Saving Freak

I have been having some problems with the site for the last couple of days.  I think it is all back to normal now but the time consumption made it hard for me to get my regular posts out.  I hope this will be the last of my hacker problems but who knows.  Here are some great tips from readers.

Use White Out for Tiny Painting Jobs

Need to do a small touch up job on something white but don’t have
the white paint or don’t want to open that big can?  For a small,
very small touch up job needing white, use White Out.  It works
great. I picked up a white stand at a garage sale with a couple
of nicks and I covered them with White Out and it looks like new
–By DEBRADJ from ILLINOIS

Cleaning with Odor-free Oven Cleaner

Odor-free Oven Cleaner is especially great for cleaning dirty can
openers and tops of kitchen waste cans. Spray the cutting blade
of the can opener, let set overnight, and in the morning, rinse
with hot water and a light scrubbing with an old toothbrush.
Spray the top of the waste container and let set for an hour or
two. The grime will ‘brown’ then rinse clean in the bath tub.
–By Cajun from Collinsville, IL

Affordable Dental Work

Is there a university medical center near you?  I have had my
entire mouth repaired (and I needed a lot!) at the Dental School
of the university at a fraction of what it costs in the
mainstream.  I went there because I wasn’t satisfied with my
dental care in the mainstream market.  I can’t say enough good
things about the care given at the school.  Dental students are
nearing their degree in dentistry and are very carefully
supervised by a teaching dentist with advanced degrees.  Truly,
the best decision I ever made in the medical arena. And yes, in
my experience they take credit cards, checks, and cash.  Nobody
hounds you to pay on the day of service. Make those calls!
–By Lois from Pennsylvania and Western NY

This one isn’t so thrifty but I would have eaten more eggs as a kid if my mom did this.

Write “Magic” Messages On Eggs

Mix a solution of white vinegar and alum (8:1 ratio). Alum can be
found in the spice section.  Using a small craft paintbrush,
write your message(s) on the shells of eggs. Boil eggs to hard.
The writing will appear on the whites of the eggs when they are
shelled.
–By Laura from Long Beach, CA

I think I finally have everything on my blog back to normal from when the site was hacked last weekend.  Thank you for your patience since the posts this past week were not up to what I consider my usual standard.  hope you Saturday is grand and here are a few Thrifty Tips.

Use Soda In Your Flower Arrangements

To make fresh cut flowers last longer, use 1/2 water and 1/2 soda, such as Sprite or any clear color soda. Your flowers will last for weeks and weeks and they will remain beautiful.
–By Dawn from Newburgh, NY

Donate Extra Cards To Schools

Have leftover holiday cards (Valentines, Christmas, birthday, etc.)?  Don’t throw them away, ask your local school if they want them.  They can use them in the lower grades to make great “cards” for mom and dad for future holidays and you’ll recycle too!
–By Debradj from Illinois

Tips for Long Lasting Carpet

When my husband and I purchased first purchased carpet for our home. The store that we bought it at had us attend a carpet seminar to see a movie about how carpet was made and to discuss the best carpet for our purpose. It really made it easier to decide what to buy.

The most beneficial thing that we learned was not to run around the house barefooted or in our stocking feet, there is salt in your body and it comes out through the feet and will stain your carpet quicker.

Also when you see a spot, clean it right away. This has worked for us over 31  years. We have only replaced the carpeting once, only because we were tired of the color. Keep a pair of slippers handy, so when you come into the house, you can take your shoes off and put on your slippers.
–By Lillian from Beaver Falls, PA

Walmart Will “Price Match” On Sale Patterns

If you live closer to a Walmart than to your local fabric store that is having a great sale on patterns (like JoAnn’s fabrics)… OR, if your local fabric store is “picked over” and doesn’t have many patterns left in your size, simply take the ad up to the register with you (after you’ve shopped) and Walmart will honor other stores ads for Simplicity or McCalls brand patterns (and other things too!)  Just be sure to bring the ad in with you and make sure the sale is STILL going on.
–By Cyinda from near Seattle

Beautifully Peeled Oranges

Place oranges in hot water for about 45 minutes - 1 hour; remove from water and let cool until you are comfortable handling them by hand. Take a tablespoon (or teaspoon) and begin peeling the orange from the navel, the skin should peel leaving all the white on the peal and virtually none on the orange. This is an old restaurant trick I learned long ago.
–By Cajun from Collinsville, IL

Mending Holes in Screens

To fix holes and tears in a screen door or window screen, mend it
just like you would mend a piece of clothing. Stitch the hole
shut using fine nylon thread or wire that matches the color of
the screen.  If it is a large hole, you can cut a small patch to
fit, stitching around where the screen is missing or replace the
entire screen.
–unknown

Use Cheap Coffee For Hand Scrubber

I keep a crock of cheap coffee by the sink and use it to dip some
out to scrub my hands after cutting onions and garlic. It really
works to eliminate the odors!
–By Pattie from Bridgton

Vinegar to Remove Smelly Cooking Odors

After cooking fish, broccoli or anything with an odor, simply set
a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight and the odor will be
gone.
–By Debra from Hampton, Tennesse

Acrylic Remover for Dried Paint on Leather Sofa

To remove old dried up paint from my leather sofa, my husband
suggested I try his Acrylic Remover and Brush Cleaner.  I dabbed
it on the old stains, and voila! The stains are gone and leather
in perfect condition. (The olive oil didn’t work very well for
me.)
–By Katie from Orlando, FL

Stretch Eggs With Powdered Eggs

As expensive as a dozen of eggs have gotten over the recent
months, a good way to extend them is to add some dry powdered
cafeteria eggs or Army powdered eggs or other if you can get
them! Sometimes you can find them at the Mennenite stores if you
are lucky enough to have one near you!

Mix a little and add it to regular scrambled eggs to make them go
farther and they taste really good!

Here is a farmers Market FINDER so you can check them out!

http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/
–By melody

For no apparent reason this did not post in the morning.  Oh well, guess everyone makes mistakes, even the Saving Freak.

Freeze Leftover Coke for Ice

My husband drinks a lot of coke but most of the time he leaves
about a cup full.  I use to throw it away but now I put it in a
small container with a lid and put it in the freezer.  I use this
frozen coke instead of ice.  So no more wasted coke and no more
watered down drink.
By Nancy Mc from Peabody, MA

Maintain Your Boots In Brand New Condition

Cut off the legs from panty hose.  Use plastic bags you get at
the grocery store and stuff them to the size of your boot/shoe.
You can also use newspaper. This will help your boots by standing
up straight in your closet and looking new. Goodbye to those
wrinkled boots.
By Bonnie from Lompoc, CA

Shower Rings Can Be Used as a Gate Closure

It Pays to Keep Things - If you save your old metal shower
curtain rings, you can use one as a lock for your yard gate. It
keeps the gate closed and the kids and pets tucked safely inside.
By Marie from West Dundee, IL

Use Dryer Sheets Three Different Ways Each Time

To get the most out of my dryer sheets, I use them in three ways
before tossing them.  The first use is to put them in my closet
and dresser drawers to give my clothes a nice clean scent.  After
about a week or two I then use them in the dryer with a load of
laundry.  After getting it from the dryer, I use it to dust with
because it seems to catch dust better than regular dusting cloths
(and it’s cheaper).
By Tonya from Knightdale, NC

Keep Free Address Labels In Your Wallet

When charities send them, cut them into strips, cut off the
artwork, and put some in your wallet.  They’re great for use on
small forms such as raffle or door prize tickets, rebate forms,
or anywhere else that a tiny name and address is required.
They’ll also identify things you’re lending, such as dishes and
utensils for a pot luck dinner, or craft equipment.
By Nance from Statesboro, GA

These are some great tips for thrifty ways to solve some common problems.

Substitute for Laptop Cooler

Why go out and pay a big price for a laptop cooler?  Try this tip
and have one for next to nothing.

I use a cake cooling rack as my laptop cooler.  It works great!
I bought this rack at a dollar store for $1, so I have saved a
lot of money using it.
–By Hvnlyhills from Peebles, OH

Ultimate Earring Organizer!

Years ago, I bought a lovely crocheted tank top from a local
thrift store (possibly on half-price day!); I hung it on a pretty
wooden hanger, in my bathroom, and used it for holding all my
earrings.  Since the wooden hanger had notches in it (for
securing straps, etc.), I also hung a few necklaces from there,
perfectly useful and a very attractive “wall hanging”.
–By Vicki from Eugene, OR

Benefits of Thin Towels

Buy thin towels so more will fit in your washing machine: Buy the
THIN, cheaper towels for your family, NOT the big fluffy ones.
This way, you can fit twice as many in your washer and dryer and
you’ll save all kinds of money by doing less wash loads! This is
especially useful if you have to use the Laundromat. But also,
since I started buying thinner towels, I’ve found that not only
can I fit more towels per load, but they also dry quicker AND
it’s less wear and tear on my wash machine!
–By Cyinda from Seattle

Cleaning Up Pet Vomit

Just a very simple tip I thought to share with you. If you pet
vomits on the carpet, here’s a quick and easy clean-up. Just
cover with kitty litter, leave to dry then vacuum it up. There
should be no odour at all. If there is -with equal amounts of
Listerine mouthwash and water in a spray bottle, shake then spray
over the affected area.
–By Monique from Somerset. UK

Thanks for all who submit tips like these.  Other readers are loving them.

Reusing Medicine Dispensers

How many of you have extra medicine dispensers.  The cup kind and
the syringe kind?  I have two young children so I have a lot.  I
have been letting them play in the tub with the extras and one
day it hit me that I could use them to dispense shampoo and
conditioner as well as meds.  I use the syringe for my son and
put about 1/2 tsp. in it and he just squeezes it onto his hair
when he shampoos.  I put my daughter’s in the cups since she had
longer hair and need more shampoo.  Once she had dumped it I tell
her to put a little water in it and swish it around to get all
the shampoo or conditioner out.  This way they feel like big kids
and can wash their own hair with minimal help and I don’t go
through as much shampoo and conditioner.
-By Anita from Normal, IL

Scanning Craft Patterns and Instructions

This pertains to instructions for just about any craft item. I
scan the instructions or pattern into my computer to enlarge and
then print it out.  This works especially well for cross stitch
or counted cross stitch because this way you can actually see the
graph better and easier to count.
-By Elaine from White Pigeon Mi

Masking Tape for Picking Up Small Items

Use masking tape sticky side out for easy clean up for small
items like broken glass, glitter spills, tiny paper pieces. It
makes a great lint brush, too!
-By Mandie from New Philadelphia, Ohio

Dog and Cat Hair for the Garden

If you have a cat or dog in the home then you are vacuuming their
hair off everything all of the time.  Empty your vacuum canister
or bag each time around the perimeter of your gardens.  The pet
hair scares away rabbits, gophers and other wild animals.  They
smell it and think there is danger so they head elsewhere for
their munchies!
-By Pattie from Bridgton, Maine

Furniture Polish - Olive Oil and Lemon Juice

Here is a great tip on saving money on furniture polish.

1 cup of olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 clean 16 oz. spray bottle

Combine the oil and lemon juice in the spray bottle. Shake well
before using.

Use a clean, dry cloth to buff and polish. Works wonders and
saves you money!
-By Sabrina from Council, N.C.

A mixture of personal and reader submitted tips dealing with how to get things clean on the cheap.

Vinegar and water for cleaning mirrors and windows, use
newspapers to clean with instead of rags. I have done this. It
works wonders.

Use a mixture of 1/2 baking soda, 1/2 salt, sprinkle on carpets
to kill ants and roaches. Leave on at least 15 minutes, vacuum
well.

Make a liquid of instant coffee and warm water to cover the
scratches on dark furniture. The darker the furniture, use more
instant coffee. Rub on, let set a few minutes, dry, polish.

Shaving cream is great to take stains out of rugs. Spray and
scrub with a brush.

Keep a crock of cheap coffee by the sink and use it to dip some
out to scrub my hands after cutting onions and garlic.
To clean a blocked shower head put lemon juice in a baggie, place the shower head in the baggie and let soak at least 15-20 minutes, take out of baggie, polish and reinstall.  Can take longer or shorter time depending on how blocked the head is.

Hope everyone enjoys their new thrifty cleaning!

Add Sheen Back To Vinyl Siding

For homes that have vinyl cladding that has lost it’s lustre and
looks tired: Wash down with warm soap and water then spray (cans)
with tyre sheen or similar product. It’s surprisingly cheap to do
and it brings it back to life.

An occasional hose down keeps it fresh. Repeat about once a year,
but wash with warm soapy water first.
–By Ocker from Australia

Make Your Own Car Air Freshener

Poke holes in the top of an empty mint tin, fill it with
potpourri or cotton balls with potpourri oil and put it under
your car seat to use as an air freshener.

Freeze Excess Veggies To Prevent Spoilage

I became tired of throwing away green and red peppers because
they either didn’t get used or started to go bad. Now I chop them
up or cut into strips and put them in freezer bags to take out
anytime I need some.  Now I make a habit of bringing  home a bag
of onions and doing the same with half of them.  It also saves
time when you have to cook after work!
–By Pattie from Bridgton

Turn Oven Off Early To Save Energy

Here’s a great energy saver. When you are near the end of the
baking time, turn the oven off and keep the door closed. The heat
will stay the same long enough to finish baking your dish, and
you’ll save energy
–By Mom of 1 from Wilkesboro, NC

Make Your Own Pads for Protecting Hardwood Floors

My dining room chairs were scratching my hardwood floors. Instead
of spending $ on the stick-on felt thingys that fall off, I cut
furry fabric (I used a 2 liter bottle cap as a template for
cutting) and hot glued them to the feet of all my chairs.
–By Jenn from Lenox, MA

I haven’t thrown any thrifty tips your way in over a week.  Here are some of the ideas and tricks that have come my way since then.

Melt Candles on a Coffee Cup Warmer

Extend the life of scented candles:  Instead of burning them
(which uses oxygen, may generate soot, and could be a fire
hazard), melt them in a heatproof jar atop an electric coffee cup
warmer. The pleasant scent will waft through the air, and the
candle will last almost forever.

Homemade Swiffer Wet Pads And Solution

Using a wet Swiffer mop can get expensive with the wet
replacement towels that cost about $4.00 for a dozen. It adds up
really fast! To combat that, I decided to try using some old thin
bath towels cut to size. I dampen them them with a cleaning
solution of about 2 Tbsp. Murphy’s oil soap to 2 quarts water,
place them on the mop as I would the Swiffer cloths, and clean my
laminate and tile floors. Cloths can be washed and reused over
and over. I save the cleaning solution in a container and it
lasts a really long time. Cost is pennies compared to what I was
spending! (Flannel cloth can work great as well! )

By Debbie from Fisher, IL

Make Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer from Powdered

I make my own liquid non-dairy coffee creamer from powdered
creamer.  I buy the 16 oz. size store brand of powdered creamer
for $1.00. I add one cup of hot water to one cup of dry creamer
and shake. Then I add one cup of cold water and shake it up
again.

I store it in a plastic bottle in the fridge. It makes 24 oz of
creamer each time, and I think I get about 3 bottles per 16 oz.
canister. I have also done this with flavored powdered creamers
as well, always with excellent results.  This way I don’t have to
worry about checking expiration dates, and I can control the
richness of the creamer by adding more or less water.   It has
really saved us money, as we drink lots of coffee!

Source: I took the recipe from Dollar General’s brand of
non-dairy creamer, and it seems to work the same way for all
other brands I have tried.

By Cynthia from Pittsburgh  PA

Bargain Hairstyling At Adult Education Classes

I just got my haircut at an Adult Education Class. They learn the
trade and are supervised and watched close as they work on
client’s hair.

I received a cut and color and paid less than $20.00. Tip is
separate. I have never had a bad color or cut. You can see if
your local High School knows of classes such as this.

By Sall from West Seneca, NY

Make Yourself Climb Stairs For Exercise

Great way to get fit? Try putting something in the basement, or
up stairs that you use daily. Sounds silly, but now that we’ve
added a playroom/computer room in our basement, I’ve lost 8 lbs!

Source: Just noticed the scale this afternoon, and realized I now
climb stairs at least 5 times a day!

By Amy from Canton, Ohio

I have learned to harness the power of the sun. Well at least for the purpose of heat. I made this great discovery because we have a black door on the front of our house. In front of that is a storm door so from time to time I would open the main door and feel an immense amount of heat coming from the black door. I then began using this to bring heat into the foyer of our home. As you enter our house there are two rooms, one to each side, that have two large windows each (about 6 feet tall). So I started opening the blinds to let the sun in. This helped with heating these rooms but I thought there had to be a better way.

Here is what you will need : 2 rods (curtain, dow, the lighter the better) that are the width of your window frame, black sheets of plastic like what you would find under a house, and a stapler. Cut the plastic so that it is about six inches longer than your window. Take each end, wrap it around the dow rod and staple it into place. This will create a similar function as a curtain rod. In fact, if you have curtains this would work fine on a curtain rod, but i don’t right now so I had to make do. The next task is to secure the black plastic curtain to the window. You want to create a gap at least six inches away from the window and preferably that far from the ledge on the window sill.

Although it would be effective I am not suggesting you nail ugly dow rods into your window frame. I am not to blame for any marital disputes.

Now that this is attached you have your own personal solar heater. As the plastic heats up it will heat up the air between it and the window. That air will rise and the cold air from underneath will pulled up into the heater. The heating works like this:

In my area (southeast) the heat coming out the top should be in the high 80’s. Having talked to other people online who have tried similar experiments, people in the northern US get temperatures a little above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.7 C); not too shabby. Hope this helps with your home heating.