Thrifty Tip Contest (August 7 - 13, 2010) | ThriftyFun

Menu Ask a Question Share a Post Account Search

social

Contests Winners Enter a Contest

Thrifty Tip Contest
(August 7 - 13, 2010)

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

Latest Prev Next

Duration	Entries
August 7 - 13, 2010	60

Article: Tools That Help The Blind Today

Lelia Jo Cordell
Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,394 Feedbacks

August 13, 2010

I can't outline every tool available for the blind today. However, I promised I'd write about the tools that make my life easier. I try not to adapt more than necessary, but I do need some things accessible. I wrap a bread tie around the handle of the gallon jug of tea or fruit drink.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 20

Tip: Warning: Swag Bucks Scam

August 11, 2010

Swag Bucks is a Scam! I love being able to sign up at a site and be rewarded for participating in all of the offers available. It is fun, you meet cool people, and you win prizes. Sounds good so far, huh? Here it comes.

Comment Was this helpful? 14

Baking Soda and Dishwashing Liquid For Soap ScumI want to tell anyone reading this, that the tip about a paste of baking soda and Dawn dish-washing liquid to clean shower walls has given me the cleanest shower with the least effort in many years.

3 Comments Comment

French Tuna SandwichTakes a bit more work than your usual Tuna Fish Sandwich but it sure is worth it. Heat oil in a medium-size frying pan. Add onion. Sprinkle with sugar, salt and pepper. Stir often over medium heat until onion turns golden, 5 minutes.

Garden: Prizewinning Elephant GarlicI entered my garlic at the local fair this year. It took first prize in its category. I put it on a standard picnic plate. Here's how it looks. Garlic anyone?

5 Comments Comment

Getting White Clothes White AgainPour the hot water into a plastic, enamel or stainless steel (not aluminum) container. Add the dish washing soap and bleach, and stir well. Put 100% cotton in this and let soak for 30 minutes.

5 Comments Comment

Grill Foods Before Company ArrivesThe best way to have a family BBQ, is to throw everything on the grill about 2 hours before your guests are supposed to arrive. As things finish cooking, put them on covered baking sheets in your oven at about 200 degrees F to keep them warm.

4 Comments Comment

Keep Free Weights in Wire Egg BasketTo keep our free weights in one small space, my wife took her grandmother's old wire egg basket and embellished it with fabric. The weights appear to be out of sight, but are still in a handy place. We have the egg basket sitting under a small accent table.

1 Comment Comment

Peanut Butter and Mayonnaise SandwichesI have been enjoying peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches lately. They are great! They taste good too. My hubby eats them all the time, so I finally tried one and I will probably do this from now on.

10 Comments Comment

Remove Furniture Scratches with WalnutFor furniture scratches, rub the meat of the walnut (no shell!) over any scratches or nicks. Test the method on a less visible area to be sure it doesn't darken the wood.

1 Comment Comment

Rinse Oil Containers in Bath WaterWhen you empty out containers of cooking oils, lotions, creams, etc., don't throw them away. I keep mine and when I have several, I put water in them and rinse out in my bath water. You get everything out of them and your skin will thank you afterward.

1 Comment Comment

Use Dishwater in GardenI keep a large empty bucket by the floor near my kitchen sink. As I rinse off my dishes, I collect the water in a container in the sink. (I use an empty large sized yogurt container.) Then I pour the water I collect into the bucket until it is full.

4 Comments Comment

Use Rubber Glove Finger on Handle to Prevent SplintersTo keep from getting splinters, use the fingers of old rubber gloves for handle covers on hoes, rakes, brooms, and mops. Tape with black electrical tape, so it won't slip off.

Use Tinted Car Window Film For HomeI have seen many hints on here about using black plastic bags over windows and glass doors to block the sun from coming in. I agree that this should work, but it makes it impossible to see outside and that's what I like.

3 Comments Comment

Use Tray for Containers in RefrigeratorI live in an older mobile with the original refrigerator. The light doesn't work and most of the slats for the shelves are broken. I have to keep the shelves pretty close together and I find that limiting in keeping things from getting shoved into the back and forgotten.

6 Comments Comment

Uses for Jam or PreservesYou can add grape jelly or preserves (or whatever flavor you choose) to smoothies, yogurt, smoothies, pancakes, waffles, french toast, cottage cheese, oatmeal, ice cream, or muffins.

1 Comment Comment

Brush Teeth After Meals To Avoid SnackingIf you have a difficult time not snacking in the evenings before bedtime, try this tip. After you finish eating dinner, immediately brush your teeth and floss or waterpik, whatever your routine, then rinse with mouthwash.

1 Comment Comment

Buy Meat In BulkWhen buying ground hamburger for my family, I have found that buying in bulk and freezing is a great way to save us money. I have learned that if you buy a package of hamburger that is about 6 pounds, you can separate the meat into quart size ziplock bags (a pound a piece).

2 Comments Comment

Freezing Cottage CheeseI buy cottage cheese on sale and stock up when it is marked down. I use it for baking. I simply put the package in the deep freeze and thaw it in the fridge when I need it. After thawing, drain the watery liquid and stir in some sour cream, so it isn't dry.

Join Goodwill and Get CouponsEvery year Goodwill has a membership drive -I think it's in April. They sell memberships for $5. You will get 1/2 off anything you buy that day ,and they mail you 12 coupons good for each month of the year for $5 off any $10 or more purchase.

2 Comments Comment

Make Your Own DeodorantTo make deodorant, mix 1 cup cornstarch and 1 cup baking soda. Add 1 Tablespoon coconut oil. Stir and add more cornstarch or oil until it is the consistency of silly putty. Then cram the mixture in your old deodorant container and refrigerate for about one hour.

3 Comments Comment

Make Your Own Ice for the Ice ChestMy husband is a long haul trucker who normally uses an electric cooler to keep his food and drinks cold. Recently his electric cooler died on him, so he had to resort to a regular cooler until we can buy him a new one (they ain't cheap!).

Mark Where Seeds are PlantedAfter my garden is tilled, quite a few rocks get dug up. If they are about the size of a fist, I put one at each end of each row of seeds planted or in the middle of a hill of squash to mark the spot. They can easily be removed once the plants come up.

1 Comment Comment

Switch to Liquid Soap to Avoid Soap ScumInstead of using a cake of soap in the shower or bath, use liquid soap. Liquid soap is easier to handle and does not leave a thick film of soap scum on bath or shower tiles or glass.

2 Comments Comment

Use Black Pepper For Garden PestsI don't like to use chemicals in my vegetable garden. I use a large can of ground black pepper and sprinkle on my plants. It works quite well. The only problem is that you have to reapply after rain or watering.

1 Comment Comment

Use Fish Scale To Weigh LuggageUse a fish weight scale (has a hook and gauge) to weigh your luggage before a plane trip to be sure that your bags aren't over the weight limit!

1 Comment Comment

Use Sock as Pot HolderSingle socks in your drawer? Use socks as pot holders. One fits over the handle of any fry pan and two are great for picking up hot casserole dishes from the oven or microwave.

3 Comments Comment

Use Ziplock as Purse OrganizerI am going to try putting everything in a large ziplock bag and stuffing it in my purse. I saw that purse organizer thing on TV. I like that you can put it in your purse and then change purses by just lifting it out, but I like the see through aspect of the ziplock bag.

2 Comments Comment

Add Salt to ToothpasteI was pleasantly surprised when I sprinkled a little salt on my toothpaste before brushing. My teeth seemed to sparkle after rinsing. I have used baking soda before, but the salt worked better.

2 Comments Comment

Cover Bucket Handle With Garden HoseUse pieces of a leaky garden hose to cover a metal handle on a bucket. Trim to handle size and slit the hose down one side. Slip it over the handle and secure with electrical tape.

3 Comments Comment

Keep Tomatoes Fresh Longer by Rinsing in Bleach WaterIf you have a large tomato crop, take a few extra minutes to wash your tomatoes in a weak bleach solution. A tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of water is a sufficient ratio for the solution. Do not rinse them. Spread your tomatoes out on newspaper in a cool, dry place.

Organize Coupons In Card Sheet ProtectorsI was having a hard time keeping up with my coupons. So a friend of mine bought me a binder for my birthday, and I bought a pack of baseball card holder sleeves and a pack of dividers.

4 Comments Comment

Puffy Paint RecipeTo make a batch of puffy paint, simply mix equal parts of shaving cream and Elmer's glue. Add food coloring, a few drops at a time, until you get the desired color. Apply the glue to heavy paper using a sponge brush. Let the painting dry before moving it.

1 Comment Comment

Scuff Marks On Patent Leather ShoesTo clean scuff marks off white patent leather shoes, rub a small amount of mineral oil onto a test area. If the oil doesn't alter the color of the shoe, take a clean, soft cloth and apply a small amount of mineral oil to the surface of the show.

3 Comments Comment

Soften Dried Dates and Figs with a Slice of AppleIf dried dates or figs have hardened, place in a jar with a slice of apple. They'll soon be soft again.

Use Broiler Pan on BarbecueUse a broiler pan to grill small items on your barbecue grill. We picked up a spare at the thrift store for this purpose.

1 Comment Comment

Use Hair Scrunchies as Christmas BowsI am not using ribbon, paper, or any other kind of bows this year on my packages going to girls with long hair. I am going to buy those little fabric scrunchies and make a bow out of them. This way the bow is not just decorative, but useful.

1 Comment Comment

Use Spice Rack for Bead StorageUse an old spicerack for craft bead storage or for button storage.

2 Comments Comment

Using Crockpot Insert in the OvenYou can use your removable crock pot/slow cooker stoneware insert in an oven. Be sure the insert does not have any cracks or breaks in it. I normally coat it with a cooking spray for easy clean-up. I don't use the lid, for fear it would crack or break.

3 Comments Comment

Buy Electronics and Computer Gear at Thrift StoresThink you can only get clothes and household items at thrift shops? There is often a lot of electronic and computer gear there, too. When our computer keyboard fritzed out last week, my hubby went out to the thrift shop and bought a new keyboard for about $5.00!

3 Comments Comment

Get a Second Opinion For Dental WorkIf any advice you are given at the dentist's office doesn't sound quite right with what you've known to be true in the past, seek a second opinion before having expensive procedures done. I had TMJ many years ago, and it recently started bothering me again.

4 Comments Comment

Math PancakesPancakes are so easy to manipulate into shapes to teach with, so we are going to start doing plates of multiplication equations. Maybe one or two a week. I am hoping it will help.

4 Comments Comment

Mouthwash As Insect RepellentTo get rid of flies or mosquitoes go to Walmart and buy the brown Equate bottle of mouthwash. Put in a sprayer and spray around the house, both on the ground and as high as you can get. Works well the next day, no flies or mosquitoes.

Painter's Tape As Reusable AdhesiveKeep painter's tape in the kitchen. It works great for sealing bags and it re-sticks over and over. It is also good in the freezer.

2 Comments Comment

Pool Resources on School SuppliesMy sister used to live in a town where the school bought the supplies and split the cost among the parents. They were able to save money, because they bought in bulk. Another advantage being that every child had the same items.

4 Comments Comment

Salt to Remove Ink StainsSalt works impressively on ink stains on carpet. If the ink is still wet immediately cover it with salt. Allow the salt to sit overnight then vacuum the area. The salt will absorb the ink. If the ink is already dry, wet it thoroughly before trying the salt treatment.

2 Comments Comment

Secure Button on End of YarnWhen making a ball of yarn, secure a button (with a shank) or some other similar item to the end of yarn at the beginning and hold on to it while continuing to wrap the yarn.

2 Comments Comment

Spray Scraps With Oil To Stop Fruit FliesI have begun to buy a lot of produce, since I started juicing a month ago. I began to notice more and more of those little fruit flies hanging around. You know the ones I'm talking about - they hover all around you, but are impossible to get rid of.

Substitute Fruit Puree For SugarIf a dessert recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, swap in 1/2 cup fruit puree. I make my own using apples, prunes, or pears. I also use jarred baby food when I can buy it on sale at the grocery store.

Use Coffee Filter as Camera Flash DiffuserDiffuse the flash on your camera with a coffee filter to soften the brightness. You can also try putting coffee filters over lights or lamps to lessen the harshness when taking indoor photos.

2 Comments Comment

Use Hose to Prevent Splinters from Wheelbarrow HandlesTo stop the splinters, measure the length and the thickness of the handles. Go to your auto parts store and request a water hose that has a diameter smaller than the wheel barrow handle and a length just an inch longer than the combined length of both handles.

Wrap Pictures On The WallOne year our small church was hosting a Christmas banquet and was short on funds. We needed some type of inexpensive decorations for the room it was to be held in, so we wrapped large framed pieces of artwork in Christmas paper and added ribbons and bows.

Bring Tote Bag with Children's ActivitiesI discovered that waiting times were the worst for children so I now have a tote bag filled with dollar store items and pens, paper, and pencils to keep them occupied while we "wait".

5 Comments Comment

Broil or Grill PeachesHere is an absolutely delicious way to use summer peaches - especially those ones that never seem to get absolutely soft ripe. Halve and de-stone peaches and broil them for a few minutes either side (or put them on the barbecue) until they're soft and sticky.

1 Comment Comment

Homemade Baby WipesCut the paper towel in half and and remove the inner cardboard. Mix your liquid ingredients in container and place one of the paper towel halves inside, cut side down.

Reusing Frying OilYou can use fats over and over by straining them after each use. Fry slices of potato to remove fish, onion, or other strong flavored food odors.

2 Comments Comment

Sign Up for Consignment Shop NewslettersOver the last few years, people are being more creating in finding ways to earn money. With that, consignment shops are seeing more consignors with things to consign. Thus, they can be more particular and the quality of these shops' goods has increased.

1 Comment Comment

Use Dry Erase Calendars to Track ActivitiesSaw this at a friend's house and I intend to have it ready in my home before school starts: Purchase 3 dry-erase calendar boards. Fill out three months at a time; the current month, and the next two. Write in dates of all activities.

3 Comments Comment

Use Hairspray For WaspsWe had a wasp flying around our house last night, it scared me, and no matter what we couldn't get close enough to swat it with the fly swatter to kill it. This morning, it got close enough to us that my husband asked for my hairspray.

14 Comments Comment

Use Ponytail Holder to Keep Bobbins from UnravelingTo keep extra bobbin threads from unraveling, place a fat fuzzy ponytail holder around the bobbin.

Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2022-08-23 08:18:07 in 3 secs.
© 1997-2022 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/contest/000/286.html