Thrifty Tip Contest (May 21 - 27, 2011) | ThriftyFun

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(May 21 - 27, 2011)

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

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Duration	Entries
May 21 - 27, 2011	54

Tip: Cleaning Badly Burnt Pots and Pans

attosa
Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,246 Posts

May 24, 2011

Don't waste your time scrubbing a badly burned pot. All you need to do is put it outside in direct sunlight for a few days. The burnt food will crust up together, and when you turn it upside down, it will all fall out.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 17

Tip: Doilies to Accent Gift Wrap

HellofromMhay
Bronze Craft Medal for All Time! 63 Crafts

May 22, 2011

I love using paper doilies to accent gifts. It adds an elegant touch and is inexpensive.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 15

Tip: Removing Odors From Jars

May 22, 2011

I've really gotten into washing out and reusing jars and containers instead of buying brand plastic products. Sometimes the best jars have really tough odors, like pickle and olive jars.

Comment Was this helpful? 20

Avoid "Death by GPS!"Don't (pardon the pun) blindly follow your GPS, especially if you're traveling in remote areas. A Canadian couple, Albert and Rita Chretien, learned that lesson the hard way.

12 Comments Comment

Freshening Dresser DrawersPlace fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.

1 Comment Comment

Organizing Lids in CupboardI hate looking for things in a crowded cupboard. I fought "lids" for years. One day, I put a drawer silverware holder in the cupboard and simply placed my griddles and lids sideways in the divisions and have had no problems with them sliding around since then.

1 Comment Comment

Photo of stabilizing an etagere

Stabilizing an EtagereI recently got a nice etagere for the bathroom. However, I live in an older apartment where the floor tends to slant.

1 Comment Comment

"Don't Text Me" App For Your SmartphoneIt's easy to make plans with text messages, but doing so while driving is unsafe, and in fact, illegal in many places. Download the free "Don't Text Me" app from Itunes. It will send an autoreply that says you can't pick up messages.

2 Comments Comment

Canisters from Coffee ContainersWhen I empty my plastic coffee containers, I paint them with paint for plastic found at your craft store or any paint store. I use these containers to store rice, beans, or any dry food product.

4 Comments Comment

Cleaning Love Bugs Off Your WindshieldHow to get love bugs off your windshield. Use the sheet you put in dryer, it works great!

4 Comments Comment

Freezer "Bin System"I've found a way to keep my freezer organized that saves me both time and money. I have plastic bins that fit on the shelves and are labeled as to contents: chicken, beef, fish. I have 2 other bins labeled "prepared food" and "prepped ingredients".

1 Comment Comment

Organizing Seasonal ClothingAt this time of year, as I do laundry I begin to store 'out of season' clothing. I live on the East Coast so we need to start eliminating sweaters and long sleeved items from our closet.

1 Comment Comment

Photo of a Band Aid Box Full

Other Uses for Bandaid Travel PackI recently bought one of these $.99 travel packs with 8 bandages in it. When it was empty, I found that it is perfect for all kinds of things. You can put in q-tips, antacids, nails and small screws, and I keep some insulin needles in mine.

2 Comments Comment

Removing Sour Milk Smell From Baby BottlesNew Mommies, this is for you!

2 Comments Comment

A snack bucket with chips on the outside.

Snack Bucket from Coffee ContainerSince I hate to throw anything out in the garbage if it can be used a second time, I made a snack bucket from a Folgers Coffee Container. To cut down the cost, I covered all the labels with wallpaper instead of painting the canister.

2 Comments Comment

Stretch Fruit JuiceI found that our family was drinking an excessive amount of fruit juice, which is both expensive and has more calories than we really need. I now make a large batch of naturally decaffeinated herbal tea and mix in fruit juice to taste.

5 Comments Comment

Using Salt to Clean Artificial FlowersTo clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!

4 Comments Comment

Borax For FleasHaving lost an entire litter of kittens due to fleas, I had to find a cheap way to rid my house of them. A friend came to my rescue. She said to sprinkle borax over all carpeted area.

3 Comments Comment

Add Flavor to CasserolesI use the leftovers in the refrigerator to create a one-dish casserole-type recipe. I gather the leftover veggies, meat/poultry, and pasta/rice/noodles. I usually add something wet, like broth ...

Attach Store Discount Cards to Shopping BagWhen I go food shopping, I have attached my price plus discount card to my recyclable bag. I just punched a hole in the card (away from the bar code). No more misplaced card and I recycle at the same time.

2 Comments Comment

Correct Tire Pressure for Better Gas MileageMy grandson told me the other day, "You know Momow, I raised my gas level in my tank the other day by simply putting air in my tires. It works!"

Craft: Cute Magnet GiftsWith Father's Day coming, I wanted to share these magnets my 3 year old twin grandsons gave me for Mother's Day, with a little help from their mom and dad. They would be perfect for Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, or any other holiday!

1 Comment Comment

Door Knob Cat ToyFor a door knob cat toy, take a heavy string and tie a number of odd items from around the house. I have a small section of plastic chain, a piece of ribbon tied to the string with a knot, and something shiny.

Dryer Sheets For Garbage OdorI put a scented fabric softener sheet under every trash bag and inside of the bag, too, for the trashcans in my house. It seems to really help not only the trashcans by absorbing odors, but seems to freshen the air in the room, too!

3 Comments Comment

Ice Ring for Punch BowlA great mold to use for an ice ring to float in a punch bowl, is the plastic container that store bought angel food cake comes in.

1 Comment Comment

Plant Your Sprouting PotatoesSpring is upon us and the potatoes under the sink or in the pantry are sprouting. If used soon, they may still be edible, but if they have gone soft or have too many sprouts, why not plant them?

Prepare for School the Night BeforeMy grandchildren live with me, and mornings were chaotic getting them ready for school. Now at night each child has to get their clothes ready for the next day, put their shoes by the door, and have their backpacks next to them.

2 Comments Comment

Photo of Plastic Bottles in Bucket

Reusing Plastic Drink BottlesI save these wonderful little plastic bottles from teas and "ice" drinks. I also have my friends and family save these wonderful coffee containers. When moving, I found that four fit inside the other, and the brain started thinking.

4 Comments Comment

Washing Windows Without StreaksUse vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean.

Pink flowers in the garden

Add Dish Soap to Bug SprayIf you have to spray any type of bug spray to save or preserve your plants or flowers, add a few drops of Dawn dish detergent to the mixture and it will actually help the spray stick and work.

Buy Ham Hocks for RecipesHoney Baked Hams sells ham hocks. They have a lot of ham still on them, and they are priced by weight.

Cleaning With BeerUse leftover beer to clean a greasy gas or electric stove. Also works well for cleaning glass windows. Just soak a thin cotton fabric with beer and scrub! Follow up with a clean cloth.

7 Comments Comment

Dusting Ceiling FansFor mess free dusting of ceiling fans, simply find an old pillowcase and dampen it. Place it over each blade separately, and slide it off while cleaning each blade.

2 Comments Comment

Filling Nail Holes in WallAn easy way to patch small holes in the wall is to use white toothpaste (not the gel type) and smooth. It can be painted over or covered with wallpaper. It can also be touched up with colored pens.

2 Comments Comment

Freeze Leftover Vegetables for SoupsWhenever I have leftover vegetables, especially when it is only a small amount, I put them in a 2 pint plastic container with a lid. I always keep this container on a shelf in my freezer, so it is very convenient.

Keep Change of Clothes at WorkYou never know when you will need a change of clothes or a hygiene product. Working in the nursing field, you can run into so many things that can get on your clothing or make you smell bad.

1 Comment Comment

Keep Flag From FrayingWe like to fly our American flag 24 hours a day, and living where the wind blows almost non-stop we go through a lot of flags. My father told me this secret to saving them.

4 Comments Comment

MAAS to Clean Stainless Steel SinkStains resulting from harsh chemicals, etc. on your kitchen stainless steel sink can generally be removed by a gentle application of MAAS Metal Polishing Creme.

Organizing Electric AdaptersI have a lot of things that use the adapters with the little black box on the cord that plugs in to the electrical outlet in order to use. Each one seems a different size.

5 Comments Comment

Worn Shoes2

Re-cover Worn ShoesI had a pair of shoes that really looked like they needed a 'pick-me-up' to give them some new life. I took some Fabri-Tac glue and some scrap fabric and measured to fit the shoes.

1 Comment Comment

Ripping Seams EasilyI do a lot of sewing and sometimes make mistakes, resulting in having to rip out seams. While ripping the hem of an old flannel sheet to make pet bed covers, I knew it would take too much time.

2 Comments Comment

Rugs on Smooth Floors for DogsIf you have smooth floor surfaces in your home and an aging dog, please consider whether they would appreciate carpet runners to create safe pathways for them to get from place to place.

4 Comments Comment

Photo of Stack O' Cans

Stack Decorative TinsI recently moved from a larger to a smaller apartment. I love the decorator tins I get from thrift shops. They are an essential part of my kitchen/dining room decor, but this time, I had only enough room for one of them.

Tiered Gift Box "Cake"I did this for my sister's bridal shower, but you could do this in a birthday or another fun holiday theme! For a wedding gift tower:

2 Comments Comment

Wash Dishes as You GoHow would you like visitors to drop by and you have a whole sink load of dirty dishes? This would embarrass me, and it also makes me think people are not very clean.

3 Comments Comment

Homemade Fruit-Acid FacialFor an inexpensive pick-me-up for your face - buy a papaya, cut it in half, eat the insides and then rub the inside of the fruit peel on your face. Leave for ten minutes then rinse off.

Individual OmeletsFor an omelet bar, set out various dishes containing such things as: chopped onions, red and green peppers, mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, various grated cheeses, plus one egg for each person.

4 Comments Comment

Pet Beds From Old RugsI make pet beds for rescues and an easy way to make some is to collect 'shaggy' rugs like bathroom rugs, cut a piece of sturdy fabric the same size and zig-zag stitch it to the back of the rug.

Things To Consider When Drying Clothes OutsideDrying clothes outside saves you from using the dryer. However if you are not super careful you could end up spending a fortune as well.

5 Comments Comment

Photo of Flat Boxes

Use Flat Boxes for Puzzles and PostersDuring my hiatus from having my own place, I had to store my puzzles that were put together. I didn't want them drawing moisture, so I stored them under a friend's guest bed.

2 Comments Comment

Using Stale BreadWith only two of us now at our house, bread gets stale before we eat it all. You know you can make bread pudding out of it. Also, it makes great stuffing.

1 Comment Comment

Wind Chime From Soda CansTo make a cheap wind chime, I used a 1x4 inch board, cut 4- 3 1/2 inch pieces, and drilled 4 small holes, 3 inches apart, and 2 holes in the top of the board.

1 Comment Comment

Ice Cream Sundae Bar for Memorial DayAn easy dessert for your backyard Memorial Day gathering is to set up an Ice Cream Sundae "bar" with several varieties of ice cream, toppings, chopped candy bar and cookie pieces, whipped cream, and cherries, of course.

3 Comments Comment

Making Decorative MagnetsDon't throw away old theme calendars, some of them have thumbnails on the very back page that make perfect fridge magnets. Cut each thumbnail out individually and place on a magnetic sheet.

1 Comment Comment

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