Thrifty Tip Contest (September 1 - 30, 2014) | ThriftyFun

Menu Ask a Question Share a Post Account Search

social

Contests Winners Enter a Contest

Thrifty Tip Contest
(September 1 - 30, 2014)

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

Latest Prev Next

Duration	Entries
September 1 - 30, 2014	46

Tip: Buy Meat in Bulk and Divide

Donna
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts

September 18, 2014

We all know that buying meat in bulk is cheaper. I used to bring it home, divide it up into servings and re-wrap each serving. It cost me time and money for re-wrapping materials like plastic wrap or bags. Not anymore!

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 13

Tip: DIY Makeup Setting Spray

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

September 16, 2014

Stop reapplying your makeup and use a setting spray for all-day wear. Here's how to make your own at home for a few bucks.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 16

Tip: "Sock It To Me" Cell Phone Case

September 15, 2014

I have a small cell phone. It's not a smart one, but it's fine for what I need it for. My husband had purchased me a nice $15 case for it. Then I lost it and I would not spend another $15 to get a replacement case. Instead, I bought a pair of toddler socks.

Comment Was this helpful? 12

Tip: George Foreman Grill to Make Bear Paws

Donna
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts

September 10, 2014

I have little counter space so everything on it has to be a useful appliance! I regularly make grilled cheese or grilled vegetables on an open George Foreman grill or zucchini fritters on it. This weekend, I decided to try to make waffles!

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 17

Tip: Pay Cash for Everything

melissa
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 293 Posts

September 8, 2014

I realized how often I was swiping my debit card. It's just too easy to swipe that card and not think twice! I have started to take out a pre-set amount of money at the beginning of the month and pay cash for everything. It is way harder to part with 5 green dollar bills in your hand for a gourmet latte then it is to swipe your card.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 17

Calendar for Leftovers

Calendar for LeftoversOn the first of the month, we print out a calendar off the computer and put it on the side of the fridge with a marker that hangs by a string. Everyday, we just jot down what we had for dinner or if we made tuna salad, opened a package of lunch meat, etc.

1 Comment Comment

Add Essential Oil to Dish SoapI add a few drops of essential oil to Free and Clear (hypoallergenic) dish soap to mimic the expensive all-natural soaps without the possible allergens, since even all-natural soaps can have natural ingredients I'm allergic to.

Adjust Tension to Avoid Broken Sewing NeedlesYou may need to adjust your tension dial with your fabric you are using and kind of thread, also adjust to thickness of fabric. Always use good sharp needles with your sewing and keep machine clean and oiled.

Mix Up Common Spice Blends

Mix Up Common Spice BlendsI always have garlic powder, onion powder and lemon pepper on my fried potatoes. It occurred to me today to mix them up in equal parts and put them in their own shaker. This is pretty much what I do with cinnamon and nutmeg for my Chai tea, so why not!

Moving a Stove Without Damaging FloorPull your stove out from the wall and clean floor, etc. When ready to push stove back into place, spray Pledge or an equal where the feet of the stove will slide. This will keep your floor from ripping or scratching.

Soda Tab Chain

Soda Tab ChainIt's pretty kool, you can make a necklace, a chain, a bracelet, and a belt with recyclable items such as soda can tabs. Here I made a bracelet. You cut tabs in the middle and clip together with other tabs to form your choice of items.

box of baking soda and a spice bottle

Keep Baking Soda Handy And DryI use a lot of baking soda at the kitchen sink. My hands were always wet when reaching for the box of soda. The box would get wet and the soda inside would get lumpy.

Measuring Wet and Dry Ingredients

Measuring Wet and Dry IngredientsHave two different 2 cup sized measuring cups for making recipes. Use one cup exclusively for dry ingredients and one for wet.

Use a Can for Baking Extra BatterIf you have some extra batter when making things like banana or zucchini breads, wash out a used soup or vegetable can. Spray with nonstick spray and fill 2/3 full with batter.

2 Comments Comment

upper shelves with books lying on their side

Arranging Books on the ShelvesAs an old person with an arthritic neck I have dreamed up a better way to shelve some of my books. I place the ones whose titles can be read while the book is lying flat on the shelf in that position.

2 Comments Comment

Butter Wrappers

Reuse Butter Wrappers for Baking PansI always reuse the paper that my butter or margarine is wrapped in to butter any pans I will use in my baking recipes. You can even fold them in half and leave them in the refridge after you take the margarine out and if you don't need them for that recipe.

1 Comment Comment

Use Less Chocolate Chips in Recipes

Use Less Chocolate Chips in RecipesOne day when I needed to bake, I realized I only had about 1/4 of a bag of chocolate chips left. I took a leap and used that in the cookies. They were fantastic and no one noticed the "scant" amount of chips.

1 Comment Comment

Scrap Yarn Ball - ball of yarn in stem glass

Scrap Yarn BallThis is a ball of yarn made from scraps that would otherwise be tossed. It's a great way to use up all those extra tid-bits of yarn that would otherwise be useless to create another project. I will be posting a couple of fun and easy projects that you can create with your new yarn.

3 Comments Comment

Freeze Cooking Grease Before Discarding

Freeze Cooking Grease Before DiscardingTo dispose of grease, I freeze it. First, I let it cool slightly and then pour it into a small plastic container to freeze. When frozen, I give the container a twist and it pops out like an ice cube. I drop it into the bag of frozen food waste that I keep in the freezer until garbage collection day.

5 Comments Comment

Grow Microgreens IndoorsUsing discarded foam egg containers, separate the top from the bottom. Cut holes in the bottom of each individual egg compartment and fit the lid beneath the bottom. Moisten some seed starting top soil and fill eleven of the separate compartments'.

Mix Sweet and Plain Cereal Together

Mix Sweet and Plain Cereal TogetherI would buy unsweetened cereal along with sweetened versions and would mix them into one bowl, returning them back into their boxes. Then when the kids or my husband ate cereal, they ate HALF the sugar in each bowl.

1 Comment Comment

Use Gravel for Cleaning BottlesI shake a small amount of rough cut small gravel with some detergent and water to clean our bottles that have stuff stuck to the inside. Just strain off and rinse the gravel, let dry, and it is ready for next time.

1 Comment Comment

Buy Halloween Candy for ChristmasThe day after Halloween, get as much candy you can for half price. Get only the ones that are not Halloween looking and then freeze the candy. Watch as your kids scream with delight on Christmas morning when they see their stockings!

Chip Clips for Paper Plates and NapkinsUse chip clips to hold your napkins and paper plates so they don't fly away on you outside. It holds them tight and it's easy to push open to grab one when you need it.

1 Comment Comment

Donating Newspaper and Plastic BagsI keep a laundry basket in the back of my car. I put my newspaper and plastic bags in the laundry basket. Once a week, I stop at a local resale shop that is run by a charity. They need the paper to wrap glass items and the bags for customer's items.

Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton, NJ)

Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton, NJ)This is an incredible indoor and outdoor art park named Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. They recreate famous paintings and sculptures, some over 60 feet tall! You are invited and encouraged to touch, climb on, and be a part of the artwork, interacting with it.

Magazine Racks For Storage

Magazine Racks For StorageI use two magazine racks. One is for baking sheets of various sizes. The other is for cooling racks and cutting sheets and boards. They take up very little space, while keeping all pans organized by size. It also frees up the space under the sink which is where I had them before.

Slime for KidsWinter is coming up too fast. This is a great thing for kids to do when stuck inside! I have also done it for Halloween Parties!

4 Comments Comment

glass jar with clothes pins behind crochet chain

Keeping Track of Crochet Chain LengthRecently, I did a project where I had to count stitches to make sure the chains were all the same length. Well, they sure weren't. I often have to compete with visiting kids and their video games, radios, videos, dogs...you name. It is hard to find quiet.

2 Comments Comment

front load washer with bungee cord keeping it open

Airing Out the Washing MachineSome high efficiency washers have a bad smell inside. Rather than leave the door hanging open to air out (and risk hitting into it or a pet or child climbing inside and having it shut) I thought, for safety...

Chickens Save You MoneyEvery week, people usually spend $3 on eggs. Now that may not sound like much but it adds up! So, my family and I have decided that we are going to get chickens. Chicken feed costs $15 for a fifty pound bag.

16 Comments Comment

Diluting Laundry DetergentI've tried cheaper detergents and homemade laundry detergent but I always go back to Tide Coldwater. I love the smell it leaves my clothes. I've discovered that if I diluted the Tide by 50% water, my clothes are just as clean and smell just as good.

2 Comments Comment

Make Extracts Cheaply

Make Extracts CheaplyDid you know that you can make your own extracts cheaply? It's so easy and they are so expensive! All you need to do is buy a bottle of plain, unflavored vodka and use your own leaves, peels or spices.

4 Comments Comment

Simple But Fancy Fruit Desserts

Simple But Fancy Fruit DessertsI like to freeze bananas or put apple slices or any other fruit into the freezer then take them out after dinner and pour some Magic Shell Ice Cream topping over the fruit.

1 Comment Comment

Use Microfiber for Swiffer WetJet PadsI used the hair towels made of microfiber material, from $1 Dollar Tree. Just trim to size. They attach wonderfully. When one side is dirty, I flip it over before washing. An especially cheap alternative to the WetJet pads!

1 Comment Comment

Keeping Birds Off the Rain Gauge

Keeping Birds Off the Rain GaugeWe were having a big problem with birds sitting on the rain gauge and pooping in it. The nails that my husband put around the top did not stop them. He painted an old rubber snake and nailed it to the post. It is keeping the birds off the rain gauge. Almost fooled me, too.

3 Comments Comment

Use Old T-Shirts as Swiffer PadsI use old T-shirts and sweatshirts to make replacement pads for my Swiffer Sweeper. I just cut rectangles large enough to fit around the Sweeper. Make sure you have enough left to poke into the holes that hold it in place. I use the rest of the shirts, sleeves and all, as dust rags. They can be washed or discarded.

1 Comment Comment

Double up on Drainer Space

Double up on Drainer SpaceWe have glasses that are just wide enough on the top that only 3 fit on 5 hooks along the side of the drainer. But if you have larger plastic glasses, you can set those on top and double the space you have.

2 Comments Comment

Genesis 950 for Pet StainsI am a pet owner with both cats and dogs. I have owned pets all my life. I have dealt with every type of pet stain you can imagine. Genesis 950 is only one thing I have ever found to remove pretty much any type of stain.

Homemade Coffee Body ScrubI recently found a body scrub online that's made from coffee and oils that I wanted to try, but the price is upwards of $30 a bag! I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own.

2 Comments Comment

Marking Last Roll of TP

Marking Last Roll of TPThis tip came to me when I realized I had loaded the last roll of TP on the plunger. I do this so when no one is home, or especially when someone is home, no one has to be called to help get a roll out of the cupboard.

6 Comments Comment

Outdoor Movie SleepoverInvite a couple of your friends and have a party in your back yard. Just build a fire for marshmallows, get a projector and a white surface and have popcorn. Watch a movie outdoors and spend the night there.

20 Comments Comment

Protecting OpossumsOpossums eat rats Encourage your area to set up an area for opossums.

Removing Cooking Grease Smell from ClothesMy husband's work clothes always reek of old nasty cooking oil. I wash them in solution of dish washing detergent, lemon scented ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, in hot water.

6 Comments Comment

Use Yogurt in Place of MilkYesterday, I made scrambled eggs with Greek yogurt. They tasted great and I didn't have to run out and get more milk.

3 Comments Comment

Washing A Large Veggie Harvest

Washing A Large Veggie HarvestI recently got about 15 pounds of fresh green beans from a friend. I didn't have a colander big enough and wanted to get them processed. So I found a new garbage bag, filled it with the beans, and water.

5 Comments Comment

Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2022-08-23 04:49:16 in 2 secs.
© 1997-2022 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/contest/000/951.html