Water Damage

If your handheld GPS, digital camera or other electronic device gets a
surprise soaking, try placing it in a resealable bag full of dry,
uncooked rice for 24 hours. Often, the rice will absorb the moisture without
the need for damaging heat.
Cecelia M.

Baby After-Meal Clean-Up

To eliminate tears while washing up children after a messy meal, just
fill an empty soap pump with tear free baby shampoo from the dollar
store. Pump a bit onto a damp washcloth and wipe up baby’s hands, face,
neck, and hairline for a tear- free, clean baby.
Carolyn A. in Wickenburg AZ

Remember the Time…

We have a “Blessing Box.” It happens to be a Kleenex box covered in
angel paper. When a blessing occurs, we write in on a scrap of paper and
date it. Then when things aren’t going so good or we just need a lift,
we pour them out to see how many blessings we have already received.
This can be a very positive thing.
Donna S. in Burdett, Kansas

Tool Care

A good way to keep your lawn tools clean and rust-free is to build a
small wooden box about 6″ deep, two feet by one foot. Seal up the bottom,
fill it with sand, and pour in enough used motor oil to keep the sand
wet.

When you are finished using a tool, work it into the sandbox. The sand
removes any grime and scale, and the oil clings to it just enough to
keep the tool from rusting.
Kurt B.

Donate Direct

Instead of purchasing school fundraiser items, donate $10 to the
project. That way, you have donated money and have not purchased more “junk.”
Cash is always welcome.
Margie

While I’m at It

When cleaning, you should always think if there is anything else you
could wipe down with that soapy sponge before you rinse the cleaner down
the drain. It doesn’t take much longer to wipe a couple more surfaces
like the refrigerator door or microwave once you already have wet hands
and sponge.
Jess

From Roast to Ready

I recently shopped at our local market and found chuck roasts for $1.85
a pound. I bought six roasts, put them all in my roaster, and cooked
them. After letting the meat cool, I shredded it and then put it into
gallon baggies and froze it. I had over 10 bags of shredded beef to use
for soups, stews, BBQ beef, beef and noodles, and beef over potatoes.
What a savings to our family budget! We can get a lot of meals for less
money. My family would rather have a home cooked meal than to eat out
any day!
Jackie S. in Sidney, Ohio

Second Go Round

I live alone and drink coffee in the morning before work and as a
“treat” when I get home from work. I have found that I can use the same
coffee filter in my coffee maker for at least three days, and by doing
this, I can use less coffee because I leave the old grounds in there from
the prior uses! I am amazed at the money I have saved in coffee and
filters and the coffee tastes the same! I just have a “cheap” coffee maker
that I purchased at Walgreens for $20, but I am sure this would work in
any coffee maker.
Terri S. in Cincinnati, Ohio

Theft Protection

My wallet was stolen two weeks ago and it has been a real hassle to try
to make things right. One thing that has made it so much easier is
that I had an inventory of my wallet. I had taken all of my cards and made
copies so that I could easily call the companies and cancel. Don’t
forget about your library card, as thieves can check out expensive DVDs! I
was able to quickly cancel all of my accounts over the phone. The
credit card companies are used to this activity and were very helpful and
quickly sent me new cards.

The real hassle began when I went to the bank because I had four checks
in my wallet. I just wanted to put stop payments on those checks, but
the banker reminded me that the thieves could take the information from
the checks and print as many as they wanted! So then I had to get a
whole new checking account and transfer over all of the direct deposits
and automatic payments. I’ll never carry checks again!
Pam in Glendale, AZ

A Comfy Bedroom

I have a ceramic heater in my bedroom, which is very inexpensive to
run. At night, I turn down the thermostat on my furnace, turn on the
ceramic heater and close my bedroom door.

The temperature is very cozy, and because it costs very little to run,
I can save money and still be warm. The important thing to remember is
that I have to turn off the heater in the morning, so I make that a
part of my morning routine. The furnace temperature stays down until I
come home after work.
Carol
Gary Foreman
The Dollar Stretcher