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Thrifty Tip Contest
(July 1 - 31, 2015)

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

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Duration	Entries
July 1 - 31, 2015	50

Tip: Basket for Bathtub Toys

Becky Miles
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 158 Feedbacks

July 29, 2015

The toys in our bathtub were a constant irritation to me. I saw this idea on Pinterest and it's genius! All you need is a shower curtain rod, shower curtain rings and a basket or two.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 6

Tip: Keep Groceries Organized to Save Money

Donna
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts

July 23, 2015

To keep my groceries organized so I know what I have and don't have, I have been doing the following:

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 14

Tip: Healthy Microwave Popcorn

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

July 22, 2015

All you need for some perfect fresh popcorn is some popcorn kernels, a microwaveable bowl, a microwaveable plate that fits on top of it, and, if you so desire, a pat of butter or coconut oil.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 16

Tip: Dry Clothing on Hangers

ShirleyE
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 239 Posts

July 8, 2015

When drying your laundry outdoors, instead of using pegs, hang as much washing on clothes hangers as possible. Separate the hangers using pegs to stop them gravitating together.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 13

Craft: Duct Tape Wasp Nest Decoy

July 8, 2015

This spring I was no sooner enjoying the latest crop of large bamboo stalks than I noticed a menacing wasp nest under construction under my eaves nearby. Putting 2 and 2 together and doing a little research online I came to realize that I was not the only one who was enjoying the bamboo abundance!

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 15

open fishing supply box with craft supplies

Fishing Boxes as Craft OrganizersOrganize fabric, ribbons, thread, trim, buttons, needles, and whatever else with cheap fishing boxes from Walmart (~$6).

1 Comment Comment

Use Old Blankets for Quilt BattingOld wool like blankets make great filler or batting for quilts, especially the scratchy ones.

2 Comments Comment

Make Dog Toys from Mystery SocksUse your old socks to make dog toys. Buy some squeakers, you can buy them in bulk online. I found them on Amazon. Roll one in some socks to make a small ball. Stuff that in a long one and tie one or two knots in it. It lasts longer than all those toys. Squeakers are optional, but the dogs like the hanging parts that flip around.

closeup of mug

Use Coffee Mugs for StorageI'll share some of my uses for favorite coffee mugs. I have one on my computer desk which has pens, small scissors, pinking shears and 2 regular pairs of scissors. The large wooden thingy I use to turn my pillows inside out before stuffing. I have several mugs on my kitchen counter for small kitchen implements.

1 Comment Comment

Dollar Store Placemats as Drawer LinersI use plastic place mats from the dollar store for this. They work best in drawers, but I've had success on smaller shelves with them. You could glue them down, but I usually cut them to fit snugly in place so they can be removed and washed.

2 Comments Comment

Leave Sugar Out of Cooked FoodsI don't add sugar to my veggies. I just heat them, whether canned or frozen. I don't put sugar in my cornbread. I am not diabetic, I just don't require that all my food be sweetened.

5 Comments Comment

Reuse Old Shower Curtain LinerMy clear plastic liner is getting to be pretty disgusting so I'm going to replace it. I'll go to the Dollar Store and buy a new liner and clean the old one on the driveway and save it for drop cloths and such.

1 Comment Comment

Store Compost in RefrigeratorComposting makes great fertilizer for my garden and reduces waste. I have tried a number of ways to avoid walking to compost pile every time I have compostable kitchen waste, veggies, fruit, paper napkins, plates, etc. Everything I tried, even fancy counter compost containers, left me with fruit flies.

1 Comment Comment

box on shelf

Storing Empty Moving BoxesI am staying with a friend and while I unpacked my few boxes, I wanted to keep them for when I move out. I have often looked at a box on a high shelf and wondered "what is in it and why didn't I mark it"?

recipes on door back

Tape Recipes to Cupboard DoorI am not a person who does any sort of cooking which requires intricate recipes, no cakes or anything fancy. I have my basic southern corn bread and my very basic instruction on how to cook white rice taped to the back of a cupboard door where they are kept clean for the next use.

1 Comment Comment

Getting Melted Crayons Off Leather SeatsUsing the plastic card take some time to scrape off as much of the crayon as possible. It's easiest to do the bigger pieces when the wax is cooler so that it can pop off. Then squirt some baby oil onto the wax, or all over the seat so that the seat is evenly oiled

3 Comments Comment

egg crate in fridge

Keeping Track of Egg CountI am staying with a friend while I save up for a big move. Her little fridge is a bit inadequate so things don't exactly get their own place.

Vaseline as Diaper CreamI thought I'd share my sure fire diaper rash preventative. My boys are 60, 57, 55, and 38. I used petroleum jelly Vaseline on their bottoms after each diaper change. We "never" had diaper rash! Not even after I started giving them "real" orange juice.

outdoor chair with pillows covered with bird seed and dog food bags

Outdoor Pillows from Pet Food BagsInstead of watching my outdoor upholstered pillows on my many chairs become faded and mildewed, I decided to stuff them into recycled pet food bags!

3 Comments Comment

Dry Erase Marker Removes Permanent MarkerJust take a dry erase marker and rub it over the permanent marker and wipe off. This only works on shiny surfaces.

Seal Spackle to Prevent Drying Out

Seal Spackle to Prevent Drying OutClose tightly and put in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. I used one that contained soup from a takeout place.

Use Garlic Capsule as Emergency DisinfectantStaying with my aunt recently, I had a rash on my foot which was sore and weeping, but could find no antiseptic in her cupboard. I nipped off the top of a garlic oil capsule with my fingernails, and squirted it on the affected area, then went to bed. Next day, the sore place was clean, dry and starting to scab over.

Natural Pest ControlI have a recipe for pest control using essential oils. It smells fabulous and can be applied to your skin, but keep it away from your eyes. It works better than the Avon stuff and is way more natural than chemical sprays.

Prevent Bitter TeaTea is better if it's made by the sun, bringing water to a boil on the stove creates 'bitter' tea. And sun tea does not necessarily mean that it has to sit in the sun. Tea bags will make tea sitting on the counter or in the fridge, it just takes time.

1 Comment Comment

Rain-X to Remove Ink from DryerUse Rain-X X-treme Clean for baked on ink. Put some on a dry cloth and rub for 10 seconds. It removes it easily and without damage to the dryer surface. Clean after with a wet cloth. Soft Scrub may work too, but may be overly abrasive. You can remove the dryer door for easier access.

Recycled Backscratcher

Recycled BackscratcherThese plastic pieces come with lampshades and are used to support the shade in it's box. The round plastic top is what "scratches" your back. It's simpler and safer than some of the tools with "fingers and finger nails" made on them.

3 Comments Comment

Store Fruits and Vegetables in a Cool PlaceYears ago when our family started getting larger, we needed more refrigeration space so I purchased a small dorm type refrigerator without a freezer compartment. I discovered that this refrigerator was great for keeping potatoes, tomatoes, apples, blueberries, onions and even bananas longer.

3 Comments Comment

Take Picture of Completed Puzzle

Take Picture of Completed PuzzleTake a picture of the puzzle while it is whole on the cardboard. This way you'll be able to look at it to help you.

5 Comments Comment

Use Unsalted ButterI like the taste of salted butter, but it recently occurred to me that a lot of the things that I have with it contain a fair amount of salt themselves. So I experimented with spreading bread or toast with unsalted butter when using these fillings, and found that I didn't miss the salt.

1 Comment Comment

dog curled up on bed

Lint Roller for SheddingMy short haired dog likes being "petted" with a lint roller. Since she likes to sleep in the middle of my bed, I wear less of her hair.

Sticky Tile to Catch FleasWe had a dog that we took in while his parents were busy with moving house. Soon after the dog was gone, I went into the room to do some laundry and was attacked by what I can only describe as an army of little black vampires.

Clove for ToothacheTake a clove and let it sit in your mouth for a minute or until soft, then apply over the painful area until the pain goes away.

1 Comment Comment

Quick and Safe Strawberry HullingMany suggestions are floating around for this chore, but yesterday I found the winner. I took a pair of needle-nosed pliers to the task. All I did was slide the pliers under the hull, catching the stem, and lift the hull off.

rooted lantana cuttings

Rooting Lantana CuttingsI tried rooting lantana several times without much success. I was using the standard method for taking cuttings. When I told a nice lady friend about my poor results, she told me I would have better luck if I took cuttings from the tips of the plant. Since taking her advice, I have had near 100% success.

7 Comments Comment

Toothpaste to Clean Diamond EarringsTake some toothpaste and use your hand or a brush of sorts and brush the jewel. Then rinse and by then you have a sparkling piece of jewlery.

DVT Delicate Calf/Shin Protectors

DVT Delicate Calf/Shin ProtectorsHere is help for people who've had DVTs or Post-Thrombotic Syndrome in their lower legs and who's skin is very delicate and easily torn or punctured by hard objects. I'm one of these and this protection may be stronger, easier to make and cheaper to buy the raw material for!

2 Comments Comment

Edible Purslanes

Edible PurslanesThere are several different kinds of Portulaca. Probably the most often grown by the home gardener is Portulaca pilosa. It's common name is Moss Rose. With a 25¢ pack of seed from a local dollar store, you can have a pretty, multi colored display of low growing, almost carefree flowers from Spring to late Fall.

4 Comments Comment

Salt Water for Tarnished Silver RingAfter using household bleach for cleaning I realized my favorite silver ring had been tarnished and I was freaking out! I had the impulse to rub it with salt as it is an alkaline and submerge my ring in salted boiling water. It worked in about 25-30 mins!

2 Comments Comment

Plastic French Wire Hooks for Sensitive EarsMy daughter has always had trouble with metal wires for her earrings. One day while we were in the local craft store, we found replacement French "wires" made out of plastic.

1 Comment Comment

Tana Leather Cleaning LotionI used the Tana leather shampoo for the rear seat of my BMW. No signs of residual rust yet several other products had failed before. Tana is made in Australia but should be available elsewhere.

Tape for Mosquito BitesI fell upon a solution that is so simple, I almost hesitate posting it. I put a small piece of plastic tape over the bite and it started to lessen the itch right away.

Toothbrush to Clean FeetI recently discovered that a soft bristled toothbrush is a big help in getting between toes and behind ankles when in shower or bath.

before using the Fulminator

Product Review: FURminatorWe recently added a 4 month old German Shepherd/Border Collie mix to our family, that was very fluffy. Grendel had a very thick undercoat and looked like an over sized powder puff, his breeder suggested we buy a FURminator. He said it would cut his shedding down by 90% AND he was right!

1 Comment Comment

fruit topped cakes

Simple 4th of July DessertWe are invited to lots of July 4th picnics and want to bring along something with that theme. I just grab a pack of dessert cakes, cut up some strawberries, add whipped cream, and top with a blueberry, as shown.

Bamboo growing in a garden.

Rabbits to Control BambooI've noticed that wild or escaped domesticated rabbits about the neighborhood seem to like the taste of young bamboo as much as panda bears do. So now it seems that the rabbits are policing my containment trenches for tasty edibles before I even know they are under there!

1 Comment Comment

Use Any Body Lotion in ShowerI recently got a sample in the mail for Nivea in-shower body lotion. I was taking a bath the same night and looked over on the shelf next to tub and saw a bottle of hand and body lotion. I just put some on me and rinsed it off. It works fine and saves me money and uses up my old lotion.

1 Comment Comment

Handle Your Puppy's Foot Pads EarlyAs soon as you bring your puppy home, start playing with their pads. Using your fingers, touch and rub the pads of each paw. Do this daily and your pup will become accustomed to you handling their paws, making the future years of nail-clipping much easier.

1 Comment Comment

trees covered in English ivy

How to Kill Old Growth IvyHere is a tip on the eradication of English ivy. The main vines were 4 to 5 inches through and went to the top of 100 foot trees. I took a portable drill and drilled a couple holes in the vine, about 3/8 of an inch in diameter and about 2 to 3 inches deep, at a downward angle.

4 Comments Comment

Replacing Battery in Smoke Alarm

Troubleshooting A Beeping Smoke AlarmMy detector beeped loudly once a minute; and another one beeped once a minute, so beeps were heard every 30 seconds from 2 detectors. I vacuumed the units, turned off circuit breaker, disconnected wire unit from detectors, replaced batteries, held test button with battery out and then with battery in.

26 Comments Comment

A fruit fly trap with apple cider vinegar

Vinegar Fruit Fly TrapTo catch fruit flies in the house, I keep apple cider vinegar in a couple of 6 ounce jelly jars placed around the house and accessible all the time. I like the jar idea because the plastic is held in place with a jar band. The container is small and can easily be placed in any area of the house.

4 Comments Comment

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