'brand spanking new tips'...

**ttistin** · 04-23-2010, 10:52 AM

My family was going through a ton of shampoo so I spent a little extra and got a shampoo bottle with a pump on it, now I just refill it with cheap shampoo and it lasts a long time.

**condo_living** · 04-24-2010, 01:44 PM

Tip 1: I get new car insurance quotes at least once a year just to see if I can save some money. Car Insurance companies will raise your rates for no reasons on renewals with it the amount being small enough to just be an irritant. Over time this adds up. I never did this before and I got a quote and literally saved 50% on my car insurance. For a quote, I don't give them a SSN as I don't want an inquiry on my credit report.

Tip 2: By law, the credit reporting agencies must give you a copy of your credit report for free. Do get this once a year to see if there's any erroneous information in the report.

Tip 3: Use an online bank for savings account as they pay more in interest versus a traditional bank. I also setup multiple ones so if one goes low I can switch around. I use the savings advice forum web site to check which ones have the best interest rate.

Tip 4: Use your computer to store papers and not your home. Buy a cheap scanner and scan papers that you need to save into the computer. Also make sure you backup the scanned documents in case you have a computer failure.

**gottadance** · 04-25-2010, 01:15 AM

I was at an Earth Day event today, where one vendor was selling sandwich wraps that were cloth that you re-use. Basically they were cloth stiched on three sides and the flap at the top had velcro on it, so you stick the sandwich in and close th flap, you have a couple of them and instead of buying sandwich bags over and over, you just wash these. However, I thought, why should I spend money on these - I can just get cloth napkins from an estate sale or resale shop and wrap up my sandwich and put a loose rubberband around it or clip it with something at the top...

**Judi Dial** · 05-17-2010, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by ttistin

My family was going through a ton of shampoo so I spent a little extra and got a shampoo bottle with a pump on it, now I just refill it with cheap shampoo and it lasts a long time.

Ttistin, if that stops working, and you're not scent sensitive, check out a local beauty supply shop. Beauty shops buy their shampoos in concentrated form and add water themselves. This is what we used to do before I got allergies!

Also, I work at a farm stand. At the end of each day we cover the potatoes with sheets I asked why? (I thought it was to keep them warm at night maybe?) No. To keep the LIGHT away from them! I used this idea in my kitchen. My two small bike baskets where I keep potatoes to be used immediately have dark green commercial napkins that completely surround the potatoes. Since i started doing this, the potatoes sprout a lot less!

IHTH --

Judi

**nancybixby** · 08-10-2010, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by NikoSan999

Interesting...would also think it would be a good way to keep the plants growing straight.
Maybe some kind of a transparent container cut the same way would have a terrarium effect. Hmmm...may have to investigate this.

If you cut off the bottom, you can put them over new seedlings to protect them. Remove the cap for ventilation!

**BeachFun** · 08-10-2010, 07:32 PM

I'm just wondering what is a solar grabber and how are they used?

**sunshine** · 08-10-2010, 08:37 PM

Solar heat grabbers -- solar collectors (usually homemade) that collect heat from the sun, and are used to heat your home, garage, etc.

**ladytoysdream** · 08-10-2010, 09:37 PM

Buy things at the tail end of the seasons for next year. I just stocked up on some vegtable seeds at half price. Then I got lucky and hit their clearance sale and bought pkgs for .15 each. I really stocked up

When you need to buy something, check to see if something second hand will work first before buying new. Check thrift shops, garage sales, flea markets and craigslist. Also ask friends and family if they have something on your list. Not too long ago, when the toaster quit, I mentioned to my son, and he had a extra one and gave it to me. Free is good

**Judi Dial** · 08-23-2010, 08:07 PM

The zip bags that grapes come in, with the big holes, are great for storing mushrooms! The mushrooms if anything dry out, but they don't get slimey!

Judi

**Paws** · 08-23-2010, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by ttistin

My family was going through a ton of shampoo so I spent a little extra and got a shampoo bottle with a pump on it, now I just refill it with cheap shampoo and it lasts a long time.

The same thing was happening with our body wash..My dd and her best friend use way too much!
So I bought a large pump container of another body wash...when it's empty, I rinse and refill it with whatever body wash I have on hand...Much less is used each time and it lasts so much longer!!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 08-24-2010, 10:36 PM

I found out tonight that using shaving creme (not the gel stuff, but the foam stuff) gets the grime out of the handles of your appliances. Rub it onto the handle in the dirty spots and let it sit for 10 minutes, then rub it down with a damp cloth.

**onencgirl** · 08-24-2010, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

I found out tonight that using shaving creme (not the gel stuff, but the foam stuff) gets the grime out of the handles of your appliances. Rub it onto the handle in the dirty spots and let it sit for 10 minutes, then rub it down with a damp cloth.

We use shaving creme at school to clean desks. Works great and is good for anyone with allergies.

**frugal me** · 08-25-2010, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

We have been doing this for a while. DH taught the kids to drown everything in ketchup. The 4 of them would go through a bottle a meal. I purchased a box of packets and lay out enough for each guy to get 2 at a meal. IMO it is also healthier for them to eat less (I do NOT put ketchup in the veggie category as some do). I know it's cheaper as I am not buying ketchup constantly. It also takes up less room in my fridge (I buy mustard and mayo packets too).

Where are you buying the packets from?

**Gabe** · 08-25-2010, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by frugal me

Where are you buying the packets from?

You can get them at GFS where I live.

Grocery | Spices, Breakfast, Snacks - GFS.com

Condiments
Our condiment selection includes both individual serving and bulk sizes of barbecue sauce, cocktail sauce, horseradish, peanut butter, soy sauce, steak sauce, tarter sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard, and more.

Or from amazon.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Heinz-Tomato-Ketchup-0-32-Ounce-Packages/dp/B0025UCAII/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1282789196&sr=8-6"]Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 0.32-Ounce Single Serve Packages (Pack of…@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K%2B8zDIyVL.@@AMEPARAM@@41K%2B8zDIyVL[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Heinz-Tomato-Ketchup-1-25-Ounce-Pouches/dp/B0012272B0/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1282789247&sr=8-20"]Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 1.25-Ounce Single Serve Pouches (Pack of 100): Amazon.com:…@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZFjkjDtwL.@@AMEPARAM@@51ZFjkjDtwL[/ame]

Or Hunts.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Hunts-Tomato-Ketchup-Packets-Case/dp/B003BWXXX0/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1282789320&sr=1-37"]Amazon.com: Hunt's Tomato Ketchup Packets - Case of 1000: Grocery & Gourmet Food@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZkZL%2BPxqL.@@AMEPARAM@@41ZkZL%2BPxqL[/ame]