I love to sew and do crafts. As a Gramma I get to do a lot of that sort of thing. I am an avid reader with historical fiction and mysteries among my favorites. I also play a mean game of scrabble.
Store Canned Beans Upside DownI'm sure you've had to deal with the beans on the bottom and juice/soup at the top. When you turn the can up to empty it, all the goodies are in the bottom. I store mine upside down so that all the beans settle in the top of the can and the soup is in the bottom.
Don't Substitute for ButterI don't mean to start a war here, but I am 77 and I have eaten butter all my life. I don't do the half measure and I don't add water. If a recipe calls for butter I use it because it is dairy. Who knows what is really in margarine?
Make A Thrifty Recycled Drink ContainerI took a large plastic mayonnaise jar and a bendy soda straw and voila! a car cup. DH drilled the holes in the plastic jar lid since he doesn't like me playing with his power toys.
Coffee Can Lid as Cutting BoardI am a compulsive recycler and not all of my recyclables go into the pickup bin. I emptied a large container of coffee this morning and discovered that the plastic cover makes a perfect cutting board for a small item. When I get to the point of cutting too many things on it I'll toss it in the bin.
Save Countertops with Plastic LidsWhen I open a new can of coffee, I take the plastic top from the old can and put it on the bottom of the new can. The plastic will help to protect your countertops.
Reviving Dried Pencil ErasersI wasn't able to get good photos so I'll go ahead and tell you what I did. First of all, I really can afford new pencils or a pack of erasers. I have this lifelong fascination with words and crosswords are part of that.
Tool for Inserting Needle Into Sewing...I found this at J Hittle in Louisville, Kentucky. I buy a lot of my supplies from them because I am not to be trusted in a fabric store. I can order just a few things. The sewing machine needle is inserted into the end with the flat side toward the back of the machine.
Cholesterol Medication Can Cause Liver DamageWhat I want to warn you about is the possibility of liver damage from statin drugs. My DH has just spent 3 days in the hospital because his liver count was up. He has been instructed not to take his pravastatin any more. After a couple of days without them his count is getting to be near normal.
Damp Cloth Keeps Cutting Board from...In order to keep the cutting board from sliding around while slicing potatoes, put a slightly damp washcloth under it. Here I am perilously close to a hundred and I didn't know this!
Fishing Line For Frugal Toilet FixAs a very stingy gramma, I have got "tight waddery" down to a science. While living in an apartment where the repair people didn't come running when I called, I figured out a way to fix my toilet.
Green PackagingYears ago I heard someone say that popped popcorn was a good packaging material instead of the peanuts. It occurred to me that when a box is opened the unsalted popcorn could be thrown out for birds and other hungry critters.
Banana DogsLike most people, I was raised on peanut butter sandwiches. I was hungry and in a hurry and in need of a quick jolt of energy so I took a hotdog bun, spread it with peanut butter and stuffed a whole banana in it.
Storm PreparationWith the storm bearing down on the Eastern seaboard, I thought I'd share some things I learned while living on the Gulf Coast.
Brillo Type Pad for Cleaning Stainless SinksAfter several years of using harsh agents to clean my sinks and destroying my hands in the process I have started using Brillo type (store brand, of course) soap pads to clean my stainless steel sinks. They look lovely and shiny and my hands are getting better all the time.
Arranging Books on the ShelvesAs an old person with an arthritic neck I have dreamed up a better way to shelve some of my books. I place the ones whose titles can be read while the book is lying flat on the shelf in that position.
Uses for Dishwasher Silverware BasketsI've had to replace a few dishwashers in my day and have determined that those silverware baskets are great for many things. Here are two uses for them.
Tribute to Mary JoThis is for my dear friend, Mary Jo Alley.'' We met'after evening services at church one Sunday when she heard some of my friends giggling when I announced that I was pregnant at age 40.'
My Frugal Life: The Willow StoryOne summer in July on a very hot day, there was a dreadful electrical storm. The willow was split down the middle. I joined the neighbors in a crying fest and then asked for some cuttings. I was told by all the neighbors I couldn't plant in the middle of the summer. I was bound to try.
