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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.
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A Little Organization Goes a Long WayI think I must have been born lacking a certain organizational gene. Only one gene, mind you. The genes that enjoy and admire good organization are intact. That's why I need friends and readers to tell me how to do organizational things that come naturally to them. Just wait until you read the great tips that today's group of readers have taught me! NECKLACES ON BOARD. My necklaces used to get tangled up with one another. I purchased a corked bulletin board for $6 and hung it on a wall in my closet. I placed straight pins across the top. Now my necklaces hang there. I can move the pins on the board to accommodate various lengths, and I can find the piece I need with a quick glance. I wish I did this before I bought my jewelry cabinet, which takes up space and is just another thing to dust. — Pam M., North Carolina DRY STORAGE. I hate to throw away plastic Parmesan containers. Instead, I remove the labels, wash and dry them and fill them with baking soda, powdered sugar, cornmeal or popcorn kernels. I easily can pour out just the right amount without waste or mess! — Christy H., North Carolina FOUND SPACE. Because I am single, I never use my dishwasher. It was wasted space in my tiny kitchen until I began storing my large and seldom-used plastic dishes, bowls and other bulky but lightweight items inside it. The racks slide out for easy access. Every once in a while, I run a cycle on the dishwasher to keep it working smoothly.
EASY MOVE. When packing to move, put your fine china in a box that also contains tablecloths. Nest your dishes between each fold in the cloths so they are stacked and ready to put on the shelves when you get to the new place. I use all my kitchen towels, potholders, table runners and place mats the same way. That way, everything for the kitchen ends up in the same room. Sheets and bath towels make great packing material, too. — Sharon G., e-mail TAMING FREEZER BAGS. I like to wash and reuse freezer bags, but storing them became a problem in our tiny kitchen. Now I use a binder with three page-protector envelopes or gallon-sized freezer bags with binder holes punched on one side. I labeled the makeshift envelopes "small," "medium" and "large." After drying the bags, I pop them in the correct pockets so they're ready for next time. If the bag is damp, I slide a paper towel inside so it will finish drying during storage. The binder sits inconspicuously with my cookbooks, and the bags are tamed and ready to be used again. — Pam, Kentucky 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. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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