Thrifty Tip Contest (January 1 - 31, 2013)

Duration	Entries
January 1 - 31, 2013	94

Asking Best Friends To ToloIt would be cool to bake something for the guy and have a GIANT poster that reads "TOLO?" Then you give the guy a clothing item. My BFF is asking his best friend so we are going to ask them at the same time.

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Eliminate Wrinkles EasilyWe all have tossed away "fabric softener" sheets; but if you have clothing coming out of the dryer wrinkled or have clothing that is wrinkled coming off of a hanger...

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Treatment for Restless Leg SyndromeI have suffered from RLS for years, but cannot tolerate the prescription for it. My doctor, who also suffers from it, drinks 8 oz. of tonic water every evening.

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Avoid Zinc Ointment For DogsPlease DO NOT put zinc oxide cream or ointment on your dog for itching from any cause. I did this without thinking, trying to help my Border Collie with severe itching, and he licked it all off. Zinc is a heavy metal and can be fatal, if ingested in adequate doses.

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Use a Tube Sock to Bind Your Extension Cord

Bind Your Shop Extension CordI couldn't find a rubber band or any kind of tie to bind up my cord so I used a tube sock. First I cut off the toe end of it and stretched it over the cord that I had rolled up. It fit perfect and held it together without any problems of it snapping or falling off.

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Comet for Cleaning Burnt Pots and PansTo clean the worst burnt pots and pans in just a few minutes, put about 1/2 to 1 inch of water in the pan then shake a generous amount of Comet and boil.

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Recycled Items For Cat Litter and BoxI use phone pages for the garden, flower pots AND to line the cat litter boxes (I do cat and dog rescue). The cats don't use clay litter, although, I do, in the beginning, put a handful of it on top of the paper and then wean them off of it.

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Teach Your Dog Not to BarkThe best way to teach a dog not to bark is to teach it to bark, and then reward it for barking. I have my Bruno, who is a Rottie mix who lives in the house, has just recently seemed to learn that I like him to mouth the word "Mama" and he gets lots of attention.

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Best Oils for Cooking and DressingsExtra-virgin olive oil is full of health benefits, but loses a great deal of those when the oil is heated.

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Cut Down On Sugar in Fruit PiesWhen preparing fruit for pie filling, crisps, cobblers, etc., mix in a teaspoon or two of baking soda before adding any sweetener. Then start out with adding 1/4 to 1/2 the amount of sugar that you normally would.

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Easy Frozen YogurtTake those little plastic tubs of yogurt and cut a little slit in the top. Insert a popsicle stick. You can freeze them and have pops.

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Easy To Do Dough RollingYou know how rolling out dough when making pizza, bread, or pie crust can be a pain. The dough sticks to everything, but the pan that you are rolling the dough in.

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Freeze Cooked Pinto Beans for LaterDH and I are southern people and we love pinto beans. For a long time I bought them canned at the super market since there are only 2 of us living here.

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Make Ice for Boiled EggsIf you keep big chunks of ice in reserve for when you hard boil eggs, you will not waste the small ice that the rest of the family uses. I boil eggs all the time, and it takes lots of ice to cool them down if you are using the little cubes.

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Orgreenic Ceramic Green Non-Stick Fry PanI really love this ceramic frying pan. It has an aluminum core and it works without any butter or anything. I am so happy with it, I had to share it on this site.

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Easter Ideas for Teens and AdultsOur kids were too old for baskets and egg hunts. However, we went to doing a basket per person. I thought it might be fun for the adults that were in their 80s, 70s, on down to get an Easter basket too.

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Healthy Tuna SandwichTo make a healthy tuna salad sandwich add 1 can of tuna, salt, pepper, and 1 Tbsp of light cream cheese instead of mayo. Then put it on your favorite low fat or wheat bread.

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Wrist Warmers Made Out of TightsI have no idea how she does it, but my daughter cuts out holes in tights, in the foot part, and wears them as wrist warmers that go all the way up to the elbow.

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Easy Special Chocolate Chip WafflesOur grandsons love waffles and especially love chocolate chip waffles. We just got a new waffle maker that makes the larger Belgian style waffles. We found that mixing chocolate chips in the batter makes a mess on the waffle iron when they melt.

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Protecting Outside Water FaucetTo keep your outside water faucet from freezing and getting damaged, keep the hose unhooked during freezing weather. Also, Walmart carries a Styrofoam cover made to hook onto the faucet and keep it covered.

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Use Computer Desk Chair as Generic HoveroundI recently hurt my knee and could not put any weight on it so in order to get around the house. I used my computer chair and rolled from room to room.

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Use Paintbrush to Untie KnotsI was trying to get a knot out of a pair of jogging pants the other day when I found one of those cheap watercolor set paintbrushes lying around.

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Homemade Flea TrapThis trap uses a disposable container, water, vinegar, and a nightlight.

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Potholder for Patching Gardening PantsMy husband had a pair of gardening pants which he had worn out at the knees. He asked me if I could mend them. So I decided to visit the dollar store to see if I could find any knee patches.

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Removing Pressure Cooker Gasket OdorTo remove odors from a pressure cooker gasket, simply "fold" the gasket to make it smaller, and put it in a pot. Cover with water and sprinkle with about a tablespoon baking soda. (The worse the odor, the more baking soda you will want to use.)

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Check Pharmacy for Free AntibioticsMy Giant Eagle grocery store's pharmacy has a list of antibiotics that are free, and they are happy to fill a K9 prescription. What would have cost me 40 dollars at the vet's office was just free for us.

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Dryer Sheets Contain Toxic ChemicalsWhile it is great to be thrifty, there are certain things that should never be re-used. It amazes me how many tips are submitted for using or re-using dryer sheets.

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Fast Way to Deal with Flyaway HairWhen your hair is all staticky and you're in a hurry, grab a dryer sheet and rub it on your hair. It will cure the flyaways and your hair will smell good too.

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Get Rid of Ants CheaplyStop buying expensive bug killers. Get rid of them the easy way! Fill a spray bottle with water and dish soap, and spray them. The soap breaks down the protective outer layer and it kills them in seconds. Best of all. no clean up, no mess, no expense, and it's not toxic to your children or pets!

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Mug Tree for Storing Bracelets or WatchesWooden mug trees make great places to keep watches and bracelets. Just hang them where you would put mugs. Do not have one? You can find them at thrift stores or garage or yard sales.

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Non Stick Spray for CandlesTake non stick cooking spray and spray the inside of the holder. After the candle is done burning, the last bit of wax will just fall out.

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Softening Hard Brown SugarAdd an apple to your brown sugar in a glass jar. Works every time.

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Germ X Large Bottle fits Dollar General Bubble Bath

Switch Bottle Tops and DispensersI get a really big bottle of hand soap out of Dollar General bubble bath, by using a Germ X large size bottle squirt top on the bubble bath bottle.

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Thai Ramen NoodleCook noodles then stir fry with fresh green beans and carrots. Add 1/2 flavor packet for low salt. Now add one large Tbsp. peanut butter and some hot sauce to taste.

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Homemade Eyeglass CleanerSave money and help the environment by making your own eyeglass cleaner. Just use 3 parts rubbing alcohol and 1 part water. Add a couple of drops of dish soap. Pour into spray bottle, shake to mix well and you're done!

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Liquid Starch as Wrinkle ReleaserAdd about 10 oz. liquid starch to a large spray bottle, then fill with water. It works best on damp clothing and/or on the clothesline. Spray clothing and let dry, or smooth or pull if badly wrinkled.

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Reusing Altoid and Little Tin BoxesI never throw away any of these small boxes. They include Altoid and other brands of mints. Russell Stover sometimes have their Whitman samplers in tin boxes.

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Banish the January Blues with PaprikaI can give you this tip with the knowledge that this has worked incredibly well on my friend who's been going through a bad time. Paprika enhances your mood. And it works.

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Desk add-on for calendar and craft books.

Calendar Desk from Board and BookMy computer desk is not all that big, just 6 feet. I live by my calendar now that I am doing more fundraisers and such. It was by the keyboard and I always had to write on it sideways, or try and scooch my body and chair on the carpeting just to get 12 inches closer.

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Store Twister Game in Old Blanket Zipper BagI love these old plastic cases that blankets come in. I have found they store a Twister game quite nicely! It is our favorite birthday party game!

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Use Rolling Trash Can as Yardwork HelperI have a large yard with a lot of trees that requires a lot of work. I am always having to pick up limbs, spread mulch, etc. Then I came up with the idea to use my 30 gallon large garbage can on wheels that I had purchased from a discount store.

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Lacy Accent DoilyFirst of all let me say I did not come up with this pattern. I got it off the internet. But I did modify it as I didn't like the way rows 30-36 were done in the original pattern (too much tying off and fastening back on 24 pineapples).

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At Home Kitten and Cat Health CareA Day in the Life of a Healthy Cat Owner

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Renewing an Old Monthly Planner with Nail PolishI have tons of monthly planners I get as gifts and I don't throw any of them away. I just have redone one for January of this year from the planner that was from January of last year.

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Dry apple slices covering soil in potted plant.

Show No Dirt Planter For Your KitchenHaving plants in my kitchen is a must, but I do not like looking at the dirt in the pot. If you dry apple slices and string them with wire, they can surround your plant to not show the dirt.

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Add Ramen Noodles to Canned SoupWe love canned chicken noodle soup but always seem to have more broth than noodles. My husband got the idea to add ramen noodles to the soup and it satisfies the desire for more noodles and makes a nice lunch.

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Cereal Box Pencil HolderHere is what I do with some of my extra cereal boxes, and the end of the duct tape roll that has no adhesive on it. I join them to make pencil boxes for the table.

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Fitted Bed SheetsMake fitted bed sheets. That's right! Last week I was going through my sheet sheets and found I had more king sheets than queens. I didn't really need the extra kings so I decided to cut down the king fitted sheets and make queen fitted sheets.

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Keeping Moles and Gophers Out of Your YardGet some Wrigleys Juicy Fruit gum. You chew it just until it is soft and the flavor is starting to come out. Then you poke a hole in the hill or run and drop the gum down into it and cover it up.

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Keeping Weevils Out of Dried GoodsMany people I know store their flour, corn meal, cake mixes, etc. in their freezer or refrigerator. While this does keep pests from showing up in the dried goods, it takes up a lot of room in the appliance.

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Making French Toast in Waffle IronWhen making French toast, I use my waffle iron to cook it. My iron is non stick so I don't use extra fat to fry in. I usually make a whole loaf at a time.

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Side view of jar with toys inside and next to it on table.

Memory JarA lot of times when I am cleaning, I find little items that the children like, but don't want to really play with. In that case, I will take whatever jars I have, and fill them up with the little jewels and treasures!

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Reusing Dry Cleaning Bags For TrashWhen you pick up your dry cleaning use the clear bags as trash bags in your smaller cans by simply tying a knot in the end where the hanger comes through.

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Reusing Envelopes For Note PadsI am a mother and a full time student working towards my college degree. I have financial limitations and constraints and I was always looking for practical ways to save money and recycle at the same time.

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Wear Hard to Button Blouses as a JacketI found this blouse but it has tiny baby clothes buttons. There is no way I'll be able to get up early enough to button that shirt. The weight of the fabric and the ruffles on the front will allow me to use it as a jacket or over shirt.

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Decorate Mini Clay Pot and Lid Using Nail PolishI made these little items separately. Only later did I notice they go together perfectly. On the inside is a sweet message to my daughter.

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Keeping Track of Gift IdeasI keep a file on my computer in "my documents" for gift ideas. Whenever I run across a particular idea for a handmade gift or a basket gift or even something to buy for a gift, I will save the picture and write beside it my thoughts.

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Saving Money on Pet Medications and TreatsMedications that I normally get from my vet can be gotten from the local drug store at less than half the price.

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Cedar Shavings for Pantry PestsWhile it won't do anything about any little hitchhikers already in your food, bugs absolutely hate cedar, so sprinkling a few shavings or hanging up a little bag of it in your pantry may discourage anything investigating the place from hanging around.

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Easy George Foreman Grill Clean UpWe use our small George Foreman grill a lot, and have a great tip for easy cleaning. Once we take the food off the grill and unplug it, we take a doubled up paper towel and wet it, wring it out just so there is still wetness to it.

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Use Notepad on Cellphone for ListsI keep my grocery list on the "notepad" of my cell phone, so that when I go to the store, all I have to do is check on my phone to see what I need. No more forgotten grocery list at home.

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Using Scrap YarnI discovered that if I use circular knitting needles to knit long winter scarves, I can use bits and pieces of yarn in all colors and textures to knit up unique scarves that when used creatively can be very beautiful.

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Bacon Broccoli RamenRamen noodles can be the start of many delicious quick meals.

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Almost Free Crocheted "Plarn" ItemsI was able to keep the cost down when providing table favors for an event needing 20 items. The solution was to use 'plarn' to make the favors. Plarn is strips of recycled plastic grocery type bags that you use instead of crochet thread or yarn.

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Using Old Linens for StorageAfter my parents died, when going through the house, I'm finding old towels, sheets that are no longer good for sheets, stained tablecloths etc. I've donated what's appropriate to animal shelters, rescues, But I've always wondered what else the tablecloths could be used for.

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Make Soap Bars Last LongerBefore using a bar of soap, open wrapper and let your bar of soap dry out for a week or so. This really makes it last much longer.

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Strawberry and blueberry pattern vinyl appliance covers.

Making Small Kitchen Appliance CoversYou can save money by making your own small kitchen appliance covers. I use vinyl table covers to make sturdy, wipe clean small kitchen appliance covers.

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Use Plate Holder For iPadI use a plate holder on my desk to put my iPad in. It keeps it out of the way and I can charge it at the same time. A plate holder also works for organizing papers and holding mail I need to take care of.

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Add Chocolate Chips to PancakesI keep a butter container full of flour. Occasionally I have mixed it with cake or cookie mix when it was low because I didn't have any flour. It is kind of hard to turn the pancakes when it is cookie mix that is more than half the batter for the pancakes.

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Feeding Cats Who Fight SeparatelyIf your cats fight over food, separate cat food bowls where they cannot see one another eating; or in more flowery terms, here is a poem which describes this tip.

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Add Oatmeal to Hamburger SlidersThis is a popular food around our home. I like to make lots of these and keep them in the freezer. Even the kids like them after they became used to how they look.

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Product Review: Bear Creek Cheddar Broccoli Soup MixI rarely buy soup mixes. However, when the local Hostess Store closed I found these for .89 and they make 4 cups.

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Cleaning The Inside of BottlesI have found that the best and cheapest way to clean the inside of bottles is to use vinegar and baking soda. The soda will cause the vinegar to fizz; so, it reaches all areas inside the bottle.

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Boiled Eggs and Baking SodaWhen you put the water in the pot to boil eggs, add 1 tsp of baking soda to the water. This will help after the eggs come out, and they will be much easier to peel.

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Cooling Racks to Ripen TomatoRipen tomatoes and other vegetables in your window.

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Freeze Leftover WineYou can freeze any leftover wine in ice cube trays. It saves you a fortune.

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Recycle Gum Container for Business CardsCarry your business cards around in a recycled gum holder. You can even cover the box with cloth or wrapping paper, etc.

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Use Old Liquid Makeup as a Fun Learning ToolUse old liquid makeup for a fun learning tool. There are some foundation liquids that I don't like or they get old so I lay waxed paper down and let my granddaughter practice her letter writing. It is a fun, tactile way to use up some of the old makeup instead of throwing it away.

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Saving on Cellphone ExpenseI dropped my monthly cellphone charges by getting a 20 dollar cellphone.

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Black-Themed vs. White-Themed New Year's Eve PartyI can't imagine giving any type of party, where the guests, decorations, etc. are all white. It would remind me of the child dressed in their very best clothes and told to go play but not get dirty.

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Infrared Zone Heating SystemBefore ordering this product, I did a lot of research and one of the main reasons I like it is, because it costs hardly anything to run and our home heater isn't working as hard. Besides heating up our den, it also heats up the kitchen and is now the warmest room in the entire house.

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Pretty Personalized Recycled ContainersI gather together appropriate recycle-worthy containers, and, with an inexpensive roll of yard sale or thrift store wallpaper, one can turn such containers into a darling variety of matching holders of whatever you want!

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Reuse Pump Bottles with VinegarI keep my large Germ X bottles or even the small ones. I fill one of the large ones with dish soap and keep it by the sink. I have another one I fill with white vinegar.

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Save Christmas Card EnvelopesI fold all my Christmas card evelopes, which have a return address on them, and tie them together with a pretty ribbon or a piece of yarn.

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Sub-irrigated Planter From Recycled MaterialsThis is my original concept. It is perfect for growing smaller garden plants like lettuce, etc. I hope you like it.

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Use Plastic Caps As LuminariesAir freshener dispensers and some laundry products have colorful caps. One way of reusing them is to use as luminaries or candle holders.

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Duct Tape Bookmarkers Don't SlideHere is a duct tape bookmark my daughter made for me for my reading.

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Hints for Pre K RewardsMany moons ago when I was teaching pre-school and pre-K I had a reward system which worked great for me and the kids loved it.

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Reusing Containers for StorageYou can cover many smooth containers with decorative Con-Tact or wrapping paper and fill them with homemade cookies or candy for gifts.

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Thrifty Tip Contest
(January 1 - 31, 2013)

Tip: Cleaning a Very Burnt Saucepan

Tip: Keeping Your Water Pipes from Freezing

Tip: Family Fun Night

Tip: How To Repair Frizzy American Girl Doll Hair

Tip: Shred Wrapping Paper for Packaging