Last month, I invited readers of this column to submit their best tips for how to save time and money every day. Your response was amazing. Thanks to every person who sent in tips. You'll be seeing many of them in future columns. We did our best to narrow down the best of the best and to select the best idea based on originality and universal appeal. The winner will receive a one-year membership to Debt-Proof Living Online. Congratulations, J.B.!

TIP OF THE MONTH WINNER. With our busy schedule, we discovered that keeping a simple meal journal actually saves us a lot of time and money. We write down our weekly menus in a simple notebook. Then when our meals begin to get boring, we look back a few weeks or months and find a familiar meal that we haven't made in a while. It translates to money saved at the supermarket because all our meals are well-planned. It's also fun to remember the meals we've shared with guests. -- J.B., e-mail

ORGANIZED CLOSET. When I change the clothes in my closet each season, I hang all the hangers backward. Now as I wear something, I return it to the closet with the hanger facing correctly front to back. When the season is over, every hanger that didn't get turned around means that I didn't wear that article of clothing during the season. I take all the "backward" outfits and fill a box for charity. -- Joyce, Michigan

NO BURNT PUDDING.

When cooking a pudding on the stovetop, instead of using a spoon to stir it, use a pancake turner spatula. You can quickly scrape most of the pan bottom in one or two turns, and you are less likely to scorch what you are cooking. This technique works especially well when making lemon pie filling. -- Naomi A., e-mail

EASY MEASURING. Purchase several cheap sets of measuring spoons and cups at the dollar store. Place one or two in each container of flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, etc. I always have a measuring utensil to fit my need, and I don't have to clean it up after using it because it stays in the container. -- Juanita H., e-mail

SPRAY AND WASH. In an effort to save water, I fill a 32-ounce spray bottle nearly to the top with water and add a small amount of liquid dishwashing soap into the bottle. I spray my pans or dishes with the water, scrub and rinse in regular water. It takes less water to wash dishes, and it helps to lift off any food that may have stuck to my pans or dishes. -- Marla K., e-mail

Have a tip for me? Enter this month's Tip of the Month contest by sending your idea to mary@everydaycheapskate.com or Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. The winner will receive a membership to Debt-Proof Living Online.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.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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