Readers' Tips
Never buy a home until you are ready. It is easy to make mistakes and buy something you wish you hadn't. It sounds like you are young and not totally sure where you will be in five years. Have you stopped to think that Mom may want to ensure that you don't move out of the area? Now can be a buyer's market if you have the right loan and down payment, but you must be sure it is right.
My niece and her husband bought an expensive ARMS house before
all of the foreclosures. They both earn a good paycheck, but
it is now an anchor for them. Her husband took an interview
out of the area and one of the reasons he is not taking the
job is because of the house. His parents, unfortunately, told
them they couldn't have a child until they bought a house.
Guess what? No baby. They are too busy with work for that.
Before you buy a house, have a five- to ten-year plan of what
you want to do with your lives. A house is an expensive
commitment.
Mary in WA
more suggestions on how to decide when it's time to buy your first house
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
(it will be hot!) and disperse the coals and you have instant
glowing coals! Don't forget to save the can for next time.
Robin in Burnt Hills, NY
A friend and I started getting together once a month to cook on Saturday mornings (3 1/2 hours was all it took). Last time, we did it in my kitchen, and the next time, we will be in her kitchen. We select our menus, and since I have two in my family and she has three in hers, we can still split each entree down the middle as well as the cost. We freeze a little and eat a lot.
We both work outside the home and all we have to do after work
is fix quick sides to go with our entrees. We try to catch
meats on sale to help us decide what we are going to fix.
Since last month was a trial, we plan to branch out and make a
few sides other than potatoes. We saved money and time.
Gina A. in Newnan, GA
Here's a cheap way to stay cool in bed on those hot summer
nights without air conditioning. Thoroughly wet a pair of
cotton socks with cool water, wring out the excess water, and
put them on. It feels refreshing and will keep you
surprisingly cool!
Sheryl L. in Shermans Dale, PA
Beach towels are so expensive. Yet, it's nice to have some
"special" towels that the kids will easily recognize when you
go to the beach. Rather than pay top dollar for a beach towel,
I head down to the bath aisle and choose "beachy looking" bath
towels in fun colors, paying less than half the cost per towel
than I would on a towel marketed specifically as a beach
towel.
Tricia in MN
The largest contributor to many families' food bills is meat. I have found that I could gradually cut back the amount of meat I put into my recipes. We now use only half of the meat most recipes call for and hardly notice a difference in taste. Not only is this healthier, but it also cuts our meat bill in half.
We like to pre-cook our meats and store them in the freezer in
the smaller portions. If my kids are helping with the cooking,
I do not have to worry about them cooking and handling the
meat properly. If I'm doing the cooking, it cuts down on prep
time and dishes as well.
Cynthia M.
Recently, I attended a birthday party for 30 pre-teens. Here is a neat food idea that I picked up at the party (and I'm hoping to win $100 with!).
The hostess bought a box of snack size Fritos (Sam's Club has 50 bags in a box for around $10). She had on hand ingredients for tacos (seasoned meat, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and taco sauce). Then the kids squeezed the bottom of the bags so the Fritos broke up a little bit and spooned the meat, cheese, etc. into the bag. After sticking a plastic fork in the bag, it was a walking taco!
The kids loved them and no plates were needed. They simply
threw away the bag when done.
Becky L. in Altoona, PA
We eat a lot of popcorn, and I was getting worried about the
chemicals in microwave popcorn. We started buying bags of
regular popcorn kernels and popping them on the stove. My
husband didn't even know how to make stove popcorn. And, it's
fun for kids too! Just a little oil, enough popcorn to cover
the bottom of the pan, and a little salt is all you need.
Samantha
more healthy eating ideas
If you do not get a circular of the grocery store that you
like to shop at, try going to their website. Most store
websites have the weekly ads available to view online. In
addition, you can select items and add them to your own
personalized "shopping list" and then print it out from home.
You can also sign up to have the weekly ads emailed to you.
TP
To make inexpensive artwork when I was decorating my place, I
went to bookstores, dollar stores, and anywhere else where
they sell calendars. Most places will have them on clearance
after February for $1 or less. If you find a calendar with
pictures you like that match your decor, you can cut out the
pictures and glue them on poster board or foam board and then
hang them on the wall. This makes 12 pictures for much less
than you would pay for artwork or posters elsewhere.
Julie L. in St. Louis, MO
To start a campfire or charcoal grill, use old bacon
drippings. You can use a paintbrush and spread the bacon
grease on the charcoal or wood and also on a piece of paper or
paper towel. Light the towel and the grease will get your fire
going and give off the fragrance of fresh cooked bacon.
P.
For the last 7 years, I have lived in a home with no air
conditioning. To keep cool, I close off windows to keep out
the hot sun, use fans, drink cool water, etc. To make the fans
more effective, I set a large bowl of ice or a jug of frozen
water in front of them. The bowl/jug needs to be checked to be
sure the air from the fan is circulating around them and is
not blocked. You may need to experiment depending on the size
of the fan. The best part is the air blowing out from the fans
is cooled down even more because of passing around the ice,
and with several around the home, my house is cooler.
Sandy in California
Make a cold pack by putting two cups of water and 1/2 cup of
alcohol in a zippered freezer bag. Keep in freezer for a time
when you need an ice pack due to injury or bug bites. It has a
slushy gel like texture and molds to the area it is applied.
This can be refrozen and used many times. Children love it for
scrapes and bug bites.
Maude C.
Today, I sold my old refrigerator via Craig's List. I had already moved it out to the garage over two years ago, and despite having covered it, there was a great deal of cleaning to do. I got it nearly spotless using one of those "Magic Eraser" sponges with a little bit of water. They really work like nothing else!
But the real tip I wanted to share was that I decided to remove the grill (down at the bottom at the front of the fridge) to clean it. I was stunned to find a layer of lint/dust that was half of an inch thick behind the grill! I literally pulled the layer of lint away from the fridge just the same way you'd remove it from your dryer's lint trap.
There is no doubt that my refrigerator would have been even
more energy efficient during the seven years I used it had I
cleaned behind the grill annually. So go check out what lurks
behind your refrigerator grill! You will be shocked and glad
you did!
JR
I love the decorations that are popular on women's clothing
like beads, metal studs and sequins. Almost any item that says
dry clean only can be washed safely in your washing machine on
delicate cycle by using cold water and putting the item in a
cotton zip up pillow cover. You do need to hang those
delicates to dry, rather than use the dryer. I just keep a
pillow cover handy by my washing machine. I even wash my knee-
high hosiery this way. I don't have to hand-wash any
delicates, and I haven't been to the dry cleaner for years.
Shirley B.
editor's note: Although Shirley has had wonderful success with this method, I'd still probably would take anything that is irreplaceable to the dry cleaners
When traveling, instead of spending $2 to $3 per person at an
ice cream shop, we go to the nearest grocery store and buy a
pint of premium ice cream and share. Recently, a pint of Ben &
Jerry's was on sale for $3.
Janice
Most shops charge $4 per tire to rotate them. Most oil change
places do not offer this service. You can get this for free
whenever you have your brakes or shocks checked or have brake
work done. While they have the tires off, it's simple to move
the back to the front and vice versa. I thought of this while
waiting in the waiting room as I saw the tires sitting there.
I asked, and as I sat there, I watched the fellow switch them.
Remember that rotating your tires saves on tire wear.
Lucy in San Antonio, TX
What would you do with an extra $100? One lucky Dollar Stretcher "tipster" will win a $100 check each month just for sending in their favorite time or money saving idea. It could be you. Just send your suggestion to Tips@ stretcher.com. If we use your tip in any of our publications, we'll send you the next three issues of our print newsletter as a "thank you" and you'll automatically be entered into our monthly $100 drawing!
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