Carrie Wilson | ThriftyFun

Preventing Water Spotting on Glass
Basic shaving cream (like barbasol) prevents fogging of glass, so I can't be sure but maybe it would help. other commercially available anti-fog and anti-water spot treatments usually have silicone as a base.

Asking a Boy to a Valentine's Dance
You must be brave. Life is too short to just sit by and allow another girl to snap him up without you taking the risk. Just walk up and smile, and ask him to go with you. If he says no then either go by yourself or ask someone else. Plenty of fish. I'm 37 and...

Life After Acrylic Nails
Get some wraps. Wraps will grow out nicely and allow your natural nails to look nice while growing them out. Wraps do not need to be maintained. Once they grow all the way out and your natural nails are now strong, you're done. Wraps will help brittle thin...

Looking for Free Fabric Samples
No store would give away fabric! Try jr. high home ec and high school home ec classes. Try calling alterations people in your area, they ALWAYS have scraps, and often they advertise AT the fabric store, either on a bulletin board or a little book kept at the...

Recycled Jeans Laptop Bag
Brilliant! Thank you for sharing this awesome bag wiki.

Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas
The internal digestion of diatomaceous earth will assist in ridding the dog of any adult worm stages he/she may happen to be carrying. However will do nothing for the fleas. I don't think it would be safe to put on the dog's coat either. Simply because in the...

Fruit Smoothie
I don't care what anyone says, my Magic Bullet is worth every penny, I swear. I LOVE it. So handy. I do this: frozen bananas (peeled first of course), frozen peaches (bought in bulk), frozen cantaloupe (in season), plain yogurt (all flavored yogurts have sugar...

Spiders In My House
My answer to this dilemma will most likely not be very popular. Barring the species which bite and cause harm to humans, black widow, brown recluse, etc, spiders are actually extremely beneficial. Of course I might not want an entire basement full of them, but...

Painting Advice for a Bathroom
I agree with Pikka. Make sure if you choose a very light blue that it truly matches the sink. But with your bathroom colors in my mental image picture I would pick up the white tiles and paint the walls white.

Dye Transfer on Football Uniform
I was at JoAnn Fabrics the other day and saw that they still sell a color/dye remover thing ( by Shout or RIT, I can't remember) and possibly they sell it at WalMart too, I don't know. It's worth a shot.

Drying Tub Mat Between Uses
Install another shower curtain rod somewhere maybe in the middle of your shower (width-wise) and then use a skirt hanger to hang it centered over the tub. I actually use a second shower rod that I thrifted as another towel rod, but I think it would work for...

Saving School Papers
I am currently engaged on an all-out war against clutter, however, I am very sentimental about my boys' artworks and school papers...I make my decisions based upon sentimental value...in other words I don't keep every spelling list, math hw, or vocab workbook...

Kitten Isn't Meowing
We got our kitty when he was about 8-12 weeks old. He is now over half a year old and we always laugh because his meow is soooo tiny it's almost inaudible. So no it's probably not abnormal. He is a total sweetie and very healthy. Our older kitty he has a louder...

Realtor Vendor Booth Ideas
Do you have before and after photos of your work that you could blow up and put on large poster boards??

Advice for a First Time Home Buyer
I have done a pre-approval at a credit union affiliated with my employer. Of course I qualify for way more home loan than I would ever allow myself to borrow, however..the 28% rule..is that gross or take-home pay? I have interviewed many realtors and finally...

Advice for a First Time Home Buyer
I have received such good advice from everyone and I wish there was some more tangible way to say thank you! Thrifty hugs OOOOOO. I am not going to give up on owning a home...however...I think I am leaning more toward now is not the right time for ME to buy...

Uses for Unmatched Socks
Athletic socks turned inside out are my favorite shower mitts. The fact that they are thinner than a normal washcloth really makes it easier to clean my ears and bellybutton!

Susan Sanders-Kinzel, the founder of ThriftyFun.com

Susan: ThriftyFun Says Goodbye
Susan...get well soon...and I love this website I come here at least once a week and I love all the info and tips on living frugally. You have started and maintained a wonderful lively vibrant online community and we all love you and pray for you to get well...

Planning Christmas for My Children Without Any Money
I have been there. I have always figured out a way. I have been poor, poor, poor. I am a single mom of two boys and they recently told me, "Mom I had no idea we were ever poor. We always had presents and we thought we always got most of what we ever wanted...

Be Aware Where Your Christmas Goodies Are Manufactured
Spangler candies I just bought were labeled Made in USA

Sticker Remover Made Plastic Cloudy
Your piece looks like it is made out of acrylic. Some sticker goo removers are made out of same chemicals as nail polish remover, at least in part, and guess what nail polish remover can do remove acrylic nails, uh oh. So what you have now is an acrylic diffuser...

Warming Yourself Up
http://www.sissonfamily.com/Sewingroom/pages/2006projects.htm This blog page contains a link to instructions for a "snuglet" which is a similar item to the expensive "Snuggie" and "Slanket" that you sew up yourself and turn down the thermostat. Even if all...

Warning: Pirates Gold Chinese Coin Candy - Melamine
Wow, and I love those things when they turn up in the kids' candy hauls! Darn. Now I won't want to eat any of them...but thanks for the heads up.

Altering A Formal Dress Smaller
Be careful of thinking the whole thing is going to be simple & inexpensive right off the bat - b/c I did alterations for a bridal shop for years and in my own home business (before I went back to school to finish engr degree) and sometimes the altering ends...

Using Less Baggies For Packed Meals
http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.pdf Use furoshiki style folding to wrap your sandwich in a cloth napkin or flour sack towel or something.

How to Make a Plastic Bag Storage Container
I made one out of the leg of one of my little boys' cast-off jeans. You can also make them out of kitchen towels, although I have seen this I haven't made that style myself. Thanks :-)

Using Acetone In Microwave
Ya think? Seriously...before using ANY chemical in a manner for which it was not intentioned to be used, read the MSDS on it. Please.

Getting Husband and Cat To Get Along
My boyfriend hated cats. I now have a cat. He and the cat are fine now, but if I were you I would have him feed the cat. Meaning things the cat REALLY likes. Or secretly use a little sachet containing catnip in the dryer when drying a load of your new hubby...

Salsa Is Too Sweet
Vinegar to taste?

Using Old Socks for Protecting Arms While Cleaning
excellent idea. I also turn the athletic socks with holes in them inside out and repurpose them as bath mitts. I like them better than the standard terry washcloths.

Tips for Bathing a Cat
I love the cute website and really appreciate the tip on the window screen or a rug. I'm trying that if there is a next time. Teddy had accidentally gotten into something smelly, we think...maybe got dirty in his litter box..we don't know, but I hate to bathe...

Bagging Your Own Groceries
I have my eco bags too, but I haven't tried WalMart yet, with their carousel bagger...I shop at a local chain HyVee and the Fareway and they are more than happy to bag in the fabric ones I bring along, so is Target...I will post feedback when I get brave enough...

Cleaning Your Teeth At Home
I'm going with what the dental assistant said. My boyfriend messed around with his soft teeth and didn't take care of them. He avoided so much expensive dental work. Now he is 44 and wearing a full set of dentures. Isn't that great that he avoided all that...

Score Your Car Tags To Avoid Theft
Yes, I used to live in Chicago and in St. Louis for awhile, I thought everyone already knew this trick. Thank you for raising awareness. It definitely deters the sticker thieves.

Put Your Shredded Documents in a Paper Bag
I am so glad that there are others out there that think like me...our resources are so finite and no1 even appears to get it..just throw another plastic drink cup in the trash can..I have really been trying, and this is one area where I had gone to taking my...

Anti-Static Washing Machine Balls
Yes I bought mine at bed bath & beyond. They are pretty nice, but one of mine busted and tore after a few months. I live in an apt where I had no choice about this awful dryer we have. I don't even bother putting my pants in there I just drip dry, saves energy...

Darkening Room for Day Sleeper
Try not to use foil, you could be labeled as a meth user.

Nest Items to Fit Into Trash Better
I used to live in a small town at least 20 miles from the nearest recycling center, and I still recycled. Any time I went into the "big city" to do shopping that was my first stop. There is simply no excuse for not recycling. I have a lippy 13 year old boy...

Cleaning Memory Foam Pad
I have tried to use a vacuum on mine and it is really difficult. I have a cheapie memory foam mattress from wal-mart. honestly this is quite a challenge I think. for hair I have tried a lint roller. Didn't work. Duct tape wrapped around your hand?? I really...

Plastic Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer
Hi and thank you to everyone for the helpful feedback. I have looked at the dollar stores, and the family dollar where I live, but the only place I found these was at Target and I had to pay too much I think. But they are so incredibly useful. I stick all the...

Making Homemade Necklace Hangers
I bought an empty wooden picture frame from a thrift store and then I installed cup hooks around the perimeter of the frame. I hung it by the corner so that it looks like a diamond on my wall. I staggered the cup hook locations. That's where I hang my necklaces...

Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts
I don't know if this will work, but cream cheese containers and small plastic containers (recycle) could be glued to a strong magnet on their bottom side. Then if he has a magnetic surface, just label the lid with the screw type/size and there you go. If no...

Pill Box For Earrings
I do something weird to organize my earrings. I sewed two squares of foamy sheets together (that you buy at walmart for ten cents each) and then just stuck earrings through the foamy sheets. One sheet was too flimsy, two sewn together works great. I suppose...

Foam Can Holders To Keep Eyeglasses
very good idea, I never thought of the can holder, I always got annoyed bc my son likes to collect them and they end up everywhere, now I have a good use for them!

Mail Organizers for Storing Baking Sheets
I do this too, found my mail/folder organizer at a thrift store. sometimes I put large lids in it too. I would also like to add that I finally got my gladware/ziploc container lids in order by cutting down a Borax box and putting them all in there.

Craft Organizer For Earrings
my jewelry chest was an un-thrifty gift from my best friend. He gave me a vintage wooden tool chest for Christmas last year. It has felt lined drawers of all sizes, the wood is beautiful and it even has a mirror in the top lid. Lowe's and the like had them...

Extra Toliet Paper Stored on Plunger Handle
This is one bad idea. At least for my plunger. Yuck. What happens when your loo is overflowing quickly and you need to use it? I like the paper towel holder idea, even a basket on the bathroom floor (across from the toilet) Or how about one of those cheap mesh...

Use Laundry Basket For Transporting Groceries
Me too :-) It's a great way to corral groceries.

Storage Ideas For Small Kitchen Appliances
I think if you own your home, you could put a pot rack hanging from the ceiling and free up valuable cabinet space for your crockpot and so forth. I saw in a magazine one time they took an old wooden ladder bought at a flea market and outfitted it with s-hooks...

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