Refilling Empty Glue SticksGlue sticks are really easy to use and very handy. When the sticks go empty, never throw them away. Instead buy a tub of paste and refill your empty glue stick canisters. That way you can save by refilling than buying wherein every container/canister is part of what you are paying.
Homemade Small Toiletry ContainersI often house sit. When it's at certain homes, I don't get to share their "girly" hair care items. Often too, I find myself without medicine bottles to take small amounts with me. Today was one of those days so I cut down a zipper bag and made two spice containers safe to travel with the liquid inside.
Cell Phone HolderHere is an idea for a simple do it yourself phone holder. Decorate the toilet paper roll as you would like, cut a hole in the top for your phone, and then use 4 tacks to make the roll stand. Also this doubles as a speaker.
Reusing an Air MattressMy husband and I purchased a Weber grill for 50% off. We didn't want to purchase the cover for $60 so I was thinking of making one. Then I remembered all five of those air mattresses with holes. I cut the bottom off on the side where the full hole is and cut baffles.
Fastening a BraceletHow much time do you waste trying to fasten a bracelet. Everytime you pull the fastener around to meet the jump ring, as soon as you get it near, the jump ring falls away.
Homemade Bracelet BuddyIf you open a paper clip, it will act as a third hand to help you put on your bracelet easily.
Shredded Paper for Filling Gift Bags or...You can make your own free gift bag/basket filling by simply recycling your junk mail store ads, newspaper ads, or old wrapping paper. Run it through a shredder and there you go.
Use Flip Flops as Shoe InsolesI just got out of a boot for a broken heel bone. My heel was still sore. The doctor said, to buy really thick insoles for my shoes. Nothing worked.
Homemade "Croakies" Eyeglass HoldersI'm experimenting with making my own rubber sleeves for the metal earpieces by repurposing rubber or vinyl adhesive weather stripping.
Free Recycled FirestartersI stuff return envelopes from junk mail with dryer lint and seal it. When we use the fireplace, we put the wood on top of the envelope and light it. The paper catches right away and the dryer lint burns long enough to catch the wood.
Quick Knee Protection for Working OutsideWhile running around doing some last-minute outdoor work because the weather jumped above 40 I needed to kneel on something and remembered all my conventional gardening stuff was in the shed.
Making a Scoop from a Quart Milk JugSimple stuff, but really helpful! I just cut out a portion of a plastic quart sized milk carton and leave a longer 'tongue' at the end. That way I can pinch it into a point to direct my cat food that I pour.
Makeshift Meal Tray on WalkerMy wife is going through rehab for a brain tumor and has to use a walker around the house. To feed her, I found a shelving board out in our garage and I put this board through her walker on the braces for a makeshift table.
Erasers for Lost Earring BacksI am always losing the backs to my earrings so when I found this tip, I tried it. It's a great idea. Cut a little piece of an eraser and use as an earring back. It works great in a pinch.
Wine Cork As Cheap Fire StarterUse your wine corks for cheap fire starters. Just add a little alcohol on the cork. It works well.
Use Manila File Folders For Business CardsMany offices throw away old manila folders that are still in good shape. I take them home and create my own business cards using templates from Microsoft.
Homemade Curtains From PillowcasesWe use my old homestead (the house in which I was born - it is well over 100 years old), as our summer home. I found it very easy and inexpensive to make curtains for my old home by using pillow cases.
Homemade ScoopNeed a large scoop say for bird feed or or something else? Save those laundry detergent jugs. Just wash out the empty container and be sure to keep the lid.
Make Your Own FunnelNeed a funnel in a pinch? Cut off the bottom of a 2 liter or 1/2 liter bottle. You can make it as tall or short as you want.
Recycled Laundry Detergent Boxes for...Sturdy laundry detergent boxes are easy to 'rehab' and use for your organizational needs. I keep all of my scrapbook magazines in the one I made.
Uses for an Empty Plastic Wrap RollDon't throw out your plastic wrap cylinder just yet. I've discovered that if it has a small amount of plastic wrap left on its roll, it makes for an excellent rolling pin.
Make Your Own Exhaust Fan FiltersBeing MORE than a conscientious recycler, I am always compulsively thinking about how to use every single item that crosses my path, if at all possible, because I HATE AMERICA'S WASTE.
Make a Stress RelieverI have a simple stress reliever tip (and picture) to share. I was in a class once and learned this from the teacher. Take a good-sized tupperware storage box (Just big enough, yet small enough to store somewhere, you'll know what I mean in a sec.).
Blank Note Cards for Your Own GreetingsYou can make your own personalized greeting cards by using blank note cards and writing in your own greeting. I use color-coordinated calligraphy pens to make the writing special.
Science Experiment for Kids to WatchPlace a lump of coal in bowl and sprinkle 1 Tbsp. salt over the coal. Carefully pour 2 Tbsp. water over salt. In the same manner, pour 2 Tbsp. of laundry bluing.
Fire Pit Starters With Alcohol And CorksGet a jar that closes with a rubber seal. Put in corks from wine bottles, etc, then fill the rest of the way with denatured alcohol.
Extra Large Rubber Band From PantyhoseNeed an extra large rubber band? Cut around the elastic top of an old pair of panty hose. Two of these crisscrossed, work fine when bundling newspapers. Use one to hold a bag in place in a garbage can.
Disposable Pie Plate As Make-Do ColanderIf you're in a bind, you can make a quick, disposable colander by punching holes in an aluminum pie plate and bending it a bit to the shape you need. This is especially useful for picnics and camping.
Cheap and Effective Homemade Bug CatchersThey are free if you make them yourself. Here's how: Cut the top of a plastic soda bottle off, right where the bottle starts to curve and get smaller. Take the top and stick it into the remaining bottle, so it is facing down. It should fit great if you cut it at the right spot.
Holiday AromaMix together, bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat.
Cheap Candle SnufferIt is better to snuff out a candle then to blow it out (the embers can flare out) but I did not want to buy a candle snuffer. I took an empty Progresso soup can and it works great, even over bigger candles.
Improve the Texture of Your Skin and Soothe RashesPlace the leaves and flowers of a handful of St. John Wort in a glass jar, just cover with olive or almond oil. Let stand for 1 month, strain and use as a compress to treat rashes and inflammations.
By Suzanne S.
Home Remedy To Treat Burns, Scalds, Snake Bites And SpotsMacerate 1 oz. fresh lavender flowers in 2 1/2 cups olive oil in the sunlight for 3 days, strain through a fine sieve or muslin, and repeat for three more days. Store in a dark glass bottle in a cool place and use in small quantities as needed.
By Suzanne S.
Copper Pipe Curtain RodsWe could not afford a curtain rod or curtains, so I chose a copper pipe cut to length with gold brackets, two nicely finished table cloths as curtains hung by metal circles with clips and small floral arrangements taped into the pipe's ends as the finials.
Homemade Shopping BagsThe dollar stores carry oversized large "rip proof woven polypropylene" bags with handles. I just saw in a novelty magazine where they had one with a zipper that they were selling for $12.99 plus shipping, and called it a wreath storage bag.
Holiday Fire StartersI found this tip at make-stuff.com, it is a great site.
"Fill an empty roll with dried leaves in the fall. Wrap it with newspaper, 4 inches longer than the roll, and twist the ends of the paper, for easy lighting. If you wrap them with decorative paper and put them in a basket they make a nice accessory to a fire place. They can also be covered with Christmas wrapping paper for the holidays."
By Racer
Car Snow ShovelHere is a tip for anyone that lives in a snowy area. Sometimes we get so much snow that besides having to dig out the car to get it on the street, our cars look like they are wearing big white hats.
Saline Solution Eye DropsMost eye drop solutions are nothing more than saline solution. Buy an eye dropper and fill it with saline solution (that costs 99 cents a pint on sale) and use that when your eyes are dry. Much better than paying $3-$5 for 1 ounce of eye drops!
By Kathy
Chest and Sinus Herbal ReliefHere's a recipe that may help your household during this cold and flu season.
Making Thrifty TableclothsTablecloths to fit my large dining room table were quite pricey and I had a very tight budget. One day while folding laundry, the idea came to measure a twin flat sheet on my table. Off I went to the fabric store for appropriate lace, edged one, then another I'd purchased from a yard sale.
Keep Shoes Smelling FresherTo keep shoes smelling fresh(er), fill the foot portion of an old pair of nylons with baking soda and stuff into the shoes when not being worn. Makes a big difference!
By Leann D
Making Mock Condensed Milk (like Eagle Brand)With the holidays coming sooner than we think, it is time to make those delicious recipes that call for Eagle Brand condensed milk. But it is really expensive to buy. So make your own with this simple recipe. I guarantee it works as well as the real thing!
Safe and Cheap Sting TreatmentTake a small bottle or lip balm tube, stuff it with cotton and saturate it with vinegar. It applies easily to insect stings and bites, can be used on scrapes, scratches and sunburns as well. Keep several in car, tackle box, backpack and don't forget the garden or back yard.
By Dr. Jose
Make Your Own Rubber BandsFree rubber bands. Cut fingers of older rubber gloves. Can make any width. Good place to keep them is on faucet in kitchen sink.
By Susan
Make Your Own SourdoughIf you make homemade bread, why not try sourdough. You save lots of money on yeast (which can be expensive) and once you get the starter going, it is pretty simple.
Frugal Outdoor Umbrella StandNeed a stand for your umbrella but your short on cash? Here is a
recycling tip you are sure to enjoy.
