Tip Contest Results

Onion for Mosquito Bites

Rub the juice from a piece of cut onion on your mosquito bite. It will stop itching immediately and if you apply the onion juice two or three times a day the bite will disappear within a few days. Who can't find a piece of onion at a picnic, barbeque or camping! This works great!

Source: Farmers Almanac

By Shelli1961 from Boise, ID

Download Store Coupons on Your Rewards Card

I downloaded coupons to my Safeway grocery store rewards card for the very first time and was I ever a happy camper after doing my shopping! Not only did I receive normal rewards card discounts of about $9.00 in savings, but I also received an additional savings of about $10.00 from the downloaded coupons! Oh, and one more bonus; a store coupon printed out at the end of this purchase for an additional $10.00 off my next visit with the purchase of $10.00 ;-)

Fast forward to one week later. I downloaded yet more coupons. This time, there were also items based on my personal shopping habits, tracked because I have used the rewards card on every visit for the past four years. For example: one was for artichokes that are currently on sale for $1.99 if you use your rewards card, but there was also an additional 50 cents off that price. Added to the normal rewards and personalized coupons for downloading was a coupon for $3.00 off with an additional purchase of $10.00 of produce.

Here is the breakdown for this morning's shopping trip which had a total of 54 percent off in savings on assorted food items:

Normal price total: $41.35
Rewards card savings: $ 8.82
Coupon savings: $13.50

OUT THE DOOR PRICE: $19.03

The real beauty of downloading coupons online is that there is neither paper clipping necessary nor worries that you might forget the coupons at home or that you might even forget they are in your wallet at the checkout stand. There also is no need to waste money on print ink and paper for printable coupons. Just ask Customer Service at your store of choice where to go online to signup. If those stores are like Safeway, you will receive an email notification once or twice a week to remind you that new discounts and coupons are available.

Next step today is downloading coupons to my Rite Aid and Wal-Mart rewards cards!

By Deeli from Richland, WA

Swimming Noodle For Padding Bed Rails

My husband has became bedridden and always hurting himself on bed railing. I picked up some swimming noddles and cut them the long way and wraped the top rail. Pipe insulation is out of season so I went with swimming noodles. Just cut the noodle long ways and wrap around rail. Secure with ribbon or string.

By Mardrey M. from Lawton, OK

Use Tea to Soothe a Sunburn

Boil your water and let a tea bag steep in it, until it is cool. Then take a cotton ball and apply it to your sunburn. Do this twice. It's better at bedtime, so that the tea can work it's magic while you sleep. Don't wash it off until morning. It takes the sting right out of the burn.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Product Review: Voyager Solar Crank KA500 Radio

After going without power for a week due to a tornado, I started researching hand-cranked radios. By the time I was able to get to any local stores all batteries had been sold out.

I had no idea that there were such things as solar radios. I spent several days trying to make a decision and decided on the Voyager Solar Crank KA500, Weather / AM / FM Radio.

The first few weeks I had it, I ran it solely from the solar setting and it was everything I read it was and more. I was able to pick up my local weather channel with no problem and my favorite FM station. There is a little antenna but I'm in a city and didn't need to use it to pick up any channels.

People who lived in rural areas did comment on using the antenna. In a few rare cases when they literally lived out in the middle of nowhere, they did purchase another antenna, but everyone who bought this radio raved about it. After buying it myself, I agree with all the reviews that I read.

On the back there is a USB Port that did recharge my Kindle Fire and MP3 Player once I figured it out. All the reviews I read complimented the radio for being able to recharge Cell Phones as well.

There's also a setting for a flashlight that was bright enough for me to read by in total darkness and a flashing red light if needed for emergencies.

I ran it down to no power just to see what I would be up against if I used all the solar saved power and had to hand-crank it. It worked great and I had no problems.

The actual radio is sturdy and can easily be held with one hand. The manual said to leave in direct sunlight for best results. Though it will take longer, it can be placed on an indoor window frame to capture what light it can.

I ordered mine from amazon.com and paid $49.99. It was well worth the money and I will eventually purchase a second one.

By CaroleeRose from Madison, AL

Use Hard Boiled Egg Water For Plants

Every time I hard boil my eggs (which is often), I cool the water and use to water my indoor and outdoor plants. I have learned the extra calcium from the egg water is very good for plants. Why waste the water by pouring it down the drain? I hard boil eggs several times a week for breakfast, egg salad, to put into tuna fish salad and also to make deviled eggs.

Source: A friend shared this with me and I have been doing it for years.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

Sticky Ice Cube Trays

After a while the ice stops coming out in a perfect form, whether it be the plastic or the metal trays, and you get cracked ice. To solve this problem, spray the ice trays with vegetable oil, then wash it, fill it with water, and you have whole ice cubes again.

This tip works on all ice trays in any form or shape. Also works well if you are doing the jello and popsicle molds and cubes. I have had the same ice trays for years.

By Janace from Lawton, OK

Wear Socks Inside Out

I found if you have chipped toenails, scratchy corns or rough heels that socks tend to stick to them when pulling it on your foot. One day, I decided to turn my sock inside out and wear it. I was amazed, no more socks sticking to my feet or strings of the sock pulling off and catching on my toes. The socks are smoother on the outside and glides right over your feet.

By newnelly from Ohio

Cleaning a Microfiber Couch

Microfiber is polyester based so most things can be used to clean polyester. If your couch has a tag: W means you can use water based cleaner, S means you can use a solvent cleaner, S-W means you can use both, and X means vacuum only.

For S-W fabrics: Use a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water in equal parts, or vodka (a clear alcohol). The fabric usually becomes hard after cleaning, so gently scrub with a soft scrub brush. It will fluff up the fabric to make it soft again.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Aloe Gel Spray to Cool Off

I know sometimes when you have an anointment there is nothing more embarrassing then showing up looking sweaty. Here is a tip to to cool you off next time:

Use 3 Tbsp. of aloe gel and 3 Tbsp. of witch hazel. Mix together and apply to your skin. Use a misting spray bottle or just carry in a little container. You can double this up if you want. Also try aloe gel on the soles of your feet, this is suppose to keep you cool as well.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Keep Throw Rugs In Place

To keep rugs from sliding: Instead of buying those expensive mats, you can use a roll of the rubber shelf liner you can buy at the dollar store.

By Carmen from Daytona Beach, FL

Maximize Your Popcorn Butter at the Movies

If your movie has a do-it-yourself butter dispenser, you probably hate all the butter soaking the top of the popcorn, while the rest remains dry. Poke one of the theater's straws into the bag, then hold it under the butter spigot. You'll have butter at the top AND the bottom.

By Ziggi from San Diego, CA

Pastry Cutter For Chopping Fruit

I made strawberry jam and blueberry jam last week. Using the recommended potato masher to crush the berries never really works for me. I was trying to think of an easier way (I don't have a food processor or blender), when I came across my pastry cutter. I gave it a try on the strawberries, and it did a great job with less effort, and faster. I then tried it with the blueberries, with great success. This is the way I will crush the softer fruits from now on.

By Copasetic 1 from North Royalton, OH

Easy Way to Give Your Dog a Pill

One of my dogs takes a daily medication, and both are on flea and heartworm preventatives. Every time it was a struggle to get them to take their medicine until my husband had an idea. We insert the pills in a small piece of leftover or inexpensive cooked ground meat or tinned meat product. Then we "frost" the top with a half-teaspoon of chunky peanut butter. The dogs can't tell the difference between the peanuts and the pills, so they gobble it all down without a fuss.

Source: My husband.

By Ziggi from San Diego, CA

Butterfly Bush Hints

Butterfly bushes are wonderful, large bushes with all different colors of flowers. If you buy one from a garden center (in a pot), you will know what you'll get for flowers. Be aware that they get very big (at least in California they do). They like full sun, once established, they don't need much water at all. They will attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bumble bees. I prune mine "hard" every winter, down to knee-high, so they don't get totally out of hand. The one winter I did not prune, they reached 15 feet tall! I have a tri-color (white, lilac, deep purple) and a yellow bush, and love them. They transplant fairly well, and will spread via roots and seeds.

Source: My yard...

By Eileen from Elk Grove, CA

Cleaning Remote Controls

I've always used alcohol and Q-tips to clean the remote. It's worked for me.

By Kathie622 from Nanticoke, PA

Change Shampoos To Prevent Dandruff

Avoid using the cheap shampoos, instead go for the mid-priced ones; they are less harsh and will not create scalp problems. Years ago, I had a problem with dandruff. My hair stylist recommended a more expensive shampoo, saying that cheaper ones tend to create what looks like dandruff. That was the end of my dandruff.

By Susan from Elkhart, IN

Save Lukewarm Water From Hot Water Tap

Instead of running the hot tap, while waiting for the water to get hot, and letting the water run down the sink, I keep a large jug by the sink and run the water into that.

Once I have washed up, I then take the jug of water outside to water my pots and window boxes. This not only saves water but also keeps my plants from drying out. Furthermore, if the dishwater in the bowl is not too dirty, I throw it over my runner bean plants (pictured below), or my roses when they are growing, as the soapy water discourages the blackfly and greenfly. :-)

By Richard from UK

Baking and Freezing Pies

Eliminate one step when baking pies, by freezing them individually "before" baking them. Most often, people bake more than one pie at a time and freeze the extras for another time. Why prepare, bake, freeze, and then reheat again when you can simply prepare and bake them once.

Source: good friend

By oSandi from Sherwood Park, Alberta

Preventing Stinky Feet

I went to a foot doctor with my stinky feet. He gave me prescription for an antifungal to rub on the bottom of my feet. After a few applications, I was cured. He also said if my feet ever stink again to put underarm deodorant (either spray or solid roll on) before putting your socks on. That will help a lot too. That works especially well when you are wearing anything that is not cotton. Non cotton socks do not breathe, which leads to "stinky feet".

By sallyravon from Brookfield WI

Baking Soda and Orange Juice Mask for Acne

Here is a very cheap facial mask, I use this all the time to reduce hormonal breakouts. I know some people use it for blackheads and acne scars. Use about 2 tsp. of baking soda and 1/2 an orange. Put baking soda in a small bowl and squeeze in the juice from the orange. Mix it into a paste and apply to your face. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse of with warm cloth. My face feels so clean when I am done. It also tingles just like a store bought mask.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Costume Jewlery Display

Take a small extension rod that will fit snugly between two moldings on the wall. Use S hooks to hang costume jewelry over the rods. I have 5 rods with various widths in between them to hang the different lengths, as well as bracelets.

Source: me

By Kathy from Harrisonburg, VA

Crochet Tube Socks

For socks that will fit just right, make a tube sock. They are easy. Measure the person's foot around just above the toes, then measure the length of the foot and add 4 inches.

Crochet a disk/circle that is the same as the measurement you got when you measured above the toes. Make this circle by increasing until you have the right size. Using single crochet works best as you are less likely to get blisters.

Now STOP increasing and just keep crocheting even till you reach the measurement for the length of the sock from the big toe to the heal plus the 4 inches.
Now have the person try it on. If you need to, increase a few stitches every now and then so the sock will fit over the calf and work till the sock is as high as the person would like.

I have very, very large calves. I can not wear socks that go above the ankle unless I crochet my own. I just randomly add stitches every now and again as I go and try it on often. I also have 2 different sized feet by about 2/3rd of an inch. This type of sock can fit either foot and heel work is not needed.

Source: 45 years of crochet almost every day and lots of practice

By JazzyMe from Los Angeles, CA

Foot Care

To soften my feet I use white distilled vinegar. I fill a bucket with just enough hot water to cover my feet and one cup of vinegar microwaved for one minute. I soak them until the mixture has cooled. Then I use a pumice stone to exfoliate the rough spots and pat feet dry. Then I slather with lotion and cover with some type of petroleum jelly (even Neosporin). I then put on socks. I either do this at bedtime or before I go to work, so that they are being moisturized all day. It feels weird at first, but they stay soft. Vinegar is good for killing fungus and other yucky foot things too. I also use vinegar to clean my face to eliminate acne (do not get near eyes). Vinegar is great for a lot of things!

By tnphoenixrising from Clarksville, TN

Treating Toenail Fungus Takes Time

As ugly as the nail fungus looks, that isn't what you're curing. Any "cure" you use is getting at the root of the problem and that's the fungus itself. It lives under and around the nail, it gets stuck inside the nail, staining the nail! Every time you think it's gone, it will come back if that nail has not grown 100% out.

All the cures, Vicks, vinegar, OTC products, and doctor's scripts do one thing by killing the virus while the nail grows completely out. It is kind of like if you bruise a nail. That bruise won't go away, until it grows out too.

You have to apply this stuff "every" day, for months and months. Don't apply it to the nail, apply it around the nail and under the nail, being careful to get down deep into the crevices.

Keep cutting the nail until it's all new nail!

If you have slow growing nails, this could take up to a year. And don't buy the stuff at Sally's. It is for topical fungus, like a mold. And it's not the same thing!

Source: Instructions on scripts, OTC products, a podiatrist, and my husband's big toe!

By Chris B from Parish, NY

Storing Corn on the Cob Holders

I purchased a travel plastic holder for bar soap. It holds all my corn on the cob holders nicely in one of my kitchen drawers.

By Shirley from Mesa, AZ

Organizing Socks

In 44 years of being a wife and mother I can honestly say I have never lost socks in the wash. I taught husband and kids to fold socks together when they took them off. I only put pairs in the machine and always at the bottom of the machine. If I ever found an odd sock I would look for it's mate or get the owner to find it. If it couldn't be found the mate would go into the rag bag. Socks are soft and make good polishing rags.

By katesnanna from Brisbane, Australia

Edging Made Easier

After it rains a good rain, try edging. It is a whole lot easier for the shovel to go in and a heck of a lot easier to lift the excess out of the ground.

By Nancy from Spokane, WA

"Work" Your Vacation

Did you know you can "work" your vacation to help pay for it? Many camp grounds/state parks/national parks will have camp ground "hosts". The "hosts" work a set amount of hours a day, anywhere from 4-8 at the gate booth in exchange for free camping. Some will let you work 3 days at 8 hours each day, then camp free for a week.

Cruise lines often have people come in and "teach" in exchange for free or greatly reduced cruises. My former husband got a free cruise in exchange for teaching onboard a class in making items from stained glass. Another friend taught an aerobics class 6 times a day in exchange for free passage. and another is an RN who works on a cruise ship 3 weeks a year.

As an EMT, I often work at childrens camps; including church camp, 4H, Scouts, music camp, band camp, equine camp and on float trips. The pay varies, but some camps let my children attend for free, some pay me a straight wage, others pay me and my children attend for half off.

When I was younger I worked/volunteered at the city park department during the summer in exchange for a free family pool and park pass. The nice part was, my older elementry aged children got to go to work with me (for free using the pass) and I could keep an eye on them swimming while I worked. During the winter months, I taught one class a week at the park deparment for a month(usually a craft or sewing class). I had my choice of either getting paid cash OR a free winter pass.

I have also worked in the first aid booth and in ticket booths at state fairs in exchange for free event tickets, free parking, free on site camping, and discounted meals for the entire family. My work shifts were 4 hours each, and then I joined my family for the rest of the day.

Some family owned hotels will hire extra staff during their peak season, and as part of the pay, you get a cabin or hotel room free or at a hugely discounted price.

Another fun thing to do is to be a contractor for an RV company. Most RV's are too large to trailer to dealerships, so they hire drivers to pull them to their dealerships. My aunt and uncle used to do this and went from Indiana factories with them to dealers in FL, TX, California, Missouri. The RV company would then fly them back home. The RV company paid for all the fuel, the rental truck to pull it, and they got to stay in the RV enroute. They got to see a lot of country this way, for free!

Check it out, see what you can come up with!

By April from NW, MO

Getting Rid of Pantry Moths

I had a bad case of moths a few years ago. I finally found that my problem was a bag of pecans in the shell that we had stored in the laundry room until we could get them all shelled out, and the moths started there and migrated to my pantry. I bought moth traps that can be ordered from this link: www.gardensalive.com

They worked very well for me, and I now transfer all packaged goods into glass jars with screw down lids. This works in two ways. It keeps the moths in if you should happen to get a product that in infested. And it keeps them out of a product that is not infested. They don't always show up right away. Some just hatch out in time.

Another thing that helps to keep them out is to freeze products like oatmeal, flour, pasta, etc for a week or so before putting them in the sealed jars. I label my jars with masking tape. Many things are obvious, but I have regular flour and self rising flour, and it needs to be labeled. Hope this is helpful to many, as this is a terrible problem to tackle.

By Harlean from Hot Springs, AR

Couch Cushions for Dog Beds

I have 6 dogs and 2 require replacing their beds as they have an air conditioned part of my carport and go outside on their own. I simply find old couches that are put out for the trash and if they are clean and don't have wool covers I pick them up and voila!, new beds.

By gbk from GA

Draining Moisture From Bagged Vegetables

Does the steam in bagged vegetables make them too wet? Snip the corner just a tiny bit and hold over the sink to drain excess water. No more puddle on your plate!

Source: My sister does this, I learned it from her.

By Alicia from USA

Cleaning Mushrooms For Stuffing

For a speedy cleaning of mushrooms to prepare them for stuffing use a melon ball scooper. It removes the stems and scoops out the fins of the mushrooms very quickly and cleanly. You have perfect caps for filling with your favorite stuffing.

By Maryann from Leonardo

Fold Bills When Paid

I sometimes open my mail and leave it in my car. The way I know that I haven't paid it yet is because it isn't folded in half. I can then go to my bill pay and take care of it immediately. Folding my bills in half gives me the security I need to know that that bill has been paid.

By Louella from Billings, MT

Beans: Poor Man's Protein

Meat is a delicacy in our house. It's better for our budget. This is how I make my weekly pot of beans. The recipe is vegetarian, but still comes out thick and gooey. I vary the beans I use to ensure I get a variety of plant proteins. I hope you enjoy these beans!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. of dried beans, at least two kinds
• 4 tsp. dry mustard
• 4 tsp. onion powder
• 4 tsp. garlic powder
• 3 Tbsp. black pepper
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp. salt

Directions:

Soak the beans for eight hours. Then add extra water and bring to a rolling boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for three hours, stirring occasionally. When the beans are soft, and the water level is about a half inch above the top of the beans, add all the dry ingredients and stir. Put on low heat and cover to let the flavors soak in. Stir occasionally to prevent the beans at the bottom from burning. When you have a thick bean pudding, you're done! Turn off the heat and serve.

By mrzootaloot from NH

Blocking Gaps From Window A/C Unit

I just recently had my window air conditioner installed by a friend. There is always a gap that needs to be taped or something every year. I used duct tape and it came out really messy. Today, I did the living room one with the self sticking plastic. It came out perfect and hardly showed. I don't know how long this method will last but we will see.

By Kathie L. from Portland, ME