Recently
6 Ways To Cut Pet Care Costs
As I write, a big, beautiful, brindled English bulldog is underfoot, sleeping soundly, as bulldogs do. I cannot claim ownership, but Newcastle ("Newkie" to his family) visits often. He's my granddog — and as precious as they come. So …Read more.
Fun (Cheap) Birthday Gift Ideas for Kids
Several months ago, I got a message from Elaine G., who recently had joined a moms group. With all of her newly minted friendships, she and her little one are getting invitations to lots of toddlers' birthday parties. Her dilemma took me back to …Read more.
What You Need To Know if Your Bank Fails
If it seems that more banks are closing this year than normal, you are absolutely right. Since January 2009, 106 banks and 19 credit unions have failed in the U.S. That's more than four times the number of closings in 2008. It's the most since the …Read more.
Make Your Own Sanitizing Wipes
Dear Mary: I would like to find a recipe to make hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Do you know of one? — Delores, e-mail
Dear Delores: I have been thinking about the same thing, now that we're learning that products like Purell are …Read more.
more articles
|
Readers Come Up With Fresh IdeasRecently, I challenged readers to send in their best ideas for how to use "this for that." Every now and then, something new shows up that we never have thought of before. Today's first fresh idea, which we named the Tip of the Month, is an example:
TIP OF THE MONTH. I am frugal and always have been bothered by having to throw away sticks of deodorant when there is inaccessible product remaining in the bottom. Recently, I left a used stick in my car. When I returned, I found my car faintly smelling like scented deodorant. I left the freshener there for three weeks before it finally gave out. It was infinitely better than those fresheners that hang from the mirror that smell like the inside of a public restroom. -- Meredith S., e-mail HOT HOUSEWARMING. A fire extinguisher is my favorite housewarming gift whenever someone moves into a new home. It is my go-to welcome gift. -- Mary P., Pennsylvania GREASY DEALINGS. If you have a grease stain in your clothing, rub a little dish detergent into the stain before washing. I have saved so many clothes this way. It even works if the item has gone through the dryer once or twice. -- Anastasia L., New York FINGER SAVER. When I am peeling potatoes, I always seem to peel my nails or get my fingers by accident. Now I stab the potato with a fork and peel them that way. No more nicked nails! -- Katrina, e-mail CARPET CLEANSER. RESCUE RESOURCE. If you get laid off, go to your state or local department of labor. To help you find a new job, some states provide valuable resources, including assistance updating your résumé, upgrading your skills, organizing your job search, and preparing you for an interview and salary negotiation. Those are usually all without charge. My county even maintains a room full of computers and printers where you can search online job listings, write your résumé and cover letter, print them on premium paper, and then drop them in a box to be mailed by the county free of charge. -- Gail G., e-mail 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.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
