Be Really Thirsty To Give Up Diet Coke by Mary Hunt on Creators.com

Recently

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.

Be Really Thirsty To Give Up Diet Coke

Dear Mary: Your recent article about switching to iced tea from Diet Coke may be just the confirmation I've been seeking to get off Diet Coke. Do you add sweetener to your iced tea? I like iced tea sweetened with Splenda, but I fear it is tricking my body just as the Diet Coke does, causing me to crave more sweets. I don't know whether I can get used to drinking iced tea unsweetened. Please share the answer with me. I must know!

I love "Everyday Cheapskate" and your Web site, http://www.DebtProofLiving.com. Thank you, Mary, for dedicating so much of your time to helping others. — Jennifer I., e-mail

Dear Jennifer: First, thanks for your kind words. Letters like yours charge my batteries and encourage me to keep going!

As for switching to unsweetened iced tea, here's the trick: Allow yourself to get very, very thirsty. I mean as thirsty as you would be if you were in the desert with no water, crawling on all fours, gasping with your last breath, "Water ... water!" Do some exercise. Go run around in the hot sun, but hold out against the temptation to drink.

When you can wait no longer, wait for one more hour. Then pour yourself a tall glass of perfectly brewed, unsweetened, exceedingly cold, picture-perfect iced tea. Drink until your thirst is totally quenched. Repeat as often as is necessary for iced tea to become your beverage of choice.

Iced tea is, for some, an acquired taste. It takes longer to acquire a taste for some brands.

Lipton black tea, for example, has a pungent flavor. Some other brands are milder, such as Celestial Seasonings and Twinings. You can acquire a fondness for any type of tea if you diligently give up all other sweet beverages, diet or regular.

On the rare occasion when you treat yourself to a sweetened tea, use the real deal: sugar. That will satisfy your craving. You also can add fruit juice for a sweet treat.

Dear Mary: I enjoy your column very much. How can I remove white rings from the surface of my dining room table? This table has many memories for me. — Anjie C., Oregon

Dear Anjie: There are homemade remedies, but I've had only marginal success using household products, such as mayonnaise, to remove the infuriating white marks you describe.

I suggest you save yourself a lot of time and frustration by buying a small jar of Jasco furniture white ring remover. It is inexpensive, lasts forever and miraculously can remove heat and water marks from fine furniture without harming the finish. With it, I was able to remove white rings that were more than a decade old and had resisted every imaginable treatment.

This product is a small saturated cloth that you use to scrub the marks. Look for it at Ace Hardware or stores like that or on eBay, where I've found it for $7 to $8 for one jar. Good luck!

Do you have a question for Mary? E-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Comments

2 Comments | Post Comment

I am a dedicated tea drinker (and collector of teapots!) and I have a suggestion. There are many high quality teas on the market, but none of them can be found in the usual grocery stores. Look online for tea catalogues, or if you are near a big city go to the Chinese grocers for a variety of black and green options.
Some flavors are both robust and sweet all by themselves, without added sweeteners. For instance, one of my faves is an excellent black tea flavored with jasmine. I also find Lychee tea to be delicious and satisfying.
On gift occasions, my family and friends now give me unusual teas, some in artistic packaging. As you experiment, I'm confident that you will find some tasty flavors that suit you. Happy sipping!

Comment: #1
Posted by: Claude
Sat Sep 5, 2009 1:41 PM

Report this post

Mary,
With so many variations to make iced tea, what is the method you use? I really want to stop buying an afternoon iced latte or iced tea at Starbucks. I have tried making tea at home but it doesn't tasted as good – and I love good iced tea. (I think it's the southern Illinoisan in me – I live in Seattle now). Someone said to put vinegar in the tea – really? Oh and I may be southern, but don't want the extra calories of sweetened tea. (but dang, is it goooood!)
Julie

Comment: #2
Posted by: Julie
Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:50 AM

Report this post

Already have an account? Log in.

New Account
Your Name:
Your E-mail:
Your Password:
Confirm Your Password:

Please allow a few minutes for your comment to be posted.

Enter the numbers to the right:
Creators.com comments policy