| Frugal and Handy Tips for the Homestead |
| To loosen rusty bolts apply a cloth soaked in any carbonated drink. Rub a bar of soap, or candle, or bar of paraffin wax on drawer or window runners to prevent sticking. In areas where nail holes are not allowed in walls, use sewing needles - they hold up to 30 lbs. |
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| WD-40 will take off almost any residue from stickers on glass & other surfaces. |
| Fix a vase, bottle, etc... by coating it with paraffin wax. |
| To remove oil spills from garage floors, driveways and basements, lay down several layers of newspaper, saturate with water, press flat, when dry lift and spots are gone. |
| When starting your garden seedlings indoors, plant the seeds in egg shell halves. Crack the shells around the roots of your plants and transplant them outdoors. The shell is a natural fertilizer. |
| To clean your microwave, place a (microwave safe) cup of water with a teaspoon of baking soda in it. Run the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the cup and wipe out the inside of microwave with a damp cloth. Poke an egg with a small sewing needle before hard-boiling, and the egg will peel with ease. |
| When you need a quick ice pack, grab a bag of frozen vegetables out of your freezer. |
| To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top. Spray tupperware with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces to prevent stains. Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle. This also works for homemade salad dressing. |
| Always spray your grill with non-stick cooking spray before grilling to avoid sticking. To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling. Use a pastry blender to cut ground beef into small pieces after browning. Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners' sugar instead of granulated sugar - it will stay fluffy and hold it's shape better. For easy "meatloaf mixing", combine the ingredients with a potato masher. To easily remove honey from a measuring spoon, first coat the spoon with nonstick cooking spray. Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan - the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers. To quickly use that frozen juice concentrate, simply mash it with a potato masher - no need to wait for it to thaw. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips. Place garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skins slip right off. Use a turkey baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time. |
| Slicing meat when partially frozen makes it easier to get thin slices. To ripen avocados and bananas, enclose them in a brown paper bag with an apple for 2-3 days. Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful, glossy finish. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corns natural sweetness. To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh. If it rises to the surface, throw it away. Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking recipes. Reduces the fat content. (Example: 1/2 cup vegetable oil=1/4 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil) Apple cider vinegar takes the redness and pain of a sunburn away. For shiner hair, use (blondes) lemon juice - (reds & brunettes) apple cider vinegar. This takes off the soap film, and shines up hair. For a clogged showerhead, soak in vinegar & water. To clean your shower curtain, throw into wash with bath towels, and add a cup of vinegar to the normal wash. If you have a cabinet with 2 mirror doors, slide 1 open before you shower. When you’re done you’ll have 1 clear mirror. For laundry 2 parts water, and 1 part rubbing alcohol are the basic ingredients of commercial spot removers. Get really white socks by boiling them in water with a lemon slice. To prevent creases in garments hung on hangers, take a paper towel roll (empty) make a cut lengthwise. Slip it over the bottom of the hanger. The round edge prevents a crease. For soiled collars, brush a bit of shampoo into stain. Shampoos are made to dissolve body oils. Use newspaper instead of toweling to clean a window that will be lint free. Use toothpaste to get a stain out of enamel table tops. |
| On small holes in the wall, use a dab of toothpaste, then if a different color touch-up. If you have a small scratch in glass, rub in a little toothpaste. This usually takes it out. For dents in wood, place a wet rag on the spot, use an iron on it. The heat & moisture raises the grain. Sew buttons on with dental floss they will stay on a long time. To remove paper stuck to wood, apply oil, wait for a moment. Wipe clean. Screws will go in easier if first screwed into a bar of soap. To clean ink marks in carpet, saturate the spot with hairspray, allow to dry, brush lightly with a solution of water and vinegar. To repair a spot on your carpet, take a fiber from a spot that can’t be seen, i.e from under the couch, then use hot glue to put in place. Stretch a used stocking over your dust mop. When done remove and you have a clean mop. To remove a scratch in furniture, make a paste of instant coffee and water. |
Here are two terrific books that will give you all kinds of easy frugal tips!
*Eat like a king on a peasant’s budget
*Take the sting out of gift-giving
*Dress well on a shoestring
*Save big bucks on family expenses
*Slash household expenses
*Save on medical expenses
*Involve the whole family in saving money
*Save more for the things you want
*Take the sting out of gift-giving
*Dress well on a shoestring
*Save big bucks on family expenses
*Slash household expenses
*Save on medical expenses
*Involve the whole family in saving money
*Save more for the things you want
Amy Dacyczyn wrote and published
The Tightwad Gazette.
Here you'll find: Travel for tightwads,
How to transform old blue jeans into
potholders and quilts¸ Ten painless
ways to save $100 this year¸
Picture-framing for pennies¸ A
comparison of painting versus re-siding
your house¸ Halloween costumes from
scrounged materials¸ Thrifty window
treatments¸ Ways to dry up
dry-cleaning costs¸ Inexpensive gifts¸
Creative fundraisers for kids¸ Slashing
your electric bill¸ Frugal fix-its,
Cutting the cost of college¸ Moving for
less¸ Saving on groceries¸
Gift-wrapping for tightwads¸
Furniture-fusion fundamentals¸ Cheap
breakfast cereals¸ Avoiding credit card
debt¸ Using items you were about to
throw away (milk jugs, plastic meat
trays, and more!)¸ Recipes galore,
from penny-pinching pizza to toaster
pastries¸ And much much more . . .
The Tightwad Gazette.
Here you'll find: Travel for tightwads,
How to transform old blue jeans into
potholders and quilts¸ Ten painless
ways to save $100 this year¸
Picture-framing for pennies¸ A
comparison of painting versus re-siding
your house¸ Halloween costumes from
scrounged materials¸ Thrifty window
treatments¸ Ways to dry up
dry-cleaning costs¸ Inexpensive gifts¸
Creative fundraisers for kids¸ Slashing
your electric bill¸ Frugal fix-its,
Cutting the cost of college¸ Moving for
less¸ Saving on groceries¸
Gift-wrapping for tightwads¸
Furniture-fusion fundamentals¸ Cheap
breakfast cereals¸ Avoiding credit card
debt¸ Using items you were about to
throw away (milk jugs, plastic meat
trays, and more!)¸ Recipes galore,
from penny-pinching pizza to toaster
pastries¸ And much much more . . .
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