Homemade Butter Flavored Crisco?
I think you can use butter flavored crisco or regular crisco interchangeably with butter, in the same amounts, or maybe you use just a little more crisco. So Id use half crisco and half butter in the recipe, if it were me.
Easy Stir Fry Recipes?
I dont think you really need a recipe for stir fry. Just cut some meat into bite-size pieces and throw them in the pan with some olive oil and soy sauce. When the meat starts to get done, throw in whatever veggies you have on hand, with more soy sauce. Ginger...
Freezing Bagels?
I freeze both of these in their original bags, nothing else. I freeze the end of the loaf of bread when it starts to get stale and then use it for toast on the weekends and buy fresh bread for sandwiches. I freeze bagels just because I only want one once in...
Buying a Wick for Plug-in Air Fresheners?
I dont know where to buy it, but could you somehow yank it out of used ones to reuse it?
Keeping Recipes Organized
Of course hundreds of recipes will fit into a few photo albums. Amazon.com has several photo albums that hold 200-500 photos each. Thats 200-500 recipe cards each. Just do the math. It works. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000706X1/sr=8-1/qid=1156299522...?tag=thriftyfun0b-20
Protect Your Identity Without Using A Shredder
Maybe you could make paper mache stuff out of the papers containing confidential information.
How do I get the Firefox Web Browser?
Firefox is great. I think someone already mentioned how to get it-- go to mozilla.com/firefox and download it-- so as far as the other part of your quesiton goes, the only change that will occur is that you will have another option for web browsing in addition...
Honey Oatmeal Bread (Makes 18 loaves)
How many cups are in a pound of flour? This bread sounds good but Id like to only make enough for my husband and myself. (b)Editors Note:(/b) Between 3 3/4 to 4 cups.
Planning a Simple Wedding?
What does your dress look like? The blue jeans look would probably look better if your dress is more casual. My wedding was really simple, too. I think thats the best way to go. The important part is the coming together of two families, and the simpler the...
Is it customary to see a list of the gifts your son received from family members?
If you are worried about giving a duplicate gift, you could just ask them if anyone has given them the item yet, or ask them if theres anything they didnt get that they need. Or give money or a gift card. Other than that, I cant really think of any reason anybody...
Do you have high speed or dial up internet service?
I have high speed internet through the cable company. We pay $40 per month for internet and basic cable. We use the internet more than we watch tv. We also have Viatalk. This is a phone service that works through your cable internet. It is 14.95 per month for...
Planning a Wedding?
First make a list of the things you think you will need. Then make a list of people you know that have special talents. Call the people up, and say, Your friendship has meant a lot to me over the years. It would make my wedding very special if you could be...
Becoming a Mystery Shopper?
Check out jancyn.com. It isnt very lucrative-- I think the most Ive made in one month is $100-- but this site is legit. It was mostly going to convenience stores and finding out if they really do ask for id when you want to purchase alcohol. I got paid $8 per...
Is 12 Old Enough to Go Places Alone?
I was allowed to go to the movies with my best friend when I was 12 and in 7th grade. Usually, one of us would ask our parents if it was ok, then call the other one. Then, before hanging up the phone, we both passed the phone to our moms and they chatted and...
Self-Tanning Cream Reviews?
Last summer I used Jergens for my face and Vaseline for my body like one other person mentioned. I got complements from coworkers on my nice tan but my husband thought I looked orange in some places, like on my neck. I think dead skin cells absorb more of the...
Curfews for College Age Children?
Hes at an age when he is learning to be his own person. This is OK, he needs to learn that. If he isnt being disrespectful other than not spending every waking minute while at home with other family members, I dont see the problem. He has a job and makes good...
My Parakeet Is Gagging Herself?
Parakeets need to eat gritty stuff to chew their food. Do you have that in the cage?
My Parakeet Is Gagging Herself?
When we had a parakeet when I was a kid we put the grit in the bottom of the cage. We had that bird for a long time so Im pretty sure the grit didnt cause any health problems...
Balancing Work and Family?
You could consider substitute teaching. The school calls you and if you can come in, great, if not, its ok to say no. Sometimes they call way ahead of time and sometimes its at the last minute but you can always say no. Youd probably be home by 3:00 and still...
Balancing Work and Family?
About waiting to have kids-- some people try to wait, but nature runs its course and the kids come along anyway. Just a thought to consider next time anyone feels the urge to get on their soap box.
Balancing Work and Family?
Wow thats pretty neat about the lady who drove a school bus and then worked in the cafeteria-- she made extra money AND saved on gas!
Sources for Wedding Flowers?
I made corsages and bouteniers (or however its spelled) from two dozen roses I bought at the grocery store. For my bouquet and my bridesmaids bouquets, I called a florist and told her I wanted pink flowers and how much I wanted to spend and she made some pretty...
How do I set up a budget?
You dont have to use a fancy computer program. Just use plain old paper and pencil. Check out daveramsey.com for ideas on setting up a budget.
Tap Water Smells Like Eggs?
My aunts water is like that because she has well water. She has a filter on her tap like the one in the picture another person posted. This is definitely something you should have been told about before purchasing the home, though!
Getting a Better Credit Card?
Try to find some ways to improve your credit score. One way might be to pay off more of the balance on your credit cards.
Selling Clothing at a Garage Sale?
Leave them on. The shoppers will go crazy. Oooo! Look at all these brand new clothes for only $1! Youll sell a lot if you leave the tags on.
Selling Clothing at a Garage Sale?
Oh I see, I thought they were new. In that case, just put a big sign or two that says all clothes are only $1 and be sure to greet people and tell them all the baby clothes are $1. Id pay .50 for a paperback book and up to $2 for a hardback book depending on...
Storing Tools in an Apartment?
I used to store ours in our downstairs half-bath when we lived in a townhouse type apartment. The only other thing I had stored in the cabinet under the sink was extra toilet paper, toilet bowl cleaner, paper towels, and windex since all our other bathroom...
Doing Sit Ups Without Straining Your Neck?
Your back, head, and neck should always be in a straight line. Look up at the ceiling as you do sit ups, not toward your knees and concentrate on using your stomach muscles rather than getting your chin close to your legs.
How much rent can I afford?
It makes sense to take your income and subtract your bills and expenses and see whats left. Just dont forget to subtract for emergency savings. If you end up in the red, then you need to see where you can cut back on spending. You HAVE to have a place to live...
Chocolate Cherry Pie
Sounds yummy. Does it also need a can of cherry pie filling or something? Pie filling is mentioned in the directions but not the ingredients list.
Chocolate Cherry Pie
Well I really want to make this so I just googled the recipe title and heres what I got: http://foodgeeks.com/recipes/recipe/1688,chocolate_cherry_pie.phtml So I guess it does need a 21 oz can of cherry pie filling. Do you think vanilla could be substituted...
Earn Tax Credits and Save Energy
I think its a good idea to take a tax credit if it is available to you, but does it really make sense to spend thousands of dollars on home improvement just to avoid sending the government a few hundred? I mean, if its time for a new water heater or windows...
Quiet Book Patterns?
Oh wow I had one of those! My mom made it. It was denim fabric outside and white fabric inside and said My Quiet Book. I remember a pink dress with yellow buttons inside. I know there was other stuff but I dont remember what. Sorry I dont know of a pattern...
I Can't Find My Pictures on My PC?
Reformatting pretty much means erasing everything on the hard drive and starting from scratch. Your sister should have asked you if there was anything important you wanted to save before doing that. If the hard drive has been reformatted, the pictures are probably...
My Husband Cheated on Me?
It sounds like he was honest with you. He knew he messed up but tried afterwards to do the right thing. Are you involved in a local church? A church could provide marital counseling or will know someone who can. Marriages dont just automatically work. It takes...
Baked Breads Still Having a Gooey Center?
Is your oven temperature accurate? You could get an oven thermometer to monitor the temperature of your oven. Maybe it is hotter than what the temperature knob up top says.
Backing Up My Computer?
If you have a CD burner, you can burn these files to several CDs. This works well for documents and pictures. Other stuff you can just print out to have a hard copy, like the address book. You could create a word file for the web addresses of your favorites...
Pet Urine Smell After Using a Carpet Cleaning Machine?
Its probably the ammonia in the cleaner. Maybe you should rinse the carpet again.
Autism Financial Advice?
Check with your public schools. Many have programs that start before kindergarten. Once your child starts school, make sure he is designated special ed which sounds really negative but it actually means that the school, BY LAW, has to accommodate your childs...
Organizing Bills and Statements?
We started doing it this way last year: In our big filing cabinet, we have a hanging file for each category-- electric bill, bank statements, etc. In our little filing cabinet, we have manila filing folders, one for each category with the year labeled, too...
Smoothies With Veggies?
Um... Im not a parent but Im pretty sure most parents would try to get their kid to learn to eat veggies. Do you want to be making smoothies until she goes to college? Just a thought...
Uses for Napkin Rings?
Are they pretty enough to use as Christmas ornaments? Maybe you could use them for that.
Multifunction (All-In-One) Printer Reviews?
Weve had a lexmark and an espon and they were awful. I have an HP at home and another one in my classroom and they are great. You can cut down on ink usage in any printer if you select Fast draft or whatever the lowest print quality is. And dont expect to print...
Saving Money Vs. Paying Down Debt?
You need to have some savings on hand in case of an emergency, otherwise an emergency could put you deeper in debt. Once youve built up a savings account equal to a few months worth of expenses, then its time to really concentrate on your debt. You might want...
Suave Green Apple Shampoo for Urine Odors
Thats pretty neat about it getting rid of urine odors, but are you sure its a good idea to clean the toilet with a sponge? Wouldnt the sponge grow LOTS of bacteria, which would get redeposited back onto the toilet the next time you clean?
"Pinch a Penny Till It Screams" Reviews?
Im pretty sure that libraries can get books through inter-library loan from ANY other library ANYWHERE. When I was in college about 5 years ago, one of my friends even got a book from Ireland through inter-library loan.
Printing Individual Tips?
Cut and paste the tips to a Word file, then when you have a whole page full, print them out. Be sure to select fast draft or econofast or whatever the lowest setting is before printing to save on ink.
Reupholstering Furniture?
Carefully take the current upholstery off and use the pieces as patterns to cut the new ones. Use and a staple gun with sharp staples to attach the new fabric. Pull it as tight as you can. Some places may need little folds or pleats, like to go around the arms...
Replacing My VCR?
We have a tv tuner in our computer. It came with software that allows us to schedule our favorite shows to be recorded to the computers hard drive. Its pretty much a tivo without the monthly fee. Our computer is networked with a media server in our tv room...
Cell Phone Provider Advice?
Net10 is the best deal for you. Its a prepaid service that costs 10 cents per minute. We did research for a cell phone for my husband about 6 months ago and we have the same needs as yours. Net10 was the cheapest, including the phone. Some other plans eventually...
Gift Idea for Less Than $30?
Maybe theyd like movie tickets, or a gift certificate to a movie rental place.
Gift Idea for Less Than $30?
Do they like wine? Find out if there is a local winery where you live. Theres one near us that has award winning wine and we gift that as gifts once in a while, to people who we know will like it. Its only about $8/bottle.
Activity Ideas for Visiting Parents?
Maybe you could go through family pictures together and create a scrapbook.
Getting a Fair Price on a Car?
I think it is better to buy directly from an owner than to buy from a dealer. Most used cars come without warranties either way, and I think it is nearly impossible to know all the work that has been done to a car. My husband fixes our cars and he keeps a record...
Feedback About Online Survey Sites?
Pinecone Research, Lightspeed Panel, and MyPoints are all legit. I participate in these three an make $5-$10 per month total.
How Do You Antique Stain a Table Cloth?
With tea, of course. I did this with some bathroom rugs. I bought a large box of cheap tea bags at walmart. I filled the washing machine up with hot water on the smallest load setting and put in the tea bags and rugs. I let it get to the point in the cycle...
Satin Bow for a Prom Dress?
Wow that is such a pretty dress! Would hairspray help? Or maybe sew some velcro on the appropriate places behind the bow, inside the dress? Maybe you could sew on some kind of hook-and-eye closure in the back. You might want to take the dress to a fabric store...
Keeping Track of My Mileage?
My husband calculates his mileage for tax purposes by using a site like mapquest to get directions from our home to the locations he often drives to. Multiply that times two for the round trip mileage, then multiply that by the estimated number of trips to...
School Fundraising Discussion?
Maybe you should have the group take a vote on what price to sell the books for. Then the matter would be settled by a vote without becoming a personal conflict. Did they not have insurance on the building that burned down? Maybe someone should suggest insurance...
Proactiv Alternatives?
Along with those tips about cleansers, this one may help some too. Do you often sit with your chin rested in your hand? In high school and college I had to be careful not to sit that way in class or I would get breakouts along my chin and jawline, too. I guess...
College Grants and Scholarships?
You need to fill out the FAFSA. Most colleges require that anyway. Also, check your states department of education website for state scholarship information. It does take some effort--they have to know enough about each applicant in order to be able to decide...
Fixing Squeaky Classroom Tables?
Maybe you could tighten the plates on the underside of the table and from now on only move them by lifting them off the floor instead of dragging them. It seems like constant dragging against the carpet would loosen the plates and cause squeaks.
Spaghetti and Meatballs ($10 Dinners)
These $10 meals are cool. Are there going to be more? (b)Editors Note:(/b) Yes, we plan on having more in the series. Glad you like them.
Spaghetti and Meatballs ($10 Dinners)
Im glad to hear there will be more. Also, I think this would be a great contest!
Pets No Longer Allowed on Freecycle?
Pets are still allowed on the site in northeast TN. It seems weird to me that freecyclers are considered to be exchanging pets. That would mean they get something in return, which is against the freecycle rules.
Keep Expenses Low And Pocket The Savings
I didnt realize it was necessary to go into detail about the student loans, but maybe it is. At first I was trying to pay them off as fast as possible and they are over 50% paid off. However, last year, the school where I teach was classified as low-income...
Products Being Thrown in the Garbage
If they are out of date, the safest thing is to toss them out. I shop at a salvage grocery store a lot, but I stopped buying the out of date items there after my mom showed me a newspaper article about a young man who died after eating brownies his mom had...
Carnation Evaporated Milk Cake Recipe?
Is it tres leches cake? I dont have a recipe but thats what comes to mind when I think of cake with evaporated milk.
$10 Dinners: Chicken Stir Fry
Thats cool, I like how the costs for ingredients are broken down. Does an onion really cost $0.99? Wow. Um, somebody mentioned feeding your kids kool-aid instead of milk. I dont have kids, but that sounds pretty unhealthy to me. Just my two cents.
Chicha de Jingibre Recipe?
Maybe you could try ginger ale. My husband is from Ecuador and Im pretty sure he told me that chicha is a fermented drink the indigenous people make with yuca. They chew it up and spit it out and let it sit and after a while its fermented. But the same word...
Help Your Savings Grow With CD's
Online bank savings accounts also have competitive interest rates. Usually the rates are just as good as CDs but it works like a regular savings account so theres no penalty if you have to take the money out early and you can put in any amount at any time. hsbcdirect...
Avocado Salad Dressing
Did the avocado make it turn brown after being in the fridge for a little while?
What is a Bundt Pan?
Its a cake pan with hole in the middle. You need to watch the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Theres a whole ordeal over a bundt cake in that movie and its so funny.
Mouth Retainers Dropped in a Trash Can?
Id try soaking them in Listerine. If that kills germs in your mouth, it should also kill germs from the trashcan.
Help With My Grocery Budget?
It sounds like you may already be doing a lot of things to keep your bill down. You didnt mention if you cook from scratch a lot, so that may be something to try. You can even make bisquik and creamofwhatever soup from scratch. Are there other areas in your...
Buying Organic Clothing?
Ive seen a few items in the womens department at Walmart. Maybe the mens part has some too.
Rural Work at Home Ideas?
My aunts live in a rural area and they clean houses to make extra money. There is the expense of driving to the houses, but the hours are flexible and the pay is good. Part of the driving expense would be deductible on your tax return, so that would recoup...
Many Problems With Dish Internet And Vonage
We tried Vonage for a month and had no problems with the service. We then found that Viatalk had a local number, so thats why we switched. We werent charged a cancellation fee by Vonage, and weve been happy with Viatalk. We pay a grand total of around $80 for...
Many Problems With Dish Internet And Vonage
FREE means free... I always question a free offer. I always read the fine print. Theres usually some sort of catch. Free usually means, Free as long as you cancel in time. I always find out HOW to get the item, service, or whatever for free before signing up...
Many Problems With Dish Internet And Vonage
http://vonage.com/help.php?article=839&category=49&nav=3 This link to the Vonage website is where they explain the type of internet service you need for Vonage to work. You said they didnt mention the type of service needed, but actually, they do.
Many Problems With Dish Internet And Vonage
http://vonage.com/help.php?article=839&category=49&nav=3 This link to the Vonage website is where they explain the type of internet service you need for Vonage to work. You said they didnt mention the type of service needed, but actually, they do.
Wedding Reception in a Church's Gym?
My friend had her wedding reception in her churchs gym and she made it really beautiful by hanging four big pieces of tulle along with Christmas lights from a central spot on the high ceiling, draping the pieces down to each corner of the gym. I dont know if...
Rainbow Birthday Cake
Thats beautiful! You should consider decorating cakes as a small home-based business.
Remember The Leftovers Instead Of The Drive Thru
I try to remember to stick a granola bar in my purse if Ill be out for a while--then I can munch on that instead of going through the drive through. Or I stop by the grocery store and buy snacks we will eat anyway instead of going through the drive through...
Motivation for Getting Organized?
Check out flylady.net. But if you subscribe to the emails, subscribe to the digest version so your inbox doesnt become as cluttered up as your house.
Keeping Preteens Entertained In Summer?
Go to the library. Look for books to read or books that show you how to make stuff. I think there are books that show you how to make things with duct tape--he might like that. Volunteer at an animal shelter or soup kitchen together. Go to garage sales on Fridays...
Rich Hummus Recipe?
I make hummus by whizzing up a can of garbanzo beans (drained), a few cloves of garlic, a little salt, a little lemon juice, and a glob of olive oil in the food processor. I think its pretty good.
Weeds From Neighbor's Property?
Talk to the neighbor about it. Our neighbors used to let their dogs out to potty and the dogs roamed all over the place, including our yard, so when my husband mowed the yard the mower would fling dried dog dooey all over the place and he hated it. But he just...
Graduation Party Decorations?
One thing to think about is right after New Years, visit a party store to see if they have any 08 balloons or confetti or other decorations on clearance that could be used for an 08 graduation party.
Ways To Eat Bagels?
I like to make bacon egg and cheese bagels for breakfast, but I dont know what the rules are about those foods for vegetarians.
Quick Weight Loss Tips?
I dont think you can safely loose 100 lbs in 6 weeks, but you can definitely reevaluate what you eat and start making healthy choices in that time. You didnt mention if you exercise--that would be something to consider. Also, drink plenty of water. If you dont...
Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses?
I heard that Target may start carrying wedding attire. Other places to look would be newport-news.com and chadwicks.com.
Listening Suggestions For Online Radio Shows?
Ive heard of npr and bbc but there are so many shows to choose from--which specific shows are your favorites?
Starting a Budget?
http://www.daveramsey.com/the_truth_about/budgeting_3457.html.cfm http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=4123 See if the information given in those links help. One thing Ive had to do is make a when to pay what plan. My husband gets paid biweekly...
How much do you pay for internet?
We pay $34.99/month for cable internet through Charter. That may seem pricey, but we also have Viatalk phone service, which uses the cable internet, for only $14.99/month. So combined phone and internet is $50.00/month.
How Should I Pay For My Child's College?
I always worked really hard in school and made excellent grades. My parents always told me, with those grades you can go to college where ever you want. Well, I only got a scholarship for 50% off to the college where I wanted to go. My mom had a cow because...
How Should I Pay For My Child's College?
Another thing to think about-- you can borrow to pay for college if needed, but you CANT borrow to pay for retirement. I would not recommend cashing in any retirement savings to pay for a childs college.
Preventing Mold In Toilet?
Do you have an exhaust fan in that bathroom? Maybe running that (or installing one) for a few hours each day would get rid of moisture that could cause mold to grow in places besides the toilet that you cant see.
$10 Dinners - Basil Tomato Salad with...
I think these recipes are great. They include plenty of healthy ingredients. I am curious about how someone can feed their family HEALTHY food for several days on only $10.
Use Credit Cards for All Purchases and Earn Cash Back
I googled reward credit cards and this helpful list came up in the results: http://www.creditcards.com/reward.php
Product Review: Swiffer WetJet
Have you tried the Swiffer thingy that vacuums? I cant remember what its called. I loved mine. Then I found a dirt devil thing that vacuums AND does the wet spray stuff on clearance so I bought it and gave the swiffer vacuum to my mom and she says its great...
Information About Gas Logs?
We have gas logs in our house. They were here when we bought the house so I dont know what they cost to install. The past two winters weve paid about $60 to have the tank refilled. We dont pay any kind of rental fee. (That sounds like a big rip off to me.) We...
Product Review: Swiffer WetJet
Its not $10 for a single mopping. Its $10 for one of these gizmos that you use over and over: http://www.swiffer.com/swiffer/en_US/wetjet.do If you dont want to buy the pads for it, you can use old washcloths. If you dont want to buy the cleaning solution, you...
Mexican Souvenirs For Coworkers?
The two Latin American countries I have visited have sold colorful carved balsawood ballpoint pens as souvenirs. I purchased those for my coworkers and they loved them. Its something they can use at work.
Boy-Girl Birthday Party?
As long as the party is supervised, things wont get intimate. Just make sure you supervise and it seems to me it should be ok.
Advice For Managing Budget With 2 Houses?
If you didnt own two homes today, would you go out and buy an extra one? If the answer is no, maybe you should consider selling one of the houses--its essentially the same question.
Towel vs. Bathmat for Outside Shower or Tub?
I am using the same set of bathmats we got for a wedding gift 5 years ago. They started out white, but when we moved 2 years ago, the new bathroom seemed like it would look better with off-white mats, so I dyed them using tea.
When Are You Ready For Your First Child?
You really need to wait until you are older and financially stable. Do you have full time jobs? Do you have a college education? Do you have a strong marriage (not counting whatever boyfriend-girlfriend relationship you had before)? Do you own a home to take...
Is Bicarbonate of Soda a Substitute For Borax?
Im pretty sure bicarbonate of soda is baking soda. I wouldnt use it if you are also using vinegar-- the chemical reaction might create a foamy mess.
Not So Frugal Newlyweds?
Its good youre thinking about this as newlyweds. Be careful not to play the blame game, just focus on sticking to the budget. You might want to start a budget by just looking at your past few statements together and look at how much you have been spending on...
Halloween Alternatives
Many Latin American countries celebrate Day of the Dead on Nov 1. This is a time when families get together for a meal and remember ancestors and relatives that have died. They also go visit their graves. Its not really a sad or morbid day, just a day to remember...
