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Thrifty Tip Contest
(August 13 - 31, 2012)

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Duration	Entries
August 13 - 31, 2012	70

Tip: PVC Pipe For Deep Watering

August 31, 2012

By sawing a piece of PVC pipe that can stick up from the ground about 5 inches and have about 7 inches below the ground you can have a great watering/fertilizing gardening helper.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 7

Tip: An Easy Way To Separate Eggs

Monique
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 124 Posts

August 27, 2012

A small empty and washed out plastic bottle can be your tool to easily remove the yolk from an egg.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 7

Tip: Stretching Tight Boots and Shoes

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

August 23, 2012

I have really big muscular calves and wide feet (thanks, Mum!), making it very hard for me to fit into shoes I fancy. I bought these suede boots and pumps online because they were dirt cheap and super cute. When they arrived, not surprisingly, I could not fit into them.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 15

Tip: DIY Face Brightener

coville123
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 433 Posts

August 22, 2012

Mix 1/2 oz. of apple cider vinegar with 4 oz. of mineral water. Finely crush 5 plain aspirin, then add to the mixture. Apply to your face, in areas where you have acne, rough skin, or enlarged pours. Keep the mixture in your fridge for up to 1 month.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 7

Tip: Removing Makeup And Caring For Your Skin

August 21, 2012

Even if you don't wear a lot of make up, you need to make sure you remove all of it and do so safely. Mascara can be removed with a cold cream product like Ponds. Be very careful what you put near your eyes.

Comment Was this helpful? 11

Staple Papers on the Reverse SideTurn the pages over (top to bottom) and then staple at the Top-Right corner. Now when you are going through stacks of multipage packets, you will not cut your fingertips on the curved edges of the staple.

Lab lying on dog bed in closet.

Creative Dog BedMy dogs follow me all day long and I was constantly falling over them in my home office. I removed the closet doors and layed down 2 old couch cushions and covered them with comforters that I bought at a Thrift Store. It sleeps 2 dogs very comfortably and I have a lot more room to move around.

1 Comment Comment

Plate of pasta with cheese sauce.

Easiest Cheese SauceStore-cupboard cheese sauce.

Remove Sticker Residue With Peanut ButterDon't you find it annoying when you buy something and when you try to remove the label it leaves a greasy or a sticky substance on the item? Well if you don't have any goo begone, just smear a gob of peanut butter on it.

5 Comments Comment

Refill and Relabel Spice Bottles

Buy Spices In BulkWhen I use up a jar of herbs/spices, I wash the jar and remove the label. When I buy new herbs/spices, I buy the cheaper, bulk packaged brand. I put the herb/spice in the saved jar.

Before photo.

Cleaning Hazy HeadlightsRecently I noticed the headlights on both my car and especially my son's car were quite hazy, thus reducing visibility at night. I purchased a cleaning kit at the automotive store, (not cheap,) which involved several steps...

3 Comments Comment

Creating a Grocery ListI use a system that I learned while I was a restaurant manager and by the nature of my job "had" to control food cost.

Toilet brush mounted on cordless drill.

DIY Shower Scrub BrushI hate cleaning my shower, it takes alot of elbow grease.

5 Comments Comment

Encourage Students To Be Frugal In CollegeSome of my daughters' friends ran up huge debts at university. Their parents had said "We will pay your college bills". This sounds practical, but the students had carelessly charged everything to their college accounts, thinking that it did not matter, parents would pay.

3 Comments Comment

Improve Freezer AccessI use small meal size containers for berries to go with pancakes or deserts. The first trick is to turn over every second container, so that it's lid rim is down. I get one extra container per row that way.

Bath Sprays For Stretching ShoesIf you have shoes that are uncomfortable, spray the uncomfortable area of the shoes inside and out with bath spray (also called body splash and body spray), then wear the shoes until they are dry. Repeat if needed.

1 Comment Comment

A nicely displayed plate of deviled eggs.

Displaying Deviled EggsWhen preparing food, I try to present my dishes as "pretty" as I can with what I have have on hand. Rather than just throwing some delicious deviled eggs on a plate, I line my tray with lettuce, spinach or whatever green I have.

2 Comments Comment

Oil Based Paint for ConcreteOn our concrete floors, we washed it down with a mild soap and mopped with plain water. We let it dry and then painted a coat of oil based paint. Let dry 24 hours and added a second coat.

Organizing Clothes the Smart WayIt's the time of year where back to school, moving to a new apartment, or just making good use of your space is at it all time high. There are good tips to make more room, sort out the old, and shop your closet, hopefully saving you time and money.

1 Comment Comment

Aloe Gel

Refrigerated Aloe Vera Gel for SunburnsAfter a day on the beach, swimming, or outdoor activity, keep aloe vera gel in the refrigerator. The coolness will feel great on the hot skin, and the aloe will soothe the pain. Ahhhhh!

Storing Winter Gloves and HatsI purchased a hanging shoe bag and I use it on the wall behind our back door so that when someone needs a pair of gloves, all they need to do is grab a pair that is conveniently placed in one of the shoe pockets.

3 Comments Comment

Use Solar Lights For Power OutagesThis tip is for hurricane season. Use the solar lights that you have in your yard or garden for light at night if you are with out electricity after the storm.

Vacuum tube inverted on hose to clean under bed.

Vacuuming Under Low FurnitureIf you have a canister vacuum cleaner and hardwood floors, it's very easy to vacuum under the bed and other furniture. If the vacuum head will fit under, just put the hose the other direction on the tubes.

ThriftyFun Links Image

Find Your Local Dental SchoolMany local dental schools offer free or low cost care. You can find your local dental school here.

1 Comment Comment

Easy Way to Peel PotatoesI have peeled so many potatoes in my lifetime. When a friend shared an easier way I had to share. These days when I do eat mashed potatoes I leave the skin on, after a good scrubbing of course. The skin holds many vitamins and nutrients that are very good for you.

1 Comment Comment

Nail polish made from eyeshadow

New Nail Polish from EyeshadowMake some new nail polish from your unused eye-shadows. I took a cocktail stick and scraped some onto a piece of paper then poured the powder into a bottle of clear nail varnish.

1 Comment Comment

Saving Money on Coffee

Saving Money on CoffeeI love my coffee, but the prices continue to go up so I am sharing some things that have helped me save $$ on my coffee.

8 Comments Comment

Diatomaceous Earth and Capstar To Control FleasDiatomaceous earth (DE) is excellent and 100% natural for getting rid of fleas, but please be sure and only use the "food" grade diatomaceous earth, not the gardening kind and especially not the pool grade.

2 Comments Comment

DIY Sani WipesThese are great when traveling with kids or at the grocery stores to wipe off the handle of your cart. Fold paper towels or napkins and put them into a wipe container. Use 1 1/2 cup of warm water, add 1 Tbsp. of coconut oil, and 1 tsp. of alcohol.

1 Comment Comment

Grease Cutter for FloorsPour 2 gallons of warm water into your bucket. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 Tbsp. dish soap, and 1/4 cup of washing soda. Mix well. Go ahead and clean your floors. This works well, but not on waxed floors.

Keeping Your Wallet SafeWhen I go to an outdoor event when it is chilly, I wear a jacket that I have put an inner pocket inside. I put a Velcro seal on it, that way my wallet is handy. I can get into it, but there is no way someone is going to open the Velcro without my knowledge.

1 Comment Comment

foil ball

Tin Foil Ball Instead of Dryer SheetsNo need for those expensive tumble dryer sheets, just use a ball of tin foil. It works just the same but without the chemicals. If you want fragrance, a few drops of your favorite perfume or essence on a flannel will make your clothes smell wonderful.

6 Comments Comment

Using Up Small Pieces of SoapWhen bars of soap get down to little piece, what do you do with it? Throw it out? Well there is a way to "recycle" the small pieces of soap. You can use a mesh bag, that oranges and apples come it.

2 Comments Comment

pink nail polish

Yellow Nails From Dark Nail PolishIf you wear red or dark nail polish, when you take it off you may find that your nails are yellow from the polish. Use a smokers toothpaste to scrub your toes and fingernails with a scrub brush. They will look really clean. Regular paste works as well.

Spraying hairspray on a drawing.

Hairspray To Preserve Children's ArtworkTo preserve your little treasure's artwork, a fine mist of hairspray over the child's drawing will "fix" the medium. It works best for unstable mediums such as chalk, pencil, and pastels which can easily smudge.I used to do this in school now I use this tip for my drawings from nephews and nieces.

Two young children in a pool.

Things To Do During The Summer HolidaysHere's a list of things to do I made up for my my nieces and nephews who used to stay with me during the holidays. They would just choose something from the list to do so I never had anyone say "I'm bored!"

Tip for Opening a Fray Check BottleI do a lot of appliques with Wonder Under. This necessitates use of Fray Check which comes in a small bottle very similar to a Krazy Glue bottle. Like most people I use a straight pin to make the hole at the end of the tiny applicator/bottle top.

Needlework frame.

Use Dowel Rods for Needlework FramesEver wish you had a different size scroll bar set? I use half inch diameter dowel rods from the home improvement store and cut to whatever width I need at the time. I have widths ranging from 8 inches to 36 inches.

DIY Colour CatchersColour catchers catch loose dyes in your wash water and prevent dyes from running or bleeding into each other. You can wash lights and darks together to save time and money by reducing the need for half size loads.

3 Comments Comment

A box of baking soda and borax.

Dry Laundry Soap for Twenty Dollars a YearBuy these ingredients at the dollar store. You will only need 2 tablespoons per load of laundry. First grate your soap, then mix all ingredients together. I used two garbage bags doubled up.

20 Comments Comment

Health Benefits Of FlaxI use flaxseed oil for dry skin. I put flaxseed oil in my pets' food for their dry skin too. I also use flaxseed for constipation. Flax is really wonderful.

Homemade Bath ScrubMake a paste of baking soda and any oil (I prefer grapeseed oil). Apply to wet skin using a washcloth or loofa pad. The baking soda exfoliates and the oil moisturizes. Be sure to standing on a bathmat or hand towel because it can get slippery.

natural lip plumper

Natural Lip PlumperPut your lip balm into a small bowl, add 1 tsp. of cayenne pepper and mash with a spoon. Sprinkle a little cinnamon over the mix; mix well. Then put your lip balm back into it's container.

6 Comments Comment

Pill Taking the Easy WayWhen I have to take a large pill I get a little pat of butter and coat the pill. It goes down very easily. No more cutting the calcium pills into small pieces.

Reusing Leftover WallpaperI had a roll of wallpaper leftover and decided to used it to reline the drawers in kitchen and bathroom. It worked great and saved money.

Save on Ground BeefI have been shocked at how expensive ground beef has been lately. But I found a way around the higher prices! At my supermarket, ground beef is $2.69 per pound. So a 4 pound pack is $10.76. BUT, When I go to the freezer section, a 4 pound box of frozen hamburger patties is only $6.99 for the box.

4 Comments Comment

Simple Body ScrubMake a medium soft paste with baking soda and any carrier oil of your choice, for example: olive oil, coconut, almond, or grapeseed. Apply with a washcloth or loofa pad. Your skin will be amazingly soft. Stand on a hand towel or bathmat because it can be slippery.

Tarnish Free SilverwareAfter using my good silverware, I vacuum seal it in large ziplock bag, then store the package in between the table linens.

Tips For Treating Dry SkinDuring winter, your skin loses moisture and tends to dry even when you apply lotion. Add few drops of olive oil to your bottle of lotion and shake well.

U-Haul for Emergency Car RentalWe recently needed a rental car while our car was in the shop. I checked the online deals and they were all very high. I remembered that U-Haul advertises $29.95/day rentals. This does not include mileage, so be sure you will not be driving many miles.

4 Comments Comment

Use Antacids to Clean a VaseI find it hard to clean the bottom of some vases so I add a little warm water with an antacid tablet at the bottom. I let it sit overnight and just rinse. Works well.

Easy Cleanup Shaving Cream PaintThis is a simple tip to use for toddlers and it will keep them busy for awhile. My granddaughter is around two and her mom makes this paint for her. In a muffin tin or ice cube tray, put some shaving cream, then add a few drops of food coloring, mix and there you have it, paint!

Peeling EggsBoil the eggs for 20 minutes, then pour off the hot water. Under cool running water, tap the egg to crack, and the shell will just slide off.

Bag of Red Lake DE.

Pet Uses for Food Grade Diatomaceous EarthI wanted to share what the DE looks like that you use in your pets area, and on their food, etc. I don't use t a lot, but when I do I try not to breathe it in.

4 Comments Comment

Hospital Goodie Basket IdeasWe have had several family members in the hospital lately and I have learned a few things that are good to have on hand for visitors or if a person stays with the patient. Now, when I hear of someone in the hospital, I deliver a "goodie basket" to their room.

1 Comment Comment

Cedar Chips For FleasAfter treating your dogs, you have to do something to discourage and kill those pesky fleas from hanging around in your yard. I buy the cedar chips and sprinkle it all over the yard

1 Comment Comment

Keeping Clothes on HangersThis tip will keep your sundresses and short sleeve shirts on your coat hangers. Just put wide rubber bands on the ends, from top to bottom, the rubber bands will keep the clothes from falling off! Helps to keep the closet tidy!

2 Comments Comment

Smarter Back to School ShoppingEvery where you look, all you see is Back to School sales. In some places, kids are going back, but here in CA, it is the start of summer school. Either way, savings are all around us.

2 Comments Comment

Talcum Powder For Squeaky Hardwood FloorsSpray talcum powder in the grooves of the hardwood floor. Try to have it penetrate in with a brush, and add some more from time to time. This should help lessen the "squeaky" noise.

E-books for Inexpensive ReadingI've always been a bookworm, and love to have several on hand I have not read yet. Lately I have noticed all the e-readers, Nooks, Kindles, and such on the market and thought it would be handy to have one when I couldn't get to the library, such as 2 years ago when we were snowed in for a week.

4 Comments Comment

Inflatable Arm-Band for Packing Fragile ItemsPacking for a holiday? Use an inflatable arm-band to transport delicate items like perfume bottles or when you are bringing home some vino in your suitcase!

Cross stitch project in floor frame.

Keeping Cross Stitch Clean in Floor FrameI do a lot of cross stitching and always use a floor stand. However, when kept in the stand frame, it is open to household odors, my hubby's cigarette smoke, etc. I now use a plastic garbage bag to slide over the scroll rods and upper frame, therefore helping to keep it a little cleaner.

Keeping Hands Clean When Doing NeedleworkWhen doing a lot of cross stitching, and other needlework, you know you should really keep your hands clean. The easiest and inexpensive solution for me is to use the store brand baby wipes.

3 Comments Comment

Scraping dough off counter with bag closure tab.

Plastic Bag Closure Tab to Clean CountersWhen I make my own pie crust my counter gets messy with flour and hardened dough. So that I don't scratch the countertop, I use a plastic potato bag closure.

Chalk start line on sidewalk.

Sidewalk Chalk Boundaries When CampingUse sidewalk chalk to mark the boundaries of where your kids can play or ride their bikes around your campground. Another family did this where we recently went camping and I thought it was a brilliant idea.

2 Comments Comment

Smash Containers Flat To Save Room In TrashPlastic milk cartons, juice cartons, or laundry detergent containers can play havoc with garbage space when you are through with them. We have no recycling where I live, unfortunately.

Yellow Jacket

Getting Rid of Yellow Jackets and Ants on Hummingbird FeedersI found this recently in my Country Wisdom book, and decided to share it because it really works great at my house! We have hummingbird feeders hanging on our porch and noticed that the yellow jackets were volatile to humans and my poor hummers!

16 Comments Comment

Mark Your Cutting Mat for Common ProjectsI have one of those cutting mats for sewing, laid out on a large table. This morning I went down one side to mark the size of the tote bags I am making.

Remedies For Dry SkinJust yesterday I bought a product (can't find it online) that has beeswax, grape seed oil, night primrose oil, olive oil, shea butter, essential oil, honey, and vitamin E. I was told to use it as lotion. I have psoriasis on the palm of one hand and cannot leave it alone.

10 Comments Comment

Remedy for Toothache PainTo ease tooth ache pain don't buy toothache gel which does a good job numbing the pain but can be expensive. Instead buy a large tube of Sensodyne toothpaste or the dollar store brand of sensitive toothpaste and take some out and place on the spot where the tooth is hurting.

6 Comments Comment

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