Thrifty Tip Contest (July 9 - 15, 2011)

Duration	Entries
July 9 - 15, 2011	86

Buying Jewelry OnlineWhen you look at jewelery online, it is sometimes difficult to gauge size. If you can see the individual links or prongs, chances are it's smaller than you realize. Also, look at the hand, tweezers, or object the item is shown against.

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Cleaning Teapot and CupsI drink a pot of tea daily. My teapot and cup are white and get stained by the tea. I use a small amount of powdered dishwasher soap in the bottom of the teapot and cup, fill with hot water, and let soak for at least an hour and the stains are gone.

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Crockpot Spaghetti SauceIt is always very hot where I live when the tomatoes and peppers are ripe, so I constantly seek out crock pot recipes. Here is one I use for spaghetti sauce.

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Easy FrostingLemon juice and some powdered sugar will make a nice glaze for a plain cake or quick bread. Just put a cup of sifted powdered sugar and a teaspoon of lemon juice in a bowl.

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Fragrant Bed PillowsI love it when the air around me smells fragrant. Here's a tip for good smelling bed linens. Find a fabric softener sheet whose scent you love, and cut it in half.

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Iced CoffeeI don't drink a whole lot of coffee at one time, so when I am done with the pot I have made, I pour the remainder in an old, cleaned out flavored creamer container.

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Keep Game Instructions In BinderI decided to make a copy of the instructions for all the games, put them in a centrally located loose leaf notebook binder, and if need be, make copies from this binder to include in the small bags.

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Organizing Change the Easy WayI found four piggy banks, each one different, and put them on my night stand. Before going to bed, I get out my change from the day and place the change in the bank just for that coin.

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Painting Mortar Between BrickWe painted a brick house recently, and we were puzzled about how we were going to get the mortar painted short of taking a brush and painting it by hand. We took a sprayer used to fill with weed killer and thinned down the paint and sprayed the mortar in the brick.

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Saving Money For CollegeI suggest buying savings bonds for an easy way to double your money. I also suggest either saving all your spare change or just a specific coin of your choosing. We saved coins for one year and just put $651.62 in the bank.

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Selecting a Good WatermelonThe best tip I heard for choosing a ripe watermelon, is to find the darkest green one you can find without any bruises or soft spots.

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Use Clip Lock Bags for Freezing LeftoversI really think that the introduction of Clip Lock bags (Freezer Use) are the next best invention since sliced bread! I usually go over the top and make too much of a particular meal/soup sauce (all the kids have now left home and sadly I still cook for 6 rather than 2!).

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Value from Alternate Classic BrandsJust picked up some little spray bottles of the classic French scent Intimate - from the 99 Cent Store! I looked it up, and it is a brand from a 50's French designer. the price at which I got it was 1/2 off even the net's discount price.

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Bargains on eBayI have been lucky enough to get some wonderful bargains on eBay. The thing that I tell people who are new to the auction site is make sure you know the value of what you're bidding on!

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Cleaning an Oil PaintingAn oil painting can be cleaned by rubbing the surface with a plain piece of white bread, then dust off the crumbs. NEVER try to clean a watercolor or pastel painting.

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Cleaning White Tennis ShoesWhen trying to clean white tennis shoes in the washing machine, drop in one plain, regular aspirin tablet along with whatever detergent you wish to use. For some reason, the shoes will come out whiter.

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Free Educational Materials on the InternetWhether you are a teacher, homeschooler, or interested parent, you can find lots of interesting free educational materials from the internet. My husband, the teacher, just received a whole box of materials from the National Institute for Mental Health.

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Freeze Food Waste Until Garbage DayIf you don't want your discarded food remains to sit in your trash can, and more than likely turn foul smelling, pop them into a plastic bag and freeze them until you put your trash bins out at the curb for your pick up.

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Get Vet Costs UpfrontWhen you do have to take your pet to the vet, don't get the price from the front desk. When you see the vet, question him about the price and agree on what you are willing to pay and what he will do for that amount.

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Getting Rid Of Old ClothesI usually clean my closet and chest of drawers out about twice a year. I take out all the things I can no longer wear and older things. I have a yard sale with these things plus other odds and ends collected around the house that are no longer wanted.

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How to Select a WatermelonI always thump the watermelon to tell if its ripe. If it sounds hollow like a loaf of home baked bread then its ripe. I have never had a bad watermelon with this technique!

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Peroxide to Whiten TeethMy dentist said never use the hydrogen peroxide full-strength in your mouth. Said full-strength it is damaging to tissue. He said to dilute Hydrogen Peroxide to one part Hydrogen Peroxide and 2 parts water.

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Stop Hamburger ShrinkageIf you punch a hole in the center of hamburger patties before cooking, they will not shrink as much as usual. I use my thumb to punch the holes, but you can use a utensil if you prefer.

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Teaching a Puppy Not to BiteWhen your pup decides to chew on you, pull his/her cheek or lip over your finger, between you and those needle-sharp little teeth. Pup will bite his/her own mouth and figure out REALLY fast that that is NOT fun at all.

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Tennis Balls as Alternative to Dryer SheetsTo save money and time when drying your clothes, instead of using dryer sheets or dryer balls, put three tennis balls in the dryer with your load. This saves you money by not having to buy dryer sheets and cuts drying time in half.

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Cleaning KeyboardsI clean my keyboard using the alcohol wipes that are used to clean an area before sticking a needle in you. I have so many of them, the supply company keeps sending me a whole box, and I only use two or three each time I need them.

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Cleaning PC KeyboardUnplug and put in dishwasher!

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Finding a Lost PetMake absolutely certain your animal is microchipped.

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Foreman Grill For Cooking SalmonUse your George Foreman grill, and it only takes 5 minutes. I season with a little garlic, onion powder, and some lemon pepper - delicious!

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Four Steps To a Clean BathroomSince the only females in our household are me and the cat (and she drinks from the toilet, go figure), I find myself needing to spruce up the bathrooms quite regularly.

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Frontline Available Without A PrescriptionPrescription Frontline flea and tick treatment has just come off patent. You can now buy this product over the counter and save yourself money when taking care of your cat or dog. A large savings and more convenient.

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How Not to Get Burned Using Online AuctionsHow I look at not getting burned by eBay sellers. I normally look for good deals, the description that is clear enough that I can see it in my mind. I look at the price of the item and how much is spent on shipping.

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Keeping Brown Sugar SoftHere is my tip for keeping brown sugar moist. Use marshmallows! You can use bread, but bread gets moldy and then you have to replace it. Not so with marshmallows!

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Natural Remedy For Head LiceRecently my 2 granddaughters got head lice from school. After using a Rid kit and 3 trips to the doctor they finally told me to use Listerine mouthwash and vinegar.

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Organizing YarnI find the best way to keep wool skeins together, tidy, and undamaged is to store them in "under the bed" plastic containers. I lay a small length of each yarn in a zip-lock bag, which I tape to the side of the container to show what is inside.

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Saving Money for CollegeWhen looking for scholarships, first start with your own company and start early. Even as a part-time worker, I was able to apply for a company-sponsored scholarship for my son

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Saving Money on MealsThe best way to save money on meals is to plant a garden. You control how it is grown, so you also can have higher quality ingredients. Plus, fresh ingredients taste better, look better, and are nutritionally superior to store bought produce!

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Seasoning Cast IronWhen seasoning a cast iron pan, I always heat the pan on the stove pot until very hot. Using a paper towel dipped in oil, wipe the inside of the pan, the sides, and the bottom with the oil.

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Sort Music Alphabetical By CategoriesMy husband says I'm anal about the way I organize my music collections. I have them organized in 5 different categories based on my music interests. I then put them all in alphabetical order by artist then title.

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Store Seed Beads in Spice RackSometimes I embellish my knitting with small glass seed beads. I keep them tidy and easy to find by storing them in an old spinning spice rack with glass bottles that I bought at the second hand thrift shop for 50 cents.

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Sugar ScrubI put about a tablespoon of sugar in my hand and add any lotion on top of it, then rub it onto my face and neck for about a minute or as long as you like. Rinse well. My face and neck feel so soft and looks smoother.

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Watch Out For Scam Auction SitesThis is a warning to all. EBay is a reputable auction site, and that's a good thing. However, many other "scam" auction sites have recently come into play. They sound too good to be true, and they are. Please beware!

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Wearing Costume Jewelry With a Nickle AllergyNickel is a common metal for costume jewelry. Due to a nickel allergy that causes me to get a rash wherever there is contact with the skin, I have a few gambits that I use to avoid the irritation.

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Wii GamesBest place to find Wii games and game accessories is in pawn shops. People trade them in or sell them for a variety of reasons.

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Bag Those Socks!I bought the net type washing bags for lingerie and delicate things. Each person in the family has a sock bag. The dirty socks are put in each person's bag, then I wash them and dry them in the bag.

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Before You Commit on eBayBe sure to check the person's rating. EBay gets feedback from their buyers on each vendor and it goes to a percentage. Vendors can be barred by having a low percentage of happy customers.

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Buy Spices in the Hispanic Foods SectionThe prices of some of the herbs and spices are getting way out of my budget. I started reusing my spice bottles and buying the herbs and spices in the plastic packets in the Hispanic section of the store.

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Camping In a Travel TrailerFor 3-4 years our whole family camped in a travel trailer exclusively. It was fun to prepare an entire meal of home-made lasagne perhaps, complete with china and silverware, and watch the other campers enviously eat hot dogs over campfires.

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Cleaning Laptops and Tower ComputersThe best way to clean your laptop or tower keyboard is to turn it over and shake the dust out of it then run the vacuum brush over it. If you have sticky keyboards, you can simply clean them with a damp cloth and small toothbrush.

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Cleaning SocksThe reason most socks are white is because dye weakens fibers so white socks are stronger, I've been told. There is nothing better than the scrub board for getting them clean.

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Don't Lose Socks In The WashIf you place the socks at the bottom of the wash load, they are less likely to be thrown over the top of the washer and pumped out with the water. I read this tip somewhere years ago, and I have raised three kids and a husband using it with very few lost socks!

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Free Home Weatherization Programs for Energy EfficiencyCheck with your power company, your county, state, and nonprofit organizations to see if there are any free weatherization programs available. I did and had my house completely weatherized for free.

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Label Sewing Patterns with Specific Size InformationI make a lot of clothes and swimsuits for my three girls. I trace the patterns in the size I need onto other paper. I have found it extremely helpful to label these papers with my daughters' names, the year I made that size, and my daughters' measurements.

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A lace chandelier in front of a window with sheer curtains.

Lace "Chandelier"I have a love of old linens, lace, etc., and came up with a unique way to display them. I took a wire hanging basket and attached lace around each basket.

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Mark Top of Comforter For Easy Bed MakingI often get mixed up which direction my comforter goes since it has a large floral pattern and the width and length are closer than on a twin comforter. To solve this problem, I pinned a safety pin on the two underside corners that lay at the head of my bed.

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Canning jar with peanut butter jar lid on it

Plastic Lids On Canning JarsI use peanut butter lids on regular canning jars for everyday storage. They don't rust if used in the refrigerator, and keep food fresh on the counter. I use them for non-food storage as well; such as band-aids with ointment.

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Polishing SilverIn a small pot (the pot's size depends on what you're cleaning), place water to where it will cover the item being cleaned. Add 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, and a capful of white vinegar.

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Product Review: Dawn Hand Renewal With Olay BeautyWhen Dawn Dish detergent came out with their Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty, I put the liquid soap in my regular hand soap dispensers. Within one to two weeks, my hands had significantly improved from the dryness.

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Recycle Cake Pan For StorageI scarfed these cake containers from my grandson's recent party. For this one, I now keep all my articles and magazines to read during quiet time, commercials, or any time I have some time to read.

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Removing Mats From a Cat or DogTake a comb and put it teeth down between the mat and the animal's skin, then cut the mat away. Then brush the remaining hair out. This keeps you from clipping the skin on your pet.

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Season a Cast Iron SkilletI rotate my 3 cast iron skillets and Dutch Oven and bake a batch of corn bread to keep them in top shape.

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Storing Yarn in Zip Top BagsI keep my supplies of knitting and crochet yarn in the large click zip bags usually used for food storage. I write the ply and date on the white label, and because they are see through I do not have any trouble seeing what is inside, making it easy to select what I need.

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Tea Tree Oil For Mold And MildewAll natural tea tree oil is the absolute best treatment for mold and mildew. Mix 10-20 drops of essential oil in a spray bottle filled with water. Spray on to surface and you're done.

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Try Pawn Shops For a WiiMy children have pestered me for a Wii game system ever since they came out. This past Christmas, when I had them all make a list of things they wanted, a Wii system was at the top of all their lists.

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Yarn Storage TipsI previously submitted an idea about using oversized shoe bags from thrift shops to store yarn. You can get the kind that are for shoes that are upright and usually clear plastic.

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Budget for Paying Off DebtFor all income that comes in, no matter how small, pay off the debt with 50%, and live off the rest. This works wonderfully and is wise. Our debt is going down, and one day, God willing, it will be paid off.

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Clean Windows With Coffee FiltersClean windows with coffee filters by saturating them with window cleaner, all purpose cleaner, or vinegar. They are durable and will not leave lint like a paper towels does.

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Donate Partial Spools of ThreadWhen the spool only has a little thread left on it, it is not worth putting on the sewing machine, as it will be gone after a few stitches. I save these almost empty spools and give them to my senior friends.

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Easy S'moresWe love making s'mores when camping or cooking out at home, but adjusted the "recipe" for a lighter s'more. Instead of using the regular ingredients of graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows, we use fudge striped cookies and marshmallows.

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Free Beauty SamplesFree beauty samples are yours for the taking. You just have to know where to look! You can stock up by signing up for free samples online or doing it the old fashioned way: Visit all of the beauty counters at all of your local malls and go "shopping."

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Make Your Own Bouquet PreserverWhat is that magic stuff in the little packet that comes with flowers delivered by the florist? Just add a few drops of chlorine bleach and a teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water for a home-made equivalent. Mystery solved, money saved.

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Online AuctionsWhen bidding on eBay or other sites, always check the sellers rating. If below 97, I check I check the comments from other buyers before bidding.

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Organizing Loose ChangeWe have a change jar sitting on the desk. When anyone finds change, of course they put it in the jar. After it gets about half full, our 12 year old daughter sorts it and puts it in gallon jars that are out of sight.

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A plastic storage container covered with a white cloth and used as an outdoor table.

Patio Storage TableI store lots of things on the patio and throughout the house. We have a hundred year old house with no closets, so we have to get creative.

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Plant Tomatoes HorizontallyLocals in my area recommend planting tomatoes on their sides rather than vertically for better developed roots systems and healthier, stronger plants. I dug individual trenches for each plant, added fertilizer, compost and a few tablespoons of sugar.

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Repainting Old FurniturePainting smaller pieces of furniture is a wonderful way to utilize left-over paint. Not only that, but paint actually protects the wood.

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Safety Pin Socks TogetherTo prevent losing socks in washer and dryer, pin the pair together with safety pins.

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Seed StartersI stopped using peat moss discs for seed starting many years ago. Instead, I save my eggshells throughout the year and fill them with my own homemade compost.

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Set Max Bid For Online AuctionsWhen trying to get something via an online auction, it is best to set your max bid in your mind and stick to it. On eBay you can do a search, then save that search to alert you if any items get placed for bid that meet your criteria.

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Spring AfghanI just finished this crocheted afghan, my first, and was taking some pictures to share with friends and family. My two little ones decided that a picture without them wasn't worth taking.

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Use Emery Particles for Pin CushionSewers will love this creative idea. You can buy emery particles for about $6.00 a cup and make your own needle and pin cushion to keep your needles and pins sharp.

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Use Those Recipes You SaveI clip many recipes from magazines, newspapers, etc. The pile can get quite large, and I end up never even trying any of them. I've solved this and all it took was a clear 3 ring plastic page protector and a piece of colored paper.

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Use X-14 For Removing Mold and MildewI went into my local neighborhood hardware store and the ever-helpful employees shared with me their favorite way of getting rid of the mold and mildew after scraping out the old caulk and replacing it with new caulk: X-14.

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(July 9 - 15, 2011)

Tip: Pool Noodles As Safety Bumpers

Tip: Add Cake Trimmings To Frosted Middle Layer

Tip: Disinfecting During Shopping And Errands