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Thrifty Tip Contest
(July 1 - 31, 2013)

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Duration	Entries
July 1 - 31, 2013	67

Tip: Egg Crates for Veggie Storage

July 27, 2013

Use egg crates as a base for vegetables. If a veggie becomes "weepy" before you can use it, it won't drip onto the others. Cut the crates to fit your basket or shelf.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 9

Tip: Remodeling Your Older Motorhome

July 17, 2013

We have an older motorhome, and were thinking of upgrading. The bedroom is NOT a good layout for arthritic older folks with bad backs. The cost and effort of selling ours or trading for a new new one, then MOVING IN was just too much for me to do.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 9

Tip: Boric Acid For Controlling Ants In Garden And Kitchen

likekinds
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 523 Posts

July 5, 2013

I have a fairly large piece of property. It is mostly sandy loam. Ants seem to prefer this type of soil. At any given time, there may be several thousand ant hills on my land.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 9

Tip: How To Freeze Eggs

coville123
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 433 Posts

July 5, 2013

You can freeze eggs by cracking them open and mixing them well. Then just put the mixed eggs in ice trays and freeze. Two cubes is equal to one egg. Then just take them out as you need them.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 2

Tip: Quick and Safe Remedy for Fleas

July 5, 2013

Before bed, sprinkle salt along all baseboards and along floors around furniture. You can also do this before you leave the house for the day. Simply vacuum up after you have allowed it to sit over night or during a work day.

Comment Was this helpful? 6

Buy Large Deodorant SprayInstead of using expensive feminine deodorant spray that usually that comes in a small can, just use a large can of spray deodorant. You get a larger amount of deodorant spray for a lot less money.

1 Comment Comment

Practical Vases For FlowersThe dollar stores have become very handy for me. When I go, I get several vases to keep at home. When I want to take flowers to someone, I purchase them for a reasonable price from either a market or a bulk produce place.

1 Comment Comment

Violas in hanging pot.

Saving Violas For Second Round Of BloomsHere's a picture of a hanging basket of viola. I bought the sad looking markdown last fall at Lowe's for 50¢. I nurtured it a little and enjoyed a full basket of blooms all winter and spring.

Alternative To Freezer Bags For The Frugal MindedDon't throw away your cereal bags that contain cereal, they make great freezer bags when you run out of store bought ones or just to save money. Or you can use them with Dollar Store freezer bags for extra protection from freezer burn.

Easy Ice PackFor boo-boos, swelling or high fevers, slip a freezer-sized zipper bag into a tube sock THEN fill it with ice and zip.

Fixing a Stuck ZipperIf your zipper is stuck, use a graphite pencil along the teeth back and front and, presto, it works again!

Freeze Sheets Before BedtimeThis is what we do on hot nights, after living in two houses with no central AC and no window units upstairs.

2 Comments Comment

Frozen Bottles for Watering Hanging PlantsFreeze water bottles with either plain water or water with diluted plant food. Once frozen, open the cap and invert the bottle into your houseplants. The ice will melt slowly and drip into the plant and soak the soil rather than pouring through and out the drainholes.

Homemade Greeting Cards on Your ComputerI have been using www.snapfish.com to create greeting cards that I can print on my own home printer. Any kind of card stock or even good thick writing paper works well.

1 Comment Comment

Matching Paint To Existing ColorsI had a similar problem when I moved to my older condo 8 years ago. The counter tops were a unique laminate red color, which I absolutely loved. The wallpaper on the walls was horrible. I removed it and then thought about a wall color that would enhance my red counters.

Watch For Green Money in Unexpected PlacesLook for green money, too. Look behind pictures in frames, between pages of old books, on the underside of drawers and shelves...

Bread Bags for Storing Artificial FlowersI use artificial flowers for every holiday and used to just throw them in a large storage container. Then I started washing out my bread bags because they are the perfect length and started saving those little plastic tabs for holding the bag closed.

2 Comments Comment

2 Liter Bottle Starter Pot for PlantsMy little gardeners call these "banana pots." Cut the top off a 2-liter bottle and toss or save for another project. Punch 2-3 small holes in the bottom for drainage. Make four vertical cuts to splay the bottle.

1 Comment Comment

Easy Fresh GingerI use ginger a lot. It's not easy to peel and dice or grate, so I hit upon a way to make it easier. I keep it in the freezer and grate it without peeling. The frozen peel plus the inside crumble instantly.

Buy Half Sheet Paper TowelsIf you are going to use paper towels the most obvious savings are to always buy the "select-a-size" where there are already perforations for a half a sheet.

Drawstring Bag for Washing BrasOver the years I have had several bras get ruined in the washer with the hooks getting stuck on the holes to the washer and dryer. I purchased sheets that came in a draw string bag that really had no use after the sheets were taken out.

Removing Label from Glass JarsSoak glass jars in hottest water that your faucet will allow. Make sure labels are completely submerged. If there is more than one label that can't be submerged rotate the jar until labels are peeling off on their own.

Ask For Travel ReimbursementHealth and Human Resourses will reimburse you for the cost of the gasoline you had to purchase in order to go to and from doctor or dental visits. They will furnish you a form that you fill out and the doctor or staff member signs it.

1 Comment Comment

Clean Furniture with Oxi CleanOxi Clean really works great. Add to line 1 per 16 oz. of water, for a cleaning vac or shampoo vac. Apply only enough solution to saturate chair. Allow solution to stand 1 - 5 minutes.

Lawn Edging

Making a Small FlowerbedI have a small hill on my property where it meets a busy street. I decided to give the motorists and pedestrians something pleasant to look at as they passed by.

To Buy Or Not To BuyWhen I am deciding to buy clothing, I ask myself how many times I would be wearing the item. My rule is a dollar a day. So if the top I am going to buy is $10.00, will I at least wear it 10 times? If I don't think I will, then it is not a bargain.

1 Comment Comment

Know Your Store's Policy on MistakesFirst check your store's policy, some stores like Pick & Save give you double your money back. They might ask you if you left the store, so walk out the door and come back in.

Nail Polish Remover for Ink in DryerI tried everything and the only thing that worked was nail polish remover. I put the remover on a white rag and rubbed on the ink. I then ran the dryer for 10 minutes with old towels in the dryer. Good as new.

Use Hairspray as a Fixative for Chalk DrawingsI go around my drawings after finishing using colored chalk to match the colors in my drawing. To keep this beautiful effect from coming off spray it with hair spray.

2 Comments Comment

Photo frame with dried flowers.

Decorated Picture FrameTable wood frame with glass cover, picture size 4 X 6', hand painted and decorated with dry nature from my garden.

Masking Tape to Keep Rugs from SlippingRugs on hard floors stop slipping if you roll masking tape at least 5 times around your hand and apply to each corner of the rug. The tape will not damage any tiles or even wooden flooring

4 Comments Comment

Replace Elastic on Paper RespiratorsTake a paper respirator and remove those flimsy stretch bands off. Replace them with a more sturdy elastic band from a pair of old suspenders, or you can get 1/2 to 3/4 wide elastic band material from a sewing store.

Vacation Packing Food For a CottageWe vacation in a cottage. I try to conserve on space when packing things into our compact car. Also, we try to be frugal by bringing from home as much as we can to save on grocery shopping. Prices are too high in vacation areas.

1 Comment Comment

Rolling foil lid off of single serve dog food.

Open Dog Food Containers More EasilyMy fingers don't work as good as they once did so I find ways to help with opening things. If you are feeding your dogs these little packages with aluminum lids, then just roll the pencil around the aluminum and you have leverage.

1 Comment Comment

Advance Directive is a Must for Every AdultEvery adult should have a signed advance health directive so doctors know who to contact in case the person can no longer make their own health care decisions.

Catch Fleas in your HomePut shallow bowls of warm water with a dash of Dawn liquid detergent on the floor under lamps. If you have fleas in your house, they will gravitate to the warmth of the light bulbs and jump in the water.

2 Comments Comment

Dressing Up A Blah House

Dressing Up A Blah HouseThe front of our house was so plain looking. We went to the local Menard's and bought shutters for the windows and paint for the foundation.

3 Comments Comment

Inspect Roof Vents for Cracks

Inspect Roof Vents for CracksEvery year, you need to inspect your roof and pipe vent boots to make sure you don't have cracks in the boots that seal out moisture. This needs to be repaired immediately to prevent damage and costly repairs.

Reuse Changing Table for a Garden PartyWhile having an outside birthday party, my daughter had a brainstorm. She saw her old changing table and brought outside to use as a bar.

Tips For The Perfect Nails

Tips For The Perfect NailsI had really badly bitten nails, they were horrible! If you want really strong long gorgeous nails, here's my secret. First, stop all nail bitting, nail polish removers and dark colored nail polish.

1 Comment Comment

Conditioner For ShavingEver wonder what to use those 'conditioner' samples that come in the mail or brands you didn't care for? Well, wonder no more! I keep those little gems for when I need to shave.

Display Rocks In Water

Display Rocks In WaterEven plain looking rocks become interesting to look at when viewed in a glass filled with water.

Notebook Calendar

Notebook CalendarYou know those calendars you get from vendors at the beginning of the year? I got so many I have them all over. Here's where I put one of them.

2 Comments Comment

Reuse Silica Gel Packets For Dry HerbsSeveral of the medications that I take come with those little packets of silica gel. When I'm finished with that medication, I save those packets and put them in with my herbs and spices to help keep them fresh and dry.

1 Comment Comment

Sheets for Garden Waste CleanupIn tobacco growing areas, when the leaves were harvested by hand, they used to use large burlap sheets to collect and move the leaves. I decided that that was a great idea and do the same thing with old sheets.

1 Comment Comment

Clear Plastic to Keep Squirrels Out of PearsAs soon as I noticed the fruit being eaten, I wrapped the tree with enormous sheets of clear plastic that I bought in the paint department sold as dropcloths. I bought 3 of the cheapest, biggest ones, spent less than $10.

2 Comments Comment

Decorating a Porch

Decorating a PorchIf you, or someone you know, is handy, you can put lattice on either side of your stoop to create a porch. I also added some colorful hanging pots. Now the stoop does not look so plain.

2 Comments Comment

Reuse Pill Blister Packages As Box Cutter

Reuse Pill Blister Packages As Box CutterThese little pill packets made out of plastic squares are extra sharp. You can open packages with them, and they slice right through tape on packages.

Use Warehouse Club Boxes For Mailing

Use Warehouse Club Boxes For MailingWorry no more if you don't have brown paper for mailing your items. I used one of my green bean boxes from Sam's Club and turned it inside out. I taped it back together and it was ready for the items and the mail.

Dusting Window BlindsSwiffer dusters worked wonderfully on my metal blinds. Engage a teenager to help with this chore.

Grow Succulents around Tree

Grow Succulents around TreeIt is easy to make the ordinary look special. I have Sedums growing in vast amounts, too much! I broke several off and simply just stuck in the dirt around a tree.

1 Comment Comment

Make Ground Turkey Taste Like BeefWe all know ground turkey or chicken is healthier then beef. But what if you miss that beef flavor? I have come up with a way to make turkey or chicken burgers, loaf, or pretty much any recipe taste like you DID use beef! It's easy!

Pastry Blender for Chopped Eggs

Pastry Blender for Chopping Hardboiled EggsA quick and easy way to make egg salad sandwich spread quickly is to use a pastry blender tool. This is normally used to get your pie crust ready to roll.

1 Comment Comment

Hollyhock flowers floating in glasses.

Pretty Party Centerpiece from Your GardenI planted hollyhocks for the first time this year and they are tall stalks with multiple blooms that look very similar to carnations. They are lovely, but they drop their beautiful blooms just when I think they are the prettiest.

Removing Smells from Pet BedsMy Chiweenie, Henry loves loves loves his bed. But, it sure can get smelly. I will let it soak it a mixture of Dawn and white vinegar for about an hour or so. Then just wash and dry with towels...

1 Comment Comment

Use Mechanical Pencil as StylusI saw my daughter using one of her empty mechanical pencils as a stylus on her DSI. I am sure it could be used on any electronic which has a touch screen.

1 Comment Comment

Use Squeegee for Removing Pet Hair from CarpetA rubber window washing squeegee attached to a long pole is an excellent way to pull pet hair from carpets. I have two in different widths. The narrow one does stair treads and can be used to reach confined spaces, the wide one makes short work of the open areas. I've a third one for furniture.

1 Comment Comment

Removing Hardened Silly Putty in Our Dog's FurI used warm water on a wet rag. I put some Dawn dish soap on it and poured rubbing alcohol on the rag too. I rubbed the Silly Putty (which was hardened) out in a few minutes. It worked great! The dog didn't complain a bit either.

2 Comments Comment

Hang CDs in Cherry TreesWe have birds and squirrels visit our cherry tree. In order to have any cherries ourselves, I take old CDs, tie one end of a string through the center hole, and tie the other end on the tip of a tree branch.

Removing Black Eye Makeup with LotionDab a small amount of your everyday plain hand or body lotion on to a soft dry face clothe. You will see even the heaviest, blackest eyeliners, mascaras and eye shadows wipe completely away, without pain or fuss.

Tips to a Successful Yard SaleI have been to and I have had many yard sales and I have noticed a few things that would affect how well a yard sale pans out.

Washing Root VeggiesAfter harvesting carrots, potatoes or baby cukes, place them in the bottom of your washer without soap and allow them to soak to loosen the dirt. This combined with the spin cycle will cause them to become squeaky clean.

Ask For Lifetime Child Support For Children with DisabilitiesDivorce is hard for all involved but the most affected are the children. If you have a child who has a disability, then ask for the appropriate type of child support.

2 Comments Comment

Get Pets Calm Before the StormBring outdoor pets inside and move everyone to the lowest level of the house before the storm begins. Then read aloud or sing or tell happy stories. Your pet will be comforted by your voice.

Pickle Jar Incense Burner

Pickle Jar Incense BurnerI was on the patio and I wanted to burn some incense. I found this pickle jar and put the incense stick upside down in the pickle jar and fastened the wood part with a clothepin.

Spray Room Freshener Inside Garbage Can LidKeep your kitchen trash can fresh and sweet every time you open the lid! Just squirt your favorite room freshener inside the lid and enjoy for days, even between bag replacements!

Kordes Perfecta Pink Rose

Rooting Rose CuttingsIf you select a cutting from a grafted rose, you should get a clone of that rose. You should not get any characteristics of the root stock. On rare occasion, a grafted rose will send out a shoot from below the graft union.

4 Comments Comment

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