Saving Money on Batteries?
Putting batteries in the fridge to extend their shelf life really does work! There is a chemical reaction that slowly depletes batteries even if they are just at rest. Cooler temperatures slow the reaction, higher temperatures speed the reaction. Do not freeze...
Low Cost Activities?
Here are the things I do. 1. Get your digital camera, take pictures of birds, insects, or flowers, and identify each one. Make a scrap book. Person with the most IDd animals gets to be Master of Birds for the apartment complex (or Master of Bugs, Master of...
How To Buy Wholesale?
First, it is illegal to use your home for business in many cities. Check with your city first. Call the city clerk or zoning office. Next, what do you want to sell? In order to get a wholesale account with a wholesaler, you often have to buy a minimum of merchandise...
Barbie Knit Hits Instructions?
Sometimes companies will have the instructions online as a PDF. Try www.barbie.com. Or search Google for: +barbie +knit hits +instructions
Protect Your Plants from Slugs?
I have tried the beer trick and it really works! But dont forget to empty the bowl daily or it really stinks of dead slugs!
African Tulip Tree Damaging a Brick Wall?
You should contact your city office and see what the law is on this topic. You do have property rights and their tree is damaging your property. You could also contact a lawyer. If you kill their tree, they might end up calling a lawyer. And how much will that...
Help My Plant?
First, it looks a little like a corn plant. Im betting thats what it is. Second, most plants like this are tropical in nature need LOTS of light and will die in the light provided by Michigan winters (I also live in Michigan, Ive killed a few plants this way...
Bulbs in a Mild Winter?
Well, the green parts may die off and the parts that do come back in the real spring may not look great, but the bulbs will mostly survive. Expect a few to die off. They store energy for the next year after they bloom in the spring. Theres not much you can...
Chemicals for Weeds?
Salt will also leach into surrounding soil and prevent anything from growing there for 1-2 years or more, depending on how much salt you used. So salt is not a good idea. The only place salt is a good idea is between cracks in the sidewalk where you want nothing...
Saving Money on Taxes
I actually have done my taxes myself since 1985. One year in the mid-1990s I went to H&R Block to see if they could get me a better refund. They actually skipped the smaller deductions! So I ended up redoing my taxes myself and getting a bigger refund. Dont...
Painting Kitchen Cupboards?
You must first rough up the surface before you paint. Sand it with sandpaper, about 150 grit, then wipe off any dust. Also, you cannot put one type of paint on top of a different kind, it wont stick. Ex: you cannot put latex paint on top of an oil-based paint...
Color Running From a Mink Coat?
I dont think the fur itself is running, I think a liner or piece of fabric edging is running. What color is the ink that rubs off onto you? How do you know its the coat and not your shirt or scarf? Note that some cheap fabrics used as a liner will run. I have...
Framing Newspapers?
Take some molding from your hardware store, and cut it into strips. Make the cuts at 45 degrees for each corner, and use some stiff foamboard or cardboard as the back. Use very short nails to nail the pieces together, and to nail the cardboard to the molding...
Frost Damage on Mint?
Let me also add to this: mint is extremely hardy, even in Michigan winters. The following spring the mint grows from its many roots and seeds, and is as tough as a dandelion!
Saving Money on Lighting
This is common knowledge among good electricans but hardly anyone else knows it. I will look for a website which talks about this though. Don Klipstein is the lighting guru. He knows very much about many types of lights. His web page is: http://members.misty...
Saving Money on Lighting
This isnt printed on the packaging or part of their advertisements. Of course it isnt. If it was, it would cause a few people to be confused and not buy the bulb. The CFL companies want to milk the green cow for all its worth. But you have to know how CFLs...
Free Stuff for Babies?
The hospitals in our area give us a few freebies when we had our son. We got a box of wipes, a can of formula, a sample of diapers, and coupons for all of the above.
Summer Activities for Teachers?
What I do is go to all the parks in my area and find my favorite ones. In the process I tend to find animals, like ducks, geese, and sometimes snakes and frogs, which I love. Parks are free. I also geocache, but a GPS unit for geocaching costs about $300. That...
Stocking Up on Groceries?
People usually stock up on groceries when they go on sale. For example, we had great sales on canned veggies in Sep and Oct. But I saw no sale on canned fruits. You would buy 1-2 cases (if the store lets you) and use that for the next 6-8 months. Really, just...
Prevent Invasive Plants From Taking Over
Yes. This is true only if the plant spreads by roots, like bamboo. If it spreads by seeds, you will have to do something else. For example, bee balm, borage, and mint, both spread by seeds and are hard to control.
Grocery Store Gardening
Many things, especially fruits, are irradiated so they will NOT grow. You just have to try it. I do know that garlic cloves grow just fine, as I have done it. Buy a fresh garlic bulb at the store. Break apart the garlic into cloves, and plant each clove about...
City Water Has Been Bad For My Plants?
Letting water sit for a day or a week does not get rid of minerals, it does get rid of chlorine (but not chloramines, which many cities are converting to). I do not think the original posters problem is chlorine, I think the problem is hard water and minerals...
Mulching Mower For An Organic Lawn
Now that you mention it my crabgrass is also leaving. I got lazy and started using a mulching mower on the grass and leaves in the fall. But I still have problems with plantain (the leaves of which you can eat) and dandelions. Do not eat anything from your...
Is This Weed Killer Safe For Pets?
What Ellen said. I think your puppy MIGHT get the runs from licking lots of this stuff, but he probably wont like the taste of vinegar. Otherwise its not harmful.
Houseplant Cuttings as Gifts
Good idea. I use plastic yogurt cups for starting seedlings. They are the perfect size for one or two plants.
Herbs That Spiders Don't Like?
Thanks for the info. I have never seen hedgeapples in Michigan but perhaps they are in isolated places.
Christmas Gifts for Guys
This may sound odd to some people, but ask for a list of ideas from your guy. Our family has been doing this for 25+ years. And now we spend more time enjoying our gifts, instead of standing in line to return them. We havent returned any gifts since about 1986...
My Frugal Life - Watering My Flowers With Recycled Water
I have a rain barrel that I made. In one good rain it fills right up. I got a 35g barrel from Freecycle. Then I got bulkhead fittings from Ebay. Then I got a brass spigot from my hardware store. The spigot itself was the most expensive part at about $8. All...
My Frugal Life - Watering My Flowers With Recycled Water
Soap from the water will not harm the plants. However it will kill many insects, both good and bad.
My Frugal Life - Watering My Flowers With Recycled Water
Joan wrote: Great Idea. I wonder if you could rig up something to siphon out the water like people do with gas from cars and use the hose it comes out of to fill the jugs also with your bathwater. Joan, I have extensive experience with siphoning, as I clean...
My Frugal Life - Watering My Flowers With Recycled Water
Joan, An idea just occurred to me. You could use a small statuary water pump to pump the water from your tub to a bucket. They should have the lift you need, you will need a lift of about 24 inches to get above the tub edge. The electric pump will get all but...
Tippy (Maine Coon)
My sister has a Maine Coon cat that plays fetch just like a dog. The cat uses a foam golf ball. And you dont have to start the game, he will often start by finding his ball and bringing it to you! Ive never seen a cat do this before.
Assassin Game
Kids are turning out to be murderers not because of the games they play, or the music they listen to, but because the parents ignore them and dont teach them good ethics. These parents tend to buy their kids an Xbox then ignore the poor kids. And its not just...
Squeaky Springs in an Armchair?
Flip the chair over. If you can see any intersecting metal pieces you can oil them at the intersections. What has happened is the springs have rusted a little and now they make noise when they rub together. However, oil is a short term solution. You need to...
Drying Hydrangeas?
To kill the bugs: cut a flower from the plant. Get a large jar, like mayo jar, and put 1/2 of alcohol in the bottom. Hang the flower in the jar but dont let it touch the alcohol. The fumes from the alcohol will kill the bugs and they will fall out. Should take...
Hanging Vintage Clothing on Walls?
Usually, your lease says you can put small hangers in the walls (with nails) as long as you fix the holes when you move out. If not, there are some plastic hooks with double sided tape on them that is very sticky. That might work. Try looking for hooks for...
Removing Acorns From Your Lawn
Rosa, Acorns can be eaten but you will likely get a stomach ache due to the high tannin content. Acorns must be leached 3-4 times first, before being eaten. Holly, We just rake them up with the leaves and toss the whole mess back into the forest on our land...
Be Careful When Putting Out a Fire
Coffee creamer is especially flammable. A coffee creamer factory around here blew up a few years ago because there was a lot of creamer dust in the air. I think one person was killed.
Removing a Nail That Has Lost Its Head
Vice grips also work great. They usually have a back side behind a jaw which is rounded. Grip the nail in the jaws and lock it. Now bend the vice grips so the back rounded part contacts the surface. Now just keep bending back until the nail is levered out.
Storm Preparation for Emergency Power Outage
Eloise, can you elaborate on what you use the radio for in a power outage situation, besides entertainment? We used a radio before in power outages and found it absolutely useless. They just reported on every day news, not the power outage. If the radio station...
Uses for Plastic Vitamin Bottles?
I soak the bottles in real hot water for about 20 minutes. Make sure to weight them down so the label is underwater. The labels should peel right off.
Uses for Used Canning Lids?
You can hang them from a string around your garden. Shiny things, like these lids, or old AOL cds, scare birds away.
Jelly Jar Deodorizers
This sounds more expensive and time consuming than just buying them at the dollar store.
Stumps on Cleared Acreage?
Stump remover is also potassium nitrate. You drill holes in the stump then pour in this white powder. Add water so it filters into all parts of the stump. 6-12 months later you soak with kerosene and burn. I tried this and it did not work well. We waited 6...
Decorating My Room for $20?
My sister took a sheet, bunched it up the long way, and hung it over a curtain pole over a window. It made a great swag.
Why do some light bulbs stick in the fixture?
Put vaseline only on the sides of the metal base. The bottom is used for an electrical contact and the jelly may interfere with that.
Make Your Own Christmas Crackers
This is also a Mexican tradition. I am not sure what they call it though.
Storing Water for Emergencies
Keep the water away from light to avoid growing algae. Also, add 5 drops of chlorine bleach to kill bacteria and prevent anything else from growing in it. Keep the bottle tightly sealed or the chlorine will escape from the water. Also, try to keep the size...
Paint That Will Hold Magnets?
If you want to attach magnets to the wall, you need a metallic paint, not magnetic paint. Magnets will repel each other. Another idea is you can use roof flashing. Its cheap, magnets stick to it, and you can cut it to size. Look in your large hardware store...
Permanent Marker on Leather Steering Wheel?
Nail polish remover might work, but leather is a very porous and very absorbant surface.
Painting a Room Quickly?
What Ive learned from painting: - Cover all carpet and furniture with a cheap drop cloth. You WILL spatter paint on things. Anchor drop cloth with heavy items (old books, stones) so it isnt blown around by your walking around. I like to remove all furniture...
Painting a Room Quickly?
Oh yes! I forgot about the paint pad. They work really great for trim, just dont get any paint on those little wheels. I use a paint pad for trim and then a roller for the rest.
Inexpensive Wide Shoes?
Have you tried a shoe stretcher? Some stores have a mini-store at the front with shoe repair, shoe laces, shoe accessories, and sometimes they sell shoe stretchers. These are most often used to stretch the width of the shoe.
Using Olive Oil as Fuel for Oil Lamps?
Yes, the wick needs to be close to the fuel. You cannot use candle wicks, they are too thin. Use a flat wick for kerosene lamps, or a round 1/4 oil lamp wick. Olive oil makes a little soot and a little smell, but vegetable oil makes even more soot.
Removing Paint From Electrical Outlets?
The metal contacts are actually 3-4mm inside the plastic part of the outlet so touching the outlet will not shock you. You need somethings skinny to put inside the outlet holes to get shocked. Otherwise try a plastic knife. It has a firm sharp edge and is non...
Remove Numbers from Football Jerseys?
If the number is a soft plastic type material you might try alcohol or acetone (nail polish remover) to soften it. Remove by scraping with a butter knife. To fix number, try painting on Plastidip. But I dont know if it dries soft or hard. Its used for dipping...
Melted Crayon on Leather Seat?
This will be easy since leather has a smoother surface than fabric. First, use a butter knife to scrape off as much wax as you can. Now get a paper towel and turn on an iron to low. Fold the towel twice so it has 4 layers. Place the paper towel over the crayon...
Laptop Bag and Backpack Reviews?
My laptop bag (not backpack) is extra padded to protect the laptop. I recommend something that is padded and easy for you to carry, whatever your lifestyle is.
How Do I Remove Ivy Gunk Off of Siding?
Try TSP, or tri sodium phosphat. It should work on brick or aluminum or vinyl siding. It comes in a tub and has directions for mixing with water in a bucket. Scrub with a stiff brush. If that doesnt work, what I think you have are the feet from the tendrils...
Uses For Paintbrushes
I write on a 6 brush duster so I dont use it for painting. I use it to dust off my workbench, tools, lawnmower, grass trimmer, etc.
Move Out Day at College Dorms
Very true. I saw end tables in the trash, couches, stools, even working microwaves and tv. But a lot of carpet. Many people on my floor got free carpet this way. And lofts too.
Sunshine Box for College
Great idea. Every 4-6 weeks my dad and step-mom woulc come to visit me at college. Each time they would bring a snack bag full of snacks, like Doritos, beef jerky, ramen noodles, and stuff like that. Also (at Central Michigan U) at the beginnig of each fall...
Passed Over For a Job, Need Ideas To Cheer Hubby Up?
Guys arent hard to figure out (Im a guy), theyre not changing their minds every minute like women. Just ask him what he wants. Tell him you want to do something special for him on day x, and what would he like? Most guys appreciate directness. Guys are not...
