Thrifty Tips for the Week of 8-1-2003

Don't cry over an onion...light a candle! Place the candle nearby while you slice, and no more tears!

Helpful Reader

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Don't be taken in by "miracle" cosmetic claims. Dry skin does not cause wrinkles. It only makes them more noticeable. Most cosmetic products that are sold to diminish signs of aging are simply moisturizers. Don't pay $40 per oz for a cream that is only worth 20 cents per oz. Beneficial ingredients are inexpensive and vary little from one product to another. Use inexpensive cosmetics that are widely distributed by a well known firm. Then you know the product has a lot of satisfied users.

Staff

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Cloth, left over ribbon, rick rack or colored string make great wrapping materials. Use material remnants from your sewing box to wrap small presents. The more colorful the better.

Nancy

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A dripping faucet can cost you dollars. Just a slow drip you can lose 15 to 20 gallons a day. If you haven't had time to fix it, collect the water in a bowl and use it for watering plants or other uses.

To check for toilet leaks, put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak. You can lose hundreds of gallons a day. Whether you have city water or a well it costs you money and wastes a precious resource.