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Thrifty Tip Contest
(February 12 - 18, 2011)

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

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Duration	Entries
February 12 - 18, 2011	57

Tip: Memory Tricks For Spelling

dorothy wedenoja
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 170 Posts

February 16, 2011

I always had trouble with these words; super and supper, diner and dinner, desert and dessert. I couldn't remember which words had the double letters in them. My daughter, a 5th grade teacher, told me of a easy way to get the spelling correct.

Comment Was this helpful? 20

Keychain for Store Cards and Important Addresses

February 15, 2011

I have too many store cards and other important information that I needed to keep on hand, like addresses for forms and kids school address and class numbers.

Comment Pin it! Like this photo? 34

Tip: Computer Shortcuts Using the Control Key

Elaine
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 172 Posts

February 14, 2011

Most average users know a few keyboard shortcuts but here are additional shortcuts that many folks under-utilize. If you spend a few moments learning them, you'll find them incredibly useful.

Comment Was this helpful? 30

"Please Ask For ID" On Back of Credit CardsOn the "new cards", instead of signing my signature on the back, I put "ASK FOR ID" and it works fine for me. I don't believe a thief would try using these.

14 Comments Comment

Dryer Sheets for ShoesTo freshen boots, bowling shoes, ski boots, etc., place a dryer sheet in each one when not in use.

5 Comments Comment

Keep Saran Wrap In The FreezerI put my Saran Wrap in the freezer and it never bunches up or sticks together. I had to laugh, because my husband thought I had lost my mind when I did this, but it works.

1 Comment Comment

Link: Gethuman.com For A Live OperatorThe site will tell you how to get through to a human and not a computer when calling them. If you click on the Phone Number directory tab, up comes hundreds of companies and their phone numbers and how to connect directly to a human.

5 Comments Comment

Putting Ice Cubes in Garbage DisposalA dull or slow garbage disposal can be easily sharpened by running ice cubes through it.

Soothing Herbal Bath TeaSimply blend in a large bowl. If desired, you can add drops of Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil, but it's not needed. This is a very aromatic bath tea.

1 Comment Comment

Use Parchment Paper Instead of Cooking SprayParchment paper is the cook's friend. It keeps food from sticking to baking pans, eliminates having to soak in dish water to clean, and also is healthier for you. No need to add oil or nonstick sprays to your bake ware.

5 Comments Comment

Wipe Houseplant Leaves With Banana PeelTo keep the leaves of houseplants shiny and dust free, wipe them with a banana peel.

1 Comment Comment

Use Skirt Hanger for Storing Rugs

Use Skirt Hanger for Storing RugsI have always wanted a better way of storing my Christmas decorative rugs instead of rolling them up. Since I freed up several skirt hangers, it dawned on me to use them to hang the rugs.

8 Comments Comment

Cut Long Pantiliners in HalfI buy the box of "long pantiliners" and use scissors to cut them in half. You only use half anyway and it's like getting 2 boxes for the price of one.

2 Comments Comment

Freeze Blended Celery and OnionsI don't use a lot of onions or celery, so I found them going bad before I could use them. It's much more expensive to buy smaller quantities, you are just paying for someone else to do the chopping when you buy it already cut up.

Frugal Hair RinseI noticed a couple of people have asked about using vinegar on the hair. Vinegar, as well as, lemon juice can be used as an acid rinse. Both products are used to remove any build-up from the hair and scalp.

3 Comments Comment

Honey Beauty RecipesHoney Cleansing Scrub: Mix 1 Tbsp. of honey with 2 Tbsp. finely ground almonds and 1/2 tsp. lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

1 Comment Comment

Keeping Garage Door from Freezing ShutWith all the snow we've had, my garage door's gaskets (at the bottom) froze to the cement. After thawing them out, I sprayed the gaskets with Pam! Now they don't freeze to the cement.

Keeping Lint Off ClothingWant to wash your fleece without getting lint all over it? Wash it alone in cold water. May combine two pieces.

1 Comment Comment

Remove Garlic and Onion Odors from HandsTo get the garlic smell off your hands just rub them against your stainless steel sink. It takes the smell right away!

1 Comment Comment

Garden in Bloom

Show Photos of Garden in Bloom To Home BuyersSince I was planning to move, I took pictures of all my flower beds and saved them on a flash drive. I thought it would give potential home buyers a visual of how EVERYTHING looks when in bloom.

2 Comments Comment

Use Drawers For More Counter SpaceIf you are running out of counter or cooking room in the kitchen, open up your lower cabinet top kitchen drawers. Lay a cookie sheet or cutting board across them. I like to do this when baking and need more room to put my cooking racks on for baked goods to cool.

2 Comments Comment

Discard Old Needles Inside Prescription BottlesWhen you are all done with a prescription bottle, save it to discard old craft needles or small knives in. Throw out the entire container. Wide containers also will hold a rotary cutter blade to dispose of.

Getting Cat in CarrierHere's a slick trick for putting a willful cat in its carrier. First, try to put it in hind feet first to get it thinking that it had to struggle against it. Then, suddenly flip it around and quickly put it in head first.

2 Comments Comment

Painters Tape to Keep Flour Out of SeamsWhen making homemade noodles, pie crust, or anything else you have to roll out on your table, place painters tape over the crack in the table to keep the flour from being pushed down between the leaves.

Pickle Juice for Sore ThroatWhen your kids have a sore throat and they don't want medicine, try having them gargle with pickle juice. They get the salt and vinegar in one go, and the kids usually love pickles.

4 Comments Comment

Research Before PlantingI decided that this year I am going to add celery to my garden. I am glad I researched it first, because I found out I needed to start celery early. I also discovered that celery seeds that are 2-3 years old work better than younger seeds.

Sleeve as Bag DispenserA sleeve that zips out of a jacket makes a good plastic bag dispenser.

Soda Crackers to Keep Salad FreshWhen having a salad, put the dressing on only the portion served. The remaining salad can kept fresh by wrapping soda crackers in a paper towel and placing them in the bowl. Cling wrap the container to seal out the moisture.

3 Comments Comment

Spare Key For Car DoorI needed a spare car key in case I locked mine in the car. However, the price of a programmed key was over $100. So instead, I took my key to the local hardware store and got a regular key made, put it inside a magnetic box, and hooked it under the car.

12 Comments Comment

Use Old Lotions on CuticlesI found an old jar of face cream in my drawer that I had forgotten about that is a few years old. Instead of throwing it away, I started using it on my cuticles. I rub it in well and then push back the cuticle. I find I now have fewer hangnails, etc.

Buying Boys Clothes For GirlsAs a mom to a bunch of daughters, I have learned a few clothing tips. Most of my daughters are tall. I have found that I get the best buy in the men's department. The men's and boy's shirt sleeves and torsos are longer.

6 Comments Comment

Checking If Eggs Are Still Fresh

Checking If Eggs Are Still FreshWe all know that eggs can be kept for quite awhile. What happens if you think you have had them too long?

Cleaning Textured WallsWhen my boys were little, I discovered a great way to spot clean my walls. Using foam bathroom cleaner and a soft cloth is gentle on the paint, yet removes dirt and grime with no rinsing required.

Giving Pills to CatsCan't get your pet to take their vitamins? This morning, I had a flash of genius. Take a small handful of a favorite treat and add the vitamin pill. It probably helps if you wipe the treat on the pill, but I didn't do it and it still worked.

Measuring Sticky IngredientsWhen measuring lard, shortening, peanut butter, or other such ingredients, I use the displacement method for easy measuring and clean-up.

Removing Stains on LinoleumApply full strength distilled white vinegar directly to tough linoleum stains. Leave it on 10-15 minutes before wiping up. If that doesn't work, apply it again and sprinkle baking soda over the vinegar. Scrub with brush or sponge.

2 Comments Comment

Reuse Ties From PackagingSometimes when buying a packaged item, especially toys, plastic cable/wire ties are used. While these can be annoying to remove, they can be reused.

Sell Clothing At Consignment ShopsI found a way to not only save some money on clothing and household items, but also to make a little money.

1 Comment Comment

Shop Thrift Store Bag Sales for FabricI love fabric crafts, but often want many different fabric materials, patterns, and colors. I now go to the Thrift Store (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.) and look at the clearance rack for shirts, pants, or skirts made of fabric I can use in my crafts.

2 Comments Comment

Use Alcohol To Remove Permanent MarkerIf you get permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt blue!), you can remove it with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel.

Wash Reusable Grocery BagsThis is a health tip for those who live frugally or green. Make sure you wash your cloth grocery bags on a regular basis, in warm water with detergent.

Brown Hamburger In BulkTo help save time in the kitchen when I know it is going to be a busy week, I will buy a large amount of lean ground beef at Costco or Sam's. I purchase, say, a 5 1/2 pound package.

1 Comment Comment

Cleaning ProduceUse a clean micro-cloth moistened with water to clean/scrub fruit and vegetables before using. You can also use a bit of vinegar for an extra cleaning boost.

Doilies over Gift WrapUse doilies over plain paper wrap for smaller gifts. The doily can be used again.

Dry Your Own Celery Leaves

Dry Your Own Celery LeavesWhen celery is real cheap, I buy several bunches to use when the price goes too high or I need some and don't have any fresh. After washing the celery and letting it dry, I remove all the leaves. I put them, whole, on baking sheets lined with paper towels.

4 Comments Comment

Making Guests Feel WelcomeHave family coming to stay overnight that you haven't seen for a while? Gather a few photos and make a collage from them or copy them and put them in an inexpensive photo album.

2 Comments Comment

Read Magazines OnlineIf you're like me, you love the Parenting-type Magazines, but don't want to pay for them. If you're already paying for the internet, why not just "subscribe" to their online version instead, and save a bundle? Not to mention saving a bundle of trees.

3 Comments Comment

Recipe Box for Paint SamplesHave you ever moved into a home that needed a little paint touch up but had no paint? Every house should have a recipe box of paint samples! Once a room is painted, I take a piece of card stock and coat one side with paint.

1 Comment Comment

water free toliet

Remove Water When Cleaning ToiletTo really get your loo clean, use your toilet brush/swab to remove all the water from the bowl. This way your cleanser will come in direct contact with the surface and not get watered down.

4 Comments Comment

Removing Blood from FabricBlood stains on clothes? Not to worry. Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time!

6 Comments Comment

Reuse Pet Food Bags For Household WasteIf you buy pet food, feed, or flour/sugar/salt in large bags, save those bags when empty. They are just the right size for a kitchen trash can and are very sturdy - more so than the plastic trash bags.

2 Comments Comment

Sterilizing SpongesI put kitchen sponges in my dishwasher and run the cycle with a cup of bleach. After the dishwasher disinfects of the kitchen sponges, I spray them with a disinfectant spray and place in the microwave for about 50 seconds on high power.

10 Comments Comment

Use a Mechanic's Creeper to GardenI'm not about to give up gardening because I'm disabled, but it hurts too much to bend over all the time. So I figured out that if I use a mechanic creeper, then I can sit on it, be closer to the dirt, carry my supplies, and I don't have to bend over.

5 Comments Comment

Use Cutting Boards to Save Counter TopsTo save my white counter tops in the kitchen, office, bath, and laundry/sewing room, which are expensive to replace as we know, I go to K-Mart and buy their clear acrylic or glass cutting boards in as close to the size of the area I need as possible.

1 Comment Comment

Use Rice to Absorb Excess Moisture in ElectronicsI washed my cell phone in the washing machine. I got it out , took it all apart, and placed it in a bag of rice. It is working fine now.

Use Sharpie to Decorate FabricDo you have a child or teen's birthday coming up? How about a church youth group? Here is something we did that youth of all ages enjoy. We bought a package of colored Sharpies.

8 Comments Comment

Warm Up With CleaningIf your kitchen is the central gathering place and you are trying to keep your heat bill down, then schedule your "hot" cleaning for the colder times of the evening.

1 Comment Comment

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