Thrifty Tip Contest (September 18 - 24, 2010) | ThriftyFun

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(September 18 - 24, 2010)

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

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Duration	Entries
September 18 - 24, 2010	67

Tip: Maintain A Positive Attitude

September 24, 2010

If ever you feel like the World is on your shoulders and everyone is against you, remember one thing. Maintaining a positive attitude will see you through your situations. Sarcasm, when spoken in the identical tone as praise is acknowledged as praise.

Comment Was this helpful? 13

Tip: Label Corner of Fitted Sheet

September 21, 2010

Before putting on a fitted sheet on a bed, take a permanent marker and write on the tag, LB or RB, depending on which side the tag is on. It makes making a bed much faster and easier! No more trying to figure out which corner goes where.

Comment Was this helpful? 17

Tip: Painting a Faux Granite Counter Top

September 21, 2010

I wanted to share my personal experience and tips for any of you considering doing this. I researched this project thoroughly before I actually took the plunge, and in my opinion, this method produced the best results.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 44

Bring Ads When Grocery ShoppingWhen grocery shopping, take the ad for the store you are using with you. I recently bought three bags of a known brand of frozen vegetables that were on sale. When I took them out of the freezer, I noticed the sale price was not posted anywhere.

2 Comments Comment

Cardboard For Easy Pet CleanupI have another use for cardboard, if you have a sick dog that throws up in the house or a person who does not make it to the bathroom, cardboard is a a good scraper. I take a piece of cardboard, tear it in half so that I have two pieces, then scrape.

Control Ants With SaltTo avoid ants, put some salt at the place you see them. They hate it and will go away. It's cheap and green living.

1 Comment Comment

Free Coffee Grounds for Your Garden at StarbucksUsed coffee grounds are a great, free fertilizer in your garden. Roses and acid-loving plants love it. Starbucks will give them to you free!

1 Comment Comment

Freezing Excess Tomatoes?To use up tomatoes, cook them gently, cool, and then freeze for winter stews, etc. Personally, I live on home grown tomatoes, zucchinis, onions, and mushrooms braised together as a side dish or topped with breadcrumbs and baked to have with a roast.

Homemade Metal Cleanser and PolisherTo clean tarnished brass, copper and pewter, use a paste with equal parts of white vinegar and table salt.

1 Comment Comment

Homemade Pot Pie from Freezer LeftoversWhen we were growing up, my mother would take the leftovers at each meal and put in a big plastic ice cream bucket in the freezer. If we had pinto beans tonight and some were left over, she drained them and put them in freezer in the ice cream bucket.

2 Comments Comment

Line Kitchen Cabinets with Vinyl Floor TilesLine your kitchen and bathroom cupboards with floor tiles. It looks attractive and it provides easy clean-up. Apply a cork tile to the inside of your kitchen cupboard door to pin take-out menus, shopping lists, tips, anything really.

7 Comments Comment

Make Your Own KabobsPut a fun and affordable spin on backyard barbecues with a make-your-own-kabob station. Set out a variety of chopped veggies like peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms and marinated and cubed steak or chicken.

Saving Money on Mailing SuppliesI mail often and want to share some of the ways I have been saving on mailing dollars. I save all the packing materials that come from other mailings and reuse them.

2 Comments Comment

Twin Mattress for Large DogsWe have two large dogs - 90 and 120 lbs. that sleep in our bedroom. After going though several dog beds (starting at $40 each times two), because of their size (they literally flattened the beds), I finally convinced my husband to buy a twin mattress.

6 Comments Comment

Use Beer To Clean Up Shoe PolishWhen you spatter liquid shoe polish on the bathroom sink, pour a little flat beer over it. The polish comes right off even after it's dry.

Broken Egg Shells to Deter SnailsDon't throw out eggshells. Crush them up and throw them into your garden. They provide needed calcium to the soil as they decompose and the sharp-edged shells keep snails out of your beds.

2 Comments Comment

Cleaning Your BirdcageCleaning the parakeets cage is not fun. I try to do it every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. I take everything out and apart and wash in hot soapy water. I love my parakeets, Sky and Bonnie.

2 Comments Comment

Hot Sauce for RoachesI had a professional pest control service come treat my home for roaches. I told him that I had been using hot sauce and water in a spray bottle. He had me use it against his stuff and it worked almost as fast.

7 Comments Comment

Make Plastic Bag Holder From Dryer Vent TubingTake a piece of flexible aluminum dryer vent duct and make sure you put something on the edges like duct tape as it may be sharp. Cut it about 38 inches or how long you want it to be, curl it so it makes 1/2 of a circle, and stuff your store bags in it.

Opening a Sealed EnvelopeIf you need to re-open an envelope that you have already sealed and put a stamp on, there's no need to steam the flap open. Just cut the end off the front left side of the envelope (where your return address is, not the end with the stamp on it).

1 Comment Comment

Organizing Your Medicine CabinetStore prescription bottles in a rectangle shaped basket to keep them from falling over in the cupboard. Smaller wire baskets can be stacked on a metal space saver with other baskets stored under the space saver.

1 Comment Comment

Protect Woodwork With Lemon Oil Before PaintingApply a coat of lemon oil to woodwork if you are painting around it. If any paint spatters onto the woodwork, it will wipe off without any trouble. You are also conditioning the woodwork at the same time.

1 Comment Comment

Removing Ink From Vinyl DollsTo get ink stains off a vintage baby doll, pull back the doll's hair and remove clothing to keep them from getting bleached. Liberally apply 10% benzoyl peroxide acne treatment cream to any areas with ink.

6 Comments Comment

Save Money on Ziplock BagsI wash out ziplock bags (freezer and storage) after use. I throw away any that had meat in them that thawed. When done, I fold a section of paper towel and put it in the bag, then flatten the bag.

3 Comments Comment

Slicing Onions Without TearsOnions have been a part of my cooking for 50 years, and I'm still amazed at those who cannot cut one up without getting runny eyes. Here is how I avoid that.

1 Comment Comment

Sprinkle Drink Mix over Applesauce and Vanilla PuddingKeep orange flavored drink mix, such as Tang in a salt shaker to sprinkle over treats like applesauce and vanilla pudding for a flavor boost. Lemon flavored drink mix for this purpose is also nice.

Use Colander To Cover PancakesPlace a colander over your cooked pancakes while waiting for everyone to sit down for breakfast or while waiting for seconds. The holes in the colander provide a vent so the pancakes don't get steamed and soggy and the cover keeps them warm.

1 Comment Comment

Alternate Uses for an Ironing BoardUse an ironing board as a side table for a sick person or a table to wrap gifts.

3 Comments Comment

Cleaning Sponges and LoofahsTo clean sponges and loofahs, soak them overnight in distilled white vinegar and water solution to remove the dirt and slime. Rinse several times with cold water and let air dry (in the sun if possible). The mixture should be two parts vinegar to one part water.

2 Comments Comment

A cute dog with floppy ears.

Coconut Oil to Fight and Prevent Ear InfectionsTo help dogs fight and keep ear infections away, give them a teaspoon of Coconut Oil everyday. If you have a smaller dog you can reduce. Why it works I don't know, but I have a collie mix with floppy ears, she had ear infection every time you turned around.

2 Comments Comment

Dehydrate Tomatoes for Salads or SnacksFor a tasty salad addition or snack, buy Roma tomatoes on sale. Slice thinly and sprinkle with garlic salt or powder. Dry in a dehydrator until they are dry and the skins are no longer shiny.

1 Comment Comment

Dental Floss to Slice Goat CheeseGoat cheese is a rather soft cheese and difficult to cut with a knife. I found using dental floss works great for slicing.

DVD Cases for PhotosUse DVD cases as photo frames. We travel a lot; therefore, we keep all our DVD's in a little zip around case. The cases fit a 5x7 wonderfully.

2 Comments Comment

Halloween Pencil Toppers

Halloween Pencil Toppers As "Treats"I always make plastic canvas treats for my grandchildren and their classmates. I make 25 of these for grade school parties for under $5.00 total. All the children and teachers love them.

1 Comment Comment

Homemade Head Lice RemedyI came across this tip about removing lice. In a nutshell, it says that by putting conditioner in damp hair and then dipping a metal (not plastic) comb in the baking soda and combing through hair, it gets them out a lot faster.

3 Comments Comment

How to Detangle a NecklaceMoisten a tangled neck chain with vegetable oil before trying to untangle it with two straight pins.

4 Comments Comment

Peel Banana from the Bottom UpIf you peel a banana from the bottom up instead of from the top down, you won't have those annoying stringy things from the peeling.

3 Comments Comment

Removing Unerasable Markers from a Dry Erase Board?Use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to clean dry erase boards. As a teacher, I found board cleaner did not get my boards completely clean. I poured alcohol into a spray bottle and only use it on my boards now.

1 Answer Answer

cooking pot as hose hanger

Use a Pot as Hose HangerMy husband and I went out in search of a rack for our hose. We were reluctant to pay what was being asked, so I suggested he use an old pot and attach it to a support beam.

12 Comments Comment

Use Baby Oil To Treat Wood FurnitureI have finished a raw pine wooden book shelf using just multiple coats of - BABY OIL! You just apply the oil until the wood won't absorb anymore. Voila, an oil finish, using less than a 1/4 of a bottle of baby oil.

5 Comments Comment

Uses for 2 Gallon Water Containers

Uses for 2 Gallon Water ContainersCut the spigot top off of 2 gallon square water containers, cutting straight across. Do not cut into the handle. Under the handle, you can write names or labels with magic marker, if you like. Put these up on closet shelves, bookcases, or under beds.

3 Comments Comment

Don't Clean Up Dough With Hot WaterWhen making doughy baked items, for easier clean up, don't use hot water. Instead, use cold water and a bench scraper. It saves time and effort. The hot water tends to make things even more gooey!

1 Comment Comment

Find Your Halloween Costume in Someone Else's ClosetCreating or coming up with a homemade Halloween costume is easily done by searching through someone else's closet! Simply ask a friend or sibling if you can pick a costume from their closet.

ThriftyFun Links Image

Link: Vitacost.com For Healthy Foodswww.vitacost.com is a fantastic site I just found out about. They offer a flat shipping and handling fee of $4.99, and have lots of healthy, organic foods available at a fraction of the cost found locally!

2 Comments Comment

Product Review: Aller-Tec (Generic Zyrtec)I just had to share with everyone knowing that right now a lot of you have sinus problems. My sister found a product that is a blessing. I had suffered with horrible headaches and sinus problems of all sorts, but no more!

Recycled Boot Tray For Muddy ShoesUse the bottom of a broken plastic laundry basket as a boot tray for muddy shoes. Cut the broken top off and discard. The boot tray can easily be hosed off to keep it clean.

3 Comments Comment

Reuse Glass Water Bottles, Not PlasticThe economy has affected many of us in the last couple of years. Trying to shop for a family of five and stay within budget isn't easy sometimes, especially when you are trying to buy healthy items that everyone will like.

4 Comments Comment

Reuse Velcro Straps From ProduceI reuse the long green Velcro straps that are often wrapped around celery when I buy it. I save them to use as ties. I have wrapped Christmas tree light bulbs, extension cords, stacks of Christmas cards, you name it!

Cranberry Sauce

Think Outside the Bird: Ideas for Cranberry...You can use canned cranberry sauce for the following ideas but I make my own and it works just as well. I absolutely love cranberries so I've done all the ideas listed.

6 Comments Comment

Use Beer to Kill SlugsTo get rid of snails or slugs, place a glass or can in a hole so that the top is level with the ground, fill almost to the rim with beer and leave overnight. In the morning, dump the pests on the compost heap.

2 Comments Comment

Use Child's Parroting Phase For MemorizationWhen my daughter was little, she went through a phase where she would try to annoy me by parroting everything I said. I used that to help her learn things I wanted her to know, like our phone number and address.

3 Comments Comment

What To Do With Shedded Pet HairThere is an organization called "Matter of Trust" based in San Francisco that sometimes accepts cat/dog hair and forms it into an absorbent, natural fiber that is perfect for helping to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, among other things.

2 Comments Comment

Athlete's Foot RemediesWe went to the Podiatrist for my husband's diabetic feet problems and she gave us this paper, so I am sharing it with you!

3 Comments Comment

Avoiding Scam and Viral Email MessagesWith the vast of spam/scam/viruses out there, sometimes you get bad messages that appears to be real. Always remember, no real message will ask for any of your private information.

2 Comments Comment

Cleaning Sports EquipmentRemove mud and stains from plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum sports equipment by applying a paste of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 3 parts baking soda. Wipe off with soapy water and rinse with clear water.

1 Comment Comment

Dog sitting on plastic over car seat.

Cover Seat with Plastic Table Cloth for PetUse an old plastic table cloth to cover the seat in your vehicle when you have pets riding with you.

2 Comments Comment

Crayon rollups.

Craft: Crayon Roll-UpsThese are just a few of the color crayon roll-ups that I make. They are great for birthdays for either boys or girls. My 4 year old grandson takes his to church and restaurants.

6 Comments Comment

Frugal Weed Killer?Killing pesky weeds doesn't have to be expensive or harmful to the environment. One common weed that causes problems is ground ivy or creeping charlie. An easy way to rid yourself of the weed, is to spray a solution of household borax on the offending sprout.

1 Answer Answer

Joke: Bachelors CookingTwo confirmed bachelors sat talking, their conversation drifted from politics to cooking. "I got a cookbook once," said one, "but I could never do anything with it."

2 Comments Comment

Keep Pins in Prescription Bottle

Keep Pins in a Prescription BottleKeep straight pins in a prescription medication bottle. This keeps them out of children's hands.

4 Comments Comment

Make Yogurt at HomeWarm milk till it is comfortable temperature (45-50 degrees C or 100 degrees F). Dissolve 1 teaspoon leftover yogurt as starter in 500 ml. (2 cups) milk. Leave in warm place overnight. In the morning, it will be ready. Store in the refrigerator.

Reuse Paper to Print CouponsI've seen lots of tips about couponing and using coupons printed from computer sites. My tip is to save paper that is printed on one side (scrap paper) and use it to print those coupons.

1 Comment Comment

Reuse Plastic Bottles Instead of Buying IceI recycle plastic bottles by filling them with tap water, freezing, and then using to line plastic grocery bags when I go on a picnic or long car journey. Food and other drinks stay cold and you have extra water for emergencies or to save on buying junk drinks en route.

2 Comments Comment

Sour Cream SubstituteI have started replacing sour cream, which has lots of fat and calories, with Greek yogurt. I buy the non-fat Greek yogurt, which has no saturated fat or trans fat, is 110 calories per 6 oz. cup, and has 16 grams of protein.

2 Comments Comment

Throw Salt on Fire to Reduce SootWhile logs are burning, throw salt on them from time to time. This reduces the soot, making clean-up that much easier.

Use Rolodex for Genealogy ResearchUse a Rolodex for organizing family history or genealogy. Each card will have one ancestor on it, with the basic information listed to save time when doing a search. This idea also works for quick reference for doctors, attorneys and address with billing info on them.

Visual Clues For Serving Sizes1 teaspoon = quarter, tip of thumb. 1 tablespoon = silver dollar, whole thumb.

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