It's Cheaper Than Gift Wrap by Mary Hunt on Creators.com

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It's Cheaper Than Gift Wrap

As a self-professed fabric-holic, today's first reader-submitted tip got my attention. What a great idea. Now why didn't I think of that?

IT'S A WRAP. I thought of this column as I was wrapping one of those awkward gifts for my grandson's birthday party. Why is it everything for kids comes in a funny shaped package? My solution is the dollar-a-yard fabric table at Walmart. I buy a couple of yards of several "kid friendly" or even seasonal prints. Although I have sewn gift bags in the past, I now just wrap them up in the fabric. — Claudia, Massachusetts

ODOR: GONE! I'm not sure why my ice cube trays collect odors, but it's always been a problem. After years of trying everything: air drying for days or soaking in bleach, baking soda and oxygenated cleaners, etc., I read your column about putting plastic containers in the sun to remove tomato stains. It works for odors, too. I put my ice cube trays in the sun one Saturday, and by evening there was no "freezer odor." It's still gone! And if it comes back, I know how to get rid of it again. — Tracy, email

RECYCLED SCRUBBER. I found a use for the old cleaning head from my power toothbrush. The stones in my wedding rings tend to get dull and dirty from everyday wear, but now I just place an old head on the toothbrush and spin the dirt away. You can also use the entire toothbrush to use for deep-down house cleaning in smaller places, such as baseboards, corners or between the knobs on you faucets.

— Marcie,Texas

CLEAN HANDS. Here's a quick way to make hamburger patties without getting your hands all messy. I use a fold-over sandwich bag and place my hand in it. Next, I dig my hand down into the raw hamburger and grab a patty's worth. Then I turn the baggie inside out leaving the hamburger on the inside, lay it on the counter, and mash it to the size and thickness desired. You can then just fold over the baggie and place multiple patties in a freezer storage baggie or turn them out on the skillet or grill. No more messy hands. — Teresa, Ohio

QUICK CLEANUP. I have a six-minute kitchen or toy cleanup that I do every night. After I put our son to bed, I set the oven timer for six minutes, and I stay focused on the task at hand. I find that on most nights, I get the toys picked up, the floor swept and dishes nearly done in six minutes. Then I think, "I can clean for six more minutes." Usually in less than 12 minutes, I have finished all I need to do. — Cathy, Florida

SHADY OPERATION. I keep an old plastic roll-up shade in my car trunk. Whenever I need to check under the car or repair a flat tire, I just roll out the shade. It helps protect my clothes. — Lori, Wisconsin

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 20 books, including her January 2012 release "7 Money Rules for Life." 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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