Readers' Tips

Making 'Quick Cash'

Here are a few ideas you can try:

1. Even adults can earn some quick money by delivering newspapers. It's not glamorous, but there are almost always routes available near your home. Early morning routes may not be convenient, but they will not interfere with your regular job.
   
   
2. If you have the skills, you can often find temporary work, such as painting, carpentry, or even keyboarding. Contact an agency that handles temporary jobs in your area.
   
   
3. Other skills that can help you find part-time work quickly include writing, childcare, and retail sales. Especially before the holidays, stores are always looking for temporary, part-time workers. I've also worked at a college bookstore at the beginning of a semester, when they need extra help.
   
   
4. It doesn't require much money to start a dog-walking business. You can print up cards or just post notices in local stores, especially groomers and veterinary clinics. Ask permission first.

The bottom line is to assess your skills and interests and then figure out who will use them in your local area.
Barbara

more suggestions on different ways to raise some quick cash

Before You Close That Account

I learned the hard way that it is important to read the terms and conditions of a credit card account before closing the account. I had a fixed rate card from Fleet Bank. I received a letter from Fleet stating that they couldn't continue to offer that rate and they were offering me the option of 10.5% fixed or 9.5% variable on the account.

Being upset about the change, I cancelled the account before I had transferred the balance to another lower rate card. That resulted in a change in my interest rate from 10.5% to 23%. I was extremely upset. I demanded a copy of the terms and conditions and found that it stated that they could raise the rate to 25% on closed accounts.

Thus, I learned that you should remove the balance before closing an account and how important it is to read the terms and conditions. Had I left the account open, I would have maintained the 10.5% rate until I had removed the balance. This lesson cost me approximately $35 in interest.
David

Cutting Off the Coffeehouse

If you are trying to break the Coffeehouse habit, this tip might help. Stir a dollop of marshmallow cream into a cup of freshly brewed coffee to provide body and a nice head of foam. Add a splash of milk and a shot of chocolate syrup and you have the makings of a delicious cafe mocha!
Jen S.

More Money Than Sense

Are you going to do the ridiculous holiday gift series again this year? I found some doozies in my city paper this week. They created a special "Gift Guide" section.

For a mere $100 Canadian, you could buy that special someone an electric wine cooler. How about $199.50 for a glass and stainless steel countertop cereal dispenser? Or $158.50 for a "sophisticated" hanging magnetic spice rack? Why do I have the feeling that the sort of people who'd actually like these things never eat at home anyway?

Another item mentioned in the article was a Sunbeam electric mattress warmer. Have these people never heard of flannel sheets or fleece pajamas?
Meredith in Toronto, Ontario

editor's note: It's probably too late for this year. But I did want to include Meredith's note to remind people to do a practicality check before they pull out their wallets. Somehow I can't see taking up limited kitchen counter space with an item that does nothing but remove stuck jar lids!

Inexpensive Fabric Softener Sheets

I have found that using a damp white washcloth with a dime size dab of inexpensive hair conditioner on it works as well as a fabric softener sheet to throw into the dryer with your wet clothes. This keeps the static electricity from developing in your clothing and makes them smell nice too. From a $1 bottle of conditioner (from the dollar store), you can make hundreds of homemade softener sheets. Use the same washcloth over and over again by just rinsing and re-applying a spot of conditioner.
Cheyenne

Superb Stainless

I recently found a few more ways to clean my various stainless steel products. Baking soda works wonders on the hard water stains and deposits on my stainless steel sink. Spiffy!

The spots and grime on the stainless steel faucet in my bathroom were driving me nuts, so I used toothpaste. Yes, I used the very stuff that those spots were made of in the first place. I just rubbed it on, rinsed it off, and buffed it dry. Shiny!

The stainless steel spoon I use for stirring my tea was badly stained from too much strong tea. Not even several times through the dishwasher or a good hand-washing would touch the tea stains. But, baking soda did! The stains came off like they'd been melted. Squeaky!

The rings around my stovetop elements and the trays beneath them are stainless, and you know how bad those can get. It took a soak in hot, soapy water, a good paste of baking soda and water, and a bit of persistent scrubbing, but they are clean! Sweet!
IJR

Learning Pet Care

My children, ages five and seven, have the responsibility of feeding their pet fish. However, they tend to overfeed, which caused not only a dirty tank that had to be cleaned out often, but also more frequent fish food purchases.

To remedy this, I used a pill box. It has a separate compartment for each day of the week. At the beginning of each week, we put the right amount for each day's feeding in the correct day compartment. Each morning, the responsible child has to open the lid on the container for that day and dump it in. This also helps them to learn the correct amount to feed the fish so the box will not be necessary for long.
Tara

Cheaper Firestarters

We bought fire starters at the store once. They work great, but they are so expensive! So, I make my own.

Save cardboard egg cartons. Fill the cups level with sawdust and indent slightly with your thumb, so wax stays put. It's a good idea to set these on several layers of newspaper to prevent making a mess. Melt plain paraffin very carefully in a double boiler. I use a metal can that has been bent slightly at the top to make a pouring spout, and set the can in a pan of hot water. Be careful, especially on a gas stove! Pour melted wax into each egg carton cup to saturate the sawdust.

Let cool and cut apart with a large scissors. These work really well in a fireplace or wood stove. One or two underneath the wood with a little kindling will start about anything, and they burn for up to ten minutes!
Iris W. in Oregon

Puppy Ptooie!

My dog is a chewer and her leash seems to be a favorite "chew toy." Rather than pay the $3 that the pet store wanted for "Applebitter," I decided to try using a bit of white vinegar on my dog's nylon leash.

Then I offered the vinegar soaked portion of the leash to my dog. She hated it! That's the first time I had ever seen her spit anything out. She assumed the whole leash was equally contaminated and completely stopped chewing on it for a few days.

The vinegar is effective as long as it stays damp. You may have to apply the vinegar a few times, but my dog is chewing less and less on her leash. Soon she will be broke of this habit.
Lisa T.

Half Shake

My family loves the taste of Shake N Bake on pork chops and chicken, but I hate to spend the money for only two uses per box. I've found that by mixing half the package of Shake N Bake with regular store brand breadcrumbs I get twice the amount of seasoning out of one box, and my family doesn't notice the difference!

You won't have enough bags to do the shaking (they only enclose two), so I use a small bowl and turn the chops or chicken in it. Just follow the baking directions on the box and enjoy!
Jana S. in Anaheim, CA

Reducing Dental Costs

As a registered dental hygienist, I have had many years of experience in cutting dental health costs. My tips are:

1. Ask your general dentist for your child's panoramic X-rays and study models to take with you to the initial referral appointment to the orthodontist. They may eliminate the need for additional X-rays at the orthodontist.
   
   
2. Look into a personal health savings account to budget your dental costs (pre-tax!)
   
   
3. Watch out for those orthodontist visits after the braces are removed. My daughter's contract included visits for only twelve months after the removal. Now, it will cost at least $30 for 15 seconds of their time to check the retainers.
   
   
4. Watch your bill. My orthodontist tried to charge us for repair of both the upper and lower retainers when the repair involved only the upper. When I pointed this out, they checked the patient record and agreed. The repair bill was cut in half.

The Warmth of Christmas

Here is a great idea for a holiday gift. Go to your local fabric or discount store and purchase fleece in any print that suits your fancy. Have it cut to 60 inches square (look at the end of the bolt of fabric to check that the width is 60" and have the employee cut it to 60" in length). Wash the fleece once you get home to ensure that it has shrunk as much as it possibly will and to remove any sizing. Lay the fabric out on a flat surface and cut fringe around the edges (the fringe should be two inches in length). Now, tie knots in the strips as close to the uncut fabric as possible. Do this around the entire piece. Once this is complete, throw the blanket back in the washer/dryer to soften up the fringe.

Great! You're done. You have just made a fleece blanket that would probably cost $30 to $50 in a retail store for around $15 (assuming you shopped around for the best price on your fabric).
Sharon

Organic Stain Relief

Many organic stains may be drawn out of fabric by using a little water and a high concentration of salt. Salt works on stains in the same way that dialysis works in the body; drawing blood from an area of low sodium concentration to an area of high sodium concentration. (One of the few things I learned in chemistry.)

Additionally, using a mix of salt with your clothing detergent and baking soda will get whites much brighter without using bleach, which leaves a chlorine scent and slowly destroys your clothing.
Jennifer G.

Eliminate Gift Wrapping

Instead of wrapping gifts from Santa, I wrap the doorway. I buy one big roll of wrapping paper and stretch it across the doorway. I attach a large reusable bow to the wrapping paper. After we are all assembled, the kids break through the paper to see what Santa brought.
Kimberly V.

Being Polite

I have a cellular phone and the bills have been outstanding lately. My talk time was not any more/less than normal, so I couldn't figure out what was going on. I found out that if you call and politely ask them to look at your bill, they can usually find a discrepancy. The phone company representative found a $25 fee that was added and he took it off and gave me a credit, and then just because I called and basically complained, he gave me a courtesy credit of $50. This made my whole day! I just saved myself $75!
Janel B.

Credit Limit Control

My wife and I recently learned something about one of our credit cards. We noticed on the bill that our credit limit was much higher than it should have been. We have lowered the credit limit on our cards, but they go back up automatically. The last time my wife called the credit card company, she asked if there was a way to keep the credit limit the same. The representative said he could check a box that would keep the credit line increases from occurring automatically. We can still have it increased on our authorization.

Also, available credit can usually be verified on the monthly statement, or by calling the credit card company.
Mark W.

Locating Drafts

Another way to locate leaks and drafts around your home is with a candle. First, turn off any central heating or fans. Then, while being careful not to burn any drapes or other window coverings, hold a lit candle close to the edge of your window or door, moving the candle slowly along the seam. If the flame flickers, you've found a the source of a draft!
Janice T.

Editor's note: Please send your tips to tips@stretcher.com. If we use your tip or reply to 'Can You Help' in any of our publications we'll send you the next three issues of our print newsletter as a 'thank you'.

If you'd like to receive our Dollar Stretcher Tips ezine send a blank email to subscribe-ds-tips@hub.thedollarstretcher.com

The Great Papers Debate
Which ones should you keep and for how long?

4 Ways to Pay Off Holiday Debts
There's no need to still be paying in June

How to Be a More Savvy Hair-Care Consumer
Shopping know-how that will save you money

Not One Dollar!
What things do you refuse to spend money on?

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