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Thrifty Tip Contest
(July 1 - August 31, 2019)

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DurationEntries
July 1 - August 31, 201928

August 19, 2019

One day while painting a room with latex paint, I noticed that larger drops of paint, when left to dry, became pliable like a putty. I hit on the idea that this half dried paint could be rolled into a a tiny ball and smashed into a hole left by a picture hanger. It worked. Even if you need to lightly sand smooth, the color is through and through.

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A Ring alarm system's keypad.
Alarm System for LessHaving an alarm system provides peace of mind in the comfort of your own home. After researching many alarm companies and getting quotes, I found that you will be charged an upfront fee for the cost of equipment and labor (which is from several hundreds to thousands) plus monthly fees with contract.

 
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A spacer in cardboard packaging.
Misleading PackagingDon't be fooled by packaging. I ran out of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, so when I went to Walgreens, I did not see the brand I previous purchased. Instead, I noticed this new brand called Guru Nanda. It was the same price and from what I recalled, a much larger bottle. Wow, I thought, what a deal, but come to find out, it was just the packaging!

 
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A check register on a table.
Protect Your Checking Account InformationIn my area, crooks are putting fishing poles in federal mail boxes and stealing the mail that comes out. They are looking for checks and papers with other identifying information. Even if they cannot cash the check, they have the routing number and account number and can take money out of your account.

 
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Two glasses that are stuck together.
Separating Drinking Glasses That Are StuckIf you have drinking glasses that are stuck within each other, this trick will release them quickly. Fill the top glass with some ice, then dip the bottom glass in some hot water, or run hot water around it. Gently twist and they will come apart. I did this several times after going through old drinking glass sets I'd put in storage to donate.

 
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Mixing bowl stacked so that both handles show.
Show What Is Stored On a High Pantry ShelfBeing in a small place, I am lucky to have a pantry. But, sometimes even I have too much. Consolidating things can really help, until you forget where something is. Ever do that?

 
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Getting the Perfect Length on Cut-off Pants - pink pants and the bottom of a pair of grey pants
Getting the Perfect Length on Cut-off PantsI recently found some cool pedal pushers in my community center. I hate the length, but they fit for shorts, so I had to cut them down. Sometimes, getting each leg the same is a challenge.

 
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Effective Homemade Treatment for Ant ControlAnts in your home can be effectively killed without any harmful effects to pets or barefoot small children. Prepare a spray bottle with one part water and one part liquid soap (dish washing soap, Mr.Clean, Fabuloso cleaners, etc.) Spray and ants will die on contact.

 
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Several cut cardboard pieces in a drawer.
Reusing Cardboard Pieces as Sturdy Art CanvasMy kids like to save cardboard pieces from boxes that are shipped to our home. Cardboard is sturdy enough for the kids to glue or use hot glue without the cardboard bending - like with paper.

 
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Stop Hot Glue from Slipping Off Table - glue gun attached to an extension cord wrapped around chair back
Stop Hot Glue from Slipping Off TableI use hot glue frequently for crafts. One of my biggest annoyances is that the hot glue always slips off the table because the cord is too short.

 
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Drinking Glasses Stuck TogetherWhen glass glasses get stuck together, it can be challenging to separate them, lest one or both break. I solved this by carefully pouring a small amount of vegetable oil between them and letting them sit overnight for the oil to disseminate.

 
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A t-shirt to dry hair.
Dry Hair Fast Without a Blow DryerAlthough it may save you some time, you don't actually need a blow dryer to dry your hair quickly. My favourite method of a quick dry uses a big soft t-shirt. This isn't only great for saving on electricity, it also saves your hair by not allowing it any heat damage. It also leaves your hair quite shiny.

 
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A cabinet hinge being held up with a yoga block.
Repairing a HingeI had to replace a hinge and I was by myself. I had no one to hold the door for me, so I used a yoga block with some towels on it to let the door rest on it. Made the job easier.

 
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Two rain checks from Vons.
Take Advantage of Store Rain ChecksFinding big sale items in weekly store ads is great, until you get to the store and notice they've ran out of stock. It can be frustrating, especially because you've made an effort to make it out to the store only to find there was nothing there for you.

 
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Be Careful Using Vending Machines and Debit CardsRecently, I was stuck for over an hour in a clinic, waiting for my neighbor to be done with her appointment. I had my phone, magazines, and chats with those who came and went.

 
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Creative Clotheslines - clothes hanging on a bungy cord between the fence sides
Creative ClotheslinesI like to take advantage of warm weather to dry clothing outdoors. Even though I have a couple of drying racks, sometimes it was not enough. I did not want to invest in an outdoor clothesline that would have to be removed every time the lawn was mowed and when the winter came. I solved my problem in several ways.

 
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Salt stored in a plastic bag with rice.
Keep Salt FlowingWe downsized and moved into a camper (which we love). One of my biggest complaints was because of the humidity, the salt would get clumpy up both in the shaker and also the salt container.

 
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Tape placed on a mosquito bite.
Put Tape on Mosquito BitesNo matter how hard you try to stay away from them, pesky mosquitos will somehow make their way to your skin. If one manages to bite you, you can banish the itchy feeling quickly by placing a piece of tape right on the bite.

 
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Peanut Butter And Poor SleepI think not many adults will be having before bedtime snacks of peanut butter. You might want to keep it in mind though if you have children, who like me, sometimes don't easily associate cause and effect.

 
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Vinegar and Soap for Gnats - gnats floating in the bowl
Vinegar and Soap for GnatsSummer is here and one of the mysteries of the ages, at least to me, is why and how those pesky gnats come up out of my drains and potted plants and drive me bonkers. I place a small bowl of ACV and a squirt of liquid soap onto my kitchen and bathroom counters and also the window sill in my master bedroom bathroom where I have some potted plants. The gnats are attracted by the ACV. Problem solved.

 
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A peeled onion with the peels in a mesh produce bag.
Easy Onion PeelingI have both a severe sensitivity to onions and a real dislike of the papery mess they leave on my counters and in vegetable bins and drawers. I have found that if I place one in one of the netted bags they come in and act like I'm scrubbing it (dry), they will shed their outer paper layer easily!

 
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A prescription lid that is the same size as a gallon jug lid.
Replacing a Lost Plastic CapWhen I find good gallon jugs in recycling, I often keep them to put water ahead, or mix weed killer or plant food. But sometimes, the caps are missing. Foil is a great stop gap but not a permanent solution.

 
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A tea bag in a bowl with some salt.
Salt Water Tea Bag for Inflamed GumsI grind my teeth while I sleep so I wear a night guard. This helps a lot but I still chew on the guard all night. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, my gums are inflamed from doing so. Swishing with warm salt water is helpful but does not have as much as a lasting effect as using both salt water and a tea bag compress.

 
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Storing Leftovers in Single Serve ContainersI think this makes perfect sense. Do you agree with me? Being a single person I have a lot of leftovers. When I cook something that will end up having leftovers I immediately portion it in single servings in my favorite glass containers. This way when you are ready for a meal, you just grab and go without getting out a pot of spaghetti, chili or whatever.

 
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Summer Reading for Kids and AdultsWhat to do for free and fun during summer? Can't go wrong with reading and being rewarded. Check with your local library to see if you can participate in summer reading - this is available for kids and adults!

 
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Thrifty Cat Snack (Chicken Liver) - livers in an ice cube tray
Thrifty Cat Snack (Chicken Liver)I buy chicken livers and separate them into ice cube trays. Then I will slip the whole tray in an old bread bag (turned inside out so I know what it is.) I will remove and defrost one about once a week, then give it as a treat to my very enthusiastic, finnicky cat, especially in the winter when she gets bored.

 
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Two decorative pillows propped up on a headboard.
Keeping Pillows Looking Nice on a BedI have two pillows on my bed that I don't use at night. They are simply there for decoration. I used two Command picture hanging strips (one for each pillow) to hold those pillows up and keep them always looking perky!

 
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A collapsible package that can be reused.
Recycled Collapsible Water BottleThis is a collapsible storage bag used to store sugar cane blend sugar. The one I have shown here is a 24 oz. Truvia bag. It has a screw on lid which makes it airtight. These type of containers are being widely used to store sugar and other dry products and are so useful for so many other things.

 
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