Readers' Tips

For Someone Who Has Everything

Here is an idea that we used for my parents and in-laws last Christmas and they absolutely LOVE it. They are people who have everything material they need anyways, so this went over really well. We call it "A Year's Worth of Christmas Cheer"

On Christmas, we gave them a piece of paper with a list typed out of a food item that we would provide each month for the year. Here was our list, but you could customize as you wish, depending on how close the people lived. This coming year we decided to do a "Dessert of the Month" for them.

January - Homemade bread
February - Brownies
March - Chili
April - Caramel corn
May - Seafood stew
June - Chocolate crinkle cookies
July - BBQ at our house with homemade ice cream
August - Pasta with fresh basil and tomato
September - Anniversary dinner cooked for you at your house
October - Apple crisp
November - Pumpkin bars
December - Cinnamon rolls

We tried to use foods that were in season for the month.
Melissa P. in Kelso, WA

Vinegar Aids

1/2 c of white vinegar in the clothes washing machine removes built-up sediment, etc. Would probably work in the dishwasher as well. And several applications of white vinegar from a spray bottle removes that white crusty build-up from hard water on bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
Fran D

Washerless Faucet Rebuttal

I recently read your Master Plumbers article on washerless faucets. He said that when it started to leak that the homeowner would have to replace the faucet. That is not true.Depending on the brand, you can replace the stem inside the faucet. Take your handle off and then the stem, which is the plastic (usually)piece sticking up,will either pull out or unscrew counterclockwise. Remove this and take it to your local hardware,plumbing, or homecenter and you can get another one. They usually run about 5.00 to 10.00 depending. If it is a lifetime or even some others, you can call the manufacturers and many will send you the part you need. Just thought I would pass this along, I've been selling repair parts for plumbing for 15 years.
Karyn L-L

Christmas Gifts That Tickled the Taste Buds

I like the idea of making the small loaves of banana bread and wrapping them in the colorful foil. The produce manager at your local grocery store normally marks down produce as it is aging. Bananas are marked ridiculously low when they get too ripe to sell, but they're PERFECT for banana bread. Call your produce manager and ask him if they have a certain time of the day they mark down. If you request it, they may even set some aside for you.
S.

Just Add. . .

I recently saw a great idea at a flea market. The person took a fairly large mason jar, and then layered in all the dry ingredients for cookies (there were chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin, etc...). For example, she put about 1/2 inch of flour on the bottom of the jar. The next layer was probably about 1 inch of brown sugar, then came a layer of chocolate chips, then another layer of what looked like 1/2 inch of flour, and a layer of brown sugar. There was probably baking soda and baking powder somewhere in the flour mix, too. She topped it off with a gingham covered lid, and a little note that said something like "add two eggs and 1/2 cup milk, bake cookies at 350 degrees for 10 minutes." It was really cute! The oatmeal raisin cookie mix had layers of oatmeal, raisins, flour. The trick is to be NEAT when filling the jars. I believe the woman sold these for about $10 each. I didn't buy any because I just KNEW I could make them.
Tina D

Editor's note: more frugal food gift suggestions and recipes at: http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981207a.cfm. Thanks to everyone who sent in ideas!

A Little Alcohol, Please

For the person who wanted some alternatives to bathroom products: As a nurse, I know that these are tried and true. The main ingredient in most deodorants is alcohol! If you use plain alcohol with a cotton ball each morning, it will last all day! For your teeth, baking soda and salt make a very effective toothpaste. Also, salt water makes a good mouthwash. Dish detergent is just as good as shampoo. If you think that this might be too harsh, just dilute it with water. For those of you who say, "what, I would never use detergent on my hair!"--look at the list of ingredients on the back of your shampoo bottle. You might be surprised.
Cathy

Editor's note: more homemade toiletry recipes and resources at http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981207b.cfm.

Cooking Comments

Ann Miller had some very good ideas with her quick recipes. But her advice on not using a crock pot but to leave a pot cooking on the stove all day on a low temperature could be dangerous! To leave anything cooking on a stove unattended has the potential to start a fire, even if it is on a low setting on a stove. A crock pot is a much safer answer to long term slow cooking. Crock pots aren't always huge and bulky. I admit that they can be hard to store, but mine is in constant use (being a busy working person myself) so long term storage isn't an issue.
Lisa N-W

Advice for Widower With Children

Will your home accommodate a family in similar straits? See if you can find another single dad who needs to economize and needs a place to live. You can share errands, child care, etc. Will your job allow you to telecommute? You can save a couple hours each day in interruptions at work and transportation time on the days you don't have to go into the office and apply that time to your home.
Anne P.

Social Security Benefits

If this reader is in the U.S., I hope he has applied for Social Security benefits. If his wife worked long enough to be covered, the child will be entitled to monthly benefits until age 18. The widower should also be entitled to monthly benefits as long as the child is in his care and he has not remarried, but his benefits could be reduced, depending on his earnings.
Alicia P

Cheaper Yeast

I am responding in reference to yeast savings. In most supermarkets you can ask the bakery department to give you a container of yeast that they use to make stuff in the store. They will mark a price on it for the cashiers and it is a huge savings over buying the individual packet. I put mine in an airtight jar and keep it in the fridge.
Cindy

Bath Salt Oil Warning

In response to the homemade bath salts - NEVER USE POTPOURRI OIL in bath salts! This oil is not safe for skin contact. I have been making bath salts for several years now and it was stressed to me when I started to use only essential oils. These can be found at any health food store or sometimes with aromathreapy things. Essential oils are safe for skin and are used in a variety of other bath products but potpourri oil states on most of the bottles that it is not safe for use on skin. Please alert people to this.
Krisann in TN

Holiday Decorations

I learned this from a friend several years ago, and it's very effective and inexpensive, so I thought I would share it with other readers. Dresses up a room quickly for pennies! Take down all your pictures that are hanging on the wall, wrap them in holiday paper, add a pretty bow or ribbon, and then rehang them. You can buy generic paper, such as something with poinsettias so as to include diverse holiday traditions. You could probably even find Kwanzaa or Chanukah wrapping paper if you wanted. Easy and fun!!!
D. S.

It's Right Here

One year my mother gave me a cute little address book that was filled with all the addresses and birthdays of aunts, uncles, cousins etc. This was several years ago and I still use it. It is even more meaningful now that my mother is older and unable to give such a gift. I'll have her handwriting forever.
J.

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'.

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