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My husband made "Conversation Hearts" using colored paper and a marker. He wrote the same sorts of silly words/saying that are found on the candies and then placed them all over the house. I found one in my sock drawer, next to the toothpaste, in a shoe, etc. It was a fabulous, loving, silly gift. I kept them as a reminder of what a sweet man I married.
Sarah
editor's note: For more Frugal Valentine's Ideas, please click here.
I took the advice of the person who said to make all purchases on a cash rewards credit card. I was already making my purchases each month on a credit card and paying the entire balance each month. I changed cards this week to a cash rewards card. Based on my spending history, I will get around $350 back the first year and then about $250 each year thereafter, for not doing anything but changing cards.
Barbara P.
I had a chest with a musty smell in it. My neighbor who is an antique furniture refinisher told me that the only way to get the smell out was to lightly sand the inside of the chest. Apparently old wood holds the odors and the only way to resolve it is to sand a fine layer of the wood away.
Linda
Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More on removing musty odors from chests
Invest in a simple inexpensive battery tester for less than $5. Many times when a gadget that uses multiple batteries goes dead, some of the batteries are still good. All it takes is one bad battery to keep the gadget from working. Don't assume they're all bad.
G.
After buying a head of lettuce at the grocery, I bring it home, cut it in half, and put it in a bowl of water with ice cubes. I then let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. The next morning I take it out of the bowl and put it on a towel to drain, and I have crisp lettuce to make my salads or sandwiches for the week. It seems to restore the moisture in the head, and it lasts longer.
Missie in Pleasant Hill, MO
For years, I have had a problem with acne. It is the type that actually hurts. I had purchased some aloe gel to have on hand for burns, abrasions, sunburn, etc. I decided to try it on my acne. It worked! After about three applications, the acne went away and didn't leave a scar. The entire tube of aloe gel cost $2.99, and this should last for months and months. This is so much cheaper than costly acne medications.
Cynthia
Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More on ways to heal acne
This is the time of year when wallpaper stores are clearing out their old sample books for the new. Often times, they will give away the books if you ask. I wrap many smaller items in the wallpaper. Wallpaper is thicker and more elegant than regular gift wrap. I even wrapped some smaller Christmas gifts with it this year and got many compliments.
I also make my own greeting cards. The wallpaper makes an excellent background.
Shelly
I would hope that no one would be getting an IRS refund check in the hundreds. If you are, you need to change your withholdings. Why should you allow the government to use your money all year?
I have known people who brag about getting back hundreds of dollars. The government is using your money interest free, and you are bragging about it. Why not have the correct amount held out and use the rest to get debt free?
Viv in TX
editor's note: If you are getting a refund, make sure that you use it wisely. The check could continue to pay dividends if you use it to pay down a credit card bill.
I never buy store cleaning "stuff" because that stuff is generally just a very expensive way of packaging vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, and/or bleach. For cleaning a shower stall and windows, simply spray full strength white vinegar over the wet area. That's it. You need not wipe dry; just walk away. In fact, it is best to let it dry by itself. My shower stall has not had any cleaning done in over five years, and you would swear it is brand new!
Loretta of Portage, Michigan
Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More on cleaning fiberglass showers
Be prepared! Keep a bag of kitty litter in your trunk during the winter. It can help your tires get a grip when you're stuck in the snow or ice. It also helps on driveways and sidewalks.
Stephanie
To keep cold drafts from escaping unused rooms, I used to put rolled up towels in front of the doors. I was always tripping over the towels and then making sure they were back in place. I came up with the idea to make a permanent one. I took a piece of denim from an old pant leg that was the width of the door, doubled it, sewed the ends together, and put enough sand in it to hold it to the floor. Then I fastened it to the door with a strip of wood so it would just touch the floor. There are no more drafts, and it is always in place.
Mike F.
My family is big, and they like slices of cheese on their sandwiches, sloppy-joes, and crackers. To save money, I buy a whole sliced five-pound block and store it in a sturdy, resealable plastic box. I place a folded paper towel in the bottom to discourage any humidity that may form. The blocks are sliced in a way that allows for easily peeling off a slice at a time. Fast food restaurants also use these same blocks. I buy the five-pound block for $17. It saves a lot over purchasing small individually-wrapped sliced packages. Try it and see if you don't agree with the savings. Also, I enjoy the convenience of not having to unwrap each slice.
Raymond
With springtime right around the corner, spring cleaning comes with it. When it comes to cleaning your windows and mirrors, mix equal parts of rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle to use as a window cleaner. It works so well, and the best part is that it's so inexpensive! I use old towels for the windows.
Elaine G.
We like to purchase inexpensive picture frames or picture mats, and as an activity at the party, we decorate them. We also take a picture with each guest and the birthday girl at the party. When we write our thank you notes, we include the photo, so they can put it in the frame.
Michele
Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More on children's party favor ideas
With weddings coming up and couples completing their registries at some of the more well-known stores, I found the prices not very competitive. For example, a KitchenAid® Stand Mixer was listed at $299 at all the major stores. And if the color wasn't readily available at your local store, you might have to order it, increasing the cost for shipping and handling. I found a site with the mixer for $219. So, I ordered the mixer with free shipping and handling and no tax, and will save over $80 on my gift.
I did call the registry site to ask if they matched prices, and they didn't.
So, as you look for the perfect gift for that perfect couple, look at their registry, and then don't limit yourself. Shop around. You can call the registry's 800 number to have the item marked as "fulfilled," so there will be no duplicates. I hope my hint will save some wedding guests a few bucks.
Mary A. in Covington, VA
Meal planning is difficult with a picky eater. I know my three siblings and I were all picky eaters. We all hated different things, too. My parents served what was being served and we had to make do with what was on the table. Every meal was served with the main dish and vegetable sides or a casserole, bread, peanut butter, honey, a dish of carrots and/or celery, a dish of pickles, and some type of dessert. If we did not like what was being served, we had better be eating from the standard sides or we did not get to eat dessert.
The most important lesson I learned about picky eating was from my nutrition counselor with the WIC program. When you are introducing new whole foods to your child, it may take three or more times to serve the new food on their plate before the food makes it to their mouth. A child uses their hands to assess the feel of the food to decide if they want to put it in their mouth, and they use their eyes to watch what parents do with the food from their plate. If the child still isn't eating the food after three or four servings, don't put it on their plate, but do put the food on your plate. If there are two parents, the food on the father's plate has the most impact on the food going into the mouth of the child.
Kim L.
Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More on picky eaters
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