Big List of Useful TipsRead a big list of useful tips sent in by Mary Kaye.
Thrifty TipsHere's some great tips for June. If you have a thrifty tip, add it in the feedback.
Thrifty Tips of the WeekThis weeks tips are compliments of The Homemakers Journal and include lots of car tips. Be sure to add your own or feedback to these ideas.
What do I do with my old computers?I have a couple old PCs. They are of the DOS variety. Too old to even effectively search the net. They have a mouse but you can hardly use it without the computer crashing. I couldn't even sell them or give them away at a garage sale. I am pretty sure that you are not supposed to throw them in the trash so any information would be appreciated. I live in Salt Lake City. What can I do with them, where can I take them?
- Steve
Reusing Old, Broken SpeakersWe often find those torn speakers at the dump or road side. Take the speaker and separate the magnet from it. Drill a small hole in the center of it and thread an eye hook through the hole.
Learn About Things You OwnLearn as much as you can about all the things you own. There are many times that you can fix things yourself when they break, instead of paying someone else to do it.
Donate Your Old GlassesIt's the time of year to be thinking of others: Your old prescription glasses may be able to help someone else. If your local eyeglass store doesn't collect and redistribute them, contact your local Lens Crafters or Lions Club.
By Chell
Stand Up For YourselfI used to think after the fact, about all of the intelligent answers I could have used when people were impolite or ignorant to me. I never had a problem being there for someone else though.
Keeping a Little Drinking Cup HandyI always keep a ziplock bag in my purse with a small mouthwash top, the little cup that comes on the mouthwash, to use for my kids when they want a drink from a public water fountain. Be sure to let the water run a little first before filling up the cup.
Avoid Cuts from Can LidsGet in the habit of always dropping a can lid into the empty can right away to avoid cuts.
By Linda
Night BlindnessAvoid bumping into the furniture when you step into a dark room. Wait a minute or so to let your eyes adjust to the dark.
Clipping UPC CodesClip all UPC codes and file away (name brands only) for future reference when entering contests.
By myz
Uses For Plastic Hooks From New Socks?I was wondering if anyone had any uses for the little plastic hook things that come with new socks? I hate to just toss them in the trash.
Thank you,
MrsMoted2
Asking for ExtrasRecently we had to take our truck into the dealership for something. I noticed while he was talking to the service man that the dealership had installed a mini gourmet coffee shop. We inquired about the coffee shop's location and received free tokens towards 2 cups of coffee.
FREE for Charity, School, Church, etc. EventsI don't know where you live...but if you have a HomeTown Buffet, Old County Buffet or County Buffet in your area contact their Community Rep.
Keeping in Touch with the Relatives With Video and Audio RecordingsWe live a long distance from most of our relatives and one thing they appreciated most from us was the times when we would either video record the children or else record their voices on a tape and send it to them.
Need Donations for School in Ghana, AfricaHello my name is Minerva Carrion, and a friend of mine named Dinah Tuffou has asked me to find out who can donate Bibles, puzzles, constuction paper, notebook paper, composition notbooks, coloring books, and crayons for a school that will be opening soon in Ghana Africa they are still putting the electrical in it but it is already built and almost ready to go. . .
Something Frugal and CaringWhen looking for something frugal to do or somewhere go, take into consideration that there are people that could use some company. Don't overlook the elderly or handicapped. A small gift of your time could brighten someone's day.
English Definitions?This is a strange request, but I was wondering if any ThriftyFun subscribers from the UK could answer this for me: I'm reading a British murder mystery and it talks about someone "sloping" out of the room.
Twist Ties and Rubber BandsTwist ties work well for wrapping up power tool cords and keeping wires together. Rubber bands also have a variety of uses and are good to keep handy. Take an old bike inner tube and cut it into rings to make some heavy duty rubber bands.
Interested in a Job Writing Greeting Cards?I have a natural born love for writing.I have written many different poems and readings for many different occasions, and would dearly LOVE to write for greeting card companies.
Uses For Terry Cloth BibsSave pull over the head terry cloth bibs to use as hand and/or dish towels.
Volunteer For Something You EnjoyVolunteering isn't so bad after all. Did you know that you can choose what you like to do the best? Check with your Chamber of Commerce, Hospital, the local police department, School including the local college.
Move Out Day at College DormsIf you live near a college with dorms you can get some amazing stuff for free on "move out day" each spring. The students throw away an amazing amount of extremely useful stuff.
Donating Items to Senior Citizen CentersDonate extra produce, magazines or other useful items that can be used. Seniors on limited incomes really appreciate it. Usually they have lunch programs during the week that they attend each day so items will quickly be taken so the center doesn't have to store things.
The Hunger SiteWhen you click on the "Give Free Food" button it helps fund food for the hungry, paid for by site sponsors whose ads appear after you click. The food is provided to people around the world through the efforts of Mercy Corps and America's Second Harvest.
Continuing Your EducationI'm one of those people that dropped out of school then went back to school and college in my 40's. It was great, but I would have rather been educated the old fashion traditional way like Most people.
Don't Feel Good and Don't Know Why? Keep a diary of your sleep habit and what you eat. What is causing the most stress? Good days need to be in detail, because things are happening to make you happy.
Brightening Your Day By Helping Someone ElseIn my many years of living I have found that the best pick-me-up for depression is to get your mind off your own problems and do something to cheer someone else up.
German Girl Coming To Canada?I am 14. Our neighbor is German and her 14 year old relative is coming here from Germany to see Canada and to learn English. She'll be here for 3 weeks and we don't even speak each other's languages. I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on what to do?
Famine in Niger and Links for DonationsThriftyFun is donating $2 for every photo entry sent in through Sunday, August 7th to UNICEF. Urgent appeals have been made for help for famine-stricken Niger where more than one million people are at risk from starvation after a locust invasion worsened an already poor harvest.
Use Lids When CookingWhen cooking on the stove, put lids on your pans. The food will heat up much faster than if not using a lid. Thus, saving you money on your power bill.
Helping Families on a BudgetI've done this for a number of years and due to our recent national disasters, it has seemed even more important (especially considering the cost of gas!)
EVERY Sunday I subscribe to 2 copies of our local newspaper. Usually they are filled with little "booklets" of manufacturer's coupons. Now I have 2 sets.
Using Other Items for CurtainsIf you're in need of curtains and don't have the money for them. Use a small blanket or rug with fringe on the ends, such a Southwestern Indian. Just tie one end of the fringe onto your curtain rod...
Using Found "Pans" in BakingI am a long time baker and would like to share this tip with all. I make all different shapes and sizes or cakes and have found that you can only purchase the typical pans in the stores.
Create a Helpful Neighbor GroupCheck around and see who in the area is interested. This is what it could include: if you are going grocery shopping, ask the neighbor if they need a few things.
Christmas Help?Does anyone know where to find Christmas help for our grandkids. We don't have funds this year. We don't matter but the kids do.
"Soldier of mine"-PoemI found this poem in a local T.V guide at our grocery store and wanted to share it with all of you. The author is Kelle-Irene Marie Carter. She wrote it for Sgt. David Wheeler who is stationed in Iraq...
Paint PalletsUse the plastic lids that perishable items are sold in. I find that cottage cheese lids, and country crock covers are very useful holding an array of colors. And best yet, they are used 100 times over instead of filling a landfill...
Door As Inexpensive TableDoors make great tables. I take discarded doors from the town dump and bring them home to use as tables for a garden work table. I take the 5 gallon buckets that cat food or litter sells in, and turn them over to use as the legs of the table.
Battery Basics - Reduce, Recharge and Recycle!Household batteries include both single-use and rechargeable dry cell batteries used to power toys, cameras, radios, flashlights, hearing aids, and many other portable products.
Using Old Pantyhose for Draft StoppersUse old pantyhose for draft stoppers. Fill them with sand or sunflower seeds and put them in front of doors to stop the air leaks at the bottom.
Extra BlanketsThis winter we have kept our house much cooler due to the high gas bills. We have used some extra blankets on the beds to keep warmer. The best time of year to buy these blankets is right after the Christmas season...
Making the Most of Your HeatMoisture in the air makes it feel warmer. I heat my home with a wood burning stove not designed to heat it...
Snowbound!It was the heart of winter. A raging blizzard left the white stuff piled 30 inches deep - and deeper where wind had blown it into drifts. We were stranded in our mountain cabin for days. But with schools and businesses all closed due to the storm, where would we go even if we could have left?
Instruction Manual for the FamilyI have created an "Instruction Manual" for our family. I purchased a three-ring binder. The cover I created says, "The Smith's Instruction Manual".
Sleeping in Summer HeatWhen summer comes, and it is *hot*, those of us who either do not have central air or don't want to shock ourselves with a huge power bill but cannot sleep due to the unforgiving heat and humidity, here is a tip...
Gas Range Pilot Lights?
I currently have a gas range. The pilot light stays lit. I bought the range thinking if the power went out I would always be able to cook, as opposed to an electric ignition range. Well now that gas prices are sky high I am wondering if I would be better off getting a range that has the electric ignition on it?
Impact of Candle Warmers on Your Electric Bill?I have heard that using electric candlewarmers will really increase your electric bill since it is basically a hot plate. Has anyone noticed this?
Standing Up for What's ImportantIn life you have to stand up for something or else you'll fall for anything.
Other People's InfluenceDon't let anyone influence you - do what you want to do.
Keeping Warm in One RoomConfining yourself to one room and using a space heater on colder days lets you turn the thermostat down on the central heater and save money.
Fortune Cookie Wisdom"Heavy borrowing creates heavy sorrowing" from a fortune cookie I received.
Recycling Junk Mail?Does anyone have any good uses for recycling junk mail and paper? I would like to try making homemade paper and would like instructions.
Preserving Family HistoryI was fortunate enough to know both of my great-grandmothers, but within the past 13 years, both of them passed on, along with my maternal grandparents. My paternal grandma is currently terminally ill and in the hospital. I was a history major in college, and had always planned on talking to my grandparents and asking them about their lives and my ancestors...
Silly Wonderful Memories?I'm wondering what silly wonderful memories any of you have of your early days of relationships? I know there must be many. We have one that we remember and we still re-create it, if you will. This may not be that funny but it still makes us laugh.
Keeping Your Words SweetAlways keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
Operation MoM Golf Tournament?Our organization, Operation MoM, is hosting our 2nd annual golf tournament to raise money for the troops. We are looking for companies or individuals to sponsor a hole, donate items for our goody bags and raffle or pay to play.
Recipes for LifeMix good thoughts, consideration, kind deeds, forgiveness and well beaten faults. Add tears of joy, sorrow and sympathy for others.
The Wonders of PaperclipsAh, the wonders of the humble paperclip with its many uses beyond just clipping together paper. It can be bent to hang a calendar over a cabinet door or form a picture hanger...
IndispensableSometime when you're feeling important, Sometime when you ego's in bloom . . .
My Frugal Life: Dealing With Big BillsI have been hit with many big bills lately. I have disconnected my caller ID, saving me $7.00 per month. When I drink milk or juice, I add water to the glass first.
My Frugal Life - Buying Ingredients Has Saved Me MoneyAt the age of 33 I became disabled. I had just gotten married to a man who had been disabled for years, and retired from the army, he came with a teenage son. I had always lived alone and did a lot of eating fast meals, I never cooked.
My Frugal Life: You Can Have It AllWhen I was about twelve I had a talk with my Dad about money. He looked at me and said. "You can have anything you want as long as you pay for it." Wow the possibilities!
My Frugal Life - Research, Research, Research.Having been one of 5 kids of depression era parents, I had a good idea how to live frugally. Those times reappeared when I lost my job. I tackled this problem with research, research, and more research.
My Frugal Life: Tips from a Save-o-holicI honestly don't know where or how to begin telling everyone how I save money, because it's natural for me. It's an everything day thing. I love to teach others how to save. Saving money is a "rush" for me.
My Frugal Life - Reflecting on the Lean YearsWhen my husband and I were married years ago, we both made minimum wage and lived from paycheck to paycheck. After the birth of our first child, we thought he was so wonderful and decided we wanted a dozen like him. I quit my job to stay home with him and my husband worked two jobs.
I'm Having a Hard Time Being Thrifty?I am just trying to learn any tips about getting on track financially. My taste is wine but our bank account says cheese, that's straight to the point I guess. I want to be more thrifty, it just seems hard to get use to it. How long did it take all of you?
There are two worlds...There are two worlds; the world that we can measure with line and rule, and the world that we feel with our hearts and imagination.
Still FrugalI came from a family of 10 kids. With 12 people in the house, we had to be frugal - that's all we knew. My Mom, never bought anything that she couldn't make. She made fabulous meals that stretched with enough for leftovers.
Sample Sized Ice Cream Cones for a Fundraiser?
I'm doing a fundraiser for our local hospital on 5/25/06 and I need to purchase some sample sized ice cream cones because I'm giving away banana ice cream cones. Any ideas where I could find some? eBay has none.
My Frugal Life - Fixing It YourselfMy husband has built and renovated houses, rebuilt car wrecks to exceed safety standards, fixed burnt out ovens and replaced parts on washers, etc.
How to Recycle Used Clothing?I have not worn my professional suits and cocktail dresses for many years. They are timelessly simple (chocolate chiffon, Chanel suits) and in perfect health. Every resale shop I have called will accept no clothing older than two years.
Gift Bags and Extra GiftsI keep gift bags from all of the holiday parties, etc. and reuse them. I also keep gifts that I don't really like and recycle them, other people like things that I don't!
My Frugal Life - One Proud Mom!For the last year our daughter has done many fundraising events. Her school concert band wanted to attend Disney World in Florida over spring break and she needed to earn her own way.
Safety - Your Money and Your LifeI was mugged several months ago. I have gained some insight that could save your money and your life.
Thought for the DayIf it were not for the optimist, the pessimist would never know how happy he wasn't!
Labeling Items for Bake SalesWhen having a bake sale, be sure to write on the bags of snacks (cookies, candies, etc.) what flavors they are. Just because you know what they are, others won't and might not can tell by looking. . .
My Frugal Life: Always Something To EnjoyI grew up in a wonderful family. Mom and Dad brought we four children up with dignity and love. Sometimes you realize life is good but you eventually realize it is very special
My Frugal Life: Country LivingI began my quest for frugality when my husband had been laid off from his job and we were in a financial bind. It isn't something that you want to do, I don't think, in the beginning. But realizing the benefits from just changing a few things can really have an impact on your life.
Using a Digital Thermostat in the Summer Months?I had a digital thermostat installed last Fall for my furnace. Do I take the batteries out and shut it off during the summer months? I usually shut the natural gas furnace off during the summer.
Uses for "International Coffee" Containers?My aunt drinks "International Coffee" drinks which come in those nifty little square tins w/ plastic lids. She hates throwing them out, but just can't think of a clever use for them besides storing nuts and bolts. Let's be real - she only has so many nuts and bolts.
My Frugal Life: Save Everywhere I CanHere goes my life. I try to save everywhere I can. I shop at thrift stores for necessary items. I give a lot to thrift stores, because clutter will increase your cleaning by 50%.
Talking to My Mom?I have a problem. I feel like if I need to open up to my mom but she will get mad at how I feel because everything I say.
My Frugal Life - Outsmart The PricesI am a 54 year old married lady who has chosen to be as frugal as I possibly can be. My dear hubby has retired in the last month, so this is even more important to me than ever, as money will be limited from here on in. I cook almost everything from scratch, which I love doing. I use all the "great" sites that are listed online.
A Speech to Honor My Dad?I need a nice speech to honor my dad for his 80th birthday.
My Frugal Life - Tips from a Single MomI am a single mother of three and a teacher at Head Start. We don't make much money (think fast food restaurants) and we get laid off for the summer so I must live frugally throughout the year.
My Frugal Life - An Active, Frugal FamilyI am 43 years old and my husband is 40. He has just recently completed nursing school so, for the last 2 years, money has been extremely tight. We have 3 children, two teenagers and a five year old. Prior to my husband's schooling, we both worked extra to pay off all outstanding debts.
Reuse Cardboard Trays For Transporting CasserolesThe cardboard holder or bottom from cases of soda and water make a great holder for a 9x13 inch pan when you have to transport it.
My Frugal Life: Lessons Learned by a Single MomIn my early thirties, I went through a divorce and suddenly found myself as a single mother of three small children. Fortunately, I was able to still manage to buy a small home with a backyard and continue working full time.
Uses for Plastic Bowls from Frozen Meals?I sometimes buy the frozen meals that come in the black plastic bowls e.g. Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, etc. I keep some of them to put other portions of meals in to freeze and would like to know if anyone has come up with ideas for any other uses for the bowls.
A Safe Place for NewbornsSafe Place for Newborns is a program which provides an alternative to child abondonment for mothers who can't keep their child.
Uses for Toilet Paper Roll WrappersSave wrapper from individual toilet paper rolls. When disposing sanitary products use the wrapper instead of toilet paper.
My Frugal Life - More Time Spent With Your ChildrenHow can you measure the worth of spending time with your child? In time? Money spent on activities? Neither! It is in their eyes when it is you they see when they wake up. It is in the way they say, "Momma", their voice so sweet and true.
My Frugal Life - Watering My Flowers With Recycled WaterWater is a precious resource. I re-use the wash and rinse cycles of my washing machine to water my garden. No government agency has hassled me yet over putting gray water on flower beds.
Easy Inexpensive Solar OvenEasy Inexpensive Solar Oven. Take a car tire or black inner tube, place it on a piece of plywood. Line the hole with aluminum foil. Place a cooking (ovenproof) dish, black enamel pot, roaster, etc. . .
Uses for Chipped China Platters?Does anyone have an idea of how to use old chipped china platters? I have some plain ones and some beautiful ones that I don't dare serve on due to chips and discoloration.
Thrifty Living Advice From World War II Survivors?Could we please have information from survivors of WW II on thrifty living? - before there's no-one left to pass on the information?
My Frugal Life - It's for the kids!I am a stay at home mom of two little boys. It was not a hard choice, given my mother stayed at home for as long as she could with her four children.
My Frugal Life - The Kids Think We're RichI, too, have been living very frugally. My husband and I have been married 15 years. We have 4 kids. Needless to say, some times have been rougher than others financially. I have done just about everything to make sure that my family's needs have been met.
Thank You British Intelligence!THANK YOU! Since there are some UK subscribers to this newsletter, I thought I'd use this space to send kudos, praise, and a big thank you to the British intelligence workers and police who caught and stopped the terrorists who were planning the airline attacks. . .
Frugal Ethics - When Frugal Becomes Just Plain CheapThere are times when it's tempting to lie, steal or break one of the other 10 Commandments to get a good deal but, in living frugally, we all need to stick to being honest. This is not always easy to do, but I want to give some examples that may help you stay honest. Here are some common tactics that some people use that are unethical and sometimes illegal:
