Readers' Tips

It can indeed be very frustrating when you have friends and/or family that do not share your views on frugality. Trying to stick to a budget is difficult and is not made easier when it seems your friends are buying everything they want while you go without. From experience I have personally found that what works best for me really depends on the situation. Sometimes it is best to simply compliment the item, "Yes that is a really nice (whatever)," and leave it at that. When directly questioned about my spending/frugality, I find it is better to simply say state my reasons why I do NOT go right out and buy whatever I want, "My priorities are getting out of debt right now," "I have found that I really do not need a new (blahblah)," or "I am saving for a (thingie)." Sometimes when questioned rudely, I laugh it off with a comment "I'm a cheap (blank) and hate spending my money needlessly/foolishly" - that often makes people back off. Besides, if they are good friends they will probably already know your frugal views and what your priorities are, and respect them.
Lisa T.

(editor's note: more suggestions on what to do "When Friends Say You're Cheap" at www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991206a.cfm

We receive several copies of CD-ROMs for on-line services as I'm sure many folks do. I've taken then and glued two together with the printed side in and they make wonderful decorations. Think of that shiny side with all the pretty Christmas lights, they really are pretty. Take ribbon and make a loop, glue it to the printed side of one CD then glue the printed side of another CD to the CD with the loop. Be sure the loop is large enough to hang on tree limbs. Then take photos of the kids, grandchildren, the pets and cut them into circles just large enough to cover the clear circle and hole in the CD. Do the other side with another photo. Use old Christmas cards if you don't want to cut up your photos.
Dana

Editor's note: more inexpensive Christmas Decorations at www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991206c.cfm

My husband and I have used the powder "Capture" for years. It is sold at Home Depot and Sears and has taken out tar, grease, blood and red wine! You blot the spot with a towel or wash cloth and cold water, after removing any obvious "chunks" of the offending material, brush the powder into and around the spot, let dry and vacuum. NOTHING else has worked for us. We feel the pre-stain that Capture also sells is un-necessary. It sells for about $20 for a small bucket. The better you brush it in, the better it picks up. We have off-white carpet and grey, two teenagers and a cat, and a husband who works on old classic cars, and we're happy!
Joyce

Editor's note: more comments about different Dry Carpet Cleaners at www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991206d.cfm

This is a great tip that I learned from someone who coupons. Check out your local store's "Buy 1 get 1 free" deals. Some stores ring up their B1G1F items with each one being half the regular price. If that is the case, you can use 2 coupons for that B1G1F item.
For example, my local Ingles had Hellmans dressing on sale for $1.49 B1G1F. One rang up at $.74 and the other rang up at $.75. had many $.55 off on one coupons. I got each bottle of dressings for $.19 or $.20 cents. Have a lot of coupons so that you can make the most of your sale.
DB

We love the new holiday icicle lights that are being sold this year, but I wasn't willing to pay the hefty price tag they are carrying with them. As I pulled out the box of our Christmas lights I realized that I could make my own icicle lights. I just took a string of lights and a roll of electrical tape. At about every 10 lights I bent the string back on itself and wrapped it with electrical tape. I secured each icicle in about three even spaced spots so it would hang down in a nice straight string. I skipped a couple of lights in-between each icicle and staggered the lengths of each icicle. This gave me a new look for my old lights with the only extra cost of a roll of electrical tape. We have used these lights for two years now with no problems. Just make sure you check the strings for any frayed wires or loose connections. I also made sure when I wrapped the tape two completely wrap around one wire first then wrap the to sides together so there was no chance on the wires fraying and touching each other under the tape.
P.

My husband and I bought a new home this year but before we purchased our home I had the good fortune to run across an ad for a Fanny Mae class. My husband and I both learned a lot about buying a home, loan interest and points but the best thing we learned in this class was about mortgage insurance.
Every one that buys a home (with the exception of V.A) has to purchase mortgage insurance. What we learned and what your lender will never tell you is that after you have made your house payments on time for two years, you can drop your mortgage insurance. This will save the average home owner about eighty dollars a month. Add that up and see just how bad many people are being taken advantage of by their banks. Hope this helps a few people and angers a few banks.
Pam

When draining cans of fruit (peaches, pears, pineapple, fruit cocktail), save the juice in ice cube trays. The cubes are great in iced tea, punch, Jell-O, and homemade popsicles.
Jen

If you have one of those really cold rooms with old windows and can't afford to fix them up just yet, try this inexpensive nighttime solution.
I bought the foam insulation sheets and cut panels to the size of the window opening. I covered them with sheets or material that coordinated with the room furnishings and hot glued the material onto the panels. At night, I simply put the panels in the window, cutting the loss of heat through the glass panes. During the day, you can either store the panels under the bed, behind a door, or in the closet. Be sure that the panels fit snugly in the window. Since they are covered with pretty fabric, no one can tell the difference from outside! You, however, will notice the difference in the heating bills!
Luann

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