A tip for decreasing the drying time of clothes is to spin the load an extra time or two. This is especially helpful with heavy loads such as towels or jeans. I have to be a bit careful when resetting my washer to spin to make sure the spin cycle doesn’t spray water on the clothes as the final step of the rinse cycle. But with experimentation, I now know just where to reset the dial.
Kathy C. in Greenwood, SC

Be sure to carefully check your sizes at dollar stores. I have often noted that their prices are “cheaper,” but the sizes are smaller on some items. The packages looked the same, but once I really compared, they weren’t.
P.

My secret to a well-stocked freezer is TV dinners. I know what you’re thinking, but these are not store bought. I use three compartment meal trays that cost next to nothing, and when I cook in bulk, I make sure that I have meals pre-planned. I cook during the weekend and on my days off. I always cook something in the kitchen with my kids. They hate leftovers, but once they put the leftovers in the aluminum foil trays, label it, date it, and put the appropriate cooking temperature on it, they feel like they have done something important and they have. Now, when I’m at work and they come home from school, they can pick what they want, toss it on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven. By the time they get school work done, changed their clothes and do their one chore, dinner is piping hot and it was homemade with love.
O.
 

My kids wear uniforms to school (navy blue shirts and khaki pants). After so many washings, the clothes fade but are not necessarily worn to the place that they need to be discarded. I purchase a bottle of fabric dye and dye all their shirts together. I usually do this around the middle of the school year instead of buying new. Once the shirts are dyed, they look as good as new, and I’ve only spent a couple of dollars for “new” shirts.
Nancy

I had a problem with roller streaks. A paint manufacturer representative told me that a lot of people run into that problem. If you have quality paint, the problem can usually be narrowed down to the quality of the roller or the direction you roll the paint on. The last direction you roll the roller should be a down stroke. By doing this, the paint being applied is coming off the roller from the same direction on every stroke and reduces the risk of streaks or roller marks.
T.E.

As we all know, coffeemaker carafes are flimsy and crack easily either in the sink or if it comes in contact with your faucet a little too fast! I found that my local church thrift stores carry a multitude of carafes that sell for around one to two dollars. So try your thrift stores before ordering a new one or buying another coffee maker!
Marcia

For a quick, dry carpet spruce up, I use three cups of baby talcum powder, two cups of corn flour and one cup of bicarbonate of soda. I mix these up and sprinkle on my carpet before I go to bed and then I vacuum up the next morning. This does a good job and there are no damp carpets to avoid. This works great for baby’s little accidents, as the bicarbonate of soda helps get rid of smells. I made the sprinkler container by putting a few holes in a mayonnaise jar.
D.B.

I have four boys, so back-to-school shopping can be very expensive. The first place I stop at for clothing is our local Goodwill. They usually have great deals for children’s clothing and the clothes are in excellent shape! I spent less than 55 bucks for a large quantity of shirts, shorts, and jeans for all four of my boys! Then, and only then, will I go to the discount stores and Wal-Mart for items still needed.

Places like Wal-Mart and K-Mart sell school supplies for super cheap. It’s a good idea to stock up now because buying school supplies during the school year is usually at least three times more expensive than during the back-to-school sales.
Sheila W.

I have long, wavy hair. My secret to making it look fabulous is to use an alcohol-free “after sun” aloe vera gel instead of hair gel. Using it after a cold water rinse, my hair is super shiny. It makes my hair soft and full of body instead of drying it out. And it is a lot cheaper, too!
Ayla of Elyria, OH

My husband loves corn on the cob. I buy fresh ears of corn, clean them and put the cobs in freezer bags. It takes no time to freeze the bags and the cobs separate easily when needed. Just bring a pot of water to boil, drop the ears in and bring back to a boil. By the time you get the salt, butter, knife, plate and corn holders ready, the corn is ready. Do not overcook.
Ida-Mae K.

Offering to house-sit for friends going on holiday is a great way to enjoy some luxuries that I don’t have in my own house for a couple of weeks. I get to enjoy satellite TV, broadband connection, a lovely garden, and a lot of gadgets and music systems I couldn’t afford and wouldn’t want to look after permanently. Plus, most people leave a lot of food for you. My present household has stocked up for two weeks for me so I have nothing to buy. I don’t do it for payment, as I have a part-time job anyway, but I do enjoy all the facilities.
Andy M.

The very best thing I have ever found to clean shower tile is used dryer sheets. I buy generic dryer sheets and cut them in half for the clothes dryer. After using them twice, I save the used sheets in an old tissue box. When it’s time to clean the bathrooms, I grab a handful of the sheets and it polishes away soap scum with very little effort. Try it!
Mary B. in NC

In our area, we have churches who participate in Angel Food Ministries. For only $25, I can get about 23 items, which is 50% less than if I bought these same items in a grocery store! These items range from beef, pork and chicken products to a dozen eggs. There are monthly specials where you can add a special all meat package to your order, but you have to buy the regular package (no limit) to get the specials. I do pass the menu around at the office and add other’s special orders to my order if they don’t want the regular package.
 
Food, which will feed a family of four for about two weeks, is well worth the time it takes to go to a church and pick up the food between the hours given. To see if it is in your area or if your church is interested in providing the service, go to angelfoodministries.org. There are no qualifying terms.
 
I have been doing this for about four months and my grocery bill has decreased significantly. I plan our meals around the items provided and save gas by not going to the store as frequently.
Deb L. in TN

I have been using a notebook to track all purchases for about ten years and, aside from identifying areas which need to be better controlled, it gives a real sense of “being on top of things.” Plus, it’s great when my husband asks when we last had the car detailed or when we bought the stove and I can tell him without going through a lot of receipts. I’ve even taken my notebook to a merchant to show when I purchased something (I couldn’t find the receipt and thought it was worth a try) and they made an exchange for me.
Nancy H. of Santee, CA
Gary Foreman
The Dollar Stretcher
gary@stretcher.com