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All water is filtered water. If you check the labels of the bottled drinking water you are buying, you will find that it comes from a municipal water system and is filtered some more. You can do the same thing at home with one of those filters you mentioned. Consumer Reports rated water filters within the last year. It would be worth the trip to the library to check it out. If I remember correctly, the Brita filter rated well. I think Brita has a filter pitcher that rated well also. A faucet-mounted filter is another option. Remember that you have to replace the filter cartridge regularly or the filter doesn't do its job. Still, filter cartridges are cheaper than the $1 per gallon you are paying now.
GJR
more recommendations, including some of the methods used to evaluate water, at www.stretcher.com/stories/01/011217a.cfm
I've been told septic tank additives are unnecessary by an excavation company owner who specializes in septic replacement. He did suggest adding a packet of yeast (just the kind you get in the supermarket) once a month. More importantly, he said that you should NEVER use any kind of powder detergents (dishwasher, clothes washer) since these tend to re-solidify in the tank. And, never use a garbage disposal if you have a septic system. Also no sanitary product disposal or diaper liners or wet wipes, even if products are billed as "flushable". I've recently read that one should not do all of the week's laundry on one day if using a septic as this stresses the system. One or two loads in one day was the recommendation. Be careful about grease and/or oil going down your drain when doing kitchen cleanup. An easy disposal of oil or pan drippings: leave crumpled-up newspaper in the pan overnight, and the next morning the grease has been absorbed and the paper can be disposed of in the garbage. Give the pan a wipe with either more newspaper or paper towels to remove as much oil as you can before putting it in the sink.
Nancy
The following is a suggestion of developing a savings. I add up the regular monthly bills for the year, divide them by 12 (12 months in a year), then divide that by 4 (figuring 4 weeks in a month), then put aside that amount each week to cover the bills. Now you will realize that there are actually 52 weeks in a year, not 48 (4x12), so you are actually setting aside a little extra each week. That starts to develop your padding. Also, I round up my weekly payment. Therefore, there is usually a little more in my budget account.
This helps to develop the emergency fund. It can be personalized to each family's needs and expenses. An example of items included in the weekly budget are property insurance and water bill (which are annual), property taxes (semi-annual bill), rent/mortgage, food, allowance, vacation, gifts, charity, clothing and most important: include a personal savings line in the budget. As the budget balance increases, the key is to keep that money in the budget. When emergencies arise, the money will be there.
JEG
One of the most useless and environmentally unfriendly products is Saran wrap (or cling film) I have a number of glass bowls. I put stuff in them and cover them with a plate. It takes me up to three years to use up one role of cling film which I keep mainly for picnics. For sandwiches, I have a sandwich-sized plastic container. I also do not need baggies, aluminum foil, etc.
D-L N
For variety when making pinecone ornaments for my tree a couple of years ago, I lightly brushed glue onto the pinecones with a small brush. Then I sprinkled salt onto the glue for a "frosted" look. The salt picks up the light from the tree just as natural frost would pick up light. The same year, I covered Styrofoam balls with different scraps of fabric and tied with different types of ribbons and cords. Some I left plain, others I decorated with beads, cord, and other things I found around the house. The only things I had to buy were the Styrofoam balls and some of the cords and ribbons I used. I finally found a use for all the broken jewelry I had saved all these years! The technique is simple: choose the size ball you want and cut a circle of fabric big enough to cover it and gather at the top and tie. Velvet is elegant but denim works just as well. They make great gifts, too.
Sarah D. in Wendell, NC
This idea occurred to me the other day when I was fashioning wreaths for my porch windows. Although I enjoy making and buying new holiday decorations, I don't always have the time, energy or money. Next year, I am going to invite my family members to bring holiday decorations they would like to swap at Thanksgiving. Everyone will go home with something "new" for their homes.
Lorraine
I think this gift is the most treasured one my mother has ever received. Several weeks before Christmas I sent my three brothers 10 blank parchment cards. I asked them each to write out 10 separate fond or special memories they have about our mom. Combined with my own, I then put the 40 cards in an extra large vase tied with a beautiful bow. My mom didn't know what to make of the gift at first, but as she started reading the cards she became filled with emotion. Anytime she needs a little reminder as to just how special she is, all she has to do is pull a card out and she knows she is loved.
MDM in Cleveland, Ohio
My daughter loves those Jell-O cups and pudding cups from the grocery store as snacks. They are a very over priced way of buying Jell-O and pudding but I'll occasionally get them anyway as a treat. I save the cups, wash them, and refill with my own homemade Jell-O or pudding. She gets the fun just like store bought treat and I get the savings. Their small size makes them handy for serving other snacks in like grapes or pretzels. I can reuse the cups over and over. They are also great to use for crafts requiring paint, etc., when they get too old for use with food. Finally, I take one with us when we eat out along with a baggy of rice cereal to mix up a meal for our baby. Then if I forget to bring it home, (intentionally or not) it's no big loss.
Kelly
I was purchasing powdered milk for quite a while to use in baking, thinking it was cheaper. One day, it was on sale, so I took out my calculator and checked the price per gallon on the box. To my amazement, the powdered milk cost almost the same as regular milk. Regular milk here in the Pacific NW costs between $2 and $3 per gallon, depending on where you buy it. However, there are always good sales, which means we can get milk for anywhere from $.99 to $1.50 per gallon. Mixed according to directions, the powdered milk costs roughly $1.75 per gallon! My solution is to buy milk when it's on sale, remove about a cup from the gallon and freeze it. This takes up space in the freezer so no cold air is lost and we always have milk (I haven't run out yet). I keep a package of powdered milk on hand "just in case," but it hasn't even been opened yet. The only thing to remember is to remove a gallon from the freezer 2-3 days before you'll need it, so it has time to thaw completely. Shaking the thawing gallon up every once in a while helps dissipate the ice crystals.
Ange in Oregon
Does everyone know the straw trick? When putting plastic ziploc bags of food into the freezer, I put a drinking straw into the bag, and zip the bag shut up to the straw. Then I suck the air out, quick yank the straw out and finish sealing the bag. Voila! No more freezer burn. I think there was a gizmo sold on TV that did the same thing.
Marcia
I like to recycle old Christmas cards by using them for gift tags. I cut out a shape, it can be a circle, oval, star or rectangle (whatever) from the Christmas scene on the front of the card. Depending on the picture you can get anywhere from 1 to 3 gift tags per card. Write your "to" and "from" on the front or the back and tape (or attach with ribbon) to your gift.
Lisa J.
I wanted to give gifts to a number of people I didn't know very well. Had to be inexpensive. I hit upon holiday paper napkins. A craft store near by had beautiful napkins in bulk. I bought a variety and put them them together a dozen napkins, several designs to a pack. I wrapped them nicely and that was that. The napkins cost well under $10 and I had a bunch of really nice gifts. The recipients really liked them.
Theresa L.
I discovered this years ago, and just realized not everyone knows this. I buy bags of dried beans which help stretch our grocery budget. In the veggie isle of the supermarket one lb. bags of dried beans average about $.99. One isle over, in the ethnic section, the same type of dried beans are sold with the Mexican food, for anywhere from $.39-$.59/lb. They are the exact same thing! Pays to keep your eyes open!
Leni in Upstate NY
My idea for a Christmas table cloth consists of using old Christmas cards and clear vinyl that can be purchased by the yard at Wal-Mart or fabric stores. I place various Christmas cards and pictures my children have drawn on my table. You can sprinkle purchased icicles around the pictures or any object that will lay flat. Lay the vinyl across the table after you have placed everything where you want it to be and either use thumb tacks, tape or a stapler to keep the vinyl in place. Make sure and purchase enough clear vinyl to go underneath the table so your thumb tacks won't show. This is also a good idea to use at Thanksgiving and let everyone in the family write down on separate pieces of paper the things they are thankful for.
Penny
Editor's note: obviously you want to be careful where you leave tack or staple marks in your furniture and make sure that there are no sharp edges that could cut anyone
A friend gave me this tip when we first got our dog. Buy the smallest wet/dry vacuum cleaner (1 gallon size-about $25) and keep it just for wet "accidents". On carpeting, pour some water on the spot to rinse it, and then use the vac to suck it all out. It does a much better job of getting it clean (and dry) than just using paper towels. Just be sure to rinse out the vac after each use. When your puppy is housebroken, you can use it to vacuum out the car and other small messes.
Robert J.
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