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Thrifty Tip Contest
(March 1 - April 30, 2018)

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DurationEntries
March 1 - April 30, 201834


Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,246 Posts
March 6, 2018

My parents have a list of shops in their area that offer senior discounts. Some are valid every day, some are one day a week, some are one day a month. The discounts can vary from 10 to 25 percent off, and most don't require you to sign up for a free membership.

A pile of dollar bills and change on a wooden table.

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Donate Cloth Items to SPCA or RescueI have done volunteer work for the SPCA in my younger years. Many little lost or surrendered animals are scared, sick, or hurt. They do not understand being in a cage and being around all of the animals that are barking. These animal shelters will take blankets, stuffed animals, etc.

 
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Laundry Detergent Drawer Sachets - drawer sachet made with powdered detergent inside a coffee filter
Laundry Detergent Drawer SachetsI did a post some time back showing how I soaked the cotton tips of Q-tips in my favorite cologne, put them in a small plastic bag and put the bag in my drawers. Well, this does work, but to a limited degree and only for a short time.

 
7 CommentsComment
A VHS tape being used to prop a door open.
Another Use for an Old VHS TapeOver the last several days, I have been redoing my storage room. Taking things out and in is ridiculous when the chamber in my pneumatic closer no longer works.

 
2 CommentsComment
A small legal pad attached to a small cutting board with binder clips.
Make an Impromptu ClipboardWhen you have a dollar tree cutting board that is no longer good for food, don't toss or recycle it. Turn it into a clip board! With the 3/$1.00 mini legal pads, two binder clips and the cutting board, you can make something to do a shopping list, To Do list, or even a Honey Do list!

 
2 CommentsComment
A foam motorcycle sissy bar alternative.
Motorcycle Sissy Bar AlternativeI love riding on my boyfriend's motorcycle but the passenger seat isn't too passenger friendly. Without installing a sissy bar, you will be sliding around the back which may cause the wheel well to rub or, worse, you can slide off. My boyfriend doesn't like the sissy bar look, and mounting/detaching one every time I ride with him can be a hassle. To purchase a detachable sissybar was far too expensive.

 
2 CommentsComment
Free products from the supermarket next to a smartphone.
Supermarket FreebiesMost of the large supermarket chains offer free full-size items every week. They work via mobile phone app or mailing list. Just sign up and they'll notify you when something free is available for pickup. You usually have 2 to 3 weeks to get it, so it's pretty convenient.

 
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A preowned Keurig coffee maker in a kitchen.
Use the Company Customer Service NumberI saw a non-working Keurig on Freecycle. I knew about descaling it from an article written by Mary Hunt on the Debt Proof Living website, so I decided to take a chance. However, the descaling and cleaning did not work, so I called their toll-free number, and within 10 minutes the screen error the previous owner experienced was fixed and I have a great machine. I got the manual online and downloaded it.

 
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Bargain kitchen shears and a silicone basting brush from WalMart
WalMart Deal Alert: Scissor and Basting BrushWalMart now has its annual display of grilling items. Grills galore and more. They also have some great deals on accessory items. You'll find a pretty large selection of items for 88 cents. Grill brushes, tongs, wiener molds, skewers, etc. The tongs were good size and quite hefty for that price.

 
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Lotion and Watercolor Art - orange and blue watercolor
Lotion and Watercolor ArtIt is nice to use pretty smelling lotion in the place of water when painting with watercolors. This makes the colors more pastel and the final art looks really nice ;)

 
2 CommentsComment
Beads in a recycled lid.
Lids, Lids, Glorious Lids!If your jar is melted or broken, don't recycle that lid. I have found more uses for them than I can remember. Here are just a few.

 
6 CommentsComment
A Price Accuracy Guarantee sign at a grocery store.
Price Accuracy Guarantee at Vons/SafewayI took a picture of the Vons/Safeway policy while at self check out. They have a Price Accuracy Guarantee, where if you are overcharged and the item is less than $5, it will be free. And, if it was more than $5, you will get a gift card and price adjustment.

 
2 CommentsComment
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Ask to Waive Late ChargesOnce in awhile we make mistakes and may forget to pay our bill(s). Then, the upcoming bill a late fee penalty will be charged. The penalty fee varies depending on the bill, but for my internet bill I accidentally forgot to pay and the fee was $9.

 
2 CommentsComment
A saltwater aquarium with colorful striped fish.
Free Museum Admission with Bank of AmericaIf you bank or have a credit card with Bank of America, every first full weekend of every month you can take advantage of complimentary/free general admission to select museums, gardens, aquariums in the United States.

 
2 CommentsComment
A dollar bill next to a measuring tape showing six inches.
One Dollar Bill for Emergency MeasurementsI've done this many times and it will work in a pinch. A dollar bill measures barely much over 6 inches of length. When a measuring tape or ruler is not within reach, a 6 inch dollar bill can give you a close figure. Fold in half, and it would be 3 inches. It is kind of handy to measure lengths of nails, bolts, screws, etc. It's not as precise as a tape measure, but will work.

 
1 CommentComment
A recycled hydrogen peroxide bottle with a Clorox label.
Reuse Peroxide BottlesPeroxide is a great disinfectant with a lot of applications. It also removes a lot of stains, particularly organic stains such as blood. I buy the larger bottles as I use it quite often.

 
1 CommentComment
A broken picture frame underneath another frame that has had the glass replaced.
Reusing Picture FramesI had a picture frame that fell, shattering the glass but leaving the frame intact. I decided to save it and repurpose it for something. In the meantime, an inexpensive dollar store frame cracked, but the glass was fine. Both frames were the same size. I discarded the damaged frame and glass, and now put the good glass and frame together. Now I only had to discard one frame instead of both. The picture shows my 'new' wood picture frame and the broken other picture frame.

 
2 CommentsComment
A soft shammy to use instead of paper towels.
Saving Money on Paper TowelsI was one that enjoyed using my sewing machine a few years back. At this moment it sits in the closet. I am unable to use it due to pain in my hands. I was working on changing my life to become better with waste and money saving.

 
4 CommentsComment
A trampoline playspace with no people.
Toddler Time for Discounted RatesAt select locations, there is "toddler time" where you and your toddler can jump/play at a discounted price - generally this is the time when bigger kids are in school and adults are at work. This is a great time to bring your toddler because it is much safer as there won't be any rough play generally and everyone is of the same age.

 
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Old Phone Case as Photo Frame - case reassembled with baby photos
Old Phone Case as Photo FrameI got a newer phone. My old phone went to the police station to give to those who need one. This left me with a fun little case in great shape, but was too cheap to resell.

 
3 CommentsComment
A decorated square box with the lid removed, on a tray.
Making a Night BoxI live in a tiny apartment. In order to have a craft room, I sleep on a day bed in the living room. At night, I hate getting up so I made a little "handy" today that goes from pretty box to something I need at night, then back to pretty box in the daytime.

 
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Keeping Ants Away from Pet Food BowlsI was getting ants around their food dishes. I read somewhere to put vinegar on cotton balls and place them around the food bowls (under food mat edges, etc.). Bingo no ants and pet safe!

 
2 CommentsComment
A bottle of Roach and Ant Killer containing boric acid, next to a paint brush dipped in boric acid powder.
An Ant Remedy Worth RepeatingWith warmer weather here, a lot of us are going through the annual invasion of ants into our homes. Trying different means of eradication helps you find what works best for you.

 
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Plastic shopping bags used as wastebasket liners.
Free Small Wastebasket LinerI save all plastic merchandise bags. I use the bags for liners in small wastebaskets. Usually, small size waste containers are found in bathrooms, bedrooms, recreational vehicles and near cat litter boxes. I use the bags for returning empty bottles and cans. It saves buying rolls of new plastic bags and work very well.

 
3 CommentsComment
A jigsaw puzzle being worked on a card table.
Protecting a Puzzle on a TableRecently, I was able to get a nice card table and four chairs for a steal! I decided to put a puzzle on the table. But I knew that the lace curtain I am using for a tablecloth would catch on it and disturb the pieces. So, remembering that puzzle savers are basically just big pieces of heavy felt, I improvised.

 
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Heineken beer bottles that have been marked down.
Saving on AlcoholWhen we have parties or get-togethers many guests prefer to drink alcohol. Alcohol can get pretty expensive, for example - a 6 pack of Heineken is $8.99.

 
6 CommentsComment
One small plastic container upended inside another.
Using Lidless ContainersI poured a can of pineapple into a plastic tub and realized I didn't have a lid. Then I went to get one with a lid, and found out it didn't have one either.

 
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A set of alkaline batteries next to a set of heavy duty carbide batteries.
Choose Alkaline BatteriesI have found that heavy duty carbide batteries do not stack up compared to the alkaline batteries. The alkaline batteries cost more but will give far more service. The heavy duty batteries won't give as bright of light as the alkaline ones. It is worth paying more for the alkaline batteries by far. Longer lasting is less cost of usage.

 
2 CommentsComment
Some free items from businesses; a calendar, pens and a coffee mug.
Free Items from BusinessesVisit businesses and banks for free items. They offer advertising items to promote or gain new customers. No need to buy pens, calendars, coffee mugs any more. Businesses benefit from distributing their promotional items to prospective customers.

 
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A free state road map from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Free Road Maps and Other Travel InformationNo need to buy a road map from the gas station convenience store. Go to the website for the Department of Transportation for your State. Request a free state road map and it will be mailed to you. You will receive the map very quickly in the mail. I live in Michigan and this was my experience to receive the map.

 
2 CommentsComment
Two plastic children's chairs from an estate sale.
Only Shop at Family Estate SalesIf you shop at an estate sale run by a company, the prices will be much higher. If the sale is run by the family, usually the adult children, their goal is to clear out the house so it can be sold. The last sale I went to I was given a Little Tikes table and 4 chairs and 7 white wire shelves for cabinets.

 
2 CommentsComment
A multimeter to test batteries.
Test Batteries with a MultimeterI was able to get a free digital multimeter with a coupon at Harbor Freight store. With the instrument, I can check batteries for voltage. You don't have to wonder anymore if a battery is good. I was throwing away batteries and they may have been still usable. Also I can check small flat batteries used in car remote controls and wrist watches.

 
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An old eye makeup case with medication.
New Life for Old Makeup CaseI just got some new eye shadow from a store and knew the old was well, old. And it was fall colors so I decided to just toss it. But then I thought "I bet that little case comes out". It didn't, but once I got the makeup out, there was a nice little compartment for all sorts of things.

 
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Packages of Band-Aids and Hy-Tape for covering healing wounds.
Reduce Scars When HealingThis product "Hy-Tape" is a great alternative any time to Band-Aids when we get a cut that we need to protect so it can heal correctly and be aesthetically pleasing.

 
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