Readers' Tips
Tainted Water Bottles
The first time I took a swig out of a Rubbermaid® water bottle that had been run through the dishwasher (and filled with Brita-filtered water,) I thought my dishwasher was broken. Nothing like drinking soap during a spin class! Rubbermaid® bottles pick up flavor and retain odor, but I love the no-spill caps.
The best thing to do is finish a cleaning with a little vinegar/water rinse and let air dry. A soak with some baking soda will take care of most odors, and if there's a sticky residue from some electrolyte drink, a soak with some salt usually takes care of it. Also take care to clean and dry the lid thoroughly after each use to avoid residue build up.
Edie
editor's note: You'll find more suggestions on how to get the best taste from your water bottles here or join the discussion in The Dollar Stretcher Community.
It's OK to De-Clutter
I am a confirmed "pack rat." It comes from being a 62-year-old who was raised with the concept that nothing should go to waste, as it may be useful someday. I have joined Freecycle.org and no longer feel guilt when I give something away. It is a totally different concept than throwing it away. At least with Freecyle, someone is going to use it. When they are done with it, they may also give it away, so it is not wasted. If they do throw it away, that is their problem, not mine!
I have given away clothes that no longer fit, appliances that I no longer use, windows I have replaced, excess garden produce that I don't have the time to can, freeze, etc. It makes me feel good to give it away and I don't have the clutter! I went through some boxes of stuff and decided that I could only keep a third of the box. I could either give away or throw away the remaining items. In six months, I will go through them again to see if there is more I can get rid of. Items of value that are not sentimental to me are listed on eBay and sold. The profits from the sales will be put in a "special fund" whose use is still to be determined.
Clutter Buster from SD
Laundry Tips for the New Collegiate
- Buy a softener ball (Downey about $3) but don't buy softener for your laundry. Fill the ball just below the fill line with plain clear vinegar bought at a dollar store for a half gallon. The last time I checked liquid softener was about $3 for a quart.
- Spend the $4 or $5 for the rubber balls with little knobs all over them to throw in the dryer with your washed laundry or pick up a couple of clean but used tennis balls for free from a tennis playing friend. They will make your laundry dry faster and be less wrinkled when you take it out of the dryer. When they have absolutely no bounce left in them, replace them.
No Leftovers Here!
I never throw away leftovers. Rather, when I was first married, I figured out a way to turn them into a fun meal. When I gathered enough of them together, it would become time for "Party Tray Night"! I would creatively put the bits of food on a dinner plate, fill in with a fresh salad or some other "new" veggie, and announce that tonight was "Party Tray Night."
A year later, my husband told me that he heard other men complaining about eating "leftovers." He informed them that we never ate leftovers in our house. It never occurred to him that our "Party Trays" were exactly that. I laughed to myself, but I never filled him in on my secret!
Cricket
Little Luxuries:
Budget Bedroom Makeover
I recently did a budget makeover on my bedroom. A little paint and some decorative accents can go a long way. I painted the long wall an accent color of rich deep garnet red and then painted the adjoining short wall a complementary shade of purple! (Think about the inside of Jeannie's bottle.)
I hung a window scarf in an orange shimmery color over the bed. Brightly colored exotic accent pillows are strewn around the room. Low lighting and a hanging shell lamp makes soothing tinkling noises when a small fan is on.
I got some great incense with a decorative wooden holder, and each day I can feel extravagant as I burn my sandlewood or jasmine incense! The incense is available as a cone or sticks and only costs pennies a day. What a luxurious treat to brighten up your day. It feels like I am being treated to a great vacation in a five star hotel each day.
Elly
editor's note: Many of us have given up a lot because of the economy. So we're looking for "Little Luxuries" that we can share with everyone. If you have an inexpensive way to make yourself feel good, please send it by gary@stretcher.com. We'll share the best ones in future issues.
Improving "Cheap Cuts"
I buy cheap steak like chuck steak. While preparing for the
freezer, I use Dale's Seasoning liquid diluted with water
(about 1/3 cup) and Italian dressing (about the same amount).
This is great for tenderizing the tough meat, and it freezes
great. Just thaw the bag in the fridge, and the steaks are
ready for the grill. You can also add some of your other
favorite seasonings to the mix. This can be used for any
"cheap" meat. My kids love it, too!
Jennifer B.
Calculator + Cash = Savings
I've heard the advice before that you should take a calculator with you to the store to do your grocery shopping, but most people have a calculator on their phone under the "tools" menu. I have to take my phone to the store anyway, so the kids and the husband can send me a note with the four things they invariably forgot to tell me I needed before I left the house.
Taking a calculator and a set amount of cash really makes
quick and easy work of sticking to things you really need and
cutting out unplanned expenses. You may be tempted to put all
those extra things in the cart, but when you can easily see
that those extras add $30 to your bill, you won't hesitate to
put them back on the shelf.
Julie in Winchester, IN
Towel Savings
I needed new bathroom towel sets. Our local Wal-Mart was
offering nice bath towels for $4, but the matching face towels
were $3.50 and the wash clothes were $1.75. My solution was to
buy three bath towels and cut one into four equal parts and
further cut one quarter into two pieces. With a little simple
sewing to hem the edges, this gave me two complete sets for
$12. The total savings on two sets was $14.
Veronica in Upstate New York
Little Luxuries:
The Ice Cream Parlor
Who doesn't love taking the family to the ice cream parlor in
the summer? It can get expensive though. Store brand ice cream
flavors have come a long way. I bought Moose Tracks store
brand ice cream that was on sale for $1.39 after a $1 coupon
and using my store rewards card. I also bought 12 cones for
$2. We had our own ice cream parlor for several nights. It was
a lot of fun!
Candice A.
editor's note: Many of us have given up a lot because of the economy. So we're looking for "Little Luxuries" that we can share with everyone. If you have an inexpensive way to make yourself feel good, please send it by gary@stretcher.com. We'll share the best ones in future issues.
Art Treasures
Last week I set out to frame a piece of artwork that my eight-
year-old son had done. I went to the local craft store where I
was appalled when I priced a double mat, a custom size frame
and a piece of glass to fit into it. It came to about $135.
That's outrageous! So I set out to scout a few ready-made
frames. I got down to about $75 with a custom mat and glass. I
ended up at home goods and found a frame for $16.95 with a
double mat and glass, and all I had to do was replace the
cheap print with an original work of art. I also bought
several other matching frames in different sizes for future
pieces of art to add to the display and spent only about $45
total. I now have a treasure that will last a lifetime.
Judie in Salt Lake City
Those Extra Rolls
When my husband and I eat hot dogs or hamburgers, we always
have some buns left over. I used to freeze them and then
proceed to forget that they were there and then they weren't
fresh when I did defrost them. The other day I had what I
think is a brilliant idea! Instead of freezing the leftover
buns, I used the leftover buns to make sandwiches. I even used
the hot dog buns. It works out great and there is no waste!
Christine K.
Liquid Soap
Liquid soap can get very expensive with regular hand washings.
I buy a children's hand soap foam dispenser, found in the baby
aisle at stores, when on sale. After it is empty, I keep the
dispenser. I stock up on cheaper bubble baths, body washes, or
shower gels during the year, especially after the holidays. I
put a ratio of 1:8 of liquid soap to water into the dispenser.
I have done this for years. We save so much on liquid hand
soap and keep dirty hands at bay.
Marilyn
Cheaper Epsom Salts
Love to use Epsom's salts, but don't like the price of the small containers? Go to the plumbing section of your favorite bargain store and buy a 50-pound bag of "water softener" salts. The "water softener" salts are large sized Epsom's salt crystals. It sells for about $6 a bag versus the $2.75 for a one-pound bag in the drug store.
You will want to take the salts and break them up with a
hammer or run the car over the bag to break up the large
crystals.
Darlene B.
Last Call
My favorite budget-friendly tip, as a mom of two, is to shop
my local Super Wal-Mart around 8:45pm. Every night at 9pm, the
deli is closing and cleaning up, and they discount their whole
rotisserie chickens from $4.98 to only $2! You might have to
check with your local store to see if they have a similar
policy. When I'm low on chicken, I go to my local Wal-Mart
around 8:30pm. The deli is at the entrance to the food
section. I put two or three rotisserie chickens in my basket,
then continue on with my shopping. As I'm going down the
aisles, I hear the PA speaker announcing that "the deli
chickens are now on sale for $2." If you wait until you hear
that announcement, they'll all be gone; even the employees buy
them as a cheap dinner. If you put them in your basket as you
enter the store, you've already "shopped" for the best,
biggest chickens. Just remember to tell the checkout clerk
that the chickens are on sale, and they may have to adjust
your total. I like to shop for chickens the day before trash
pickup. When I get home from the store, I de-bone the chicken,
shred the meat, and freeze it flat in resealable bags. I put
the bones in the trash and they're picked up the next morning.
When I need two cups of chicken for a casserole or chicken
salad, all I have to do is thaw the shredded chicken!
Johanna S. in Pearland, TX
Hanging Artwork for Less
Recently I bought some art prints to decorate the walls of my recently-purchased home. Due to either size or shape, the prints would have cost a fortune to frame, but I didn't want to just stick them on the walls with tacks like a college dorm room.
My solution came in the school supplies section of the local superstore: foam board! I bought black-on-black (meaning the foam is black and the outer paper covering is also black) foam board for less than $3 each. I also bought some fabric at the same store for $2 a yard. Then I cut the foam board to size, piecing it together with duct tape for the larger prints. I then covered the board with the fabric. I used duct tape to secure the fabric to the back of the board, folding the corners of the fabric in the same way I would wrap a present.
When I was done, I centered the art print and applied white glue under the edges of the print with a cotton swab. Finally, I super glued pull tabs from soda cans on the back for hangers, leaving just a bit over the edge to catch the nail. I applied duct tape over the tabs for good measure.
Once I hung them on the wall, my prints looked fantastic, and
they were framed for just a few dollars! You can save even
more by skipping the fabric if your print fits on one board
and you like a black frame.
Kaci in Wisconsin
Be Prepared...
To better prepare for emergencies (and lights going out):
- I have a radio that runs with batteries or by winding it.
- All batteries in the house are charged with a solar charger.
Yes, it does seem to take a bit more time, but that is okay
with me.
- I bought a set of those solar powered lights that people have along their walkway to their house. Mine have an on/off switch and cost about $25. When they need to be charged, they go in a bucket by the back door. In the event of a power outage, the lights are brought into the house for emergency lighting. I simply place them in whatever room is in need. And yes, I do carry one around with me if I leave for another room. When not needed, they are kept off (that's why I searched for some with a switch). They will keep a charge for quite a while!
BBQ Starter
Years ago in our "camping days," I learned the fastest and
easiest way to get a perfect grilling fire every time! Take a
coffee can (large size) and cut off both ends. Set the can in
the middle of the empty grill and fill it (the coffee can)
with charcoal. Gently lift the can to about an inch or so off
the grill bottom (to add an updraft). Add a small bit of fluid
to the center and light it. You can add a few coals around the
can depending on the size of the cooking area you need. When
the coals inside the can are red hot, carefully lift the can
off and the coals disperse and you have instant glowing coals!
Save the can for future use.
Robin in Burnt Hills, NY
Finding a Free Pet Sitter
My family was going on a two-week vacation to visit family in Chicago and didn't want to pay to get a pet sitter for our dog. It would have been about $30/day for a total of $420 plus tip.
We emailed our friends and relatives to ask if anyone would like a free place to stay and a free car to use for a two-week vacation in Atlanta (where we live) in exchange for feeding and walking our dog daily. A friend in California took us up on the offer!
We just got back and our friends were so appreciative. They left us all kinds of gifts (a gift card, a book for our daughter, a fruit bowl, and a framed picture of our dog at a local outdoor attraction). They even cleaned the house before they left!
We saved money on a pet sitter (and a maid!) and they saved
money on a hotel, food (since they could use our kitchen), and
car rental. Also, although we live in a safe neighborhood, it
was nice knowing someone was staying at our house while we
were away so it wasn't a target for thieves.
Lydia S. in Atlanta, GA
editor's note: Another option would be to ask a responsible teenager who is still living with their parents. They'd get some extra privacy and you'd get a pet sitter.
Repurposing
Repurposing old, unwanted objects into objects with new uses is a great way to recycle. I made a discarded basket from a walker into a hanging planter. An old teapot made a pretty planter for trailing ivy (with the pot inside for easy care).
Take a step back and look at what you have to see if it can be
given new life. You may save yourself from buying brand new,
and you may find great uses for things headed for the trash.
JK
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