Dollar Stretcher Tips
Dollar Stretcher Tips courtesy
of TheDollarStretcher.com.
Email your time or money saving tip to Tips@stretcher.com.
Ant Free
A great way to get rid of ants is to put used coffee grounds
at their point of entry into your house. If you're lucky enough
to find the source ant colony outside, dumping one filter-full
of used coffee grounds will eradicate the whole colony.
SB
Pre-Sorted
I have found a wonderful way to organize the laundry task. I
went to the local office supply store and purchased several
plastic trash baskets. At the end of the day, I toss the dirty
clothes in the baskets according to color, and when one of the
baskets is full, I can throw it in the washing machine. This
will take up some space, but it was worth it not to sort through
a mountain of dirty clothes on "wash day." Now I can
do them as needed, without setting aside one whole day of punishment.
Ms. Becky
Lodging for Less
Hotel rates can be rather high, especially during tourist season.
I once worked for a hotel housekeeping department. I remembered
how many times we listed a room as unavailable due to problems
ranging from something very simple and cosmetic to serious problems
like no running water.
When we needed to find another hotel room due to a reservation
error, the rate quoted to me was out of my range. So I asked
if the hotel had any rooms blocked that required minor repair
work and had at least one serviceable bed that they would be
willing to fill for the night. They did! One double room had
a broken bed frame, but the other bed was in perfect order.
I took the room for my husband and myself, got a great rate
(just a little over half price), and had a wonderful night's
sleep. This worked out well for us because when we travel, a
hotel is just a place to sleep and hold the luggage while we
seek adventure. We leave early in the morning and don't go back
to the room until late in the evening. I'm not seeking the perfect
room. I only want it to be clean and have running water, at
least one bed in good order, and air conditioning!
Remember that hotels are there to make money. If you don't mind
the fact that the room has a cracked mirror or maybe the TV
doesn't work, try this option. If they can fill it, most likely
they will. All you have to do is ask.
Renee
Home-Baked Goodness
If you know a lot of high school graduates and would like to
send something but can't afford a lot, a cute and inexpensive
gift is a "cookie card." For those going away to school,
I put in my card a few postcards I have made on my computer.
The postcard has a funny greeting, my name and address, and
stamp already on it. When they drop it back in the mail to me
with their address, I send them a small batch of cookies. A
small cereal box makes a great packing box. This has always
been a big hit in the past and usually redeemed within the first
few months. Sending a batch of cookies is usually less than
I would pay for another gift, and I don't have to spend a lot
at once. Even students living at home and going to the local
community college love it!
Gretchen
Themed Toy Storage
Recently when my daughter turned six and wanted a "Barbie
box" to store her dolls and clothes in. The ones at the
store were going for almost $20 and definitely weren't in the
budget. I ended up buying a Rubbermaid tote for about $3 and
sprucing it up.
Originally, I had planned to put Barbie stickers
on it, but I couldn't find any large enough. When buying wrapping
paper, I spotted some with a Barbie theme. I got it and used
it to wrap her presents. I then took the leftovers, cut out
the parts I wanted, and attached them to the tote with clear
contact paper, which I already had. It turned out great and
my daughter loved it! My son ended up getting a similar one
with a superhero theme. I've gone on to put other images on
most of their storage boxes. I've used wrapping paper, stickers,
and clip art printed from the computer. Not only do they look
great, but they help the kids know where things need to go when
it is time to pick up.
This could be done for the storage of household
items as well, so that you know at a glance what storage container
you need without buying the specially colored ones at a higher
cost.
Nadine in Montana
At-Home Work Ideas
Here are a few stay-at-home, money-earning ideas. I know these
work because my friends or I are currently using them.
1. Music lessons - I have taught piano/organ/keyboard/midi
for the last 34 years. I currently earn $20 an hour or $10 per
each 1/2 hour lesson. I work two 8-hour days.
2. Childcare - A friend used this when she
had her baby and thereafter for about 6 years. She contacted
the city/county/state for requirements and advice.
There is a very great need for loving childcare.
3. Medical transcription - Two of my friends
are currently earning very high wages this way. Each went about
getting set up in different ways. One took a junior college
course and got started through a local hospital and local doctor's
office doing take-home work. The other took a correspondence
course and started working for a local doctor's office doing
take-home work. The first now receives her work through Fed-ex
and sends it back through modem.
Joanne G.
Fresher Lettuce
We buy mixed salad in the plastic bags. My husband is the only
one that eats it, so it used to spoil before it was eaten. My
mother-in-law worked as a salad girl for many years at the Fassett
House in Wellsville, NY, and she always put paper towels in
the bottom of the bowl that contained a head of lettuce.
After throwing out so much soggy salad mix,
I started putting it in a bowl with a couple of paper towels
on the bottom and one on the top. I found that it stayed fresh
for about a week longer than it had in the past.
Y.
Camping Containers
Try using the wax-coated boxes that the supermarkets get vegetables
in (like cucumbers) for camping. They won't draw moisture like
regular cardboard boxes and will keep their strength and shape.
They will last for many trips.
Kirk
Cheaper Stencils
Stenciling is a cheap and cheerful way to decorate a room. Stencils,
however, are not cheap. Instead of purchasing them from your
local do-it-yourself store, use an air freshener container lid
instead. These lids often have cut-out floral designs that are
perfect for any room.
Mary
Sample Savings
This is a tip for people who buy makeup regularly. Some products,
specifically face powder and liquid-to-powder makeup, are actually
cheaper, ounce-for-ounce, if you buy the sample size. I was
surprised when I did the math and figured this out, but it makes
sense because the sample size does not come packaged in a mirrored
compact. You may want that full compact if you carry your makeup
around, but if you use the makeup at home, the compact is an
unnecessary expense and is ecologically wasteful.
Abigail
Worth the Wait
While visiting a Don Aslett's Cleaning Center in my area, the
lady explained that most cleaning products, no matter how cheap,
work fine, but they need to come into contact with the grime
for a period of time to really be effective. Most folks spray
on and wipe off right away. I started using this philosophy
while cleaning and have seen vast improvement.
I also decided to try this with my wash. I
put 1/2 scoop of laundry soap in the machine first, fill the
washer with clothes, and then turn the machine on without closing
the lid. The machine will fill and agitate, but then it will
stop. I let the clothes soak for 15 to 20 minutes before shutting
the lid and letting the machine finish. Our clothes are coming
out much cleaner with fewer stains and also our sheets and pillowcases
don't have that "old sheet" smell that seemed to linger
despite frequent washings. A couple of times I did forget to
close the washer and it sat overnight, but the clothes came
out fine.
Teri in Kuna, ID
The Big Breakfast
To save more on vacation or business travel food, you should
eat lunch and dinner from food you take or buy at a local grocery
store, and make breakfast your restaurant meal. Often breakfast
gives you the best value for the dollar, especially in hotels.
I favor hotel rooms that include a kitchenette (usually microwave,
toaster, kettle, and refrigerator) and "all you can eat"
breakfast in the room rate. That way, we eat a hearty breakfast
as part of the room rate, pack a light lunch or snack, and have
soup and instant dinners for not much more than the cost of
food at home.
Teresa F.
No Mosquitoes
To keep mosquitoes out of my rain barrel, I go down to the local
pond or lake and catch a sun fish, blue gill, or a small bullhead.
They keep it real clean. I feed them bread or fish food or they
will come right out of the water for a small worm. You can also
go to a fish pet store and buy inexpensive surface feeders.
G.
Safer Sandboxes
I wanted to make a sandbox. I thought about using treated lumber,
but with the cancer scare, I went with 4-inch sewage pipe with
elbows in the corner and landscaping cloth on the floor. You
can also add other PVC modifications to add play stuffs.
Eric H. in Dallas
Do you have a good idea for saving time and money? Send it to
Dollar Stretcher Tips, PO Box 141460, Bradenton FL 34280-4160
and we'll send you a copy of our print newsletter.
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