Dollar Stretcher Tips
Dollar Stretcher Tips courtesy
of TheDollarStretcher.com.
Email your time or money saving tip to Tips@stretcher.com.
Exercise Equipment Alternatives
To build exercise into your daily routine, forget about being
efficient. Be effective instead! Park your car at the far end
of parking lots. You won't miss the extra two or three minutes
you use to get to the door of the store, but you'll see the
difference in no time. Go up and down the stairs at home frequently.
Wash your own car, clean your own house, till your own garden,
and shovel your own walks and driveway.
All of these activities and many others around
the house qualify as exercise. They really make a difference.
I've lost and kept off over 85 pounds, going from size 16-18
to size 4, doing all these things. I also walk around the neighborhood
and to nearby stores. I even walk to some of the schools where
I substitute teach.
Barbara
Desert Days
We live in the Mojave desert and electric bills can be high
during the summer, but we have an evaporative cooler (swamp
cooler). The majority of homes don't use these, but we love
it. When the humidity is low, our electric bill runs around
$60 a month for our 1300-square-foot house. As the humidity
goes up, we have to use the air conditioner and the bill can
more than double with two week's use.
Another perk with a swamp cooler is that you
have doors and/or windows open to circulate the cool air and
you don't feel closed in all summer. This is also great when
you have kids or pets running in and out.
Janice D.
Henderson, NV
Teen Room Redo for $10
Early last week, my 13-year-old daughter decided that she wanted
to redecorate her bedroom. Her pattern choice was a leopard
print. We live in a log cabin that has a complete wood interior,
so paint and wall paper were not an option.
We started with a trip to the local thrift
shop. Would you believe that there was a leopard print bed skirt
in just the right size for her full-size bed? This item was
on sale for $2. This was a good place to start. We also picked
up a leopard print scarf for 50 cents, which we attached to
the wall over her headboard for a little extra pizzazz.
Our next stop was the local discount fabric
store. In the clearance section, there was a bolt of fabric
that was just perfect for curtains and throw pillows. We bought
three yards, and because there was less than a yard remaining
on the bolt after our three yards, we were offered the remaining
fabric at 50% off. For the grand total of $6.61, we purchased
almost four yards of fabric. We used the old pillow forms that
she was using and made removable covers for them. I made valances
for each of her windows and had enough fabric left over to make
a matching scarf for her dresser and one for her nightstand.
We recycled a black sleeping bag to be used
as a coordinating comforter, and for the grand total of $9.11,
her room has a totally different look and she loves it. I love
it because it only cost me $9.11. I can't wait to see how much
I can save with my next redecorating project.
LC
Vacation Days
A family vacation just wasn't in our budget this year, so my
husband and I have created "Family Activity Thursday."
We arranged to take vacation days from work every Thursday in
July and August and have planned a variety of low-cost, local
outings with our two young children. Most are simple, such as
a picnic at the park, a visit to a local historical site, a
train ride to a nearby town where we stop for ice cream, etc.
This plan allows us to spend quality time together
as a family and investigate local attractions we don't normally
go to. We avoid spending hours in a car or airplane, and have
fun together without spending a lot of money on hotels, restaurants,
and overpriced theme parks.
Joanne in Suffern, NY
Diaper Double Duty
One thing no one ever seems to mention is that cloth diapers
last through several children, and many of us only have one
or two children.
When I was pregnant with my new son, I put
the word out that I was planning to cloth diaper, that I was
flat broke, and that I was willing to accept slightly stained
diapers. After all, they'll just get more stained. I received,
from family and from church friends, two days' worth of medium-size,
fitted, velcro-closing cloth diapers (plus a lot of large-size
diapers), two diaper pails, and three very nice Kushies diaper
wraps. Many said, "I didn't want to throw them out because
they're still good, but I don't need them anymore."
Diapering my son has cost me nothing more than
the washing costs and some Borax.
Marie
Cheap Auto Deodorizer
I put a sheet of fabric softener under each seat in my car.
The smell is magnificent and it is much cheaper than the Christmas
tree shaped deodorizers. Plus, I usually have a coupon when
I buy the dryer sheets. What a bargain!
Lisa P
Better Late Than Never
Here's a tip we discovered accidentally. We happened to have
free tickets to a local minor league baseball game, so we decided
to attend even though we would be late. We arrived at the ballgame
during the fifth inning, and to our surprise, we did not have
to pay for parking and no one was there to collect our tickets!
I inquired with the team office the next day
and found out that parking and admission to the game are always
free at the bottom of the fifth inning. Additionally, we were
able to snag great seats due to people leaving the game early.
My kids were thrilled when they found out we could attend all
the home baseball games as long as we came late!
We have always said, "Hurry up! We don't
want to be late!" Well, going to the baseball game is now
one time we can be glad we're late!
Beth H.
North Carolina
No Rust
Keep your soap pads (SOS, Brillo, etc.) in a container of water
with about a tablespoon of baking soda when not using and they
will not rust.
Ernie
Interstate Welcome Mat
When you travel, check out the Welcome Center in the state that
you're visiting. They'll have travel coupon books filled with
hotel discounts. We went to Disney in Florida this past March
and we stayed at name brand hotels the whole time for half of
the normal rate.
Krista
Custom Borders
I am doing my kitchen in an Italian theme and could not find
any border at any of the home stores or paint stores that I
liked at any price. So I took the post cards I got in Italy
along with the street maps and tickets to places I had seen
and put them along the top of the kitchen wall. With the postcards,
I had to soak them first in plain water to get the pictures
off because they were too heavy to stay on the wall with the
wallpaper paste.
I bought wallpaper paste for $4, and then I
positioned my pictures ahead of time, cutting them to make an
attractive border. Now I can look at my walls and remember my
trip, but best of all, this only cost $4 and some time. Now
my postcards are not in some box in the attic.
S.
Sun Spots
For stubborn stains, I put lemon juice on the stain and put
it out in the sun. 99% of the time the stain will disappear.
Sometimes, but not often, a second application is needed.
Sandy in Calgary, Canada
Perfect Patio Furniture
I tried power washing my white outdoor furniture that had black
mold marks on it from the winter. That did a decent job, but
it wasn't entirely clean. I then decided to try Tilex. It was
extremely quick and effortless and I just hosed it off. You
can bet I'll do this every year. My patio furniture looks brand
new.
Mary Ann
Looking for Kitty Clearance
I have noticed a lot of the pet stores are catching onto the
idea of a clearance shelf. Now, even Petsmart is doing it. I
have found quite a few bargains by checking the 25-50% off racks.
KT
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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