Eastern Wisconsin's Magazine for Women

Want to live better on the money you already make?

Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Smoke Detector Batteries
Hopefully everyone changed their smoke detector batteries when they moved their clocks back. I also hope those batteries weren’t thrown out. They still have life and can be used in TV remotes or kids’ toys. Ellie

Before You Clean
Before I start my “holiday cleaning” this year, I’ll clean all my cleaning tools. I will wash all the mops, brushes, and dusters. I will also clean my vacuum cleaner filters. After all, what is the point in cleaning the house with dirty, germ ridden implements? Plus, the clean tools are more efficient.
Grannie Annie in Suffern, NY

Why I Support CSAs
I’m not a gardener, but I love fruits and veggies. That’s why I was pleased when community supported agriculture began in our city. I’m able to get locally grown produce at reasonable prices. Not only is it fresh, but I also can find out what pesticides, etc. were used in growing. Plus, I get to support local farms. It’s a great deal all the way around. Colette

Whew. Stinky
Do you have shirts and blouses that smell in the underarm area even after you wash them? Then try a quick soak in vinegar. The odor is caused by bacteria. The vinegar kills the bacteria causing the odors. After the item is soaked, it should go into the regular wash. Occasionally, there will be a stain left. For the most stubborn stains, soak the area in straight ammonia for an hour or two. Nicki

Free Heat
Our electric bill has been rising. Last winter, we bought one of those dryer vent boxes for our electric dryer. The heat from the dryer is vented into the house. Lint is filtered, so all we get is the hot air. We found our vent box for a few dollars at the local hardware store. As a bonus, the warm air tends to be a little damp, which helps dry winter indoor air. Trisha

Static Cling Solution
During the winter, I used to have a problem with my pants sticking to my nylons. Not only was it uncomfortable, but it also looked terrible. I used to use expensive static cling sprays, but then I found a much cheaper solution. Now, I just rub a dryer sheet on my nylons, and my pants no longer stick to them. I use the same dryer sheet over and over. This winter, I’m going to keep one in my purse and also in my desk at work. Tonya

Reusing Foil Pans
Each Thanksgiving, I buy one of those foil roasting pans for my turkey. And I used to throw them away after that one use. Then it occurred to me that they could be washed and reused. Now I save them and put them under casserole dishes to catch drips. I’ve also placed them upside down over casseroles instead of covering the dish with aluminum foil. Sure, it’s not a big savings, but every bit helps. Marcy

Unusual Repurposing
Toilet brushes are great. Squish one down until it is real thin and it becomes a great large container scrubber because of the long handle. I also use as a foot scrubber. It’s hard to bend over and it gets in around the toenails. A toilet scrubber is also good for cleaning window sill cracks. I have about five and all are marked for different jobs. I get them at the dollar store in different colors. Rena in FL

Lunch Time
Time is money, and this tip saves time. If you use the office microwave to heat your frozen lunch entree, try this. When you get to work in the morning, don’t put your entree in the freezer. Leave it out on your desk or office kitchen counter to thaw. It will heat more evenly, take much less time, and may even make you more popular. Your coworkers won’t have to wait long to heat up their own lunches. If you’re worried about spoilage, put your entree in the refrigerator (not the freezer) until lunchtime. That will also help a little. WC

Frozen Veggie Dispenser
I’m usually just cooking for one or two people, so I’ve learned to make my freezer my friend. For instance, when I buy carrots or other veggies, I do any prep work (removing stems, cutting into pieces, etc.), spread them on a cookie sheet, and then freeze them overnight. The next day, I place them in freezer bags. When I want a few carrots or blueberries for a dish, I have a ready supply.
This also allows me to buy many of my veggies when they’re on sale. I especially like to stock up on berries. They’re great for waffles, pancakes, muffins, or loaves. Sherilee

Avoid the Breakfast Drive-Thru
I got tired of picking up breakfast at the fast food drive-thru because it’s expensive and unhealthy, so I started looking for ideas. I came up with the idea of making my own fast food breakfasts.
Starting with an English muffin, I add egg patties, a sausage patty, two slices of cheese, and a little mayonnaise. Before putting them in the fridge, I microwave them for about one minute on high power. I can make myself a dozen for just a few dollars.
We can warm them up at home or take them to work or school. My family loves them. I started making six each week. Now I’m up to 12. Sandra

Want to live better on the money you already make?

Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Nasty Wheels
I live in Wisconsin and the streets are salted more often than my dinner salad. I found that using a toilet brush works very well on the hubcaps of my car, especially in the nooks and crannies. The toilet brush works well on the grill as well and won’t take the paint off. Evelyn

Cleaning Stained Plastic
Did you know that hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can remove stains from plastic? Our kids have a plastic play table in the backyard. Over time, it had some stains on it (paint and markers). I used a scrub brush with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. It took a little effort, but it cleaned up nicely. Leila

Just Beyond DIY
My wife and I are DIYers, but occasionally we get into a project that’s beyond our comfort level. I’ve had good luck contacting my local union office and asking about one of their apprentices. Sometimes they’ll let the apprentice come out alone, but often a regular union member will supervise as part of the apprenticeship training. In either case, the cost is less than hiring a regular union worker. Jefferson D.

Shipping Fragile
I have a daughter in college that loves to receive care packages throughout the year. I also found a way to send her a much-needed item and save on wasted packing materials at the same time. I “lined” the box with rolls of toilet paper. The toilet paper is a great shock absorber for the trip through the mail, and it is an item she will definitely use and doesn’t add to the cost of mailing.
Lisa B. in Hopewell, VA

Easy Grill Cleaning
Many people use indoor grills. I discovered a great way to make cleanup a breeze. When you are finished cooking, turn off and unplug the grill. Place three soaking wet paper towels on the grill surface and close. The leftover heat will turn the water into steam, which will loosen any stuck-on food. After you’ve finished eating your meal, use the paper towels to wipe off the grill surface. It’s just like magic. Jason

Cleaning a Messy Home
For many years, I was a single, working mother and learned this little tip, which saved me time and frustration. Each night after the children went to bed and I was ready for bed, I would go through the house and straighten up, pick up, and arrange things. Then when I got up in the morning, everything was neat and welcoming. I felt encouraged to start the day. I taught this to my children and they agree with me. It is discouraging to get up in the morning with the house a mess, and this method takes just a little time and leaves a person ready to start a new day. Esther

Garbage Raiders
My neighbors were complaining about raccoons, dogs, and other animals raiding their garbage cans. Often, they left a real mess to clean up. I told them what I do to prevent midnight garbage raids. I pour an ounce or two of ammonia into my trash container over the bags of garbage. Raiders think that another animal has ‘marked’ the territory with urine and will steer clear. It doesn’t take a lot, but it’s good to add a little on a weekly basis to keep the smell fresh. It sure beats sweeping up a bunch of scattered trash. Zeke

No Chemical Flea Control
Would you like to get rid of fleas in your home without using nasty chemicals? Try this. This time of year it’s easy to find crab or horse apples. Gather a few. Cut them in half and place the halves around the baseboards in any rooms that contain fleas.
For some reason, fleas hate the smell and will leave. And, even if your pets or kids get into the apples, the worst they’ll get is a tummy ache. Cheyenne

Natural Health and Beauty Care
I use baking soda as toothpaste and breath deodorizer. I keep a jar of baking soda beside my sink. I dip my toothbrush into the jar and then brush away. After I’m finished brushing my teeth, I put a little on my toothbrush and brush both the top and bottom of my tongue.
Finally, I use a little as a soft facial scrub. It works great to keep my skin super smooth.
Zena

Keep the Glow
Don’t toss that ghoulish, glow-in-the-dark nail polish your kids got for Halloween. Put the bottle in your tool kit, as it is handy around the house.
For instance, dab some of the polish on light switches, flashlights, house keys, stair rails, the fuse box, the front door lock or other things you may need when it’s dark. There will be no more fumbling around trying to locate these items when everything is pitch black, such as during power failures or times you have to get up in the night. The painted-on polish will glow, so you can easily find something. Lynn

Buy Pumpkins Now
I cringe when I see all the pumpkins going to waste as decorations. I buy pumpkins after Halloween for a song. I wash them and poke holes in them with a knife. Then I put them in the oven on a large pan and bake until the skin turns a little brown to black. I then remove them from the oven and set them aside until they cool enough to handle. I cut them into two pieces, scoop out the seeds, and then scoop out all the pumpkin, which is extremely soft. I put it into freezer bags and freeze. I have pumpkin for pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, pumpkin hotcakes and waffles, etc.
Last year, I bought my pumpkins from a pumpkin patch the day after Halloween. They said that I could have all I wanted for $5. My daughters and I had enough pumpkin frozen for each of us to last a year. And don’t forget pumpkin is a vegetable. Joann S.

Want to live better on the money you already make?

Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Sweeter Smelling Trash
Like most, we have a trashcan in the kitchen, and occasionally something stinky gets tossed into it. I hate to have these odors in my kitchen, so I put used dryer sheets into my kitchen trash. That pretty much neutralizes any offending odors. Chanile

Shower Door Cleaner
I don’t like cleaning shower doors, so I apply Rain-X® to them. I use the same product that I use on my car’s windshield. The water and soap scum runs right off, and it saves me a bunch of cleaning time. I reapply it every four months or so. Lucinda

Time to Buy Fruits & Veggies
I always stock up on canned goods in the fall. I don’t can myself, so I go to local flea markets and fruit stands to buy locally canned produce. I stock up on tomatoes, green and yellow beans, etc. I buy anything I think that I’ll use in the next year. It saves a bunch on my grocery bill all year long. Patty

Easy Last Minute Costume
Last Halloween, my husband and I were so busy that we didn’t have time to shop for a costume party we were attending. A few days before the party, I was talking to another couple that was going, and they had the same problem. We decided to all go dressed in our pajamas and call ourselves a pajama party. Not only did our friends enjoy our costumes, but we also didn’t have to buy anything and went in some of the most comfortable clothes in our closet. No awkward or hot costumes for us. Sherrie

Storing Out-of-Season Clothes
For several years, I have been storing my out-of-season clothing without mothballs. I simply use an unpainted piece of cedar siding that I got from a carpenter and put it in the storage container in an open plastic bag (this keeps the rough cedar from touching any delicate clothing). Cedar balls would also work. They should be sanded lightly from year to year to make sure they are potent. I have absolutely no problems at all and the clothing is fresh and ready to wear when I move it to my dresser or closet. Barbara

Cheaper Flights
Did you know that about 2/3 of all plane fares will drop within the 24 hours after you’ve booked your flight, and by law, if the flight is more than seven days from departure, you can cancel or change your booking? Therefore, it’s a good idea to check the prices on your flight on the day after you made your reservation. You could save some money that can be used to buy holiday presents. Lou

Repair/Remodel Before Home Sale
I just read a tip from a reader on the improvements they are making to their home before listing it. Before you do anything, please have a realtor (or several) come to your home and advise you on what to do. They have a different eye than you do. A lot of sellers are surprised by my suggestions on what to do or not to do, but I know what buyers are looking for. Betsy W.

Autopay Is Great, But...
I am now the caregiver for my 87-year-old mother and pay her bills. Three years ago, it seemed so easy to get her cable/phone, electricity, garbage, water, and credit card bill auto paid monthly. Well, that worked wonderfully, but I developed a very bad habit of not looking at the statements to make sure everything was correct.
I just happened to look at her water bill earlier this year, and it was $254. I nearly fell over. She had a leak in an unused sprinkler system from freezing and water ran for two months. Hubby looked for the leak, and it was very hard to find. We didn’t know where the sprinkler heads or connections were located. Upon personally going to the water company, they offered a “once in a lifetime” adjustment down to $100. The lesson is that you shouldn’t just throw the bill in a folder unopened assuming everything is fine. Open it up and check it out. Twila

Old Car Headlights
My car is nearly ten years old. I plan on driving it as long as I can, but one thing bothered me. I do a lot of night driving on the highway. The cloudy lenses on my headlights cut down on how much I could see at night.
I priced the kits that are available in the auto parts store, but figured I could do it just as well with what I had around the house. I started by using a kitchen scouring pad and cleanser. After a little rubbing, most of the imperfections were gone. After rinsing off the cleanser, I sprayed it with cooking spray and rubbed it in. The results were impressive. Now my car looks better and I’m safer at night. Butch

Buy Less Hamburger
I have been stretching my hamburger with things like bread and oatmeal, but it’s easy to go too far and lose the meat taste of the meal. I’ve found that in some recipes, I can use other ingredients.
For instance, in my meatloaf recipe, I mix a half of a cup of bulgur with one pound of hamburger. The rest of the recipe is just like normal. No one seems to notice the difference.
Or when making something like tacos or burritos, I add some mashed kidney beans to the recipe. The spice masks the mild flavor of the beans, and the beans add bulk to the taco or burrito filling. It’s a healthy, tasty, and money-saving substitute. April

Riders’ ID
I like to ride long distances on my bike. As a cautionary tool, I have a luggage tag on my handlebars with my name, address, and an emergency contact number in case of an accident. Katie

Lady’s Athletic Socks
I wear athletic socks most of the time and seem to wear them out quickly. I was relieved to find out that the multi-packs of athletic socks for boys fit my size 9 shoe perfectly. The boy’s socks are thicker, so they last longer. And, they’re cheaper, too. Julianne

Sore Muscles
When I have a backache or sore legs from working in the yard, I use my homemade heating pad. It’s just an old sock filled with dry beans. I put it in the microwave for a minute or two and hold it next to the sore muscle. It conforms to my body and feels wonderful. Rich

Stinky Clothes
My husband works with chemicals all day long, and his work clothes smell like it. I’ve tried all kinds of things to get the stink out without any success until recently. That’s when I discovered that about one cup of plain white vinegar added to the wash cycle eliminates odor. It’s simple, cheap, and effective. Iris

Perks, Please
I work at a big multi-division company. Just the other week they passed out a list of all the different companies that offer discounts to our employees. It included everything from my cell phone company to a hotel that we’ll be using when we visit my brother at Christmas. And I never would have known if it weren’t for the list. Juliette

Inexpensive Holiday Decorating
During the holidays, I’ve always liked covering our hanging pictures in gift paper for a festive look. But, I didn’t like how much wrapping paper I had to buy each year. Last year, I bought some holiday fabric that I can easily reuse year after year. I even got inspired to make some covers to use over the couch pillows. For a few dollars and a little effort, my home will look great during the holidays for years to come. Cassy

Pumpkin Time
I’m a fan of home cooked pumpkin. I buy the big carving pumpkins now when they go on sale. I bought half a dozen large pumpkins at 99 cents/each, a huge bargain compared to the canned pumpkin because of the much higher yield from a large pumpkin. I scrub them, remove the seeds, and then slice them into strips. The strips go into my slow cooker with about a half-cup of water. Then they cook on high for about four hours, depending on the size and number of strips. I also use the standard method of baking the pumpkins. I measure the cooked pumpkin into plastic bags by eight ounces (one cup) and then freeze. If I were a home canner, I would process them that way, too. M.

Inexpensive Decor Update
Did you know that 20” by 20” cloth napkins are the exact same size as regular size throw pillows? You can find cloth napkins at stores like Walmart, Target, and thrift stores. Buy no-sew glue. It is washable and adheres quickly. Adhere two cloth napkins to the front and back of your pillow. You can even add fringe if you want to by using the no-sew glue. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to freshen up a room. Claire

The Urge to Splurge
Sometimes we all get the urge to splurge or buy something that is unneeded out of boredom. When I think I hear the call of the mall, I pay a bill instead. I keep all my bill-paying information in a pretty basket in my kitchen, including stamps, bills, checkbook, etc. It’s all there. Somehow the simple act of paying a bill, even if it’s not yet due, helps me to refocus on our financial goals. A trip around the mall might be fun momentarily, but I would rather not regret it when the bill comes in. If I don’t have a bill to pay, I’ll make a small donation to our local food bank or shelter or Toys for Tots. Somehow that makes the spending itch go away and refocuses me on all the blessings we already have.
Donna W. in Dallas, TX

Motivated to Exercise
I have a hard time sticking to an exercise program. I’m good for a few weeks and then I tend to slack off. It’s easy to put off exercise for “tomorrow” when a gym membership is open ended.
Recently, I found that it’s better if I join six- or eight-week classes at the gym or at a separate studio. Naturally, it’s cheaper if it’s part of my gym membership.
Because it’s a scheduled class and only lasts for a few weeks, I’m much more likely to force myself to go even if I don’t want to go. I’ve even thought of letting my gym membership lapse for a short time while I take dance or yoga lessons. Tanya

Want to live better on the money you already make?

Visit <www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn> to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Mascara Remover
Recently, I started using baby shampoo to remove mascara. It’s not greasy. Also, it is inexpensive and doesn’t cause tears. Renee

Kitty Treats
We have three cats, so treats tend to add up. Finally, I decided to buy a big bag of soft solid cat food. I give them a piece as a treat. Our kitties seem just as happy as when they were getting much more costly treats. LaTisha

Why I DIY
I recently had my car serviced at a nationwide service center. The technician told me my car needed a new air filter and a new cabin air filter and quoted $23 to $25 for each one. I declined and went to a car parts store. Both filters came to a total of $33.04. JB

A Little at a Time
My bank allows me to pay online directly to the principal. The minimum payment is $10. Any time I have $10, I pay it down. If I save $10 on something, I apply it to my mortgage. It can be surprising how often an extra $10 can be found for this worthwhile purpose.
Connie

Expensive School Pictures
I got a surprise when I volunteered to help on picture day at our local grade school. My goal was to make sure that my two little ones looked their best. I ended up combing hair and wiping faces of our little subjects before they were photographed. The surprise was that I got a premium package for free. I only ended up buying one package for two kids. Jolene

Craft Supplies on the Cheap
A great place to find craft supplies on the cheap is at church bazaars and sales. Our local community church has a Christmas bazaar every year. Last year, I found a lot of counted cross stitching supplies for pennies on the dollar. I bought a whole bag of embroidery hoops for $1. There were yarns, ribbons, sewing supplies, etc. Yard sales are another place to find craft supplies. People are either moving or cleaning out “granny’s house,” and you can find a whole host of various craft items very cheaply. Have fun. Karen L.

Homemade Copper Cleaner
My friend gave me a recipe for a copper cleaner. I wasn’t sure it would work, but decided to give it a try. It turned out that it’s better than anything I’ve ever bought.
I mixed equal parts vinegar and flour. Using a soft cloth, I dipped it into the mixture and rubbed the copper. Then I rinsed with warm water. I didn’t have any problems, but you might want to try it on something inexpensive before you try it on any antique items. Merconia

Balance Transfer Cards
I made a list of my credit cards that includes interest rates, dates when any promotional rates expire, credit limits, payment addresses, and phone numbers. This helps me two ways. If I ever lose my purse, I have a handy list of the cards and numbers to notify them.
The main help is that I can start looking for balance transfer deals and be ready when the promotional rates expire
Dannielle

Can’t Stand Food Waste
I’ve been trying to reduce my grocery bill (who hasn’t lately?) and couldn’t stand all the food that I was throwing out. I was throwing out everything from spoiled leftovers to overripe fruit. I decided to get serious about a realistic weekly menu.
I used to hate the idea of spending the time to plan a menu, but I’ve come to enjoy it. Not only am I using up the food that we buy, but I’ve found that I can plan a little wiggle room for the night that I have to work late or change plans. I even have some meals in the freezer that can be microwaved in just a few minutes. The price on meat hasn’t come down, but my bills sure have. Miki

Duct Tape Halloween Costumes
Several years ago, I made two costumes out of duct tape and paper bags from the grocery store. One was a knight costume. I cut the paper bag to fit my four-year-old son like a shirt with pointed capped sleeves and then used the silver duct tape to cover it in a design that looked like “armor.” Then we decorated the front with a colored picture that looked like a crest. I made a helmet out of a brown paper lunch bag and a matching shield with cardboard covered in duct tape.
The second was a robot costume made out of a paper bag covered in duct tape and decorated with electronic-looking pictures printed from the internet. We also made arm covers out of wrapping paper tubes covered in duct tape. We covered the decorations on both costumes with clear packing tape. Both costumes together only cost $3.29, which was the cost of the duct tape. Have fun creating your costumes. Traci R.

Frugal Foreign Cuisine
Most countries have some recipes that feature low-cost items. I love to try them on my family.
One of my favorites is a variation on a Chinese theme. I take chicken that is left over from a roaster and remove it from the bone. Then I stir fry it with rice, egg, and any leftover veggies I have sitting round. After I add a little soy sauce, I have a great, frugal meal.
I’ve just started searching the web for other countries that have frugal recipes. Can’t wait to see what I can find. Cristy

Want to live better on the money you already make?

Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Cleaning Fruit
To clean fruit, fill your sink with water, add one cup of vinegar, and stir. Add all fruits. Soak 10 minutes. Water will be dirty, but your fruit will be sparkly clean with no wax or dirty film. Rinse. This is great for berries and strawberries to prevent mold and to make them last longer. Shirley M.

Area Rugs
Looking for an inexpensive area rug? Try calling your local carpet cleaners. In our area, if an area rug doesn’t come out 100 percent, the cleaners will sometimes reimburse their client and then sell the rugs dirt-cheap, so they don’t have to store them. I bought a 5x7 one for under $10, and it looks great.
Beverly

Cleaning Grout
When we bought our four-year-old home from a couple that must have hated cleaning floors, the grout on my otherwise beautifully tiled floor was the primary reason I started looking into different grout cleaning methods. The best way I found to clean grout was to go the local home improvement store and rent a steam grout cleaner. It made for a full day’s work, but when I was finished, my grout looked like new, even in the guest bathroom where it was the worst. With some new grout touch-up and a good sealer, my wife and I now love our tile floors. Randy

Quality Furniture for Less
For good furniture at low prices, check out estate sales. It takes some shopping around, but the good deals are worth it. These sales often occur after someone has died and the family hires a company that comes in and sells the contents of the estate. The family is usually not looking for much of a profit from the items and they just want to recoup funeral costs and estate taxes. There will be items in all different price ranges, so shop around. One advantage of estate sales are that things are sold in sets. Recently, my wife went to her first estate sale. The ladies running the sale were very polite and nice. She found an antique dining room table, eight chairs, and a china closet for $1000. RT

Winter Lawn Equipment Care
This is how I clean my mowers and garden tools to store for winter. First, I wash and rinse clean under mower decks. Then I use my leaf blower to dry the tools. I move the mower’s tiller outside to air dry. I then spray WD-40® on all the cables, wheels, nuts, bolts, blades, and under mower decks. This keeps it from rusting. Also, I empty gas tanks. After I finish washing and drying all garden tools, I use a cheap motor oil to wipe them down. A little work saves a lot of money in repairs and replacement. Judy

End of Picnic & BBQ Season
Now is the perfect time to replace old broken picnic coolers. They’re big and bulky, so stores don’t want to keep them until next spring. That means sales for you and me.
But don’t throw away older ones just because they’re cracked. They make a great place to store bird seed and dry pet food in your garage. Once in the cooler, you won’t need to worry about bugs and rats getting into your stash. John

Seasons Change
I like to change the look of my home with the seasons. One way I update my kitchen for less is to buy seasonal vinyl tablecloths at the end of the season. I buy them for a fraction of their regular price. I’ve also found that if I turn them over and iron the backside that the creases from storage come out.
Often I’ll add a few items in the kitchen that feature the main color of the tablecloth, such as a centerpiece or even colored salt/pepper shakers. I use something to highlight the color. Keesha

Freshwater Aquariums
Keeping a freshwater aquarium doesn’t need to be expensive. Most people buy and feed their fish way too much food. They can easily go a day or two without any food. And, don’t feed them too much. If they look swollen after feeding, you’re giving them too much.
Look online for tank supplies. Prices are often cheaper than your local pet store. The quality is the same, but the price is lower. Tess

Fringe Benefits
I wanted to join a health club, but the cost of membership was expensive. Then something occurred to me. I also thought that it might be fun to audit a class at the local community college to keep my mind sharp. While I was looking at the college catalog, I found out that on-campus gym membership was free to students.
For the cost of one course that I wanted to take anyway, I get full gym benefits, including use of the swimming pool, racquetball and basketball courts, and all the weight and cardio machines. Andrew

Custom Toys
I love the fancy toy catalogs and sites, but can’t afford to shop them. So I use them for inspiration to make my own versions of toys that I see. For instance, I just made a doctor’s kit for my six-year-old son. A too big white shirt was his lab coat. An assortment of bandages, tongue depressors, and a plastic stethoscope that I found in a thrift store filled out the kit.
I also made a handyman kit for my nine-year-old son. I put a few old tools found at garage sales this summer in a wood toolbox that my husband made out of scrap lumber. After adding some old hardware, he was in business.
Next I’ll make an executive kit for my daughter. Denise

Want to live better on the money you already make?

Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Removing Wallpaper
The best way to remove old wallpaper is to use fabric softener. Mix it with hot water about 50/50. Spray it onto the wallpaper and let it soak. It works great. Ruby

Just the Accents
About once a year, I give my guest bathroom a new look. I purchase a new rug and some new guest towels in a different color. I also have a couple of different soap and tissue dispensers that I put out. I keep the stuff that I take out. I’ll bring it out again in a year or so when I’m ready for another change. Patti

Easy Halloween Costumes
We can’t afford to buy new Halloween costumes every year, and I’m not handy enough to create them from things lying around the house. We do have a solution that allows our kids to get a new costume each year. That solution is the local thrift store. They carry costumes that have been turned in. Often they’ve only been worn once or twice. What a deal. And they sell them for a very reasonable price. Gianna

Homemade Stock Kicked Up a Notch
When I make stock, I go a little further. First, I make broth/stock from used chicken/turkey carcasses. Then I pour some of the broth into small plastic cups (like the ones kids drink from) and freeze. Once frozen, I pop the frozen broth out and put into a zipper baggie for storage. When I need broth for homemade gravy, I just use one of the frozen “broth-sicles.” Jon F.

Protecting Pantyhose
I have a problem with my pantyhose running. One thing that I have tried is putting a new pair of panty hose (in the package) in the freezer for 24 hours after buying them. They last a little longer than usual and they do not freeze. Another “cure” is soaking a new pair of pantyhose in salt water (don’t rinse them) for a day and then letting them dry. PW

Holiday Relief
I am 55 and single. I have no children. A few years back, I talked to all my family about gift giving on holidays, birthdays, and other occasions. It was too costly to buy for everyone, and to be frank, some just didn’t have the money. So at one of the family gatherings, I brought the subject up. We all agreed to stop buying for each other. Everyone was so happy to do it, but no one wanted to bring up the subject because they didn’t want everyone to think they were cheap. We enjoy the family gatherings so much more when we eat, play games, and talk to each other. It’s much more enjoyable with a lot less stress. Judy

Removing Urine Odors
I potty trained three children at once, so you can imagine the number of “accidents” that occurred. I found it best to create a baking soda and water paste. I rubbed it into the area and applied distilled white vinegar over it. I blotted this up with clean white towels and repeated it no more than two times. Then I followed it with a good rinsing of water, blotting up the moisture. It smelled like vinegar for a short time, but the urine smell did not come back. Becky

Just a Little Less
I always cheat a little on recipes, and it saves me money every time. For instance, if I’m making spaghetti and it calls for a pound of ground beef, I’ll use 3/4 pound. That’s especially important now that beef prices have gone through the roof. Not only do I find that I spend less, but we probably eat a little less, too. It’s good for the budget and the waistline. Dawn

Secret Carpet Cleaner
At the flea market, I visited a booth that had a whole bunch of cleaners for sale. One promised to clean carpets. I checked the ingredients and found it was just hydrogen peroxide. So when I got home, I picked a spot in a closet and sprayed a little on a spot to make sure it wouldn’t ruin the carpet. The carpet was fine, so I tried it on a spot that my dog had left. I rubbed it into the carpet and let it sit for a while. After it dried, I took some water and rinsed the area, sucking up the water with my shop vac. I got wonderful results.  Chrissy

Healthy Snacks
I wanted a healthy snack when my kids come home from school. Fruit like grapes, apples, etc. make excellent snacks and the fiber in them makes the natural sugar release slower (decreasing the chances of hypoglycemia). My experience has been that little hands like smaller items. So I cut up an apple or any larger fruit.
I also make cracker snacks. I put either a spoonful of peanut butter or some cheese between two crackers.  Dody

Creative Storage Solutions
Finding proper storage has solved many problems for our family. We don’t have a big basement or attic, so we need to be creative. I’ve found a number of simple ideas that have made a huge difference. For instance, we store a fold-up table behind the sofa in our living room. The end tables are really woven baskets and do double duty. Our winter blankets are stored inside one of them. In the other, we store Christmas decorations.
Our laundry room is another area where we’ve gotten creative. I wanted a freezer but couldn’t figure out where to put it. Then I realized that a chest freezer could replace the table that I used for folding laundry.
Space saving might not seem like it affects our finances, but it does. We’ve raised three kids in the same small house that we’ve lived in for nearly 25 years, and by not moving to a bigger house, we have saved a lot of money. Beverly

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Can’t Stop Shipments
If you’ve tried to stop a regular shipment and can’t do it, try this trick. Just refuse their shipments. Mark “refused” or “return to sender” on the package and give it back to the shipper. Then contact your credit card company and have them reverse the charge. Sonny

Creative Flooring
Some friends needed a cheap flooring solution for a family room. They decided to lay down chipboard and covered it with urethane. It looks great. It’s different than all the laminates out there. Plus, it hides pet hair. And it’s easy to clean and should last forever.  Elly

Nearly Comforter Time
Each year I like to clean my comforter. I was taking it to the dry cleaners when a friend told me their secrets (she had worked at a dry cleaner). They just wash down comforters in cold water with a regular laundry detergent. To dry it, they add a few tennis balls to the dryer to help fluff up the down. It’s just that simple. Neery

Reduce Drying Times
If your heavier clothes (jeans, underwear, and other cotton items that are not ironed but tend to hold water) take up too much time in the dryer, try this. Before you take them from the washer, spin cycle them once or twice. You’d be surprised how much water spins out. You’ll save a bunch of drying time and money. Celia

Shiny Stainless Steel Sinks
Our kitchen was looking dated. I bought new drawer pulls and did a little touch-up painting. The last thing on my list was our dull double stainless sink. I tried a bunch of cleaners but nothing brought back the original shine. Finally, I wiped it down with a rag that had some baby oil on it. The oil was just what it needed. Now, whenever it looks a little dull, I apply a very small amount of baby oil, and it looks brand new. Meribeth

Cubby Storage
My sewing and knitting projects always posed a storage problem. Then one day I discovered liquor boxes. Some of them have dividers inside that separate the bottles. They make perfect cubbies. I have two of them sitting on a dresser on their sides. One has eight and the other has twelve slots. Most are just about perfect for one project. I no longer struggle with clutter and losing things. Chrys

Fresh Bread
Unless you have a big family, a loaf of fresh French bread will go stale before you eat it. Here’s how I solved that problem. When I buy it, I cut it into sections that we will eat at one sitting. I wrap each in plastic wrap and put them into a big freezer bag and store in the freezer. Whenever I want some fresh bread, I pull out a chunk, let it defrost, and pop it into the oven for a minute or two. It’s just like it was fresh from the oven. Laverna

I Hate Cooking
A friend at work and I started a cooking club. One day each week we cook a double portion and bring one half for each other. We found some recipes that both families enjoy that also freeze well. Recently, a third friend joined in. I’ve learned that it doesn’t take any more effort to cook for three families than to cook for one. I also know that at least two nights each week, we’ll have a home-cooked dinner, and I won’t have to do anything but heat it up. It works for me. Tanya

Reupholstery
After looking into prices for reupholstering my chair and deciding it was too expensive, I decided to hit eBay. I found some beautiful fabric that matched with the rest of the furniture for about $50 for a roll large enough for two chairs. On eBay, I also found the thread for $10 and the large needles (straight and curved) for under $5. I did a web search and found many sites that had helpful hints. I tore apart the chair as well as I could and started going. It was easier than I expected it to be. I laid the fabric out, cut it a bit bigger than the correct size, pulled it tight, and started sewing. The job looks so nice that everyone that comes over thinks that we bought new chairs. So, for under $70, I have two new (looking) chairs and I love them even more because I did it myself. BK

Custom Cakes
Tired of paying big for anything but a plain birthday cake at the grocery store? I finally decided to do something about it. My son loves Lego®. I made a regular cake and finished it in red frosting to match the red that Lego® uses. I swiped a couple of the men from his toy box and washed them thoroughly. They went on top of the cake.
Before I added the men, I took a zipper baggie and filled it with white icing. I cut a small hole in one corner, so I could write “Happy Birthday” on the cake. For the cost of the cake and food coloring in the icing, I had a custom cake that my son loved. Lily

Better Gift Wrapping
Free gift wrapping ideas are great (Sunday comics, anyone?), but another smart, creative method is to place the item into an inexpensive container that the recipient can use in practical ways after the gift has been opened.
Photo boxes are decorative, sturdy, nice for all types of storage and cheap when on sale at craft stores. Just add your gift with a little tissue, put the lid on, and tie a ribbon around it. You’re done. Colorful plastic pencil cases can be used in the same way. A reusable grocery bag is as easy to stuff a present into as a gift bag and is often just as cheap if not cheaper.
Use your imagination. Dollar stores have great options, such as a small ceramic box for a piece of jewelry, a tiny photo frame just right for a gift card, or a cosmetic bag to hold some makeup or nail polish.
Don’t forget items that can be used in place of a traditional gift basket, like a plastic bathroom wastebasket (bath and body goodies), a colander (pasta, sauce, etc. for an Italian dinner) or a mixing bowl (wooden spoon, recipe, and ingredients for cake or cookies). Stuff with filler like shredded, colorful magazine pages or used wrapping paper, add your gifts, and cover with plastic wrap or cellophane to hold everything in place.
Instead of using a gift bag or wrapping paper that will just be thrown away, why not spend just an extra dollar or two for something that will become another useful and thoughtful gift? Diva

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Homemade Massage Oil
I work in a gym with massage therapists. I was talking to one of them about what kind of oil she uses for massage. She told me to avoid using baby or mineral oil as it can clog pores. She uses a very light olive oil mixed with a bit of more expensive massage oil or scented essential oils. Charmain

Poison Control
I love hot foods. The spicier the better. But occasionally I eat something that’s beyond even my hardened taste buds. When that happens, I reach for a glass of milk or some sour cream. I learned this trick from a friend who’s a nurse at the poison control center. The milk has a chemical that counteracts the peppers.
Doug

Bacon at the Ready
My husband and I like bacon, but we don’t eat it that often. And we don’t eat a lot at one time. Therefore, buying a standard sized pack of bacon almost always leads to us throwing away half of it uneaten but spoiled. I solved the problem by cutting the package in half. I cook one half and freeze the other. It’s just about right for the two of us. Julia

Inexpensive Van Carpet Protection
You’ve probably seen the ads for custom cut floor liners. I don’t know the price, but I bet they’re more expensive than my solution. When we bought our new van a year ago, I measured the space in front of the second and third row seats. A trip to the hardware store was next. I bought clear plastic floor runner to fit the space. When I got home, I cut out openings for the seat base. I also tucked the sides under the door rail. Now we don’t worry about the kids tracking dirt into the van, and cleaning up is easy. It’s the best $10 I’ve spent in a while. Ben

Cookies
My family loves it when I bake, especially around the holidays when I go a little bit crazy. For cooling a large amount of freshly baked cookies, I saved one of those plastic coated wire closet shelves. I use a couple of bowls as legs to hold it up and cover the wires with aluminum foil. I can put it on my dining room table and leave the kitchen countertops for more baking. Merlene

Dingy White Treatment
My family likes to wear white clothes. I don’t mind, but sometimes it’s hard to keep them from getting dingy. One solution that works for me is to pour approximately 1/2 cup Cascade® powder automatic dishwasher soap into the washing machine with enough cold water to just cover the clothes. I let them soak for an hour or so. Then I just run a regular wash cycle. Our clothing practically sparkles. Lucinda

Love My Dryer Balls
I love dryer balls. I have been using them in lieu of dryer sheets for about ten years and have saved a lot of money by not buying dryer sheets or other fabric softeners. They cost about $10 per pair and I’m on my second pair in ten years. At this rate, the dryer balls cost me less than a dollar per year.
Even though I don’t use dryer sheets or fabric softener, I haven’t noticed any appreciable difference in the softness of my clothes. If you are a person that wants a certain fragrance in your clothes, put a clean rag with a bit of your favorite perfume on it into the dryer. Molly B.

Summer’s Cooling Can Be Winter’s Chill
We love the attic fan and how much cooler it keeps our home in the summer. It’s built into the exterior wall and pulls hot air from inside the attic. Since our attic isn’t boiling, it’s easier for the A/C to keep up with the summer heat.
As we get nearer to winter, we want to close the opening that the fan sits in. The fan came with hinged louvers, but the outside wind can lift them up and blow into the attic. So I’ve made a cover out of foil insulation. I screw it to the fan mounts and also tape the edges with aluminum tape. It only takes a few minutes, doesn’t look bad, and keeps our attic at a reasonable temperature all winter. That way, we save on the heating and the cooling bills. Derek

Why Make Cushions
My husband and I are remodeling our retirement home. We have six beautiful window seats made of hickory. I’ve been looking for inexpensive cushions and also pricing how much it would cost to make them. I planned to use pre-quilted material if I made them, but I couldn’t believe the cost of the material. Most of it was $18/yard.
My husband suggested we buy furniture pads to protect the wood and make seating more comfortable. I can’t believe how good they look. We were able to get them on sale marked down from $18 each to $7 each. They are pale blue on one side and navy on the other. Thanks to my creative husband, for less than $50, we have some great looking window seat covers that would have cost us anywhere from $200-$500 if we actually purchased cushions or made our own.
Barbara P. in Weatherford, OK

Mothball Smells
If you have a problem with the mothball smell when you take your clothes out of storage, try this trick. Take a large trash bag and put your clothes in it along with some dryer sheets. Let them sit for 48 hours (or longer if needed). Your clothes will smell great. I used this method when I took my belongings out of storage after three years.
I washed the sheets, pillowcases, curtains, and clothes but still had moldy or mothball smells. They disappeared when I put them in trash bags with the dryer sheets. It seems to absorb and remove the odors. Sunny

Single Serve Specials
I live alone and want life to be uncomplicated. I create single-servings of things like bacon, pork, chicken, and even bread. I put them into zipper sandwich bags, put like servings into gallon freezer bags, and then toss them into the freezer.
This lets me do things like buy a whole salmon fillet on sale and cut it into meal-size portions. Yesterday, I bought a whole beef rib eye at a great price, trimmed off the excess fat, cut it into thick, eight-ounce steaks, packaged them, and froze them. With the beef on sale, my cost was about $3 per steak. The steaks would cost about $20 in a restaurant.
A slab of sliced bacon gets parceled out into three-strip bags. For these, I use the cheap fold-over bags, and put them into the gallon freezer bags.
I take out whatever I want in advance to let it thaw. There is never any waste. In some cases, such as bread, I can even reuse the sandwich bags. Bruce B.

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Better Peanut Butter
Natural peanut butter always seems to separate and leave a layer of oil on the top of the jar. I’ve found that if I put the jar upside down in the pantry when I buy it, it doesn’t separate.  Richie

Drought
I use the run off of my air conditioner outside as source for watering my plants. I simply put a bucket under the spout until it is filled and then use the water to water my plants in containers. Susan J.

Ants Away
If you’re looking for a natural ant remedy, try vinegar. For some reason, ants can’t stand it. We use it in Florida where it’s ant season all year. I just wipe down any place where I find them with undiluted white vinegar.  Jillian

My Nightly Facial
I use powdered milk as a facial cleanser at night. I put just a small amount in the palm of my hand with enough water to make it into a thin paste. After a quick rub, I wash it off. My face feels super soft after my nightly treatment.  Chloe

Baking Time Saver
When I bake from scratch (muffins, pancakes, bread or cake), I make extra. I put all of the dry ingredients in a zipper baggie and label the bag with a marker. When I want to bake the item again, I only have to add the wet ingredients, which saves a lot of time. Fran

Quicker Drying
I tried finding a dryer ball to use in the dryer because it is supposed to save on drying time, but I couldn’t find one. So I took a toy ball that looked similar to a dryer ball and stuck it in the dryer. It worked just as good as the dryer ball. I only paid a dollar for the ball. Melissa

Clean My Down Duvet
I didn’t think that you could wash a duvet until a friend showed me how. She told me to put it in a washing machine filled with cold water. Stuff it down until it’s completely covered with water. That can take a little doing, so be persistent. Use a gentle liquid detergent like Ivory.
Do not put it in your dryer. Rather hang it out on a clothesline or drape it over a couple of lawn chairs.
Before I tried it, I was concerned about exposing an expensive down duvet to water, but then it occurred to me that bird feathers get wet. So I just make sure that I keep harsh temperatures and chemicals away from the duvet. Charmane

Latex Gloves
Before throwing away those dirty, heavy duty latex gloves you use for cleaning, remember that you can wash them in the washing machine in warm water with regular laundry soap and let them air dry. After you sprinkle a little talcum powder inside in the finger part, they are good as new to reuse again.
Also, if you have a tarp that has a hole in it, you can cut off a piece of the latex from the glove to fit the hole and glue it on the tarp with waterproof fabric glue. This will save you from needing to buy a new tarp. Angelia

Poor College Student
I am a professor at a community college. If you can’t afford textbooks or other supplies, ask your professor. If a student lets me know they have very tight funds, I will lend a textbook. I also allow recycled paper to be used to turn in work and projects. Students leave spiral notebooks and folders as well as pens and pencils in class. I collect them, and then I give them to needy students if left unclaimed. Need a ride? I teach other sections and can ask in each section for someone going your way.
For trips home, many colleges have a ride along board for students who want to go home. They can save gas by sharing. Also, your choice of roommate can be critical. I recommend teaming with someone who is well supplied by parents. They normally will share with a very needy student in a very generous way. Van in AL

Seedy Character
I admit that I have become a major seedy character. Whenever I fix fresh vegetables or fruit, I first wash and then I save all of the seeds in tiny dishes and let them air dry. Next I package them, using saved paper bags that come inside pudding boxes. For instance, I made us some pudding tonight. I emptied out the pudding powder into a bowl, tapped on the bag to remove any residue, and then saved the paper bag in the drawer with baggies, foil, etc.
When ready to use, I take a paper bag, mark it for what seeds will be going in there, date it, place the dry seeds inside, fold over twice, and staple shut. This is placed in a shoebox and kept in a cool, dark place. Seeds can also be stored in a tin can in the fridge. Next spring, I will have all kinds of seeds to plant at no cost.
Last year, I did the same thing with my marigold flowers. Last fall, I pulled all the brown, dry flowers from their pods. I then placed these strands/seeds in an envelope that I marked, dated, and saved. This spring, I planted them. They came up beautifully. I have marigolds all over the yard. As my brother always says to me, free is good.
Martha R. in Fulton, MO

Organizing Laundry
I used to have trouble getting all the laundry put away before it was time to do the next batch. I finally decided that my husband and I did not care whether our socks and underwear were folded or even sorted.
I went to the local closeout store and purchased two small laundry baskets. Now, when I’m putting laundry away, I only need to sort my husband’s “unmentionables” from mine. No more folding.
My job requires that I wear nylons four days a week. I hung a lingerie bag on a hook in the “dirty laundry area,” and when I get home, I throw my nylons in that. When laundry time comes around, I zip up the bag and wash and dry it with the whites. I haven’t noticed any shortening of the nylons’ lifetime at all using this method and it sure beats washing them by hand. Michele in Cleveland, Ohio

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Cleaning Grout
My husband is a ceramic tile setter. He says the best thing to clean your grout with is vinegar. Just put it on, scrub, and then rinse with water. It will clean better than any household cleaner. It’s very cheap. As an added bonus, it isn’t toxic. T.J.

Fresher Chips
Here is another way to keep your opened potato chips or crackers crisp for much longer. Pushing out the extra air, seal them well and clip them shut with a clothespin. Store them in a large popcorn or cookie tin with a tight lid. You will be amazed how long they will stay fresh. You can store opened bags of marshmallows the same way. JK

Veggie Stock
With the rising prices of food, I found a great, easy way to make my own vegetable stock. I quarter a couple of onions, split several carrots and ribs of celery, crush several garlic cloves, and toss all of it into my slow cooker. I then cover the veggies with water and let the slow cooker do its thing overnight. In the morning, I have stock that took very little effort to make, and it’s much cheaper than $3 a quart. Karon in Mississippi

Cleaning Greasy Range Hoods
A good, hassle-free way to clean range hood filters is to fill the sink (just enough for the filter to float) with hot boiling water and to apply a good amount of dishwashing detergent. Allow to soak for about an hour, rinse, and dry. The result is a clean, greaseless range hood.
Isaac

Renting a New Home
When I am getting a rental ready for a new tenant, I am often rushed for time to finish repairs and cleaning. If it gets too much, I offer a reduction in the first month rent if the new tenant will do the cleaning. Check with a new landlord if you are moving. In many cases, you will save money and your landlord will appreciate the lessened workload. Just be sure your landlord will reduce the rent enough to make it worth the effort.
Lisa R. in Illinois

Breakfast
Are you tired of the prices they get for the sugary boxed cereals? I was. Plus, I wasn’t really happy about all the sugar my family was getting in the morning. I decided to start making instant oatmeal. It’s easy, quick, and nutritious. I get variety by adding various fruits, berries, or honey. Not only is it healthier, but also I’m able to buy the store brand and save money, too. Denise

Airport Parking
In regard to airport parking, I no longer park at the airport. I stay at the same motel every time and use their shuttle service/parking. When I don’t need to spend the night, they allow me to park there for a fee (cheaper than the airport) and they also let me use their shuttle service. It’s much easier than riding the airport shuttle to the parking lot. They pick me up at the door, deliver me to my car, and help me transfer luggage. JB

Toilet Paper, etc.
I got tired of too small rolls of toilet paper and the prices that I was paying for them. Then a friend who works in a big office building suggested that I find my local janitorial supply store. Most of these stores sell to the public. Since those bathrooms get more use, they buy bigger rolls. And they’re also more concerned with price, so you’ll save a few dollars, too. You can also find other household cleaning products at greatly reduced rates. Carmela

My Vet Isn’t Local
We live in a metro area with two kids, one dog, and one cat. I was complaining to my sister about our vet bills, and she suggested a good solution. She told me that they had been taking their border collie to a country vet and saved a bunch. The vet is a 30-minute drive for my sister, but she swears that the savings are worth it. When my pets need care from now on, we’ll be taking a drive. Elana

An Eclectic Counter Top
I just tiled my counter top with “almost” free tile. I wanted something unique, so I went to a tile store asking for end lots or odd pieces. They gave me a large assortment of all different size tiles in greys, tans, and reds. I bought some slightly damaged (missing a few squares) panels of tiny brown and grey glass squares and rectangular tiles on mesh to use as accents. They cost me $5 a square foot instead of the original $30. My counter top is totally unique and looks great. It is also very practical, since I used the largest tiles (18X18) for all the standard work area spaces. It cost me about $30 for tile, and I have quite a bit of tile left for another project.  Sue

Maybe It’s Not Broke
I had a one-year-old vacuum that just wasn’t getting the job done. I was frustrated enough that I started thinking about replacing it. Then it occurred to me to take a look at the owner’s manual. It had a filter that wasn’t obvious unless you looked for it. The manual said to wash it with soap and water. Problem solved.
Now I take the time to go through the manual on any new product, including ones I’ve used for years. Gloria

Single Servings
Shopping for one is always a challenge. This is especially true for meats. Recently, I got in the habit of repackaging meats as soon as I get home from the store. I take single serving sizes and put them into a regular zipper bags and place the bags inside a larger freezer bag. That way, I can throw away the cheaper zipper bags and rinse and reuse the freezer bag.
Now I’m not throwing away an extra chop or half-pound of ground beef. It’s also easy for me to tell what I have in the freezer. I know that each bag is one meal.
Miriam

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.
  
Cheaper Cooking Spray
Why pay for fancy aerosol cooking sprays? I bought an inexpensive spray bottle and filled it with olive oil. It does the same thing at a fraction of the price.
Lauren

Outdoor Furniture Protection
My friend taught me this trick. To protect your outdoor furniture and decorations, paint them with flat, clear spray paint. It’s great for everything from wrought iron furniture to small lawn ornaments. Maggie

Smelly Kitchen
To remove cooking odors from your kitchen, in a pan, put three cups water, one-cup vinegar, and bit of cinnamon. Let it boil for a few minutes. I do this after I cook food that smells up my home. Happy cooking. Judy

Odor Control
When I have an odor in my fridge or cooler, I head for my bag of charcoal briquettes. I just place a few inside and leave them overnight. They soak up all the bad smells. I just make sure to use the ones that have not been soaked in lighter fluid or I would have a different smell.
Sommer

Pantry Organization
I use simple, inexpensive plastic dishpans to organize a pantry. I label each one with the contents and then they simply slide in and out of the shelves with ease. The plastic dishpans I buy are around $1 each and last forever. They’re also good for keeping track of children’s toys and many other items around a home. B.

Nasty Shower Stall
We have hard water and the combination of the water and soap makes our shower nasty in just a few days. I got tired of trying various products to clean the soap scum. Finally, out of desperation, I took an old dryer sheet and used it as a scrubbie. It worked. It took very little effort, and I got fantastic results. Bonnie

Dinner Addition
My wife and I are empty nesters. We’ve gotten into the habit of having a salad with dinner every night. The lettuce, tomato, cucumber, olives, and other stuff help us eat additional veggies. It also helps us to fill up on a low-calorie salad rather than other things that would add weight to us. To top it all off, it’s inexpensive, too. Sam

Paint Prep
My friend is a professional painter. He shared this tip when we were about to repaint our family room. I needed to repair some wall dings and the spackle was about the same color as the walls. He suggested that I add some food coloring to the spackle. That way it stood out and I could quickly know exactly where to sand. It worked like a charm. Russ

Flat Soda
We like the price of the two-liter bottles of soda compared to the can price, but we never finish it before it goes flat. One day, I stumbled onto the answer. I poured the last of a two-liter bottle into my glass. It only filled it half way, so I filled the rest from a new bottle. It was just as fizzy as if the whole glass had been poured from the new bottle. Now, if I have flat soda, I mix it with some new fizzy pop. Cynthia

Handy Burgers
I watch for sales on ground beef. When I find a good one, I stock up. After I get home, I take a square pint-sized freezer container and put about a quarter of a pound into the bottom of the container. I flatten the ground beef with another container, which makes a perfect hamburger patty. I add a piece of wax paper and repeat the process again and again. I get four patties into one-pint container. We can pull one or more out of the freezer whenever we want. It’s perfect for a quick dinner. Rhoda

Refrigerator Caution
Most people take warm food and put it in a resealable bag and toss it into the fridge or freezer. That’s not really a good idea. First, the closed bag tends to hold the heat in the bag. A better way is to let the food cool before you put it into the bag. Then squeeze all the air out of the bag before zipping it. That will help minimize both bacteria and freezer burn.
Rochelle

Natural Tick Control
When we built our new house five years ago, I couldn’t walk across the backyard without finding a half dozen ticks crawling all over my legs. I had heard that chickens were great for controlling the tick/insect population, but since we are inside the city limits, farm animals were not an option.
As a desperate measure, I started throwing my birdseed all over my yard to lure the wild birds to eat on the ground and hopefully help with the tick problem. It worked. Since I did that, I have not picked up a single tick from our backyard. However, we did have several surprise sunflowers pop up in unexpected areas. We loved it, but if you wouldn’t like the sunflowers, you could “bake” the birdseed in a 300-degree oven for about 30 minutes to stop the germination process.
Dee

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.
  
Olive Oil
I love to use olive oil in my recipes, but I don’t like the price. I’ve learned that you can dilute it 50/50 with regular vegetable oil and still not lose any of the taste. Zoe

Fresher Chips
I like chips and crackers, but don’t eat them too often. I had a problem with them going stale on me. Using chip clips helped, but didn’t solve the problem. Storing the opened bag in the freezer fixed the problem. I’ve done it with potato chips, tortilla chips, and crackers.
Harry

Unusual Back-to-School Purchases
For Christmas, we usually give our grandkids some clothes as well as the more fun stuff. The back-to-school sales are a perfect time to buy. Not only do I get the sale price now, but also our state has a sales tax holiday on school clothes. I buy now and have that part of my Christmas shopping done. Gwen

Keepin’ Cool
Feel like saving money while you sleep? Be sure to keep your feet out from under the covers. We lose (or retain) most of our body heat through our head and feet. Just having your feet exposed will help you feel considerably cooler and allow you to keep your thermostat a few degrees higher while sleeping. JR

Airport Parking
I hate airport parking lots. Every row looks the same. I realized that I could take a picture of my car and the nearest location marker with my smartphone. Then if I had trouble remembering what level or location the car was in, all I had to do was to look at the picture on my phone. Guess that’s why they call them smart phones. Gwen

See It like a Local
I have a new habit when I visit a new city. I make sure to take an hour to have a cup of coffee at Starbucks or Panera Bread. While there, I strike up a conversation with local residents. I ask them about good restaurants, things to see, and anything else that’s of local interest. I’m surprised how often I find stuff that’s not in the guidebooks or online guides. And, I’ve rarely been disappointed in the places that were suggested. In fact, some of the best memories started over a cup of coffee. Renard

Tourist Warning
Now that everyone has a camera on their cell phone, it’s tempting to ask strangers to take your picture in front of a place you want to remember. Be careful, especially if they offer to take the picture for you. Some cities are reporting that these volunteers grab the cell phone and run. And, if you’ve unlocked it for the photo, they have access to any apps you have on the phone.  Janet

A Summer Outing
Each summer, I take my kids (aged 8 and 10) to a you-pick farm. We pick a day that’s not too hot and bring plenty of sunscreen. The kids learn about where their food comes from and what it takes to bring it to our table. When we get home, we wash and prepare what we picked. Some end up in salads or pies. Others get canned. Not only have we had a great experience, but also we’ve lowered our grocery bill and are eating pretty well too. Jackie

Kids & School Buses
I’ve driven a school bus for years. During that time, I’ve turned in thousands of dollars’ worth of lost lunch boxes, backpacks, clothes, sneakers, pens, etc. Our school district has me turn them in at the end of my shift to the school office. Other districts have different policies.
Kids are often forgetful, so you’ll need to remind them often not to forget their stuff on the bus. It also helps if you can put your student’s name on items. We don’t encourage including your phone number. The school already has that. Lyla

Long Car Trips
A little time with electronics (phones, iPads, etc.) on a long car trip is almost unavoidable, but I don’t want them spending the entire trip with their noses glued to a screen.
We tried something different this year. My wife and I selected some audio books before we left. We picked titles that would interest all of us. It was enough to keep their minds active while they surveyed the passing scenery. We could discuss the books when we stopped for meals. The audio books turned out to be one of the best things in this year’s vacation. Adam

Your Online Estate
My husband died suddenly. I had been a widow before at the tender age of 25. The world was different then with no Internet, no online accounts, and no home computers. We were young and owned nothing.
This time I had the problem of not knowing passwords for online accounts. A couple of accounts like PayPal and Amazon were set so that the computer remembered and automatically entered the password. However, it took two hours to get the name changed on the phone and Uverse account with AT&T, because with paperless billing, I didn’t have the full account number. I didn’t know the password, but I did know the PIN. I couldn’t answer the security questions because he chose obscure questions. Fortunately for me, that was the only account that my husband usually handled alone. I knew the passwords for the credit cards, etc.
It would be a service to your readers to suggest that everyone keep a list of financial passwords with their wills. There is a password file on my husband’s computer, but it is password protected and I don’t know that password. If I weren’t the person who normally handles all the financial dealings, this problem could have been so much worse to deal with.
Wendy W.

Young Artist Gift Pack
Stock up on the crayons, colored pencils, and markers being sold as loss-leaders now. Add drawing pads from a dollar store and put everything in a cheap basket or backpack. These “Young Artist” gift packs make great Christmas or birthday gifts for your kids or their friends. Anne C.

Cleaning Range Hood Filters
I clean my filters by placing them in a large plastic garbage bag outdoors. Then, I add a cup of ammonia and tie the bag up. I let this sit for up to 24 hours. This works for any grease or carbon build-up. Then I just hose the filter off when ready and discard the bag in my rubbish. Carrie

Cheaper Chicken
I’ve noticed that our local grocery has whole chickens on sale on a regular basis. I buy several and cook them all in a pressure cooker for five minutes per pound. After cooking, I take the meat from the bones and put it in freezer bags in meal-sized portions. Whenever I want to add chicken to a recipe, it’s already cooked and ready to go. Shelby

Painter’s Hack
It used to frustrate me when I finished painting a room and could see roller streaks in the paint. A painting contractor told me how to solve the problem. He told me that if I had a good quality paint, the problem is either a cheap roller or the way I was applying the paint. He said that I could roll up and down, but the last roll should always be downward. That way, the paint is coming off the roller the same way on every final stroke.
Randy

Before You Buy Bleach
I began to notice I was using more and more bleach to whiten my dish towels when I put them in the wash. I was buying the cheapest bleach on the shelf. When I compared the cheaper brands with Clorox® or other name brand, I found that the actual bleaching chemical in the cheaper bleach is about one half (or less) of the bleaching element in the name brand. Read on the bottle how much “active ingredient” is in the bleach. In this case, cheap isn’t better.
Tommie in TX


Need a New Washer
We found ourselves in need of a new washer but didn’t have savings to pay for it and we didn’t want to put it on our credit card. With a new baby, taking her to the Laundromat with me wasn’t ideal. We did put it on the credit card, but we came up with a way to pay for it that reduced the pain. I put a piggy bank near the washer. Every time I used it or the dryer, I put what I would have spent at the Laundromat into the bank. That way, we have a head start when the credit card bill comes each month. Louise

Date Nights
My wife and I struggled to have a date night. Either we’re too tired or the baby sitter canceled at the last minute. We were about to give up when we decided to have our dates during the day. We’re both fortunate to be able to get away for a long lunch once a week. So we meet at a restaurant for our date night. Not only do we not have to worry about being too tired or finding baby sitters, but we also save on the restaurant bill. We usually stop at lunch, but a couple of times we’ve even taken in a movie. Beau

Cleaning Concrete Stains
When I worked at a drive-in restaurant, we had a problem with stains on our cement driveways. The solution was simple. We sprinkled some cheap clay-based kitty litter on the spot. Wearing old shoes, after letting it sit for a bit, we then rubbed it in with the toe/ball of our foot. After sweeping it up, the oil spot was usually gone. If not, we sprinkled it again and rubbed with our toe until the spot was gone. It was quick, easy, and cheap. Ann

Before You Store
Before renting a storage unit for unused furniture, please reconsider. If it is going to be a short time, that’s fine. If you’ll be storing it for a longer time, think about it. I know people who have rented for years and would have paid for what they stored over and over again. You could end up losing a lot of money that you could have saved by selling or giving away furniture and buying when needed. Phyllis C.

Headlight Care
Seeing well when you drive at night is important. I was concerned that the cloudy headlight covers on my older car could be reducing the amount of light that was getting to the road. I solved the problem with a little toothpaste. I spread it around the headlights and buffed with a clean dry cloth. There’s just enough abrasive to make the plastic clear again. I finished by rinsing and wiping. There was no need to buy one of those expensive headlight kits. Dave S.

A Relieved Bridesmaid
Recently, a friend asked me to be her bridesmaid. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but I really didn’t want another over-priced dress that I couldn’t wear in my closet. I was about to make an excuse when she told me that she didn’t want matching dresses. She was going to ask the bridesmaids to all have ankle length royal blue dresses. The style was up to the bridesmaid.
I chose a dress that I can wear for more formal evening events long after the wedding. It’s such a good idea that I hope that the rest of my friends start doing the same thing. Eve

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Easy, Cheap Veggie Wash
Instead of buying veggie wash, I just put a few tablespoons of vinegar into a bowl of water. After letting the fruit soak for a minute or two, I towel it off. It’s amazing what shows up in the towel.
Caitlyn

Natural Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes hate lemon scent. I spray my entire yard with equal parts of lemon dish soap, lemon ammonia, and lemon juice. I do this every two weeks with a 20-gallon sprayer, so I won’t be on the mosquito menu this summer. Terri

Mobile Power
If you’re traveling and forget a power cord, your first stop doesn’t need to be Best Buy or the phone store. Try asking at the hotel desk if anyone has left a charger like your charger. Most hotels have a collection of charging devices that were left behind. Usually they’re glad to give you one to use or even to take home. Linda

Kids Gift Bags
I got tired of spending money on gift bags that get tossed with the trash, so I started watching for sales on children’s pillowcases. When I find a good sale, I buy a few. Then when a birthday party comes up, I put the gift inside and use a ribbon to close the opening. Along with the gift, the birthday child also gets a special pillowcase. Maddy

A Rental Car Warning
If you rent a car, you know to check the vehicle for damage when you check it out and when you return it. But did you ever think to check the underside of the car? I recently was charged for damage that they claimed I did to the underside of the car. Since I had no proof, I was out of luck. Next time I’m going to add that to my checklist. Billy

Flight Snacks
Lately airlines are cutting back on everything or charging for it. Therefore, I started bringing my own snacks with me. I bring carrot sticks, radishes, apples, cherries, nuts, etc. To make it less conspicuous, I use a restaurant carry-out box that looks like I picked it up at the airport. Also, I add to that an empty plastic bottle I fill after I’ve cleared security. Patrice

Overcooking
My husband and I don’t cook often, but when we do, we intentionally overcook, meaning that we cook enough for three or four meals. Most of the food ends up in the freezer for future days. I found that all kinds of things freeze well, and with a microwave, we can take a meal or prepared ingredients (like cooked noodles) from the freezer to the table in short time. Try it. You’ll be surprised by how much kitchen time you’ll save. Joanne

Right-Sized Dessert
My hubby and I were enjoying a dinner out the other evening. We had just finished the meal when the server asked about dessert. Naturally she hoped that we’d pick one of their $5 dessert specialties. We usually don’t want to eat that much and often split a dessert. But tonight I noticed that they had kids’ sundaes on the menu. I asked if we could order those. She said that we could and we each had a small sundae that was just right. Suzanne

Stocking Stuffers in July
There are a lot of coupons for beauty care products that I don’t use, but my three adult kids (all employed and living independently) do. When I see a great coupon for shampoo, deodorant, or gel in a brand they like, it’s also usually on sale that week at my local Walgreens or similar store. I combine the coupon with the sale price (like most people do), but then I stash those items in a box in my closet. For any gifting occasion, each kid gets a “real” gift and an item or two from my stash. When I can buy a quart of shampoo for $2, it probably saves my busy kid $4 or more. They seem to appreciate it, and it saves all of us a lot of money in the long run. I have even used this to donate to local women’s shelters since health and beauty items are greatly needed by them.  JD in St Louis

Before You Move
I’ve worked for a moving company and something has always baffled me. Why do people move old, heavy stuff cross country that they can easily replace when they get into their new home?
For instance, I’ve seen people pay good money to move old refrigerators and sofas that they could have sold before the move. Get $50 or so on Craigslist and add to it the amount you saved by not moving it. Buy a used one when you get settled. Chances are you’ll come out ahead. Mikey

The Travel Budget
Last year, we learned an important lesson. By the time we returned from our vacation, we had spent much more than we planned. It took months for us to pay off our credit cards.
This year, we’re setting a budget for each day of our trip. When we’re faced with the $6 theme park drink, we can decide whether we really want it or not. We’ll use cash to avoid overspending our budget.
I expect there to be a few groans when the kids don’t get something that they want, but we won’t be writing big checks to the credit card company in October and November this year. Ricki

Safe Roach Control
If you have little ones or pets around the house, here’s a perfectly safe method of roach control. Take a glass jar (about one quart size). Put some peanut butter in the bottom of the jar and coat the inside lip with veggie oil. Then set it out overnight.
The roaches love peanut butter and will get inside the jar. With the oil making the glass slippery, they won’t be able to get out. When you get up in the morning, screw the lid on and throw it in the trash. Mission accomplished.
I know it works. We moved into a house that was vacant for a while and swarmed with roaches when we moved in. At first, I’d find a dozen or more in the jar in the morning. After a week or so, the quantities shrank until now I rarely catch one. All this was done without any poisons. Fran

Want to live better on the money you already make?

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

More Efficient Air Conditioning
We reduced our summer electric bill by checking our air conditioning ducts. We put aluminum insulating tape over the joints. We must have been losing a lot of cold air because the difference in our bill is significant. It was easy to do since all the ducts were easily accessible from our basement. An hour or two of effort saved us big bucks. Jenanne

Kitchen Clutter
Over the years, I’ve collected a large number of kitchen gadgets. And, despite the jokes about Ginsu knives, I use them all. I just don’t use them that often. The result is a cluttered kitchen. Finally I had an idea that solved much of the problem. I bought one of those hanging shoe bags and put it on the inside of my pantry door. In each compartment, I can put one or more of my gadgets. They’re easy to find and out of the way. It’s a wonderful solution for just a couple of dollars. Karen

Travel Sized Toothpaste
Repackaging toothpaste into the smaller travel size is easy. Use a small sample tube or one you bought. Once it is empty, put your regular home tube of toothpaste snout to snout with the small one, hold firmly, and slowly squeeze toothpaste from the full tube to your small travel one. It works like a charm. You can do this with small and large tubes of hand cream as well, if the openings are compatible. Katie in AZ

Getting a Raise
I learned this trick from an HR professional. Before you go in for a review/raise, check with the HR department and find out your salary range. That’s the low/high number for your job classification. If you’re in the lower portion of the range, it’s easier to ask for a raise. If you’re pushing against the top, you might be better off trying to get a promotion or a classification change. Rene

Kids Travel Entertainment
After a long day’s drive, your kids are probably tired of their video games and DVDs. Check with the hotel to see if they offer free kids’ amenities. Some do, and they include crayons to bathtub toys. Just the fact that they’re different from the toys they have at home is enough to make them desirable for the evening. Ask when you check in. It doesn’t cost anything to find out. Erica

Next Winter’s Heating Bill
I am so excited. Just by chance, I came across a website this morning about propane gas. It had information about pricing and how to get the best per gallon price. I just finished paying off last year’s winter gas bill for heating and am thinking about the coming winter. Following the suggestion on the website, I called the gas company that supplied my tank originally and supplies my gas currently to ask about the best time to buy propane. He responded that now is the best time. I asked about the current price and he told me it was $2.19 per gallon. You will understand my joy and excitement when I tell you I paid $3.79 per gallon in February of this year. They will be filling my tank next week at the quoted price per gallon. Let’s keep sharing information and saving money wherever we can. Carolyn

Best Moving Boxes
Wine boxes with dividers make great moving and storage boxes for drinking and wine glasses, vases, and other fragile items. I find there is no need to wrap glasses in paper since the dividers protect them, but small fragile items stacked in a bottle slot should be wrapped. If a glass is too big to fit nicely, the divider will flex, expanding into a neighboring slot, but I just put fewer glasses in that box or alternate with smaller items in between. These typically have the box tops cut off, but a folded towel or newspaper with some tape across it can substitute. Just be careful what you put on top of it.
Lorraine in NH

Very Berry
We’re getting to the time of year when you can buy berries very cheaply. Each year, I buy big baskets of blueberries for very little. When I get them home, I wash and dry them. Then I spread them onto cookie sheets and put them in the freezer. After they’re frozen, I put them into zipper bags.
They’re great for desserts, pancakes, and smoothies. All winter long my friends wonder how I can treat them to fresh berries. Then I tell them my freezer secret. Alisha

Seek and You Shall Find
Until a few years ago, if I wanted something, I’d go out and buy it. It wasn’t long before I got into credit card trouble. It took me three years to dig out. Now when I want something, I play a game I call “seek and you shall find.”
For instance, I wanted some bar stools for our kitchen counter area, but I didn’t want to pay full price or even a discounted price. So I started seeking. I thought that a furniture store going out of business might have some, but I had no luck. After about three months, I found some on Craigslist. They cost me less than a quarter of full price. Now I always think about where I can find something before I go shopping.  Barbara

Cleaning Blinds
I used to manage an apartment complex and we used one of two methods for cleaning blinds. In winter or inclement weather, I put the blind in the bathtub with just hot water and automatic dishwashing detergent. I let it sit until cool and cleaned the blind with a ‘bowl’ brush or other long handled brush. Then I rinsed it in cool water with a little vinegar or alcohol for a nicer finish. Finally, I towel-dried the blind and hung it to completely dry.
In summer or nice weather, I took the blind to the nearest self-serve carwash and used the car brush and detergent. Sometimes I even gave them a light waxing for a nice finish. Then I towel-dried the blind and hung to completely dry.
Elizabeth B. in West Valley City, UT

Rental Warning
Our family just finished a battle with a truck rental company. We rented a truck to move a dining room set we found on Craigslist. When we went to load our stuff, we noticed a hand truck and some blankets tossed in the corner. We had brought our own, so we didn’t use them.
We didn’t know that they should have had a security tie in place. The dealer said that we broke the tie and were liable for a charge for using them even though we hadn’t. No amount of arguing would change his mind. If I ever rent another truck, you can be sure that I’ll inspect both the inside and outside before we leave the rental center. They won’t get me again. Louis

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Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Don’t Need Softener Sheets
Instead of fabric softener sheets, I pour a capful of liquid softener on a hand towel and toss it in the dryer. This works for 10+ loads. When my clothes stop feeling soft, I know it’s time to recharge my hand towel. It’s not a huge savings, but it all adds up. Lila

Carpet Odors
Recently, our dog had an accident on the family room carpet. It was late at night and I was out of carpet cleaner. What to do? I reached for my can of shave cream. With a little rubbing, it took the smell out of the carpet without doing any damage. Now I use shave cream instead of the pricey carpet cleaner. Tina
  
Party Menus
Hosting dinner parties is one of my favorite things, but the cost can be a problem, so I decided to try something new. Rather than plan the menu and then look for sales, I do it the other way around. I start with the sales and plan my menu around them. With all the recipe sites, it’s easy to find something exciting to do with just about anything I find on sale. And it’s always an adventure for my guests, too. Diane

Why I Wait
I have a habit of waiting to buy anything that costs more than $100. Typically I force myself to delay for one week. That automatically helps me avoid spontaneous purchases and helps me to do proper comparison and price shopping on other items. I don’t know how much this trick has saved me, but it’s probably a lot. Wendi

Real Cheap Summer Cooling
We have a couple unused upstairs bedrooms that face due west, bake in the summer, and radiate heat to the rest of the upstairs. I took a Mylar blanket ($1.27/each on Amazon) and covered the window of one room behind the curtain. When I went up there the next day, the room with the covered window felt air conditioned, while the other bedroom felt (as usual) baked. I’m going to cover most of the west-facing windows for the rest of spring, summer, and half of fall. I believe it will make a world of difference keeping the house cool. Terry

Non-Toxic Nighttime Mosquito Relief
My son was being tormented at night by mosquitoes. I didn’t want to spray his room with poisons, so I looked for a natural solution. I found an unusual one. It’s an old country trick. The solution stated that if you hang dried tomato leaves in a room, mosquitoes will leave you alone. It sounded strange, but I figured I’d give it a try. I made small bouquets of dried tomato leaves and wrapped them in raffia. Then I hung one above his bed. He is no longer getting nighttime bites. I don’t know why, but it works fine for us. Gloria

Bug Bites
When we were small, my mom always used an aspirin paste to take away the sting of bug bites. She would take an aspirin and add a little water to make a paste. Then put the paste on the sting. Almost immediately the sting was gone. My family loves to hike and explore in the woods, so we get more than our share of bug bites. I’m still using Mom’s trick to stop the sting. Rita

DIY Repair Advice
Sometimes you can find great videos or articles on DIY home repair projects. Often you can find repair parts online, too. But I sometimes have a question and usually there’s no way to get it answered. That’s why I try to buy my repair parts from my local appliance repair parts store. The owner has been in business for years. He was a repairman before opening the store and really knows his stuff. The best part is that he’s willing to talk me through the process or answer questions if I have a question mid-repair.
It may be tempting to buy everything online, but there are still some things that you might want to buy locally. Darlean

Solar Cooker
I love my solar cooker. It’s just like a slow cooker except I don’t use any electricity. I generally put my ingredients into a roasting pan the night before and store it in the fridge. In the morning, I put it into the solar cooker and leave it on our picnic table all day.
Making a solar cooker is easy. You can find instructions online. The biggest challenge is deciding what type to make. You may want to consider a box style cooker that’s a little bigger than your roasting pans. Try it. You’ll have great meals and a cooler kitchen. Duane

Feeding Baby
For health reasons and for money-saving reasons, I assumed I would need to make all of my daughter’s baby food. I could have ground up the food we ate in a food grinder, which would also have been nearly free, but my daughter had a sensitive stomach and couldn’t handle some of the harder to digest foods that we were eating.
I discovered a way to feed her organic food nearly free. I would wait until the local big box baby store would put cases of my favorite organic baby food (in jars) on sale. Then I would stock up, and I’d use any coupons I could. The cost often came down to 50 cents per jar. When my daughter finished the baby food, I washed the jars and carefully removed the labels and glue. Then I listed the clean jars for sale on eBay. People who do arts and crafts would buy them from me at 50 cents per jar, plus the cost of shipping. This made the organic baby food nearly free. Angela

When Eggs Are Cheap
When eggs are cheap at 99 cents or less a dozen, I buy six to eight dozen and have a weekend cooking marathon. I bake and cook meals for the freezer. All items require eggs and hold up beautifully for months in the freezer. I make meatloaves, casseroles, muffins for breakfast, cupcakes, cakes, cookie dough, breads, and breakfast casseroles. I also freeze some of the eggs to stretch them to the next big sale.
While waiting for the next egg sale, I start restocking the ingredients needed for the next cooking and baking marathon by watching for sales. Not only do I save money, but also a good portion of meals and snacks are always waiting in the freezer ready to eat. This also saves on our home utility bills because I cook and bake with a full oven and use our smaller toaster oven to reheat or bake off meals during the week. Suzie

Want to live better on the money you already make?
Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Checking Your Luggage
Before you turn over your suitcase, take a picture of the inside of it. That way, if it gets lost, you have a record of what was inside. You may need to take a few, but it only takes a minute and could avoid big trouble later. Vicky

Painter’s Hack
We recently had the inside of our home painted and there was quite a bit of old paint on the baseboards and floors. Our painter told us to put rubbing alcohol on a rag or cotton ball and rub the old paint away. It worked.  DAL

Buggy Car
Put some baking soda on a wet sponge and gently scrub your car’s windshield, lights, and chrome (if you have an oldie.) to remove bugs. Just wipe it off with another wet sponge or some damp paper towel. This works well and it’s very inexpensive.  Donna from NC

An Inexpensive Occasion
I use a dollar store to help me with occasions. For less than $10, I can purchase a tablecloth, plates, napkins, cups, silverware, table decorations, wall decorations and wrapping paper or bags and tissue. There’s no need to spend a fortune to make someone feel special. Jeanne

Summer Bird Suet
Birds eat suet all year, but sometimes it can melt in hot temperatures. A way to make the suet last longer is to put it in the freezer. I put mine in my freezer as soon as I get home from the store. When I need to put a new cake out, I take it right to the suet cage. It’s not necessary to thaw it before putting it out.
Pamela M. in Alabama

Flea Removal
My husband and I live out in the country, and here are our flea control tips. Plant pennyroyal around your yard where the dogs might lie in it sometimes. Put cedar shavings in the doghouse, but these need to be changed once or twice a year. We usually put fresh out just before and after the winter. Allow the pets to roll in dust (they know what they’re doing). We have two dogs and five cats (among our other 25 pets) and have very little problem with fleas (in Missouri.).
Roxanne

Swiffer Refills
Instead of buying refills to fit your Swiffer® sweeper, go to a fabric store or Walmart and buy 1/4 yard of really soft fleece fabric. Cut it into rectangles to fit your sweeper. You should be able to get at least five of them from this amount of fabric. You can use one side until it’s dirty and then flip it over and use the other side. Wash the fabric rectangles in the washing machine and tumble dry. WJC

Mark-Up Savings
When my daughter bought a fixer upper home, she could not afford to buy repair materials. When she found people who were remodeling their home, she offered to haul off their used materials for a small fee and then she used a lot of the materials on her home. She got newer windows, usable wood, partial cans of paint, a newer bathtub, sinks, new doors, etc. It was a win-win situation for her. She was paid to haul the stuff off and then she had all kinds of construction materials to use for her home. She saved several thousand dollars. Joann S.

Where Did I Get This
Everyone has multiple cans of spray paint. It’s hard to remember where each can came from as each store sells different brands. To keep track, I keep a black marker in the garage, and immediately when I come in, I mark the bottom with where it came from and how much it cost. That way, when I finish the can at a later day, I know where I can purchase the same color again. Elizabeth H.

Custom Borders
I was redoing my kitchen in an Italian country theme. We got the idea last summer on our vacation. I wanted a border, but couldn’t find anything that I liked at the home centers or paint stores. Then I had a great idea. We brought back a bunch of post cards and other paper items like street maps and tickets to places we had visited. I decided to use them as the border.
I used wallpaper paste to stick them to the wall. I did need to soak the postcards to remove the picture as they would have been too fat to stick. Then I clear coated over them. Now I have a border that reminds me of a wonderful vacation, and it only cost a few pennies for the wallpaper paste. Celeste

Roaches
Since moving to Florida, roaches have been a real problem. There is an old remedy that the Japanese people use that includes white flour, boric acid, and powdered sugar.
I mix equal amounts of boric acid and flour. Then I add powdered sugar to attract the roaches. To make a soft dough, I add just enough water. After rolling the dough into balls, I place them into little candy paper cups (like muffin cups). Then I place the balls in corners of cupboards and behind furniture where other animal life cannot reach. The roaches eat this, and it causes them to dry out. It takes about two to three weeks to completely work. I replace the boric acid balls every month to ensure that there is no reinfestation. BAC

Starting Christmas Now
It’s July, and I am already thinking about Christmas. I bought several herb plants. I have been snipping herbs and washing and air-drying them to put into small bags to give as Christmas gifts this year. I’m growing rosemary, oregano, mint, stevia, and basil.
Also, I bought a dehydrator at a thrift store. It’s not the top of the line, but it still works great and has many trays to it. My next project is dehydrating fruits, so I can make a dry fruit mixture to bag up. Then I will do vegetables for vegetable soup. I plan to make up some cream powder to put with it in order to make cream/vegetable soup. It will be so nice on a cold winter’s night.
Both of these items are expensive to buy in any store, but to make them at home, it is not costly at all. Therefore, they make nice gifts. Another benefit is that both of these items will be relatively low in cost to ship. Martha

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Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Kid & Pet Safe Weed Killer
Don’t use toxic chemicals on your weeds. Put ordinary white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the weeds. Within three to five days, the weeds will be dead. Helene

Protect Your Garden
My neighbor’s cat loves my garden, and I wish he didn’t. It was becoming a problem until I placed a bunch of pine cones in the garden. I don’t know why, but it seems that cats don’t like them.
Janis

Soured Plastic Containers
We all have food storage containers that have picked up foul odors. I used to throw them out because I couldn’t get rid of the smell. Then I learned that a piece of crumpled up newspaper tucked inside of a closed container will soak up much of the odor in a few days. It also works for your plastic picnic coolers. Cheryl

Traveling Abroad
If you travel out of the country, you’ve probably heard the horror stories of people who have a passport lost or stolen. It can be a real nightmare. You can make things simpler if you register with the STEP program (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). You just register your trip with the government here. If something happens, the nearest embassy or consulate will already have all of your information available. Jeffrey

Explore
Our family vacation usually includes a car trip (actually a SUV). We always look for states’ welcome centers and local chambers of commerce. They’re full of travel folders for the area. Many of them have coupons for discounts. We’ve found many interesting places that we didn’t know about by doing this. Last year, one of these places was the best part of our vacation. Kristina

Too Hot To Sleep
We’re trying to keep our every rising electric bill from killing us, so we turned up the air conditioner. Now, I’m having trouble getting to sleep at night. We have a ceiling fan and it helps, but I still sweat all night. A friend at work suggested that I take a damp towel, put it on my chest, and let the fan blow down on it. It’s almost like standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open. Now, I sleep much better. Corrie

While You’re Grillin’
While you have the grill in action this holiday weekend (or anytime), grill enough meat for the next week or two. It’s very quick and easy to grill brats, burgers, hotdogs, and other goodies that you can then pop in the fridge or freezer. Then you have your entree ready to warm up in the microwave while you throw together a side dish and or salad. Slash the cost of grilling by taking advantage of the hot coals you’ve already got going and save time later in the week while preserving that great barbecue taste and aroma. JD in St Louis

Easy Garden Mulch
I’m a big believer in mulch. It makes it harder for weeds to grow and saves water, too. The best and cheapest mulch I’ve ever used is newspaper. In my veggie garden, I put sections of newspaper between rows. A sprinkling of dirt holds the paper down. In short order, the newspaper begins to disintegrate. By the end of gardening season, the paper is all gone. I get a year’s worth of mulch without spending a penny. Logan

The Cheapest Wrinkle Releaser
Recently, I was going to get the wrinkles out of a blouse by putting it in the dryer for a few minutes. Before tossing it in, I sprayed it with plain water. Before my eyes, the wrinkles disappeared. I didn’t even need to put the blouse in the dryer.
I’ve found that it works on all cotton items and some blends. Occasionally I’ll need just a bit of the official wrinkle releaser, but my bottle is lasting much longer now that I mainly use water. Dyana

Catnip Hack
Want to refresh the catnip in your cat toys? Simply put the item in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. (Be sure there is no metal in the toy.) Or, you can put the item in warm water a few minutes and let it dry. The heat allows the oils to recirculate.
I just put one in the microwave and couldn’t believe how my cat now spends a lot of time with it.
Shirley M. in Fenton, Michigan

My Vacation Memories
The vacations we took when I was a child still bring back wonderful memories. I encourage my girls do to what I did, which is to keep a trip notebook. We buy a small bound notebook before the trip. Along with it, we take a package that includes a glue stick, a few different colored pens and markers, and a small pair of child-safe scissors.
They add receipts from the stores we visit, boarding passes, ticket stubs, business cards, or anything else that will remind them of the places we visited. They’ll also write a sentence or two of something memorable that happened. They can work on it while we drive, while we’re waiting in an airport, or in the hotel in the evening.
Not only are they building a memory, but also they’re thinking about the experiences as they happen and even learning a few writing skills. Samantha

Want to live better on the money you already make?
Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Spider Control
To get rid of spiders, just put dryer sheets all around. I put Downy® dryer sheets behind pictures and all around in places that don’t show. I did this about five years ago and haven’t had spiders since. About once a year, I replace them with fresh ones. Before doing this, I had spiders all over. JV

Breaking Static Cling
Even during the summer, there are occasions where you have to wear hose and/or a slip under your skirt. I avoid static-cling by applying a liberal dose of hand lotion onto my legs even when I’m wearing stockings. Something in the lotion keeps the static from building up. If it’s a long day, sometimes I’ll add a little more lotion to my legs. Leslie

Washing Greens
Working in a grocery store, I learned to wash the greens in warm water before putting them out under the cool spray and refrigeration. My manager explained that it helps open the pores, so the lettuce soaks up moisture and helps the greens to become crisper. I do this at home now, too. After their hot/cold bath, I put them in my fridge. Ellen

The Exact Right Color
We wanted to repaint our great room. I had a few ideas about color but nothing definite. So I collected a bunch of paint chips and taped them to the walls. I eliminated the colors I didn’t like. Over a couple of days, I noticed that the chips looked different at various times of the day. Two days later, we had narrowed it down to a color that we both loved and knew would look good at any time. Margie

Kitchen Germs
My kitchen sponges always seemed like an invitation to bacteria and germs. I’d run them through the dishwasher, but they never really seemed clean. Then I happened to stumble on some wash cloths at a dollar store. When they get dirty, I toss them in the laundry. Since they’re all white, I can use bleach or any other stain remover. And since they’re reusable, I can have a fresh cloth any time I want one. Toni

Packing Hack
Our kids are going to be visiting their grandparents this summer. Last year, our four year old returned with a whole stack of clean underwear. He had worn the same pair all week. This year, I’m going to put each day’s clothing into a zipper bag and mark it for them. That way, all they have to do is open the bag and it’s just like I laid out the clothes for them.  Diana

Nasty Drinking Glasses
To remove film on glasses, there are two inexpensive things that will work. These will not remove etching but will remove film. The first is a glass of vinegar placed in the wash load along with the glasses. Fill the glass with the vinegar and set in the dishwasher, so the liquid stays in the glass. Run the load as you normally do. The film should be much better if not completely off. The second solution is to fill the detergent cup with Tang and run the cycle with that instead of detergent. I was told about both solutions by a dishwasher repair man who noticed the film on my glasses. Joan G.

A Cheaper, Longer Lasting Dog Bed
My dog was continually tearing up her dog bed. I’d buy a new one and it would be shredded in weeks. So I had to do something. I decided to buy a two inch thick piece of foam like what’s used in upholstery. I bought a piece about two foot by three foot. Then I took an old vinyl tablecloth and sewed it into a covering for the foam. On top of that, I put an old towel. She’ll chew on the towel, which I can replace from the thrift store for a buck or so. The pillow stays unharmed. Rianna

Reading Ants
I’ve discovered that to get rid of ants, you need to have an idea of what type of ant you’re dealing with. Large ants often mean damp rotted wood like you might find in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, outdoor sheds, and decks. Get rid of the rotted wood, and you’ll get rid of the ants.
Smaller ants like sugar and other foodstuffs. To get rid of them, you’ll need to keep counters, cupboards, and garbage areas spotlessly clean. Inez

Bug Bites
My daughter is a magnet for mosquitoes. I don’t like spraying her with chemicals, so we were looking for a better way to protect her. We found that if she carries a fresh dryer sheet, most mosquitoes will leave her alone. She just tucks it in her belt or waistband.
If she does get bit, we dab a bit of ammonia on the bite. Sometimes we’ll reapply it until the itching stops. It works best if you can get to the bite quickly. Connie

Free Water
Everyone can get free water. Just get some rain barrels and catch rainwater. You’ll find them at gardening centers or on the web. They’ll have a top so that kids can’t fall in and drown. Some people don’t like them because of mosquitoes, but there are organic pellets that you can use to kill the larvae.
With a lot of places facing water shortages, it only makes sense to catch and use rain that would otherwise just go down the storm sewer. Jeanne

Inexpensive Landscaping
Buying landscaping items is expensive. This is especially true if you’ve just bought a brand new home with only minimal plantings from the builder. My son was facing this when I suggested that he should take some of the cuttings that I take from established plants. They take a little longer to reach full size, but they cost almost nothing. I’ve done junipers, hydrangea, pine, magnolias, viburnum, miniature lilacs, etc. from cuttings.
It doesn’t take special equipment or knowledge. Use peat moss and mix it with a small amount of good soil. Pull all but a few top leaves off the stem and make a diagonal slice at the bottom of the small branch. Insert the branch into a container of peat and dirt. Water frequently and make sure that the drainage is good. You can transplant when the plant has taken root and has doubled in size. Some plants won’t make it but keep trying. You’ll be surprised how many do. Generino

Want to live better on the money you already make? Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Slow Cooker Cooler
During the summer, I try to use my slow cooker as often as possible. The reason? It releases much less heat into my kitchen than my stovetop or oven does.
Kirsten

Garden Supplies
When we shop for fertilizer, soil, and other things sold in plastic bags, we always ask if they want to sell the ones with ripped or torn bags. Most often they’re glad to offer a deep discount just to get rid of them.
Emma

Removing Bugs from Your Car
To remove road gunk and bugs, I use baking soda on my white car. My car is almost six years old, and the baking soda hasn’t scratched the finish at all. All I do is dip a wet rag in the baking soda and rub. Most of the stuff comes off easily.
Su F. in Nashville, TN

I Know the Prices
One of the best things that I’ve done is to keep track of prices on the most expensive grocery items I buy. I keep a list in my purse, so I know when to really stock up on something that we’ll use. Otherwise, I just buy what I need until my next scheduled grocery trip.
Jennie

Second Life
My daughters seem to have a knack for getting tough stains on their clothes. And it’s usually the newer, nicer things. After struggling with stains for a few years, I decided to try dyeing stained clothing to a darker color. Now, instead of throwing out good clothes, I’m creating a brand new item for their wardrobe.
Rachel

Senior Fitness
My husband and I joined a fitness center in a neighboring town for exercise and paid a monthly fee to be a member. After a time, we learned that our Medicare Advantage plan would pick up that cost if the center qualified. We asked the director of the center to check. He said that it did qualify and we have not had to pay a fee since that time.
Joyce

Sorting Laundry Solution
I have found a way to organize our laundry. I went to a dollar store and bought several plastic laundry baskets. I keep them in a corner of my bedroom. Each is for a different load of laundry. Instead of tossing dirty clothes in a hamper to be sorted later, I put things into the appropriate basket. Now when a basket is full, I take it to the washer and toss it in.
Cindy

Summer Splash Party
Last summer, we started having splash parties. We bought an inexpensive above-ground pool. We invite our kids’ friends and classmates over. We tell them to bring their squirt guns and be prepared to get wet. I buy a gallon or two of vanilla ice cream and have some toppings for making sundaes. The kids have a great time, and the parents can relax in the shade and watch the fun.
Janean

Reducing Your A/C Bill
One way to cut the cost of using your central A/C is to provide some shade for the outdoor portion of the unit. You can use bushes or even a section of wood fencing. Just make sure that you leave enough space for air to circulate and for a repairman to access the unit. Not only will you reduce how hard the unit works, but you’ll probably increase its life, too.
Ron

My Designer Daughter
Last fall when my daughter started middle school, she began asking for designer label clothes. We fought for a while until we came up with this solution. I always shop at sales and clearances, so now I give her what I would have spent there and she buys her own clothes. She has quickly learned to shop sales and even discovered thrift stores. She also sells her old clothes online to create some extra income. She’s even sold some of her friends’ clothes on a commission basis. I’m so proud. Not only has she learned to be a good shopper, but also I might be raising a future CEO.
Jasmine

DIY Oxygen Cleaner
Do you like the name brand oxygen cleaner for your laundry, but dislike the price? Try making your own. Mix one cup hot water, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide.
Just soak the clothing in it for 20 minutes to overnight. Then wash as usual. I’ve found that this is easier on fabrics than bleach, and I haven’t had any troubles with colors running either.
Alisha

One at a Time
My wife and I have it set up so we’ll never have more than one car payment. We bought her a new car two years ago and have two more years of payments on it. My car is six years old and I’m planning on keeping it for another four years.
We figure that if we rotate this way, we’ll never have two car payments and should be able to pay cash for our cars eventually.
A

Want to live better on the money you already make?

Visit www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar.

Copyright 2014 • Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Cool Summer Savings
One of the most economical ways to watch your budget and waistline is to drink iced tea. It is cheap, healthy, low calorie, and a great way to stretch your budget.  Denise

Patio Furniture
My outdoor wrought iron table and chair set looked dull and whitish, so I sprayed WD-40® on a rag and applied it. It brought back the original black shine with no greasy stickiness. C.

My Second Account
I created a second savings account at my credit union for a direct deposit from my checking account of $300/mo. It has been several months so far. I have not missed it, and I would never have gotten it done by making a trip to the bank and doing the deposits. Mildred L.

Gnats
Sometimes we have a gnat problem in our kitchen. I’ve found that cider vinegar with a drop or two of liquid dishwashing soap in a shallow bowl helps tremendously in eliminating them. Of course, I also make sure to keep fruit and other foods in airtight containers. Louisa

Curling Iron Safety
After not thinking (I do that a lot), I have burned my dresser top more than once with a hot curling iron. Now I use a tall heavy vase from a discarded flower arrangement that won’t tip easily to store my curling iron. My hot curling iron has a safe place while heating up or down. Hall

Double Savings
Do almost all of your laundry in cold water, both for wash and rinse. I have been doing this for many years and find that my clothes are just as clean as if I use hot water. It’s a double savings. You don’t have to pay to heat the water and pay again for removing the heat from your home. Chrys

Mylar Blankets Reflect Energy Savings
We have a couple of unused upstairs bedrooms that face due west, bake in the summer, and radiate heat to the rest of the upstairs. I took a Mylar blanket ($1.27/each on Amazon.com) and covered the window of one room behind the curtain. When I went up there the next day, the room with the covered window felt air conditioned, while the other bedroom felt (as usual) baked. I’m going to cover most of the west-facing windows for the rest of spring, summer, and half of fall. I believe it will make a world of difference keeping the house cool. Terry

Building an Emergency Fund
My husband and I have been working to build up a little emergency savings so we would not have to run up our debt when an emergency occurs. However, building six months’ worth of income is a scary goal. We decided to do it one month at a time. That number not only seems like something that we can hit, but my little savings amounts don’t seem so small in comparison. So far we’ve saved two months’ worth of income. We’re working on the third now.  Robyn

Making Sure You Get the Real Best Deal on Your Next Flight
I recently had to make a trip from Maine to Texas. My daughter gave birth to our first grandchild. I knew I would be spending more on my plane ticket because I could only go for a certain number of days and she definitely wanted me there after the baby came. When the time came, I went to book my flight online. I was chatting with my daughter on the phone, and we were both on the exact same website. However, my price was $200 more than her price. I learned you should clear your browser history before trying to score the best deal. I don’t know the proper terms, but apparently the website sends out little virtual spies to “see” what purchases, etc. you make online and adjust their prices accordingly. Simply clearing your history prevents them from getting that information, hopefully giving you a better deal. I booked my flight through my daughter using my credit card and saved. Laura

Safe Ant Control
Want to get rid of ants economically and without endangering your pets and children? Try an equal mix of sugar and borax. While borax has some toxicity and shouldn’t be ingested, it is less toxic than commercial ant killer, and you don’t spray it around the house. The sugar is to attract the ants to the borax, so you put the mixture in a container with a tight fitting lid and secure it. Place holes around the sides towards the base that are large enough for the ants to go in.
This method doesn’t kill the ants, and it takes a little bit of time to work. The borax renders the ants infertile. I have found that it is more long lasting than the sprays and powders. In the beginning, you may need to reapply every year or two. It only takes a small amount of borax, so you will have a lot of borax left over to use as a laundry booster. Margie

Nearly-Free Organic Baby Food
For health reasons and for money-saving reasons, I assumed I would need to make all of my daughter’s baby food. But I discovered a way for it to be nearly free.
I waited until the local big box baby store put cases of my favorite organic baby food (in jars) on sale. Then I stocked up. Plus, I used any coupons that applied. The cost often came down to 50 cents per jar. When my daughter ate the baby food, I washed the jars and carefully removed the labels and glue. Then I listed the clean jars for sale on eBay. People who do arts and crafts bought them from me at 50 cents per jar, plus the cost of shipping.
This made the organic baby food nearly free.
Angela