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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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Hurricane Glow Sticks and Other Great Reader TipsWith Halloween just passed, waste no time looking through half-price bins filled with decorations, masks and other Halloween paraphernalia at a store near you! That's what one clever reader suggests. Today's first great tip may surprise you. It did me!
LANTERN LEFTOVERS. When Hurricane Ike passed through, I pulled out my "storm box," and inside I found several Halloween glow sticks that were at least 3 years old. To my great surprise, they made perfect "nightlights" throughout the house during the many days without power. The package said they last up to 12 hours, and they did, even though they were several years old. These glow sticks are especially handy for small children who need to carry around their own lights. I took advantage of the Halloween season this year and restocked my storm box. -- Liane F., e-mail FLOUR SHAKER. Anytime I have a bag of flour that is almost empty, rather than store it, I transfer the remaining flour into an empty Parmesan cheese shaker for when only a small amount is needed. The lid opens on one side to allow for shaking out the flour, which works great for dusting cake pans. The other side of the lid has a wide opening with a flat side to quickly and easily measure out a level tablespoon to use as a thickener for soups and stews. -- Jennifer, e-mail HOMEMADE WINDEX. Thanks for your tips on using Windex to clean.
PAINT JUGS. I've found that milk jugs make excellent paint containers for partially used gallons of house paint. I never have had one go bad; you can see the color right through the jug; and the contents are easy to pour when needed. Unlike paint cans, I never have had a milk jug lid get stuck, no matter how much paint is trapped in the grooves around the rim. I write on the outside of the jug with a permanent marker the manufacturer, the name of the color and type of finish -- satin, gloss or flat. -- Kellie, 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. Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 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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