Everyday Cheapskate

Now and then, readers of this column come to my rescue. Take mice, for example. Recently, I suggested to a reader who simply could not get rid of the little varmints that she hire a professional exterminator. Almost immediately, I heard from other readers offering solutions without having to hire a professional. One of the cleverest wins the Tip of the Month honor and a one-year membership to Debt-Proof Living Online (http://www.DebtProofLiving.com).

TIP OF THE MONTH. Purchase a canister of tennis balls and a bottle of ordinary household ammonia. Fill the canister with ammonia, and soak the tennis balls for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the balls, and toss them under your house (or into the attic). The smell will greatly discourage rodents from entering your space. After 24 hours, check the perimeter for access points, and seal the pests out! This worked amazingly well for my neighbor and me for a total cost of $5. — Anna S., Washington

LEATHER PROTECTOR. To keep my dog from scratching the leather seats in my car, I buy cheap yoga mats and place them in my back seat, one on the bottom and the other on the back of the seat. When he jumps in, his claws don't go into the leather. When he is not along for the ride, I store the mats in the trunk. — Linda, Massachusetts

CORD CONUNDRUM. I always found cords for electronic devices but never knew which device each cord belonged to. Now I keep track of them by labeling them on the plugs with a silver marker.

PLANT LIFE. To extend the useful life and freshness of herbs when you buy them at the grocery, snip the ends of the stems and put them in a small glass of water. Then place them in the refrigerator. They will last much longer than they would if you were to leave them in the container they came in. — Sharon W., Florida

CAR CARE. If your car needs a repair, check out the community colleges and high schools in your area to see whether they have auto repair classes. Some schools will be very happy to take a look at your car and do the necessary repairs for the cost of the parts. The instructor will supervise the students carefully, and you get your car fixed while helping educate students. — Jennifer S., North Carolina

FUNDRAISER FORM. It came to my attention that when you return any food item to a grocery or discount store, it is thrown away. I recently went to return unopened boxes of sodas and bags of chips that I had over-purchased for a fundraiser. My favorite customer service lady told me they were going to have to throw them away. I decided to keep them. I donated some to a kids camp and sold the other items as another fundraiser. — Patty W., Florida

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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