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Thrifty Tip Contest
(January 1 - 31, 2014)

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

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Duration	Entries
January 1 - 31, 2014	82

Tip: Repurpose Waste Water

January 24, 2014

I live in the desert. Water is like gold, but is wasted more times than I care to mention. Here's some insight on how I "repurpose" water.

Comment Was this helpful? 16

Tip: Homemade Seed Sprouter

Donna
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts

January 23, 2014

I made a seed sprouter to sprout my own seeds for my salads, plus I always sprout my seeds before I plant them in my garden. This reduces the need to wait to see if my seeds will start growing, then weeding out others.

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 7

Tip: Carry a Door Hook in Your Purse

January 13, 2014

I carry an inexpensive light weight over the door hook, I bought at a 99 cent store in my purse. I hang it over rest room doors that don't have one to hang my coat or purse. That way my belongings stay clean and safe while using the restroom.

Comment Was this helpful? 12

Tip: Phone Service Wherever You Have Wi-Fi

mom-from-missouri
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 255 Posts

January 3, 2014

If you have internet service anywhere, then you also have phone service. Find the telephone receiver icon on the Gmail email home page. Hit that icon, then dial the number.

Comment Was this helpful? 13

Tip: Homemade Liquid Soap from Bars

January 2, 2014

When you do this for the first time, you will be amazed at how much of your money is being taken for giving you much less of a product! Make your own liquid soap.

Comment Was this helpful? 24

Alternatives for Thawing Frozen Water PipesAs already mentioned above home frozen pipes could be thawed with the help of a hair dryer. However below follow some useful alternatives:

Composting Manure for FertilizerIf you live near a horse or cow pasture, you live near a fertilizer "factory." My husband and I have, in the past, gathered several piles of horse manure from a field behind our house.

Curtain Tie Backs

Curtain Tie BacksWhen you lose the little ring on your tie back that lets you pull the curtain to the side, use a curtain ring. It is easy and there is no sewing.

Decorated Storage Jar

Decorated Storage JarI keep all of the large size plastic jars that cheese balls come in. I like to keep little things in them. Here is a picture of one I put an old calendar picture in.

2 Comments Comment

Floss Threader for Threading Sewing NeedlesI have struggled with using regular threaders and thin wire that I have bent in the middle to use as a threader, but I think I have found an ideal threader.

1 Comment Comment

Freshen Clothing on ClotheslineThis is a tip if you have a garment which isn't soiled or sweaty but has been worn, and which you want to freshen. Just hang it on the clothes line in light rain, and simply leave it there until dry.

Frontier Fire Starter KitThis tip came from a friend, a woodsman and war reenactor. Works amazingly well, but takes some prep. You should prepare this fire starter kit before you have to rely upon it off the beaten track.

Relieving Denture PainHaving had dentures for over 40 years I've learned a few tricks. Such as using an emery board to file down a little nub. Be careful not to over do it. My dentist recently gave me a "slap on the head, why didn't I think of that".

14 Comments Comment

Reusing Bread Bags for Many PurposesI have come over time to use more and more the bread bags that come into my home. They are very versatile and very freezer friendly.

5 Comments Comment

Stop Bra Straps from SlippingTry nipple pasties on your shoulders to stop a loose bra strap from slipping They are flesh coloured with a thin gel to give comfort and grip. They are cheap, reusable and self-adhesive.

1 Comment Comment

Taking Tarnish Off SilverI used Nair while wearing my brand new sterling silver engagement ring. It tarnished my ring and believe me, I was freaking out. I read tips on here and tried using cigarette ashes.

4 Comments Comment

Tooth Friendly Peanut BrittleWe received a gift of peanut brittle but were were concerned about biting into it because it was thick and very hard. Not wanting to waste it, I put it in the food processor and pulsed it until it was about cornmeal consistency.

1 Comment Comment

Using Empty Lighters for Starting FireYour old lighters can be used to strike up a fire. Hold the lighter upside down atop your bed of starter material. Roll the flint several times, without sparking it. Magnesium will flake off the mechanism.

Alternative to Paper TowelsI have decided not to buy paper towels anymore. I am using several alternatives. For draining fried foods (bacon, chicken, fries) I use a cloth diaper.

9 Comments Comment

Buttering Cake PansI save all the wrappers from sticks of butter and keep them in a zipper bag in my freezer. When you need to butter a cake pan or casserole dish, just take one out.

Campho-Phenique and Lysine for Cold SoresI have successfully been using a simple and small application of Campho-Phenique gel mixed with a few granules from an L-Lysine capsule when I have the first indication of a cold sore.

3 Comments Comment

Donate Your Plastic BagsTake the excess clean, whole grocery bags to your local food pantry or farmstand. Please do not take ones that are wet, smelly, or dirty.

1 Comment Comment

Facts about SunscreenI just was in to the dermatologist office to have some cancerous skin spots removed from my mom's tip of her ear. The dermatologist gave us this information and I am sharing it here for the benefit of everyone.

1 Comment Comment

Homemade Acne TreatmentI used to have really bad acne. I tried several different home remedies and finally found one that's rather cheap and very effective.

1 Comment Comment

Lemon Scent to Deter Cats

Lemon Scent to Deter CatsMy big cat Cornelius sleeps on my bed with me. Something happened in the last three months that made him bite my foot. Now, we are not talking a little "love nibble" but a full on strike like a viper, fast and hard and painful.

1 Comment Comment

Page Protectors as Frugal Dry Erase BoardI use page protectors. Just put white paper or card stock inside the protector and you have a portable, cheap and double sided dry erase board.

Soap Makes Needles Glide Through FabricYou can stick your needles and pins in a bar of soap to make them slide into your material easier. I use the little bars that you get at the motel. You can keep them in the wrapper and it doesn't sliver off.

Growing Wisteria as a StandardThe wisteria is not a tree. It is a vigorously growing and often invasive vine. It can be kept in check by training it to grow as a standard, whereby it takes on the appearance of a small tree.

3 Comments Comment

Removing Butternut Squash Stains on HandsI tried everything (vinegar, lemon juice, baking powder, and anything I could think of) to clean my hands of the nasty orange staining I got from peeling butternut squash. I was desperate because I didn't want to go to work with hands that looked absolutely awful.

Use Screen Patio Door for Sun Drying FoodWe replaced our patio screen door last year because the cheap aluminum frame got bent when someone (not me) walked through the closed door.

1 Comment Comment

Ice for Treating a Cold SoreWhen you first start to feel the uncomfortable tingle start applying ice to the infected area on and off till the cube has melted. Afterward pat dry.

1 Comment Comment

Removing Sharpie from CD or DVDUse hand gel! Put a little on the disc and wipe away. Easy.

3 Comments Comment

Reuse Old or Torn Fitted Sheet on Box SpringI have lovely fitted sheets that complements my bedroom, but had a center tear. I like to save those for putting over the box spring.

Paint chip card in kitchen cabinet.

Keep Paint Chip Card for Future UseIn each room I store a paint chip from the store for that room. Should I need to touch up the paint for that room or want to repaint it, I have all the information on that card.

3 Comments Comment

Rotary Cutting TipIf you are using a rotary cutter with a marked ruler and a marked cutting mat, use one or the other to measure your cutting line. Never switch between the ruler marking and the mat marking, they may not be exactly the same.

Diatomaceous Earth as an Effective Flea KillerDiatomaceous earth is a big help in ridding the home of fleas. It acts as a dessicant by drying out the shell of the flea and "cutting" it.

1 Comment Comment

Snowman garden flag weather vane.

Making a Simple Weather VaneI grew up with a weather vane and paid a lot of attention to which direction the wind was blowing from. I have missed that old weather vane and have always wanted one.

1 Comment Comment

Roll Call Tool for Keeping Up with Eight Cats

Roll Call Tool for Keeping Up with Eight CatsI learned this from my daughter's Head Start class many years ago and adapted this to a roll-call method to make sure all my cats are indoors during the arctic vortex or any other kind of cold snap.

1 Comment Comment

Swim Noodles for Perches

Swim Noodles for PerchesI always decorate our rooster Phoenix's pen with swim noodles. Well, I had an extra one so I just laid that one in his pen by the opening to the crawl space where he goes at night.

Use Shelf Liner to Keep Straps from Slipping

Use Shelf Liner to Keep Straps from SlippingTo keep your bra straps from slipping off of your shoulders cut a 2 inch rectangular piece of rubberized shelf and drawer liner and place it on your shoulder under your bra strap. It works!

1 Comment Comment

Used Pool Filter as a Garden Plant Stand - flowerpot on top of filter

Used Pool Filter as a Garden Plant StandI hated to throw away our used swimming pool filter and thought it looked so interesting. I stood it upright and put a flower pot on top of it. It adds prominence to an empty space in the garden.

Wear Properly Fitting ShoesMany years ago, I talked with a surgeon who told me that most people damage the blood vessels and structures in their feet long before they have diabetes by buying and wearing cheap, ill-fitting shoes.

Frozen Banana Ice CreamFrozen fruit that is blended makes an excellent ice cream. If you like, you can add a dollop of pure maple syrup on top. The ice cream tastes just as good without it.

Organizing Apps on iPhones and iPadsJust drag similar apps over each other and they will automatically create a folder and name itself. From here, you can add to them very easily.

Using Only Part of an AvocadoWhen using avocado for sandwiches or on crackers, I cut off the top like an egg. I use the pulp from the top and a little bit around the tip inside. Then, I lightly squeeze the top and put the top back on just inside the avocado.

1 Comment Comment

Donate Motors and Small Appliances to 4HBefore you toss a nonworking small engine motor or a nonworking small appliance, call your local county extension office. Ask them to check and see if any 4H clubs would like it for their kids who are enrolled in the small engine project.

Keep Paint from Ruining ClothesHere's a tip that I use all the time. Wear your clothes inside out! Sweats work the best.

Removing Sticker Residue from GlassJust put some rubbing alcohol, mineral oil, or nail polish remover on a cotton ball or paper towel and rub it. The residue comes right off. So easy!

6 Comments Comment

Shop a Day Later Each WeekIf you are paid weekly, shop every 8 days instead of every 7. Every seventh week, you will have twice as much available to spend.

Wearing TED HoseTired of struggling with TED hose. Don't fret. I have a very slick solution. Takes half the time as it normally would.

Add Toothpicks to Salt ShakerTo keep salt from caking in your salt shaker, put a few toothpicks in. You will never have to tap your salt shaker again before using.

1 Comment Comment

Re-use Desiccant PodsMany tubs of fish oil capsules or vitamins contain a desiccant pod, to keep the tablets/capsules dry. When you finish the tub, re-use the desiccant pod in your biscuit tin or salt cellar.

Ice Cream Bucket for Used Kitty LitterI use an ice cream bucket to put the litter clumps in. The top fits tightly so I don't have to worry about odor, and they are disposable.

2 Comments Comment

Check your Electric Company for SavingsCheck with your electric company for savings you may be overlooking. This is especially true if you are on a co-op system, and often also true if you are on a town electrical system.

Recycle Old Sweaters into New Clothing - pile of sweaters

Recycle Old Sweaters into New ClothingDon't throw away old sweaters. Recycle them! I have even bought them at thrift stores to recycle. Most projects can be done in under an hour.

1 Comment Comment

Save and Compost Fireplace AshesDuring these winter months when fireplaces are in high use, you will generate quite a bit of ash. We clean out our fireplace into a paper grocery bag. The bag is then rolled shut tight down to the level of the ash and placed into a storage tub with a secure lid.

HP Ink Cartridges Have an Expiration DateI just bought several new refurbished ink cartridges at the local office store and they would not work. So, I took them back. The manager pointed out to me they were expired and should not have been on the shelf.

4 Comments Comment

Drain Fly

Identifying Flying Insects In Your HomeFirst, let me say, 'I am not an entomologist'. I have read many well intended articles here on how rid one's home of drain flies, fungus gnats and fruit flies. Quite often, the tips don't work. I think I know why. Misidentification.

4 Comments Comment

Reuse Yogurt ContainersI know most yogurt containers are recyclable these days, but I still dislike throwing out things that could be repurposed. I am reusing my empty yogurt containers for starting my spring garden seedlings.

1 Comment Comment

Use a Coolbox Instead of a FridgeIf you live alone and have a freezer, you can use it to freeze cold cells for a coolbox, so that you don't need to use electricity running a fridge as well. My daily routine includes changing my cold cells when I get up, and when I go to bed.

Vacuum Fleas from CatOur old cat sadly passed away. Every time the vacuum cleaner was switched on, he would appear. Yes, no cleaning would be done until he was done first He would turn over to vacuum each side with the pipe. He had no fleas.

1 Comment Comment

Pay Mortgage Bi-weeklyYou can pay your mortgage payments bi-weekly, rather than monthly. Two more payments a year adds up a lot of savings over several years. I shaved several years off my mortgage by doing this.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Leg CrampsI have been having painful leg cramps, particularly at night, for years. I had tried just about everything and decided to try drinking apple cider vinegar, about a tablespoonful, just before bed and on rising. The cramps disappeared.

Check for Utility DiscountsCheck with your cell phone provider to see what discounts you may qualify for. Most people are aware that auto insurance companies give discounts, but are not aware that cell phone companies do as well.

A cat in a box

Following The GAPS DietI have been in the kitchen cooking, cooking, cooking... bone broth, to be exact. Lots of it and even more. As a matter of fact, I am in the market for a large freezer storage for all the stock.

1 Comment Comment

Other Uses for Window Shrink WrapIn our home, we have to cover the air conditioner windows with the shrink wrap for the cold weather. Our windows are an odd size so there are unusual sized pieces of the plastic leftover.

Strain Sugar from Cereal

Strain Sugar from CerealWhen you get to the end of the cereal box or bag, you'll see sugar or tiny particles that you don't want to eat. Take a strainer and dump the cereal into the strainer and shake around. The small parts and sugar will fall into the sink or garbage can.

1 Comment Comment

Bagel in CD Container

Use CD Packaging For Bagel ContainerMy husband took the empty domed package that originally had 30 cds in it and recycled it into a bagel sandwich holder. The hole in the bagel lines up perfectly with the post in the case.

4 Comments Comment

Hand Lotion for Cleaning a Dry Erase BoardI have an old whiteboard with difficult-to-remove markings. I grabbed my bottle of Jergen's hand lotion and applied a little to a rag. The board is now like new!

Mineral Salts for Ear BuzzingI recently read that ear buzzing and other ailments are a result of mineral depletion in our bodies. I take Hylands Bioplasma Salts. I have been taking them for the last 6 months.

Stock Up on Filters When You Buy a VacuumWhen you buy an appliance or make a purchase where parts maybe needed later, buy extra parts with the purchase or as soon as possible.

2 Comments Comment

Cleaning Hard Water Spots Off WindowsUse shower cleaner, a green scrubbie pad, and water.

4 Comments Comment

Removing Mats on Long Haired CatsFor anyone that has a long haired kitty, I use this product and it works great. No need to shave kitty down anymore. Use this on your kitty every other day and the mats/knots will come out.

1 Comment Comment

Cheap Candle WarmersI love the way candle fragrance makes our home so inviting. I considered purchasing the new electric wax warmers I'd heard friends talking about, until I saw the price. I refused to spend $20 to melt wax!

1 Comment Comment

Cooking Pasta or Rice in the MicrowaveWhen we got our first microwave, we were without a stove so I learned to cook in the microwave.

2 Comments Comment

Keeping Track of Medicine Doses When SickAs my husband, my 4 year old and myself all ended up with the flu, keeping track of who I gave the Tylenol to and when I took that cough syrup and all that came up more than one time.

1 Comment Comment

Tips on English Riding

Tips on English RidingWhen you first start to ride make sure you are wearing the correct equipment and make sure the horse is the right size for you. When you learn to mount a horse, make sure you put your left foot in the stirrup first and then 3..2..1 and on you get.

Bulk up with BeansTo stretch our meat budget and add extra nutrition, I love to add beans to meals. My favorite is the white Great Northern. Super easy to soak over night and cook the next day.

1 Comment Comment

Bachelor SpaghettiThey who can't cook, open cans. For this recipe, I open a can of 'Chili W/Beans'. I think one brand would be just as good as another.

4 Comments Comment

Fish Food for HouseplantsPlants seem to thrive on fish food mixed into soil. It's cheap and easily obtainable.

Quickly Cool a Hot DrinkWhen your drink is too hot and you need to cool it quickly without diluting it, put the handles of clean metal table knives down into the drink for a moment. It works quickly!

Removing Smoke Smell From ClothesLaunder items using hot water, regular amount of detergent, and 1 cup each of white vinegar and baking soda. Repeat if any smoke smell remains. DO NOT dry until smoke smell is gone.

15 Comments Comment

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