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Cleaning Honeycomb Blinds

Start with, of all things, a feather duster. It does a great job on dust and cobwebs. If you need to keep getting more intense, go step by step and always work in good strong light. Put a piece of soft fabric like terrycloth or a microfiber cloth over the vacuum hose and gently run it over the front and back while holding the entire blind still. It is easier with two adults, one vacuuming and one holding the blind. I have also taken the blind down and taken it outside and gently shaken it.

You have to be very gentle and careful of the sides. That honeycomb shape is easily damaged. If liquid is spilled on the blind, call the manufacturer and ask what is the best thing to clean this with. I have had good luck using pure baking soda and dusting it on and off with a paintbrush. But if the wet stain leaves a mark, it is best to talk to the company that made it and see what they recommend
Debbie

Just You and Me

One night, my spouse brought home some gourmet cocoa mix and two small jar candles that were on sale. "Date night!" he said. The total cost was about $5, and made for a nice "date night." We also watched a movie from Netflix. In our area, where it is often cold and rainy most of the year, things like this make a cozy atmosphere.
MKJ in WA

Easy Way to Meal Planning

I tried for years to get organized about meal preparation, but nothing ever seemed to last. I knew that to save time and money (and my sanity) I needed to plan our meals, but never seemed to find time to do it. Then I realized that I am planning my meals, only at the last minute and one meal at a time. So I started writing down what I served every night (hot dogs with chips, stroganoff with noodles, lasagna and salad, etc.). After three weeks, I reviewed my list and came up with a meal plan. It took a little fine tuning (too many days of spaghetti), but I was amazed!
Kathey in Georgia

DIY Used Motor Oil Disposal

Most auto part stores are required by state and/or federal law to collect used motor oil from DIYers. This takes a lot of the hassle out of doing your own oil changes.
Bob in Ohio

The Advantages of Un-Decorating

Instead of decorating, I am un-decorating and removing every item I no longer need, want or have to dust. It's liberating to have a clean, non-cluttered home. I wish that I didn't collect all this stuff in the first place. My photos are either being thrown away or labeled and then put into categorized photo boxes.
Grannie Annie in Suffern, NY

Little Luxuries:
Using Time Productively

When my job was cut in half, with all benefits ending, I resigned. I decided to use my newly found "free" time to get healthy and do something special for me. I joined the local Girls Club, so I could use their pool. For $25 a month, I have access to the pool five days a week plus I can attend water aerobics classes. The instructor lets me use ankle weights or waist weights to enhance the workout.

I haven't felt this wonderful in ages! I'm getting fabulous exercise and am losing weight. I feel healthy and great about doing something good for me. I am getting healthier so that I won't have to make doctor visits too frequently. Prevention is imperative. The tough times, and even the job loss, have had hidden benefits. And I, for one, am very, very grateful.
Susan

editor's note: Many of us have given up a lot because of the economy. So we're looking for "Little Luxuries" that we can share with everyone. If you have an inexpensive way to make yourself feel good, please send it by gary@stretcher.com. We'll share the best ones in future issues.

Quicker Shopping Trips

While making your shopping list, go the extra step and break the store into sections, such as produce, frozen food, canned food and meat. Then just add each item under that section. That way you are not backtracking through the store.
Autumn in Montrose, CO

Beware Budget Billing Plans

Recently a friend sold his home and bought another. This friend used the budget billing for his natural gas bill. When he called the gas company to get his final bill amount for the home he sold, it was over $800! He sold his home when he owed more money than he had in "escrow" for the heating season. So in order to finalize his account, he had to come up with $800. I know people won't hold off buying or selling a home based on this, but it is something to be aware of.
Kathy

Fruit Fly Control

This is the perfect solution for eliminating fruit flies. It cleared them out in a couple of hours. Take a shallow, large soup/salad bowl and fill with soapy water. Then fill a smaller container with a sweet vinegar or sweet wine to place in the center of the larger bowl. I used apple cider vinegar and the flies loved the smell and either drowned in the soapy bubbles (which they couldn't resist) or dove into the sweet vinegar. No more flies!
Debra

Make Your Own Marinades

Sometimes being frugal serves up a super recipe. I was clearing up after lunch and thinking about what to do with a couple of chicken thighs I had thawed for supper. The mustard jar we emptied on sandwiches still had a teaspoon or so in the bottom but not enough to return to the fridge.

Instead of rinsing it out at the tap and tossing the empty jar, I poured some orange juice into the jar, added a touch of olive oil and gave it a hard shake. Those two large chicken thighs in their resealable freezer bag got a bath in that tasty blend for the afternoon.

At supper, they went into the microwave on half power for eight minutes. We had moist, flavorful, tender chicken. With a microwave-baked potato and a side salad, supper was on the table in minutes. We had a hot summer evening meal that didn't heat up the kitchen. And the marinade was "free" from ingredients on hand.
Barbara

Saving Overripe Fruit

I used to get so frustrated every time I had to throw away a piece of fruit because it got overripe, went bad or was too mushy and nobody wanted to eat it. Now I just take the fruit and make something else with it.

I peel overripe bananas and wrap in foil that can be saved and re-used. My kids love to eat the now frozen bananas instead of ice cream as they are sweet and delicious. I also take some out to whip up a batch of banana bread, and along with any fruit, they can be made into a great smoothie.

Frozen grapes have become a hit this summer. Pop them right out of the freezer into your mouth. I wash them, let them dry on a paper towel, and then freeze them. Everyone loves this summer treat.

Peaches, plums and berries are being put in Jell-O and the kids love it.

Any fruit can be frozen for the great smoothie and ice cream making process. Now I don't feel that bad when I get over zealous and buy more fruit than can be eaten as nothing goes to waste.
Helene H.

Creating New Clothes for Less

To save money when sewing or updating an outfit, remember that the buttons can make an outfit. However, a card of 3 or maybe 4 nice buttons is easily $4 or more per card. Therefore, I search the local thrifts and go to the Retirement Centers' annual sales for clothing with nice buttons. A jacket and blouse combo (these can have 8 to 12 buttons total) that is selling for $4 to $6 may no longer be in style. However, if the buttons are classic or stylish, they can still be used. Instead of 4 cards for $16, I found about 10 to 12 buttons for $5.
Julia

Finding Affordable Canning Jars

I was shocked when I looked online for canning jars and accessories. I purchased a case of 12 pint jars at my local supermarket for $7.16. The best prices I saw online were K- Mart and Ace Hardware, which were still a dollar higher and shipping was not included. I purchased a basic canning bath with a rack for $20 at the farm supply store. The same thing was up to three times higher online! Check your local suppliers and compare prices before assuming online is better.

Don't forget that you can reuse or buy jars at yard sales and thrift stores, too. You just have to make sure they don't have any chips or cracks. You always have to buy new lids anyway. Make sure that rings aren't rusted, or buy new ones. Also, if you save jars that candles came in, make sure that they are safe for canning. There are some that are safe, and some that aren't.
Charlen C.

Reducing Water Bills

For those of you whose homes are hooked up to sewer systems or are in the process of connecting to a sewer system, please consider buying an abatement meter from a plumbing supply store. We hooked up to town sewer last year and a friend of ours in a nearby town who has this meter told us about it.

A plumber installs it inside the house and connects it to your irrigation system. You deduct the meter reading for that water usage once a year from your sewer bill. The system pays for itself in a couple of years. Ours is connected to an outside faucet as well so we use that faucet for washing the cars, watering the potted plants, filling buckets and filling the outside spa tub.
GMB

editor's note: Check with your water company first. Not all will give you a credit for the difference.

Make-Up for Cheap

With the holidays coming on too fast, I thought I would share something that I do every year. After Christmas when everything is being reduced half off or more, I buy the gift boxes of make-up. These usually have a lot of eye shadow, lipstick, finger nail polish, blush, mascara, eye brow pencils and eye liners. This usually lasts me for the whole year and I even give away the ones that I don't like to someone else. It sure saves me a lot of money throughout the year.
Eileen C.

What Are Friends For?

Get friendly with your consignment shop owner. It pays! As a diehard secondhand shopper, I discovered this accidentally while getting to know my consignment owner as a friend as well as a business owner. Once we knew one another well, the shop owner knew my tastes and my hard-to-fit sizes. When things came in which seemed likely choices for me, she would set them aside for me. She was willing to deal on prices because she knew me as a frequent customer. I didn't buy on every visit, but I looked often because inventory changes frequently. The shop owner would give honest opinions as to how I looked in different things, too. In the meantime, I found a new friend, and that's the real bargain.
LRR

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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