Thrifty Tip Contest (May 1 - 31, 2013)

Duration	Entries
May 1 - 31, 2013	84

Corn Starch for Face PowderInstead of buying expensive face powder, I simply fill a small container with corn starch. It works well and gets rid of the shine!

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Credit Cards on VacationCall your credit card company before you leave. Let them know where you're headed and what kind of purchases you are likely to be making outside your normal spending pattern.

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Getting Ants out of the GardenThis is what I am going to try this year, in the house and also in the garden.

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Save Energy When CookingCooking recipes usually date from the time people did not have to save on energy. Many recipes advise to put eggs, or rice or pasta in the water only once it is boiling to cook them. You can put eggs or rice or pasta or potatoes in the cold water and then start heating it.

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Substitute Sour Cream or Yogurt for Mayonnaise in RecipesSour cream and plain yogurt are great. These two items can be substituted for mayonnaise in recipes. Some don't like the ingredients or taste in mayonnaise. Greek Yogurt can also be used the same as a substitute for mayonnaise in recipes.

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Toilet Bowl Freshener As Animal DeterrentWe had a raccoon and cats that were being nuisances. I purchased several of the "old fashioned" toilet bowl fresheners. I hung them along the bottom of the fence especially in areas I know the animal used for access.

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Use a Marble Inside Spray BottlesWhen at the bottom of a spray bottle's contents and nothing comes out but foam, just drop in a marble. Every last bit of cleaner will be used up. Sometimes I drop in the marble when I first use the cleaner.

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Free Nitrogen FertilizerI have a hanging basket of pansies . It was beautiful until a mother house finch decided to build a nest in it.

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Freeze Gatorade For Hot DaysIf you make gatorade pops for the summer and spring, it will be really good for when the kids come in from a day of activity. Ice cubes are nice too for cups of gatorade so that it won't be diluted down.

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Getting More out of your DeodorantI recently learned that all packaging in underarm deodorant sticks actually have more deodorant material than the packaging claims. This extra material is used to keep the last bits of the deodorant on to the bottom of the base.

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Insect Repellent for HumansI am going to try this repellent this year. Mainly if I go hiking or on a long walk.

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Read Your Coupons!I am a coupon queen, and while I am not at the level of those extreme couponers, I can still do some damage at the store! Recently, I was able to save my friend almost $17 in hair care products with coupons.

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Recycled Zebra ClothespinIf you cut a circle out of a butter container lid, and then cut a 'U' shape inside of it, it will act like a temporary clothespin.

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Retro Candy DishHere is a painted flower pot with metal tape handle. I used a drawer pull for the topper.

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Reuse Frames for New PicturesI worked with a few craft teachers in a hobby and craft supply store. It was great to see people that have a store where they make money not only on resale of products, but services like picture framing and changing old frames.

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Teen Scavenger Hunt PartyI was mystified as what to do with my teenage girl but found a brilliant idea online. A scavenger hunt!

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Keeping Banners From Flipping in BreezeWhen decorating for the 4th of July, $1 store items are wonderful, but sometimes you may need to alter them to suit your decorating. I put my banner outside on my deck, but the wind flipped them over, so I taped pennies to their back sides and now they hang nicely.

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Uses for Bread WrappersI save my empty bread wrappers/bags. They are air tight and very useful. I wrap cheeses, sandwiches, and lunchmeat, with what would usually be thrown out. I start with one bag and stuff the other empty bags inside of the one "first" bag.

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Forever Clean Shower StallThis is a motivational tip, as we all already know how to clean our shower stall.

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Recycling MiO ContainersI buy MiO drops to add to water for flavor. They come in these cute little containers. I hate to toss anything if I can find a way to recycle so I washed them out and saved them.

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Empty Creamer Bottles Have Multitudes of UsesI use empty creamer bottles for lots of things, especially food items we buy in large containers at Sam's Club: syrup, dishwasher soap (awesome for that!), hot chocolate mix, strawberry mix, even as a small pitcher of milk for the dining table that kids can easily pour.

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Pickle Juice for Prettier HydrangeasMy dad puts dill pickle juice on his hydrangea roots to make them turn purple and pink instead of just white. They are very pretty.

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Cleaning Trash CansHose your trash and kitchen garbage cans outside and put dish soap in and scrub with a sponge and let it air dry outside. Then spray with disinfectant.

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Critter-proof Your Flowerpots and BarrelsIf you can get a roll of "garden fence" plastic, measure the diameter of your pot or barrel and cut a piece to fit plus a couple of inches.

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A mini blind slat with the plant name written on the top.

Mini Blinds For Plant LabelsI have already submitted a couple of ideas for plant labels. This is my absolute favorite. Cut old, one inch mini blinds into five inch strips. Taper one end. Just write the plant name and plant date on them with a pencil or marker.

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Non Toxic Tick Repellent for DogsI found this tick repellent which someone posted on Facebook. I am going to try the pet repellent formula which is as follows, and I might make a few changes.

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Replacing Worn Off Keyboard LettersBlack keyboard: Silver Sharpies. It's not as neat as the stickers, but cheap. Silver Sharpies are great for writing on black surfaces

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Store Leftover Paint In Ketchup BottlesUp-cycle your old squeeze ketchup bottles. I use them to store my leftover water based paints. I use a funnel to pour the paint into the bottle and a rubber spatula to scrap the remaining paint from the can.

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Use Cardboard To Clean KeyboardI found to my surprise that using cardboard from a toilet paper roll, about the size of a large paperclip, makes an excellent hair and debris picker-upper from off the keyboard.

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Alleviate Your Dog's Fear Of RainI have had a lot of success with my Catahoula/Rottie doggie, Bruno, by teaching him what the noise outside was when the rain hit the ground. I will say in a rather clipped voice, "rain" and then praise after three seconds.

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Nut and Bolt Space SaverFind a piece of square timber just larger than your jar diameter and however long you want it. Nail the lids onto all four sides of the timber. Screw in a thick screw on either end of the timber.

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Stained Glass Effect Using CellophaneAfter moving into a 150 year old farm house, I wanted to enhance the beauty of the entry door but didn't want to disturb the old leaded glass window panes. I went to the Dollar Tree and purchased cellophane wrapping paper.

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Store and Organize Needlework Patterns on Your ComputerI have been knitting/crocheting and doing other needlework for over 45 years, so I have lots of patterns and instructions to keep track of. I also love using computers, so I decided to put the two pleasures together and save some space.

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Crate filled with purple and white pansies.

Tips on Buying Violas and PansiesA lot of people may not know that viola and the pansy which is derived from the viola, are perennials. In their natural habitat, they will come back year after year. Their natural habitat has a climate much cooler than most parts of the States.

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Catnip for Helping Cats Get AlongBuy the loose catnip in a bag at the store and scatter it around when you have them out together. I never force cats together. The scared newcomer will stay in the bathroom until it develops skills and confidence to approach not only humans but other cats.

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Cream of Tartar for CleaningCream of tartar is an acidic salt that comes from grapes and it is made from the crystals that form on the inside of fermentation tanks while making wine. This is purified and used for baking and cooking, but as I just found out recently, it is great for cleaning too.

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Dryer Lint For Fire StartingSave the lint from the dryer in a plastic container. In the winter months when the wood for the fire gets a little damp, use the lint under the kindling to get it started. Works great!

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Ice Cream ToppingsAny dish that uses caramel in it can be made extra wonderful by the use of caramel corn sprinkled on top of a dollop of Cool Whip whipped topping.

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Free Chip Clips From HangersWhen shopping, I often get to take the hanger that the clothing items are on. They are white plastic and have two clamps on each end of the hanger. My husband saws the two clips off and we have free clips.

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Getting the Last Bit Out of a TubeI love the expensive "eyelid primer" before applying my eye shadow. It only takes a dot on the eyelid to make my makeup last from morning to night. When I get to the "end" of the tiny tube and can't squeeze anymore out, there's still at least a week's worth in the tube.

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Growing Food in Recycled PodsShort on space? Want to grow herbs or salad foods? Then grow food upwards! Yep, this season I have done this using recycled materials and here's how. I used parts of a pallet (wooden slated base which building products are delivered on in the UK) to make a rectangular frame, secured in the corners with screws to provide some strength.

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Homemade Deer/Rabbit RepellentBlend 1 egg and 1 cup water. Pour into a quart pistol grip spray bottle. Fill to top with water, adding 1 tsp. dish soap. Set in sun for a few days until putrified. Spray plants that the animals love to eat.

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Keeping Cut Lilacs Fresh LongerWhen cutting fresh lilacs, use a hammer to lightly crush the woody part of the cut ends to about 2 inches up the stem. The lilacs will then take up more of the water in the vase and stay fresher longer.

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Labeled Soda and Cornstarch in square plastic boxes.

Labeling Pantry StaplesI don't like keeping certain pantry staples in the original paper box. I transfer them to plastic containers with tight fitting lids.

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Natural Mosquito Repellent with Limes and ClovesSlice a lime in half and press many cloves all around and on the lime half. When you scatter these around where you are going to eat outside, then it will keep the mosquitoes away.

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Plastic Party Slinky for ClothespinsI was out putting our kitchen towels on the line to either refresh them or dry them, and I noticed I had a party slinky on the basket by the line. So it occurred to me that those could hold my little kitchen towels.

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Product Review: Plaque Off Animal for Dog's Bad BreathI have used an excellent product by ProDen called "Plaque Off Animal". It gets rid of the tartar and plaque which causes bad breath. I just add a tiny scoop, which comes with the product, to your pet's food every day.

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Relief for Off DaysI have off days and I am sure most people do. When these happen, I have some comforting memories written on a small pretty paper in my nightstand and I have an nice scented Epson salts by the tub.

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Store Canned Goods in DrawersI have a drawer used for cans only in my kitchen cabinet. I took a permanent marker and labeled the top of each can. Now when I roll the drawer open, I can see what's stored in a glance.

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Use a Headlamp During Power OutagesBuy a couple of "headlamps". They are small flashlights attached to an elastic band to wear around your forehead - think miner's lamps. I bought mine at Home Depot.

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Use Epsom Salts for More TomatoesPlace about 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt around your tomato plants! Your plants will be full of tomatoes.

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Using a Peeling George Foreman GrillI really enjoy my little George Foreman grill, but the Teflon is peeling. I use a piece of lightweight tin foil, big enough to fold over the meat and spray it lightly with oil.

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Cornstarch, Vinegar and Water for Window CleaningA wonderful window cleaner can be made out of cornstarch, vinegar and water.

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Cleaning Tiny Holes in Your Hummingbird FeederTo clean the tiny holes in the bug and bee guards on my feeder, I use an old mascara wand that has been thoroughly cleaned. It works great for getting into small places!

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Removing Crayon from Washed and Dried ClothesI never check pockets when I wash clothes, and of course this time I payed the price. I did not realize there was a crayon in a pocket until I dried the load and to my horror saw that I had blue spots on everything. I honestly almost started crying.

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Freezing MangoesIf you find them on sale and want to preserve them, freezing is a great option. Just cut them up in either chunks or dice, or you can puree them and freeze them in ice cube trays.

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Preventing Bathtub Slip and FallsI love a tub bath, however, getting out of the tub can be kind of tricky for an old lady like me especially when the tub is slippery. I have found that placing a towel down in the tub before getting up makes it much easier. It keeps me from slipping and I have no fear of falling.

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Protecting Plants from Deer and RabbitsIt's that time of year again when rabbits and deer are looking for some succulent plants to chew on. We have plenty of them in our neighborhood and their favorite foods are tulips, lilies, and hostas. I discovered the best repellent that actually works!

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Perfume Samples for Scented LingerieI love lightly scented lingerie and socks so I will pull out the nice perfume scented paper samples in magazines and inserts mailed to me to fold into my lingerie drawers! I even add softener sheets or soap wrappers sometimes!

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Car Scent Canister for BedroomI have a chair in my bedroom that is holding up a fan. I don't like the cats to go underneath it. I put this can under the chair and it has made the whole bedroom smell wonderful when the fan is on and when it is off.

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Drying Heavy QuiltsWhen I dry heavy quilts and heavy mattress covers, I put clean tennis sneakers that have been washed in the washer and put them in the dryer with the quilts. The sneakers fluff the quilts and they dry quicker and look very puffy just like new.

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How to Avoid Pests when Planting SquashThe squash vine borer is a very insidious moth that feeds on squash plants. You can tell it attacked your squash when you can see that the stem of the plant itself has been destroyed and gutted out by a disgusting fat white grub.

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Make That Bed Before You ShowerI learned that I could make my bed in the time it took for the water in the shower to get warm. Smooth the sheets and fluff the pillow as you get out of the bed. Turn on the shower. Then make the other side of the bed including spread or comforter.

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Mod Podge SubstituteI recently discovered that if you add a little water to plain white craft glue, the same crafts can be made, with the same results, as if you used the more expensive Mod Podge as an adhesive/sealant/gloss.

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Plastic Bottles for Patio ChairsI was given some old patio chairs that are very sturdy. I love them, however they are rusted on the bottoms of the chair legs. I went and recycled some bottoms of those plastic soda bottles and put them under chair legs.

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Remembering Smiles: A Memento BookI've discovered how using a binder with a few simple office supplies and some slight creativity can be used to preserve greeting cards and special memories for years to come.

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Remove Odors with Ground CoffeeMy daughter had accidentally unplugged a chest freezer and I didn't find it until about 2 weeks later. The whole thing was filled with nasty rotten meat.

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Use BBQ Tongs to Retrieve ItemsI hit on the idea of using long metal BBQ tongs. It really grabs what I need and I can keep it right by my chair.

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Clothespins for Keeping Snacks FreshAfter I enjoy a bowl of cereal or munch a chip, I fold the bag by bringing the top corners of the bag in to meet each other then fold the flap down. I then clip a clothespin on the flap and return to box or shelf.

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Freeze Part Full Water BottlesI thought I was pretty clever to freeze partial bottles of water into ice. Then I can just add either more water, juice or other drinks to when I head out the door for a walk, gardening or on the road!

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Have Recipes Will TravelI live in a foreign country and also love to cook. So, when I visit my family in the states, I usually say from 2-4 weeks and because airline tickets are expensive, I try to stay a decent amount of time.

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Homemade Gift BagThis gift bag is made from a crispbread box, painted using a 99p test pot. For the handles I used twine/string. I filled it with homemade items; home grown and dried mint, and a lavender sachet.

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Update a Sheath-Style DressYou don't have to throw away your favorite sheath-style dress just because you outgrow it. All things old can become new again with a bit of imagination.

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Cleaning Flip FlopsI live in Florida on the beach, where flip flops are pretty much a uniform. When mine get dirty and sort of unmanageable, I either throw them in the wash or put them in the dishwasher.

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Coconut Oil as Natural DeodorantI have discovered the best kept secret for eliminating underarm odor. It is organic virgin coconut oil. I cook with it as well because it is very nutritious.

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Freezing Banana BreadCut the whole loaf into serving sized pieces. Butter one side or skip this step if you don't butter yours. Cut each slice in half and fold over (if buttered), butter sides in. Wrap each one in Saran Wrap then put the entire sliced loaf into a freezer container.

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Getting Rid of Scuff Marks on FloorsTo get rid of a scuff mark on a floor, just re-scuff the same mark with your shoe. I don't know why it works, but it does. Weird, but true.

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Prevent Onion Powder From CakingI always had trouble with onion powder (and other powders) caking soon after the container was opened. To measure an amount, I would have to gouge out a lump and rub it through a sieve.

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Use a Wet Cloth for Professional Ironing ResultsWhen ironing fabric that is especially wrinkled, wet a cloth, wring it out, and rub it along the fabric as you iron. This method adds a little moisture without making it too wet and works much better than even a steam iron.

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(May 1 - 31, 2013)

Tip: Safe and Effective Mosquito Repellent

Article: Organizing for a Disability

Tip: Pinesol To Keep Pests Away

Tip: Healthy Snacks for Losing Weight

Tip: Use Pledge to Deter Ants