5 Ways You Can Use This for That by Mary Hunt on Creators.com

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Tips That Make You Feel Like a Genius Secretly, I feel like a genius when I discover a secondary use for this or that — in case I run out of this, but have plenty of that! Like using a paper coffee filter to wash a glass top or mirror when I'm in a pinch for paper towels. Or using …Read more. Supermarket Tricks That Makes Us Spend More I've always thought of myself as pretty sharp when it comes to spotting supermarket trickery. I'm not even fazed by an end-cap display announcing, "Special." I know their ways. They hope we'll just assume that "special" means …Read more. The Struggle to Actually Use up Gift Cards My love-hate relationship with gift cards has intensified. What a pain, really. I'm one who just forgets to use them, and when I remember, I try to figure out how to use each one to the last cent. I was reminded of my situation recently when I …Read more. Commingle Personal and Business Finances? Never! Dear Mary: I am reading your book, "Debt-Proof Living," and have begun tracking my expenses. I have a home-based business. Should I include business expenses or just personal expenses in the tracking? — Lucy, Vermont Dear Lucy: You …Read more.

5 Ways You Can Use This for That

When I run out of coffee filters, I love knowing that I can fashion a paper towel into a filter. And curiously, when I need to clean a mirror or window and don't have any paper towels, a coffee filter can substitute. Check out these reader-submitted ideas for how to use this for that!

TIP OF THE MONTH. I am 13 years old, and I have a tip for your column. I find that hand sanitizer with 60 percent ethyl alcohol from the dollar store removes pen and permanent marker ink from skin. I know because my little brother had a fun day at school. Kids signed one another's shirts with markers. Some used permanent markers, and the ink leaked through his shirt. He came home with marks all over his arms and back. I rubbed hand sanitizer on the marks, and they simply disappeared! This is a cheap and easy solution for removing ink from skin. As a bonus, it also kills germs. — Aaron R., Illinois

(Editorial note: Please make sure you keep this stuff away from little ones. It is nearly pure rubbing alcohol and could be mistaken as a tasty treat! —MH)

LICENSE SENSE. Here's a way to put your cell phone to good use: Create an entry named "License Plate" in your contact list. Enter your license plate number and you will have that information at your fingertips. This is great info to have at hotel check-in or in the unfortunate event that your car is stolen. Having that entry could be the difference between a quick recovery and a never-ending hassle.

— Kristean T., Arkansas

CLEANING CADDY. I use an old golf bag from my favorite thrift shop to store my brooms and mops. Its deep pockets hold dust rags and a dust buster, and I hook a spray bottle on the top edge. The bag makes a handy cleaning caddy, and it stands easily in the corner out of the way. — Lee, Pennsylvania

NATURAL SOLUTION. I never use expensive commercial septic cleaner. The man who installed our septic system 15 years ago recommended flushing three packets of yeast down a toilet once a month to keep the septic in great condition. Yeast is the key ingredient in the commercial solution. I buy the cheapest three-pack of yeast I can find (quick-rise or regular) and flush it down one toilet every month. After all these years, we never have had any problems with our septic system. — Carolyn P., Tennessee

MAPLE SAVINGS. When my four boys were growing up, we went through a lot of maple syrup. I made my own. I got out my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and followed its maple syrup recipe. I made big batches and mixed them with real maple syrup (equal parts or less). With the price of real maple syrup, I'm thinking about doing that again when my grandkids visit. — Jan S., California

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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