item that requires hot water just run water through your coffee maker and you have hot water to add to your food.

Party Game: Balloon FightI do this for my sons' parties every year and it is always the most favorite part of the party for all of the kids playing and the adults watching.

1 Comment Comment

Save Change For The Grocery StoreI save my change, I am talking pennies mostly here, some quarters, etc. Where I shop, they have a coinstar thing. You pour the change into it and it gives you a receipt, which is basically the same as a coupon you give to the cashier at the time of purchase.

4 Comments Comment

Use Alternatives to Push PinsThis has to do with push pins, thumb tacks, children, and pets. Unfortunately children and pets don't understand the dangers of these items.

3 Comments Comment

Use Baskets to Organize Refrigerator and FreezerI find that if I use wire baskets (or plastic) to organize my freezer and refrigerator, it is so much easier to find things and also to clean them.

4 Comments Comment

Wash Clothes More Efficiently With Rubber Dog BallsThis is a twist on an old tip. I went out to my mom's this past weekend to do laundry. Because my husband and I have a baby bird, we go through many poopy and hand feeding formula covered towels.

2 Comments Comment

Cooking RhubarbI love rhubarb but until recently never bothered to try cooking it because I assumed it was too complicated. I mentioned this woe to a neighbor. She laughed loudly and told me just how easy it is!

3 Comments Comment

Drain Fried Foods on Baking RackInstead of using paper towels to drain the grease off of fried foods, used a baker's rack. Place the bakers rack over a baking pan to catch the grease when it drains. Save on the cost of using paper towels!

Grammar Tip: "Affect" vs "Effect"You're going to get tired of hearing this, but it remains true: speaking and writing well makes you more marketable in today's tough job market. Potential employers like to see "strong English skills" on a resume or application.

9 Comments Comment

Olive Oil as a MoisturizerI have psoriasis and have had it since I was 14 years old. I used to get so embarrassed about it. I don't bother with that anymore, I just wanted some of the pain and itching to go away. Well, I started to use olive oil on my skin.

6 Comments Comment

Organizing Quarters for the LaundromatTo organize your quarters for the laundromat, try putting them in empty "Airborne" plastic containers. Many quarters fit perfectly in the containers without moving around.

4 Comments Comment

Product Review: "The Works" Toilet Bowl CleanerI have never found anything more remarkable for cleaning toilets than "The Works" for calcium, lime, and rust. It comes in a green bottle and is available at the dollar stores.

7 Comments Comment

Removing Stickers and TagsI run booths in three flea markets in three towns in Ontario and I find bread ties are the best for removing price stickers. Slightly dampening the tag makes it easier to remove (when possible).

Store Bracelets and Watches on a Mug RackI moved to a small flat last November and am still finding items that I have not unpacked. Amongst these are my bling bracelets and watches, only cheap from holidays but I just love them.

2 Comments Comment

Swing Bottle to Remove ContentsTo get every last bit out of a bottle, for instance, a ketchup bottle, make sure the lid is on tightly and swing it like a windmill. The centrifugal force will bring it to the top.

1 Comment Comment

Use Splatter Guard to Secure Light DishesWhen washing dishes in a dishwasher I got tired of the lighter weight items (Glad ware, etc.) flipping over and filling with water only to have to be washed 1 more time. So I started using anti-spatter frying shield over the top of the top rack items.

Aloe Vera for AcneFor all those girls and boys that have tried everything to get rid of acne! Well this might be the solution for your case of acne! Well, this a really simple tip!

5 Comments Comment

Dangers of Using Bio Spot Flea TreatmentPlease let your members know of all the dangers in using flea products, especially the on the spot treatment, "Bio Spot". This product almost killed my cat and dog, causing tremors, nervousness, vomiting, and hair loss.

6 Comments Comment

Flatten Ground Beef Before You FreezeI used to buy 5 lb rolls of ground beef, cut them into 5 portions, wrap and freeze them in solid hunks. But it was not conducive for quickly thawing, and if one fell out of our well-stocked freezer, it could break a toe. Now I freeze it "flat" in thick freezer bags.

6 Comments Comment

Get Exercise With a Walk Behind MowerLike most of us, I have some extra weight that I've had trouble getting off. I can't afford the cost of a gym, and even if I could, I probably wouldn't go.

4 Comments Comment

Google Searches for Free Samples and CouponsWith one adult working and one in school, our money is stretched to the limit. I have made it my goal to do a Google "News" search for free samples or free sample coupons (at least once a week) to receive something free or at a reduced cost.

2 Comments Comment

Make Grocery List With Store AdsI make out my grocery list with the store ads in front of me and I also cut coupons. When I write the list, I got through the coupons and beside the item I write (VC) for vendor coupon, same for store coupon only I write (SC).

1 Comment Comment

Recycling Old Clothes for CraftsA friend of mine gave me a whole tub, like a 50 gallon barrel, full of old clothes. They are not good enough to wear, but sure good enough to use in crafts. Instead of using my newer fabrics first I go to that tub then to my stash.

9 Comments Comment

Reheating Cold CoffeeI drink a lot of coffee and hate to waste it. Sometimes (often), I will get busy and come back and it is cold. Instead of throwing it out, I pour it back in the pot. I come back in a few minutes and have a hot cup.

Store Aluminum Cans on YarnI like to keep my empty aluminum cans hanging on a string of yarn. I tie the first can onto the yarn. The other cans I string on this through the pull tab.

1 Comment Comment

Summer Fun: Kids NewspaperIf your kids are wanting something fun to do this summer, have them start their own paper. They can interview the neighbors that they know, and write stories about their own life.

2 Comments Comment

Laptop With Job Offers Coming Out

Think Outside the Box When Job HuntingIn these tough times, we need every edge we can get. Traditional job-hunting methods; pounding the pavement, visiting companies in person to drop off resumes, for example; don't seem to work as well. Why not try thinking "outside the box?"

2 Comments Comment

Using Hair Spray to Remove Ink from LeatherOne way to remove ink from a light color leather chair is to use BB (Bumble and Bumble) styling spray. Spritz on ink spot and let sit for 1 to 2 seconds, then wipe off. It might take 2x to completely remove most of the stain. You won't see it as badly after the first time.

Cut Scouring Pad in HalfWhen you have only one or two pans to scrub, try cutting a scouring pad in half. Not only will you save money by using only half the pad, but you will be sharpening your scissors as well when you use them to cut the pad!

3 Comments Comment

Getting The Last Of Cooking SprayI have found when using cooking oil spray, if I hold the pan upright to the spray, I get every last drop from the product. It doesn't spit and sputter and clump on the pan for a more even application.

Girl's Fashion Show to Clean Out ClosetHere is a fun way to get your girls ages 7 and up to clean out their closest. Hold a "Fashion" show, where they model each of their summer/winter outfits.

1 Comment Comment

Link: Big Red Kitchen For On The Go Food TipsThe author of Big Red Kitchen has some wonderful posts and ideas, including: freezing a week's worth of sandwiches, how to keep/care hot and cold dinners to baseball games, etc.

Order Water When Eating OutI have learned to get water when you go out to eat, it can save big time on the bill. My coke cost me $1.85 when water usually is free, or no more than 30 cents. It makes a difference and I always use coupons if I can, even if it's Arby's!

4 Comments Comment

Packing Peanuts for Dog MattressI had to throw out the mattress to our dog's bed. So I used packing peanuts with a freshly laundered cover to replace it with. Works fine!

3 Comments Comment

Tips to Lower Your CholesterolLast year at my yearly checkup my doctor said my cholesterol was was up and I was on the verge of needing medication. I was surprised since I usually eat a balanced and healthy diet.

1 Comment Comment

Use Head Lamp for Hand SewingI am adding iridescent ribbon to the ruffles on my daughter's prom dress and was having a difficult time seeing to sew. I found that using a head-lamp, the kind that you strap onto your head for hiking, etc. is wonderful to use when hand-sewing.

3 Comments Comment

Warning: Push Pins and ToddlersA friend just recently attended her nephew's 15 month old son's funeral. The 15 month swallowed a push pin that was lodged in its throat, the baby died on the way to the hospital.

5 Comments Comment

Washing Grimy SocksI keep shampoo remnants in a soap dispenser by the bathroom sink. I also have a bottle of Listerine, in a spray bottle, and a bottle of generic type hand lotion.

1 Comment Comment

Ways To Plan a Frugal WeddingI got married in October so I used the flowers in season. This was very cost effective. I also did a small round two layer cake to cut, and did a sheet cake in the kitchen to serve to the guests.

1 Comment Comment

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