Buying a Sewing Machine?
I kind of went thru the same thing recently. Altho Ive been sewing for close to 50 yrs, I wasnt what youd call expert; I was just using my machine to repair blankets, etc. & for very basic clothing alterations such as hem shortening, etc. Well, my 40-yr-old...
Reviving Dried Pencil Erasers
Great tip, thanks. Ive also had luck with filing erasers using an emery board, fingernail file or even using the grout between our kitchen tiles; it sometimes will scrape off that hard, dry end & get it down to the soft eraser so its usable. Also storing your...
Grandchildren Ungrateful for Gifts?
Someone suggested that she just hold out her arms and give the gkids a big hug since everyone wants to be loved and some people just dont know how to show it. Um...hows she supposed to hug them since they never come to see her? (And she shouldnt have to go...
Fitting In When You Move To A New Town
Ive been hearing this also more and more lately about how hard it is to fit into small towns, how some are so cliquey and distrustful of outsiders. (They say sometimes its because the citizens have been burned in one way or another by outsiders, therefore the...
Link: Play Online Games That Donate To Charities
Deeli, thanks for the info.; I click on these sites every day anyway to donate but didnt realize they had games. But how in the world did you manage to play and donate without joining Facebook?! Every time I tried, as soon as I was done with each game, it would...
"Don't Text Me" App For Your Smartphone
Or best of all, turn the phone *off* while driving. Then you dont have to fool around with downloading still more apps or texting GDTYL, since, wonder why this keeps having to be said, sigh, youre not supposed to be texting *at all* while driving. So: Turn...
Dealing With Loud Upstairs Neighbors?
Youve done the right thing by contacting your landlady and I agree with all the previous posters suggestions. Another suggestion: are there any other neighbors (besides the jerks, of course) that you can talk to about this, see if they agree with you about...
Looking for Online Social Groups?
Thanks, Suntydt; Ill give that a try! (I tried contacting you directly to thank you, but the ThriftyFun site wouldnt let me; kept telling me I wasnt logged in but I was; go figure.)
Scenery: Flash Of Green At Sunset (Maui)
Oh, Rita, this is so cool, thanks for posting! Ive always wanted to see the green flash! I wish we didnt live so far from the ocean; but every chance we get over there, we try to be on the beach at sunset and have always hoped to see it. Maybe some day well...
The Old Country Telephone
Great post, pookarina; thanks! Those old phones back then were nicer to look at too. These phones nowadays--especially the cell phones--are ugly, I think; all black or beige, boring!
Business Name Ideas for Chocolate Lollipop Business?
All of the already mentioned names are great! And you know what elsed be cool, and I admit I know nothing about the lollipop-making busines, but if you could get the lollipops in the shape of an apple, you know: Big Apple ChocoPops or something (since I see...
Toilet Bowl Cleaner Brush Stuck in Toilet?
We got a plastic toilet paper holder stuck in our toilet when it was accidentally flushed, it got stuck crossways and couldnt be reached from either end. We called a plumber thinking wed probably have to get a new toilet all because of that stupid plastic holder...
On-Line Friends Matching Sites?
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I actually am already a member of Eons but they have no local groups in my area and the friend requests Ive made to the other Eons members in this area have been ignored; so, oh well. I also checked into PlentyofFish, Lavalife...
What is the Title of This Movie?
It might have been maybe The Fearless Vampire Killers, starring Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate; I say maybe because it came out in the mid- to late-60s. If you want, go to www.imdb.com and look it up by Title; it might even have a trailer you can play or at...
Add Longer Sleeves To Summer Dresses
This is a great idea! Since just having had skin cancer surgery, Im trying to wear long sleeves all the time. Have saved a lot of money by finding nice long-sleeved blouses and shirts (dont hesitate to look in the mens and boys sections too, gals!) at thrift...
Downloading Music?
I download music from Amazon.com and have had really good luck with them. Sometimes you can even just download 1 song, rather than the whole album. The price may have gone up; but the last time I used them, it was about 99 cents for 1 song and about $6 or $7...
Finding Groups That Send Care Packages to Troops?
Hi, Gerry, first and foremost, thank you, Thank You, *thank you* to all of you for your service, bless you! Now, check out www.booksforsoldiers.com. They donate not only books but also DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks, etc. to military folks and you can register...
Wine Stains on Washable Fabrics?
Is the fabric totally 100 percent polyester? If so, Ive heard that white toothpaste. The regular, old white paste kind, NOT the gel kind, will remove stains. But: the fabric has to be completely polyester, any other kind of fabric (cotton, spandex, nylon, whatever...
Retiring to a Small Town?
Sorry, Tammy, I dont have suggestions for you about where to move; but do think twice before you move to a small town because Ive also heard of a lot of people (nice, friendly people) who moved to small towns and were snubbed by the people there because they...
Retiring to a Small Town?
Just curious, should have been a sociologist, I guess, but why should Tammy, or any other retiree, not go to South Florida, Annae? Is it because you live there and dont like the place or you live there and do like the place but its the small town not wanting...
Removing Odors From Books
Try putting the book in a zipper-lock bag with either a new, unused fabric softener sheet or with about a teaspoon of fresh, dry, unused coffee grounds. Leave the book in there for at least 8 hours. Good luck!
Mold Problem With Front Loading Washing Machine?
Hi, I have a 10-yr old front-load washer and were on a septic tank too. I was told that the problem with using bleach on a septic tank is overstated and I believe it: Ive been using bleach (about 1 cup) in every 3rd or 4th wash load for the 20+ years that weve...
Real Christmas Trees Are Green
True, theyre not cutting the Calif. Redwood trees down to make toilet paper, but theyre cutting too many of them down to make patio furniture. Im with crazyliblady: the best option of all if you absolutely just have to have a Christmas tree at all is to buy...
Dog Has a Gas Problem?
The lamb-and-rice dog food worked for our dog too. (Turns out a lot of dogs are allergic to all grains but rice and to all meats but lamb.) Once we switched to the lamb-and-rice food, her gas stopped immediately and totally; worked like a miracle! Good luck...
Unable to Connect to Interactrivia.com ?
Thanks for your responses, JAEMM and Theography. Im hoping for the best, that maybe theyre just updating/redesigning the site; supposedly if a sites been shut down for good, youll get a 404, Page Not Found error message; instead Ive just been getting a network...
Unable to Connect to Interactrivia.com ?
Hi, everyone, I couldnt register on the Interact 360 site either, guess that site has problems, so that wonderful Fleecer has moved the discussion about Interactrivia.com to the following forum site: http://trivers.freeforums.org/season-s-greetings-t6.html...
Poca Una (Cojack)
Hi, Joann, if you get a minute, can you respond as to what kind of dog a cojack is? Never heard of that before. Anyway, what a great looking dog! :-)
Can Mold Grow Under Laminate Flooring on a Concrete Foundation?
We had vinyl flooring over a concrete slab, a slab which cracked all the time because it wasnt poured as thick as code required; so moisture came up through the cracks in the slab and caused the vinyl flooring to mildew. So it does happen. (We replaced the...
Christmas Float Ideas: Theme "American Christmas"?
I dont know if this would work on a float or not, but a guy in my town had the coolest Christmas decoration in his front yard Dec. 2001 (when 9/11 was of course still fresh in everybodys mind): he had a spotlight on a fake Santa Claus (who was sitting in an...
Watching Out of Season TV Shows?
Try Hulu.com; theyre going to start charging soon but I think at this point theyre still free. If they have started charging already, try tvguide.com, yahoo.com or (if youre a comcast internet customer) fancast. Good luck!
Remember To RSVP To Invitations
Well, this explains a lot. Ive thought for years that people who never RSVPd were just being rude/lazy; good grief, I had no idea there are people out there who actually think it means respond only if you plan to attend (or only if you dont plan to attend, whatever...
Make Dry Shampoo With Baking Soda and Baby Powder
Thanks for the tip; but I too would like the ratio of how much baking soda to how much baby powder, please. And do you just store it in a small plastic shaker, salt shaker, or what?
Sara (Chow Mix?)
Bless you, Maryjo for saving this dogs life and giving her a good home; and I love the name your son gave her! Thanks for posting this; youre a wonderful person!
Causes of Bloating and Gas?
It could be a hernia; happened to a friend of mine. This is something that a doctor would have to check and then decide what to do about (operate or whatever). Good luck!
Dealing with Adult Children at Home?
I agree with T&T Grandma & dh8: since none of these 3 are related to you by blood, why do you have to take care of them?! While its kindhearted of you to take them in, I dont understand why theyre your responsibility. And like dh8, I too hope theyre not getting...
Homemade Yogurt for Intestinal Disorders
What a nice person you are, Glenns Mom! I suffer from the same problem as your neighbor and yogurt does help. Do tell her, though, that if she ever runs out of the homemade yogurt and buys some from the store to make sure that she buys a brand WITHOUT pectin...
You Don't Have to Spend $20 for Your Dog's Nails
Dont forget though: walking on hard surfaces too much of the time is really bad for dogs (especially larger dogs) joints, particularly the knees and hips. Id rather pay the nail trimming fee than hip or knee surgery for my dog.
Link: HometownFavorites.com for Old Fashioned Candy
Heres another good site for some of the old time candies (and other old time products) you can hardly find any more: vermontcountrystore.com. The site needs to be accessed using Int. Explorer, *not* Firefox (dont know about any of the other browsers).
Downloading Music for an MP3 Player?
For music, I like amazon.com. Theyre not free but the prices are pretty good (89-99 cents for each song; about $8 for a whole CD). I know there are some other sites but dont know anything about them other than Ive heard some are safe and some arent (virus, malware...
"Paper" Themed Christmas Gift Swap?
How about 2 or 3 (or just 1, depends on your spending limit) note pads that come with a magnet so you can put it on your fridge and use for grocery lists or whatever. I love getting these myself because I go through them quick!
Mozilla Firefox Autofill Form?
I downloaded the Google toolbar and it has a nice AutoFill button right on the toolbar, very convenient!
Chihuahua Puppy Nips?
My dachshund-mix doggie did this when we first got her and I tried something my Mom told me her mom told her about years ago: when the dog nips you, in a high-pitched voice (trying to sound like a puppy) say Ow, ow, ow, oh you hurt me so bad! and whimper and...
Reviews of Snoring Aids?
Thanks, Deeli, we actually have tried the nasal strips and they do help him breathe a little easier--I wear them myself and notice my throat is much less dry in the mornings--but he still snores loudly even with the strips. So Im hoping the mouthpiece might...
Arm and Hammer HE Laundry Detergent?
Hi, Im able to buy Arm & Hammer HE laundry deterg. here in No. Calif. at Safeway, Raleys, and SaveMart and one thing I like about it is it usually costs less than the other HE brands. But if you cant find it, the other brands do work well; Ive used Gain HE...
Gasket For Lidded Cookie Jar?
How about plumbers tape? (Its a white, stretchy tape that I used once to tighten up a salt shakers lid.)
Soundproofing a Room?
I heard that you can put egg cartons on the walls to soundproof a room. Dont know if it makes a diff. what kind of egg cartons (whether styrofoam or cardboard) and dont know exactly how theyre put up (maybe with thumbtacks?).
Getting Rid of Ants in Recycling?
Ive had good luck getting rid of ants by using peppermint oil (not the extract but the OIL; can be found at health or gourmet food stores) and cleaning products (like Pledge, Fantastic, etc.) that have orange oil in them. Id just sprinkle or spray some of either...
Recipes For Cold Salads?
MARINATED CARROT SALAD Mix together a 10-oz. can of tomato soup, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup veg. oil, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. mustard powder and 1 tsp. pepper and pour over 5 cups of sliced, cooked carrots (takes about 7 large raw ones), a medium-size...
Keeping Bugs Away from Garbage Cans?
Try spraying a little orange-oil cleaner (like Pledge, etc.) in the can, I would say about once a week. I read here on ThriftyFun to spray orange-oil cleaner across my doorways to keep ants out of the house and garage and boy it seems to work! (And isnt supposed...
Oily Scalp Tips?
Ive battled oily hair and skin all my life; here are the things Ive learned over the years that help: 1) Always wash and rinse your hair with lukewarm water, NEVER hot or cold. Extremes in water temperature overstimulate the oil glands in your scalp. (Same...
Removing Baked On Soap From Car Window?
Dont know if this would work on car windows or not (and youd definitely want to try it on a small, inconspicuous area first), but a friend who had dried on soap left on a bathroom mirror and had tried everything else, was able to finally remove it with toothpaste...
Product Review: Sunsilk Shampoo for Fine Hair
Hi, Susan, or anybody else reading this, you mention that its the SunSilk shampoo in the yellow bottle; do you mean the Anti-Flat one? Reason Im asking is, that one doesnt seem to be carried around here--No. Calif.--the only SunSilk shampoos I can find are...
Suggestions For Good British Authors?
I like the British mysteries too! Here are some I enjoy: the Mrs. Malory mystery series (started in 1990) by Hazel Holt; the gardening mystery series by Anthony Eglin; the Evan Evans mystery series set in Wales by Rhys Bowen; and the Hamish Macbeth mystery...
Making Single Serve Coffee Bags?
Or you can use what I do: a manual coffeemaker. (You can see it at Melitta.com, click on Our Products and then Manual Coffeemakers.) I see theyre charging $2.99 for them on the website; I paid about $5.00 for mine at a Raleys supermarket here in town. It uses...
Inexpensive Ideas For Wrapping Large Present?
Like Grandma Margie, Ive also used a flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth to wrap a big gift. It was also for a wedding gift, so I used a tablecloth with a pretty gold background that had lavender flowers and used grosgrain (wire-rimmed) ribbon in that same shade...
DNA Testing for Ethnicity?
Hi, Jo, I had my DNA testing done through the National Geographic magazine project. I went to this website: https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html. I think it cost about $100. I think theyre a reliable outfit. Good luck!
Uses for Oatmeal Containers?
Dont have any ideas for the containers, but I use the plastic lids from the 18 oz. oatmeal containers for soap dishes. Since theyve switched so much to the liquid soap dispensers, its gotten so hard to find soap dishes like you used to be able to buy that have...
Boston terrier with Gas?
Unfortunately, what the others have said is true: Bostons are prone to gas since they have those shoved-in noses and have to breathe through their mouths somewhat and therefore swallow a lot of air. And it gets worse as they age, which could be why yours has...
Help For Invisible Eyebrows?
If none of the excellent feedback already given helps, you might reconsider the permanent eyebrow tatoos, maybe from a different salon than the place where the gal with the orange tadpoles got hers. A friend of mine does it and hers look fantastic. Hers arent...
Removing Dye The Bled Onto White Poly Cheerleaders Uniform?
Hi, Debbie, never tried it myself, but I heard that white, regular (NOT gel) toothpaste will remove stains from white polyester. (Youd have to be really careful not to get any toothpaste on any of the color parts of the uniform and then be really careful when...
Are Contracts Signed Before Declaration of Mental Incompetence Valid?
Hi, Holly, Jennifer is right, you could try Legal Aid if theres one nearby, or try this website: http://findlaw.com . Its run by lawyers and they helped me with a legal thing I was wondering about, basically they told me which site to go to look it up and that...
Credit Union Theme Ideas For Christmas Parade?
I agree with ImTrish too; a Scrooge would be perfect! Something along the lines of even that old miser Scrooge would be satisfied with how much he could save and how much interest he could earn at our credit union!
Homemade Halloween Decorations?
Like Trischs husband, mine also made deadstones one year for Halloween; only since we didnt have any plywood, he bought that 1 inch thick, rigid styrofoam and used that. He used gray spraypaint and we wrote the RIP and other epitaphs with a wide-tip black Sharpie...
Unique Group Halloween Costume Ideas For Work?
How about dressing up as the cast from Scrubs (that TV comedy about the doctors and nurses) and your theme could sort of be (Name of your credit union) Hospital - We take good care of your money!
Getting Kids To Help With Chores?
Hopefully its not too late to teach your daughters to do their chores. They say its much, much easier to start them off very young. But good luck. I hope something works for you. I strongly encourage you to atleast try. My husbands sister,a stay-at-home mom...
Smelly Paperback Books?
Ive had good luck removing all or most of cigarette smoke smell from paperback books by placing the book and about a tablespoonful of unused, dry coffee (NOT instant) in a zipper-style bag. Takes at least a couple of weeks, but it works the best of anything...
First Communion Cake
Oh my gosh, Carolyn, what a beautiful cake, its gorgeous! What a wonderful memory to add to her other memories of that day! Shes lucky to have a wonderful grandma like you!
Ant Repellents?
Try any of those spray cleaners that have orange oil (has to be the oil, not just fragrance) in it. As long as it wouldnt ruin your floor or floor covering, spray it around where youre seeing them and it should take care of it. Peppermint oil (oil, not the...
Thrifty Magazines, Books and Puzzles
Im also a fan of PaperBackSwap. I think theyre better than bookins.com because PBS trades *all* kinds--paper, hardback, and audio--of books as well as music CDs. Ive checked out several other bookswap sites in addition to bookins and to my mind, PBS always...
Getting My Feet Ready for Sandals?
What I do is, every night after I get in bed, I rub Vaseline or another brand of Petroleum Jelly, all over my feet. I keep an old towel down at the end of the bed on top of the bottom sheet where my feet go so the petroleum jelly wont stain the sheets. (I dont...
Margarita Pie
Hi, Robin, this recipe sounds soooo good! But I have a question: which size container of frozen whipped topping should be used?
Product Review: Zep Shower, Tub And Tile Cleaner
You dont want to leave this product on for an hour like Pat suggests. I bought it and noticed that it instructed that under no circumstances was it to be left on for more than 2 or 3 minutes or it would cause streaking. I left it on for a few seconds more than...
"Pinch a Penny Till It Screams" Reviews?
Hi, Paula, I found reviews on Amazon.com for 2 different books by this title (one written back in 1993 and one written last year by different authors); so check out this website (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_adv_b/?tag=thrif06-20
Bargains for Petite Women?
Hi, Jonnie, you and I are just about the same size and Ive been doing the same things you have (buying girls and boys sizes), also as Pamphyila suggested (buying at thrift shops). Heres another thought: I dont know what size shoe you wear, but I wear a womens...
Buying and Using Essential Oils?
I buy the essential oils that I use (peppermint oil for instance for mouse repellent; works great!) at our local health food store. And Beckie is right: this is one area not to scrimp on; make sure that they are the true essential oil, yes the real oils will...
Karo Syrup Cookie Recipe?
Hi, Patricia, I have a Karo Syrup cookbook from 1983 and it doesnt have the brown sugar pecan cookie recipe in it, but I did find this one (maybe you can adapt it?): CHOCOLATE PECAN DROPS: 1/4 cup Karo light corn syrup 1 pkg. (12 oz.) semisweet choc. chips...
Downloading Audiobooks From The Library
Hi, Leann, I know, its a pain worrying about getting library books and tapes back on time; so check out this website: www.PaperBackSwap.com. You can trade your paperback, hardback, and audio books for free at their website; theyve got over 900,000 books and...
Adult Luncheon Ideas?
Hi, Steven, I belong to a womens Bingo group: There are about 10 of us in the group; we get together about once a month, taking turns on whose house we have it at; we use a Bingo game we bought at a toy store; we each put $3 into the kitty; we play 4 games...
Online Book Exchange
I too belong to PaperBackSwap.com and I love it too! Its cheaper to mail the books than bookins.com and PBS has over 840,000 books (not only paperback but hardback and audio as well) listed and the number is growing all the time. They also have a sister site...
Giving Cookies as Gifts?
Hi, Linda, you can also find some really pretty plates at thrift shops, antique shops, even junk stores, etc.
Christmas Decorations For Needy Neighbors
What a nice person you are, Pam, to do this for that lady! And Ive really been enjoying all the tips youve been submitting to ThriftyFun. Youre a wonderful, talented person! Happy Thanksgiving!
Mail to Comcast Users Working Again
Hi, Susan, Im a Comcast user and Im pretty sure Ive been getting all the newsletters; dont remember any days not getting them. I have noticed, though, that some submissions Ive sent in to you havent seemed to show up in the newsletters till Ive sent them 2...
The Benefits of Wearing Uniforms to School
Hi, Lorraine, I think the kids here in the U.S. should wear uniforms too. Like GrammySheila says, kids that age already place too much emphasis on designer or cool clothing and not enough on learning.
Getting Gasoline Smell out of Van?
I heard that you can dampen the carpet (like with a spray bottle of water) and then sprinkle fresh, unused coffee grounds on it and leave for at least a few hours (overnight would probably be better). Then vacuum it up.
Weight Watchers Chocolate Muffins
Oh, boy do these sound fantastically good! Thanks so much for sending these in! Do you think this recipe might also work as a cake in a 9x13 pan?
Painting My Cellphone?
Dont paint your cell phone! I dont know what brand phone you have, but I just got a new Nokia cell and the instructions said in great big letters to not, under any circumstances, paint the phone, that it would damage some of the interior parts and void my warranty...
Festival Tortilla Appetizers
Hi, Peggy, would you mind terribly sending me the list of ingredients from the Fiesta Ranch Dip mix that you use for this recipe? I want to try this recipe, it sounds so good; but for some reason, the Fiesta Ranch Dip is no longer available here in Northern...
Orange Dreamsicle Cake
Dear Theresa, this cake sounds wonderful. I do have a question though: I really dont need to add any eggs or oil to the cake mix?
Orange Dreamsicle Cake
Thanks, tdk, that does answer my question about the egg whites. (I figured that recipe was missing something!)
Replacing Glass in Small Frames
Dear Pam, this is absolutely the most fantastic idea! What a clever, wonderful way to save money! (Why didnt I think of this? :-)
Uses for Dry Cleaner Bags?
If theres a ceramics studio nearby you, they might like to have them. (I used to work in the Art Dept. at a state university and our ceramics students used the dry cleaner bags over their pieces to keep them from drying out.)
Review of GooGone Spray Gel
Dear Jackie, is GooGone okay to use on fiberglass tubs or just porcelain?
