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• 10 extremely handy uses for a jar of salt

  Posted Jul 30 2008, 05:36 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Extreme savings, Saving, Karen Datko, Groceries
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  Did you know that salt mixed with hot water can remove unsightly perspiration stains on your shirts? We sure didn't. We thought those stains were immutable.

  In fact, we found lots of useful tips at a Web site recommended to us by Abby Freedman.  Gomestic covers many domestic topics with a sense of humor and flair. The salt post is actually titled "10 top (legal) things to do if you find yourself holding a jar of salt." There are also posts featuring 10 top and legal uses for toothpicks, baby oil and Vaseline. (The last two deal with eliminating squeaks in door hinges and water spots on floors, cleaning greasy hands after changing the oil, and the like; get your mind out of the gutter.)   Read More...

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• Less than food stamps: Could you eat on $100 a month?

  Posted Jul 21 2008, 09:49 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Extreme savings, Saving, Karen Datko, Groceries
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  Can one person get enough to eat by spending only $100 a month on groceries? "Tight Fisted Miser" says he can.

  The topic came up at his blog when he posted about his experience with food stamps. He argued that people who can't make food stamps stretch through the month are probably making poor choices when they buy food.   Read More...

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• DIY plant care: Make a cheap self-watering device

  Posted May 30 2008, 02:52 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Extreme savings, Saving, Karen Datko, Groceries
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  Going away and afraid that your plants will dry up, particularly now that you've become a container gardener? Or maybe you're just too forgetful to keep them watered. Michael Nolan's Frugal Mania presents the cheap way to make your own self-watering device.

  It doesn't get much cheaper than this. All you need is a plastic water or soft-drink bottle and a piece of old pantyhose.   Read More...

  Discuss ( 4 comments) 11,244 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this

• Clever ways to use 20 things you'd normally throw away

  Posted May 12 2008, 03:40 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Extreme savings, Saving, Karen Datko, Groceries
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  We're quite sure it never occurred to you to cut up cereal liner bags and use the pieces  between hamburger patties when you're stacking and freezing them.

  Empty tissue boxes? Fill them with those flimsy plastic shopping bags so you can easily pull out one when you need it. And those bags? Line the garbage pail or the paint tray (or our own personal favorite -- pick up doggie deposits).

  You'll find the complete list of these clever tips at TipNut.com, a site we immediately bookmarked after it was recommended to us by Abby Freedman.   Read More...

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• How to irritate your spouse with your frugality

  Posted Apr 10 2008, 10:51 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Extreme savings, Clothing, Karen Datko, Groceries
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  Want to aggravate your significant other with your frugal ways? "Hide your spouse's car around the block, and tell him or her you sold it to avoid high gas prices. Present them with a bicycle," blogger "RC" says.

  Lots has been written about how to get along with a spouse who spends more than you do. RC at Think Your Way to Wealth takes the opposite approach with his David Letterman-style top 10 tips. In the process, RC skewers the sacred cows of frugal-living bloggers.

  You know how personal-finance bloggers are always writing about preparing huge amounts of food on the weekend to serve later in the week or freeze. RC's version is: "Serve the same meal every day for dinner until your spouse complains. Serve something different the next day, then go back to the same meal you were serving every day."   Read More...

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• Cheap cure-all: 66 reasons to keep vinegar on hand

  Posted Mar 14 2008, 01:31 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Extreme savings, Saving, Karen Datko, Groceries
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  Just in time for St. Paddy's Day, we've learned that a little vinegar in the pot will help keep corned beef from shrinking. Is there anything this simple, wonderfully inexpensive liquid can't do? (Hint: Don't use the balsamic.)

  Deborah Ng at Simply Thrifty presents "66 uses for vinegar," including a number that were surprising to us. For instance, at the beach, vinegar on a cloth can ease the pain of sunburn and a jellyfish sting. Now that spring is near and we can hang our laundry out to dry, it's great to know a little vinegar in the wash will soften clothes. Also in honor of spring, we mention that vinegar is great for removing bird droppings from patio furniture.   Read More...

  Discuss ( 5 comments) 4,141 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this