|
|
|
One lucky TDS "tipster" will win a $100 check each month just for sending us their favorite time or money saving idea. It could be you! Click here to submit your suggestion.
Last month's winning tipster: Rita from MN!
|
Money problems? Struggling with credit card debt? What you need to know about bankruptcy? Trouble repaying student loans?
|
Finding Furniture for Smaller Rooms
I have a small home that was built in 1939 and have this same problem. I think you need to think outside the box. In other words, instead of a full size sofa and loveseat, get two loveseats and place them at a right angle to each other. Or consider a loveseat and two chairs for your living room. Also, get furniture that can multitask, such as tables with built-in storage underneath or an ottoman that can double as seating. I have a tall lamp that has built in shelves, and this eliminates the need for small occasional tables. As you noted, it can be hard to find small-scale furniture without having something custom built, but if you focus on creative multi-tasking, you can find something that fits (literally!) the bill.
Carol
For more ideas on how to find affordable furniture for smaller rooms, click here or join the discussion in The Dollar Stretcher Community.
Cheap Cuts of Meat? No Problem!
My husband and I both work with people who are new immigrants to our country. Some don't have much money to spend on nice cuts of meat. However, they bring delicious foods to work and the meat is so tender and flavorful! They told us their secret. It's the pressure cooker. Apparently, the new electric pressure cookers are much safer than the stovetop ones.
The pressure cooker has become my new best friend! I cooked a roast the other day in less than an hour that was so tender I could cut it with a fork. Flavoring that is added seems to permeate into the meat under the high pressure. Even tough meat like skirt steaks are tender when cooked in the pressure cooker. I haven't tried it yet, but our friends say that beans and lentils cook very quickly as well.
Jen in Wheaton, Illinois
Gardening Savings
To stretch your gardening dollars, try these ideas. Carefully crack off the top third of eggs. Use the egg. Rinse the shell and pierce the bottom. You can fill with seed starter and set in the egg carton you saved and start seeds in the window. Crack the whole shell and place in the ground when you're ready to transplant.
Take a two-page section of newspaper. Wrap just the bottom 2/3 of any can or jar the size you want to plant seeds in. When I put these transplants in the ground, I mix up some Miracle-Gro(r) and spray the bottom of the paper planter so the roots will break on through. You can use a small piece of tape to hold it together or a smear of egg as glue.
Try a shuffle or stirrup hoe to weed close to plants. The end of it is an open circle, and it really makes it easy to make one stroke and clip off the weeds just at ground level without re-burying them so that they re-root. It can cut your weeding time by about 50%.
Try tucking some fruit and berry bushes in place of "normal" foundation plants. That same area is great for herbs and long term garden plants like asparagus that should be left alone for several years. And many varieties of vegetables and salad items are very decorative. Why waste all that tending on something like a pine tree you can't eat? In place of some of the shrubs, try blueberry bushes, thornless blackberry canes, paw-paw trees, passionflowers (maypops) and other edible flowers.
Watch for places like old home sites or abandoned houses where you can often harvest apples and nuts from long forgotten trees. And many older folks are glad to share the excess that would otherwise make a mess in their yard with someone still able to go out and gather it before it spoils. One small dwarf apple tree can yield six bushels of apples, and one of those huge old ones can yield ten times that much.
Work every year to keep improving your soil. Everyone thinks of that in the spring, but in late fall, I've seen huge bags of leaves at the curb that someone could have grabbed and used for free mulch and compost. And it was ready for transport!
Deb Z.
Reducing Attorney's Fees
Don't be afraid to negotiate your attorney's fee! My husband and I received a bill from our attorney for a revision of some paperwork. The bill was about twice as high as what we were expecting. We didn't feel the small job warranted such a high fee and felt it was out of line in comparison to what we were charged a few years ago when the initial paperwork was drawn up. With my husband not working, I felt I had nothing to lose by calling the attorney and asking her to review the statement. When I explained my reasons for asking for a reduction, she was very pleasant and unhesitatingly offered about a third off the bill. Undoubtedly she did not want to lose us as future customers, and we both were happy with the solution.
As much as I dreaded making that phone call, I would have hated even more overpaying for a service. It was much less painful than I anticipated and well worth the effort, particularly when I told my husband how much money I saved us that day!
Paula
Little Luxuries:
McBreakfast Sandwiches
My little luxury is the McGriddle(r) sandwiches! However, at almost $3 each, I've decided it's McGreedy! We recently were at our local Aldi's (discount grocery store) and found a box of four pancake breakfast sandwiches for $1.79. I could have almost bought two boxes (8 breakfasts) for the same price as one at McDonald's. They heat up in less than a minute and now my husband is eating breakfast before he heads to work!
Susan J. in Augusta, KS
editor's note: If you'd like to make them yourself, we found a recipe for pancake breakfast sandwiches here.
Sewing Patterns
Here is a tip for people who sew. Sewing patterns are getting expensive, and especially with children's patterns, you end up cutting off three or more sizes when you cut out a pattern. I got this tip from a quilter. Trace the pattern onto freezer paper and cut out the freezer paper. Use the freezer paper to cut the pattern pieces out of your fabric. Iron the freezer paper to the fabric so you do not have to mark up your fabric with dots, dashes, etc.
Ashley
Low Cost Home Invasion Protection
We have a low window in our daughter's room on the street side. We planted a thorny red bush along the whole front of the house fairly close to the window. It is spaced out to look nice. It feathers out, and was purchased at the end of the season from a home improvement store. We have made it so that this window only opens eight inches due to screw type locks on each side of the window that hold the window in place. We feel good about these measures for use during the day when we are home. At night, the windows are closed and locked because of the ground location. From weeding and trying to wash this window, I know that the bushes do draw blood!
Dorothy L.
Little Luxuries:
Family Shopping
I used to take a "mommy day" to just go shopping by myself for no reason while my husband did something fun with the kids, and that usually involved spending money too. Recently, I actually needed jeans but didn't want to spend a lot. We went to the Salvation Army store as a family and had a great time. The store is huge so it took a while to look around. My husband still took the kids and looked at all the toys, books, and kids' clothes so I could shop and try on jeans alone. We went on the 50% off clothing day and got tons of stuff for the whole family, including my jeans. We had a great time because we didn't have to worry about finding things we liked but couldn't afford. It's much more fun to go shopping when you know you can choose anything in the store that you like!
Michelle R. in Etters, PA
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.
Time for Furnace Filters
Long ago, I memorized the size I needed for replaceable
furnace filters so I could watch for sales, which are more
common during the spring. I saw a great sale this week on some
of the expensive ones, but the store didn't have any of the
size that I needed. However, because the filters stand
vertically in my furnace, I could buy the ones that have the
correct width to fill the slot, even though they are too tall
and part will stick up.
H.R.
editor's note: Spring is a great time to take the steps to reduce your summer air conditioning bills. You'll find plenty of helpful information in the "energy, cooling" section of our library.
Boxed Supplies on Stand-By
I've read in magazines about people shopping in their own closet, but I always assumed it was just for clothes. Then last December I found myself buying razors to shave my legs and I kept thinking I was sure I had razors somewhere in the big linen closet next to the bathroom. I went home and dug in the closet and found a pack of razors and also several other items I'd forgotten about.
That Sunday I checked the ads in the paper and found out a local craft store was selling video boxes for $1.50. And I went and bought 15 of them. I chose video boxes because they are smaller and more easily stackable in the closet than the traditional plastic bins. They were much less expensive, as a plastic bin can cost $4 or $5. I labeled each video box with a type of product, such as soap, razors, dental, body wash, makeup, cotton balls, and went to work. It took me longer than I thought, but now that I'm done, the closet is completely organized. Now, whenever I use something up, instead of going to the store, I go to the closet. Since I was always a sale shopper, I found that I had a big stash of things that had gotten shoved to the back of the closet and upper shelves and forgotten.
When I got Christmas gifts of soaps, etc., I immediately filed
them in the correct boxes. By my calculations, I won't have to
shop at the drugstore again for at least six months, and I am
enjoying things I'd completely forgotten I had. I also found
gift items that I never liked. All of these got bundled and
donated to a shelter, and I got a tax receipt for them.
J.
Great Looking Skin!
Instead of going to the spa and paying a fortune for an
exfoliating treatment. I use a "soft" toothbrush with a little
Cetaphil lotion to scrub my face. This really takes care of
any blackheads or dead skin and is much cheaper. So every few
days, I get a really nice spa treatment for a fraction of the
cost.
Kathy
Garden In a Bag
This is a great tip on growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers,
etc. in any location, especially if you have poor or hard
soil. Buy a bag of good top soil or potting soil. Make a few
slits in the bottom of that bag and a hole or two in the top
of the bag, depending on which plant you want to grow. Lay
this on top of the ground. It could be in the flowerbed or
garden. Just plant in the holes, water and watch them grow.
You can group several together and mulch around them with
leaves or grass clippings if you do not like the look of the
plastic. If you check the home stores and garden centers, you
can usually purchase bags of soil that are already damaged
with small holes for half the price. The bags will usually
last a year or more.
Darlene J. in Bluff City, Tennessee
Little Luxuries:
A Friend and I
We all love little luxuries! However, many times after I try a new product, I don't care for it. For me, usually it is a perfume/body spray or hair product. Instead of tossing it or keeping it unused in a closet, I usually offer it to a friend.
They are usually receptive to trying something new and happy
not to spend on it as well. They often have items they aren't
happy with that I might enjoy. It's a nice way of trying
something new, keeping it out of the landfill and saving
money.
Dorina
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.
Reducing Razors Cost
Recently I went to the store to buy replacement blades for my
razor. It is one of the many new razors with all the bells and
whistles like three blades, pivoting head, lubricating strip,
etc. When I got to the store, I found that four replacement
blades were approximately $10. After wondering if the razor
was really worth the cost of the blades, I noticed that the
store also sold disposable versions of the same razor that
were $3 less than the replacement blades for the same
quantity. Since I have to get a new blade once every week or
two, this could add up to a substantial savings over time
without giving up the quality of the shave that I like.
Samuel L.
Cheaper Homemade Pizza
Before buying that Boboli®, check with your local pizza
franchise. Most are willing to part with dough patties,
pepperoni, cheese, etc. for less than half what the grocery
stores will charge you.
Emily
Vinegar? Not Always!
In a zeal for frugal living, many people tout vinegar as almost a be-all and end-all of cleaning products. While vinegar is great at removing water stains and good for making glass and metals shine, don't use it in place of all your cleaners.
As a Ph.D. chemist, my husband informs me that vinegar is a bactrostatic. It temporarily immobilizes, but does not kill bacteria. So if you are using vinegar to clean your countertops or toilet, it really isn't helping to keep your home as clean as you think.
The more frugal, environmental choice is to buy a concentrated
organic biocide. You add the water, so it's more expensive up
front, but it will last longer and actually kill bacteria. And
concentrated cleaners are lighter to ship from manufacturer to
store to home, which is also good for the environment.
Lyn K. in Wenatchee, WA
Neat Indoor Plant Watering
To water flowers indoors, under your carport or anywhere you
don't want to make a mess, take an old dish detergent bottle
and fill it with water (the kind that has the pull-out tip on
it). This type of bottle works great. Add some Miracle-Gro®
or other favorite fertilizer, and watch the mess disappear and
the flowers grow.
Legenia S. in Dublin, GA
Little Luxuries:
The Dinner Party
My friends and I of 30-somethings who live in a small town have started a "supper club." Each month one family hosts the dinner. There are four families involved. Therefore, each of us only hosts three times a year. Only hosting it three times a year and having a flexible menu allows us to have a wonderful evening out with friends and save money in the process.
I am hosting this month and am having a turkey dinner. The
twenty-three pound turkey was a gift from a friend's father
that bought too many for a fundraiser during the holidays. His
only stipulation was that we send him and his wife a plate
afterwards. I am so happy that I will be feeding 15 people for
around $25.
Kristal E. in Galax, Virginia
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.
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!
If you'd like to receive our Dollar Stretcher Tips ezine send a blank email to subscribe-ds-tips @hub.thedollarstretcher.com
Follow The Dollar Stretcher on Twitter.
Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips@stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!
If you found these tips helpful, sign up for our free twice-weekly eNewsletter Dollar Stretcher Tips. Just enter your email address in the box below and click Subscribe.
Follow The Dollar Stretcher on Twitter.
Dollar Stretcher Community
Forums
Blogs
Also In This Week's Issue
2 steps to finding credit after bankruptcy
Upcoming state sales tax holidays
7 reasons why you should refinance
No government bailout on credit card debt
Shop and save on auto insurance
Checking account do's and don'ts
Copyright 1996 - 2010 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.
Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
Voice 941-761-7805
Fax 941-761-8301
"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
| About Us | Privacy Policy | Writer's Guidelines | Sponsorship | Media | Contact Us |
