New Packaging = Savings

I have a tip for saving on toiletries. I have found it beneficial to
check at the local $1 shops for deals on toiletries. When a company
changes their packaging, they often clear out remaining stock from store
shelves and they then end up in dollar shops! Big Lots is another good
place to find close out products.
Mia D. in Joplin, MO

Coffee Clean

At the restaurants I worked at, we always used ice, salt and lemon
juice to clean the coffeepots. After you swish for a few minutes, all you
need is a good rinse and you are ready to go.

To clean the coffee maker, just fill with white vinegar instead of
water (do not add coffee) and brew. After one cycle of vinegar, run one
cycle with just water. After that, you are ready to brew great tasting
coffee again.
K. in Florida

Hospital Problems

The easiest way to deal with any problems in a hospital is to contact
the risk management department. They are the people who deal with and
prevent lawsuits, and trust me, more than the CEO, patient relations,
medical records or any other department, they wish to prevent problems.
When they talk, all of us jump.
RN Who Knows

Small Bulk Bran

Some folks save money by checking with bakery supply houses to buy oat
bran in bulk. However, some may not have the strength, room or desire
to store such a large amount. This idea does not save as much but still
saves a lot compared to the original $3.70 per pound. A grocery store
near me has some items available in bulk, including oatmeal at 49 cents
per pound and oat bran at 99 cents per pound. For those unfamiliar with
“bulk” products, customers scoop the desired amount of product from a
bin into a bag or other container. Instructions are usually posted in
the department.
ALJ

Smarter Cooking

Whatever I make for dinner this evening will be lunch tomorrow. It’s
more economical to brown bag it and it’s amazing how much I save by
cooking a bit extra of the dinner meal for lunch. Nothing goes down the
garbage disposal or in the trash can. Be creative. If salad is served with
chicken for dinner, then make a chicken salad the next day.
Gwen

Copper Cleaner

To clean my Revere Ware pots and pans from the early 1940s, I use
vinegar and water. I place a pot or pan in a larger shallow pan or glass
cooking dish. I fill the bottom with some water and vinegar in about a 1/2
and 1/2 ratio. Then, I put a little water in the pot or pan to weigh it
down just enough to have the solution cover the copper. In about 20
minutes, it’s clean. Always rinse the copper in cool water. Dry with a
dishtowel and put the pot or pan upside down on your counter to dry
thoroughly while you are doing something else. This works wonderfully.
Phyllis M. in Colorado

Later Day Sales

Here’s a good reason to use a store’s lay-away plan. Any store that I
have used lets you bring your receipt back if an item goes on sale
during the law-away period and gives you the sale price.
Bill H.

Protect and Preserve Your Garden

Save and crush your eggshells to create a border around your plants.
Slugs know that if they crawl over this border, they will slash their
bellies and die. This is good for the environment and your soil.
Elizabeth of Surrey, BC

Walk Plus

I try to take my dog for a walk every day, even if it is just a short
walk. I take along a small canvas tote bag that is washable. (I made it
out of old blue jeans and put a couple pockets on the outside). In one
pocket, I keep my cell phone and a small bottle of water. The other
pocket is used to collect weed seeds that I bring home and put in a big
plastic container for feeding the birds through the winter. The large
part of the bag is for aluminum cans (55 cents a pound in our area right
now). Why walk past “money” when you can get your exercise as well as
pick up a few cents in recycling and save a few cents on birdseed?
J.

Special Needs Discount

I recently found out that our electric company offers a discounted rate
for anyone who uses a “medical life support device” in their home. They
call this their Medical Baseline Allowance program. Out of curiosity, I
went on their website to find out just what they consider a
“life-support device.” To my pleasure, I found that they include such things as a
CPAP machine, the machine used by people with sleep apnea, and a
nebulizer, the machine used by many asthmatics. I was quite delighted to find
out that my family qualified for this discounted rate, as my husband
uses a CPAP machine and both of us use a nebulizer. All I had to do was
download their application form, fill it out, have my doctor sign it to
verify that it was legitimate, and then send it in. The next month our
electric bill was significantly lower. I sure do wish I had figured
this out sooner! We could have been saving on our electric bill for years.
I suggest everyone who uses any type of medical device at home check
with their local electric company to see if they have this type of
program.
Amanda K. of San Diego, CA

Handy Stain Remover

Kids ever bleed all over your clothes? My two-year-old son busted his
lip and bled all over my red and white striped shirt. When I asked other
moms how to get the blood stains out, the cheapest solution offered was
to use hydrogen peroxide, something that most of us already have in our
medicine cabinet. I tried it that night, which was nine hours after the
accident, and the hydrogen peroxide fizzed right up. I then washed the
shirt in cold water and regular detergent. Sure enough, the blood
stains disappeared! You might want to test for colorfastness first in an
inconspicuous area. My shirt was a 100% cotton t-shirt and it did fine,
but you never know.
Dona P. in Denton, TX

Talking Teens

The best way to handle teens and cell phones is to get a pre-paid plan
and have your teen assume full responsibility for purchasing their
minutes. This teaches the teen to budget their money and cell phone usage
and the parent gets no unpleasant surprises on a monthly bill.
Deidre

A Natural Beauty

After many years of trying just about everything on the market, I
decided to stop spending enormous amounts of money and go back to being
natural. I have worked in the beauty industry for years, and after using
many products to keep my skin from aging, I have now reverted to a skin
friendly diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and herbs. And I only
use water on my face. I don’t mean to be vain, but at age 63, I am
mistaken for 30 years younger! I do facial exercises and only use a drop of
camellia oil around eyes and on my neck. My skin is fine, unwrinkled
and unblemished probably because I stay out of the sun. Since only using
water as a cleanser, my skin has never looked better. A good idea is to
wring out a soft towel in hot water, fold and leave it on the face for
30 minutes to lightly remove the dust of the day.
Anna
Gary Foreman
The Dollar Stretcher
gary@stretcher.com