I learned at a Home Extension meeting put on by the University of Illinois extension workers that you never work on a spot on the soiled side. You turn the garment inside out and work on it from the back side. That way, you are pushing the stain out instead of pushing it into the fabric by rubbing it.
Donna

Recently, I was having problems with my cell phone about a year into a two-year contract. While I was in the service center, I asked about new plans mostly to pass time. I learned that our plan had actually had a price reduction! Even though we had a contract, I was able to change the plan to the same, cheaper version and save about $25 a month. We paid no extra fees to change since we still had a contract and were still customers of that cell phone company. I now have the same number of minutes and the same special features as I had before but at a much lower price. It pays to learn what current plans are offered by your cell phone company!
Laura in Arkansas

Have seeds left over from planting this season? Place them in freezer bags and place these bags in the freezer. Germination will be about the same next year.
“Grandpa” Arnold P. of Jackson, MS

Chicken leg quarters are often cheap. Recently, in our area, they were selling for 18 cents a pound! But what do you do with 10 pounds of leg quarters? Freezer space is at a premium at our house, so last week when I bought 20 lbs. of quarters, here is what I did. 10 lbs. went into the oven in a big broiler pan, baked on low for an hour or so. 5 lbs. went into the crock pot and 5 lbs. went into a big pan on the stove with a lid to cook slowly. As each pan of chicken finished cooking, I cooled it, skinned and boned the chicken, and placed it in meal size servings in freezer bags.
 
The cooked chicken works wonderfully in any recipe where you would use boneless chicken, such as soup, stir fry, tacos or enchiladas. Just thaw, warm and enjoy.
 
This way, the chicken is easier to fit into the freezer, is lower in fat (no skin), and takes no work to make into a simple meal. When it is less than 50 cents a pound, how could you beat such a deal?
Beth S.
 
 

One decorating tip that seems to make a card seem less “homemade” and more “handmade” is to simply take some ordinary white glue, outline a design or cutout and then sprinkle on glitter. I use a spoon to dump on the glitter or my 3-year-old does it. Then I shake off the excess.
 
You can even use seasonal cookie cutters dipped in the glue to make outlines and then dump on the glitter as above. The glue dries clear so that you don’t see any “mistakes.”
Evelyn

I was recently given “kid” soap from a friend of mine. It’s the really new kind that foams as it comes out. It seems a lot of companies are producing similar “new” soaps.

I noticed that the soap was really runny. It seems that this new soap is nothing more than soap that has been really, really watered down. No wonder so many companies are creating their own version of this soap. You’re getting 25% of the product and some really expensive water! Save your money and water down your own soap and use their dispenser.
Katrina

I use baking soda to clean the Teflon-coated grids on my gas stove. This does a good job of removing stains without damaging the Teflon coating.
A. B.

I have a really great way to save money on wedding presents! Many people ask for china for a wedding gift. Well, we found a great way to buy those pieces. Buy on eBay! One place setting in my china pattern costs $200. On eBay, a whole set of 12 place settings, including all the accessories, costs $150 plus shipping and handling. You can also purchase a place setting for under $20 and they are in perfect condition! We have also seen soup bowls for under $10 and teacup and saucer sets sell for about $6. So, if you feel china is what you’d like to give for a wedding present, try eBay first!
SF

I hate cleaning the mess on the stove after making spaghetti sauce. Now, I prepare my sauce in the usual fashion on top of the stove with meat and seasonings, pour it into a roasting pan, cover it, and bake the sauce for hours at 200 degrees in the oven. I stir the sauce a couple of times during the course of the day. It’s delicious and there’s no mess!
T.

You can still own your car and use the bus or subway to get around. That way, you still have the car for grocery shopping or going out of town.
 
My hubby and I will be moving to the Los Angeles area in mid- May, mainly to be closer to his job. We plan on buying monthly passes for the bus and light rail system (which goes just about everywhere in the LA area) and use them often, keeping our one vehicles parked in the gated parking lot at our apartment. This cuts down on the use, gas costs, wear and tear and insurance costs on the vehicle but still allows us to make trips out of town to see family and do my monthly “stock up the pantry” grocery shopping.
 
It’s a compromise worthy of trying for those that get lightheaded at the thought of giving up their trusty steeds (cars). Later on, you may realize that you don’t need the car and get rid of it all together!
Anne

Instead of throwing away holey socks, I’ve learned to reuse them in the house. While sorting clean laundry, I pull out white cotton crew socks that have holes or tears. I simply cut an “X” in the heel with scissors to keep it from going back into a dresser in the future. These are then used for dusting, furniture polishing, window cleaning, spot mopping on linoleum, wiping toilets, cleaning spills on carpets, and many other uses. I rewash them with whites and put them back on my laundry shelf next to old bath towels, which are used for larger jobs like drying vehicles. After a particularly dirty job, like cleaning pet stains, throw it away. That’s plenty of use from old socks!
Chris in CA

If your tub or shower has sliding doors, slide the doors to the middle after each shower. This helps the air circulation in the tub or shower and prevents the mildew along the edge of the door jams.
Sheila R.

I went into the kitchen and made a list of all the food manufacturers from the labels. I then called all the manufacturers and asked for vouchers and coupons. It really works! I got a lot of goodies in the mail. The nicest people are the ones who make ice cream!
Kurt

(end Dollar Stretcher Tips)

Need more time and money? Visit TheDollarStretcher.com for hundreds of free articles to stretch your day and your dollar. You’ll live better…for less! Copyright 2006 Dollar Stretcher Inc.

Out, Not In I learned at a Home Extension meeting put on by the University of Illinois extension workers that you never work on a spot on the soiled side. You turn the garment inside out and work on it from the back side. That way, you are pushing the stain out instead of pushing it into the fabric by rubbing it.
Donna

Check for Falling Prices Recently, I was having problems with my cell phone about a year into a two-year contract. While I was in the service center, I asked about new plans mostly to pass time. I learned that our plan had actually had a price reduction! Even though we had a contract, I was able to change the plan to the same, cheaper version and save about $25 a month. We paid no extra fees to change since we still had a contract and were still customers of that cell phone company. I now have the same number of minutes and the same special features as I had before but at a much lower price. It pays to learn what current plans are offered by your cell phone company!
Laura in Arkansas

Next Year’s Seeds Have seeds left over from planting this season? Place them in freezer bags and place these bags in the freezer. Germination will be about the same next year.
“Grandpa” Arnold P. of Jackson, MS

Ready, Cheap Chicken Chicken leg quarters are often cheap. Recently, in our area, they were selling for 18 cents a pound! But what do you do with 10 pounds of leg quarters? Freezer space is at a premium at our house, so last week when I bought 20 lbs. of quarters, here is what I did. 10 lbs. went into the oven in a big broiler pan, baked on low for an hour or so. 5 lbs. went into the crock pot and 5 lbs. went into a big pan on the stove with a lid to cook slowly. As each pan of chicken finished cooking, I cooled it, skinned and boned the chicken, and placed it in meal size servings in freezer bags.

The cooked chicken works wonderfully in any recipe where you would use boneless chicken, such as soup, stir fry, tacos or enchiladas. Just thaw, warm and enjoy.

This way, the chicken is easier to fit into the freezer, is lower in fat (no skin), and takes no work to make into a simple meal. When it is less than 50 cents a pound, how could you beat such a deal?
Beth S.

Homemade Greeting Cards One decorating tip that seems to make a card seem less “homemade” and more “handmade” is to simply take some ordinary white glue, outline a design or cutout and then sprinkle on glitter. I use a spoon to dump on the glitter or my 3-year-old does it. Then I shake off the excess.

You can even use seasonal cookie cutters dipped in the glue to make outlines and then dump on the glitter as above. The glue dries clear so that you don’t see any “mistakes.”
Evelyn

Cool Kid Soap I was recently given “kid” soap from a friend of mine. It’s the really new kind that foams as it comes out. It seems a lot of companies are producing similar “new” soaps.

I noticed that the soap was really runny. It seems that this new soap is nothing more than soap that has been really, really watered down. No wonder so many companies are creating their own version of this soap. You’re getting 25% of the product and some really expensive water! Save your money and water down your own soap and use their dispenser.
Katrina

Grill Cleaning I use baking soda to clean the Teflon-coated grids on my gas stove. This does a good job of removing stains without damaging the Teflon coating.
A. B.

Shopping for Wedding Gifts? I have a really great way to save money on wedding presents! Many people ask for china for a wedding gift. Well, we found a great way to buy those pieces. Buy on eBay! One place setting in my china pattern costs $200. On eBay, a whole set of 12 place settings, including all the accessories, costs $150 plus shipping and handling. You can also purchase a place setting for under $20 and they are in perfect condition! We have also seen soup bowls for under $10 and teacup and saucer sets sell for about $6. So, if you feel china is what you’d like to give for a wedding present, try eBay first!
SF

No-Mess Spaghetti Sauce I hate cleaning the mess on the stove after making spaghetti sauce. Now, I prepare my sauce in the usual fashion on top of the stove with meat and seasonings, pour it into a roasting pan, cover it, and bake the sauce for hours at 200 degrees in the oven. I stir the sauce a couple of times during the course of the day. It’s delicious and there’s no mess!
T.

Gasoline Savings You can still own your car and use the bus or subway to get around. That way, you still have the car for grocery shopping or going out of town.

My hubby and I will be moving to the Los Angeles area in mid- May, mainly to be closer to his job. We plan on buying monthly passes for the bus and light rail system (which goes just about everywhere in the LA area) and use them often, keeping our one vehicles parked in the gated parking lot at our apartment. This cuts down on the use, gas costs, wear and tear and insurance costs on the vehicle but still allows us to make trips out of town to see family and do my monthly “stock up the pantry” grocery shopping.

It’s a compromise worthy of trying for those that get lightheaded at the thought of giving up their trusty steeds (cars). Later on, you may realize that you don’t need the car and get rid of it all together!
Anne

Second Uses Instead of throwing away holey socks, I’ve learned to reuse them in the house. While sorting clean laundry, I pull out white cotton crew socks that have holes or tears. I simply cut an “X” in the heel with scissors to keep it from going back into a dresser in the future. These are then used for dusting, furniture polishing, window cleaning, spot mopping on linoleum, wiping toilets, cleaning spills on carpets, and many other uses. I rewash them with whites and put them back on my laundry shelf next to old bath towels, which are used for larger jobs like drying vehicles. After a particularly dirty job, like cleaning pet stains, throw it away. That’s plenty of use from old socks!
Chris in CA

Circulation If your tub or shower has sliding doors, slide the doors to the middle after each shower. This helps the air circulation in the tub or shower and prevents the mildew along the edge of the door jams.
Sheila R.

It Pays to Ask I went into the kitchen and made a list of all the food manufacturers from the labels. I then called all the manufacturers and asked for vouchers and coupons. It really works! I got a lot of goodies in the mail. The nicest people are the ones who make ice cream!
Kurt