So Many Uses for WD-40???

Who would have thought that there were over 2,000 uses for WD-40! 

I was blog hopping a couple of weeks ago and ran across this article on "Or So She Says".

1. Use to loosen rusty nuts, and screws, clean garden tools.

2. Cleans piano keys

3. Keeps wicker chairs from squeaking

4. Cleans patio door glide strip

5. Removes crayons from walls

 
6. Removes scuff marks from ceramic tile floors
7. Removes waterspots on mirrors
8. Removes petroleum stains from clothing
9. Removes kool-aid stains from carpet and fabric
10. Removes coffee and ink stains from leather
11. Keeps flies off cows...
12. Removes all traces of duct tape
14. Prevents the bathroom mirror from fogging
15. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly
16. If you've washed and dried your tube of lipstick in a load of laundry, saturate the stains with WD-40 and re-wash. It's gone!
17. Protects patio door from sun damage
18. Cleans and removes bugs from grills and bumpers
19. Camouflage scratches in ceramic and tile floors
20. Prevents corrosion on outdoor light fixtures
21. Removes crayon from practically anything: walls, melted in the dryer, chalkboards, plastic tables and toys
22. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
23. Removes gum, adhesives, rubber cement and stickers
24. Cleans lime stains on toilet bowls
25. Keeps garbage disposal from rusting

26. Lubricates stuck zippers

27. Spray on lawn mower when pull cord is stuck

28. Lubricates and "unsticks" anything you could possibly think of

29. Eases separation of bunk beds

30. Removes rust and mineral buildup on anything

31. Protects pool furniture for winter storage

32. Prevents rust on of lids of jars of canned fruits and vegetables

33. Shines golf clubs

34. Removes spray paint from cars

35. Use for a science project on preventing rust

36. Good for any types of skin burns

WD-40 is made of fish oil, there's nothing in it that can harm you.

The list goes on forever..... if you head over here, you'll find over 2,000 uses for this stuff!

If you can think of any other uses, let me know!

How To Reduce Your Monthly Bills With Two Easy Phone Calls

 
I received an email from Rachel at the Cha Ching Queen explaining how she reduced her monthly bills by making two easy phone calls. I wanted to share her frugal tip with you.

Our bills have been pouring in. Between all my medical costs from my breast cancer treatments , to the vet bills (our dog just had surgery and is doing fine), and the regularly monthly household bills things have been adding up.


I thought I'd see if there was any way to reduce the bills, even if by just a little.


I made 2 phone calls today and lowered our monthly bills by $18/mo. I know that doesn't sound like much, but that's just from 2 calls and it will add up over time.


Here's what I did.


How to save money on AT&T Landline Bill - I called and asked about my current bill - what features we have. We have the unlimited long distance which we do take advantage of. I didn't want to get rid of that. Somehow, I managed to get $3 off the monthly bill. I'm not sure if is because we have been customers for a while or the guy was just being nice? Then, I saved another $10/mo by combining my wireless bill with the landline bill. I didn't know they offered that deal. If you have AT&T for both wireless and landline, check into that if you haven't already.


How to save money on DirecTV Bill - I called DirecTV and was able to bring down our monthly cost by $5 (with same channels) and get an additional Starz package for 3 months. We have been customers with them for a while. I'm not sure what qualifies someone for that deal, but it can't hurt to ask.


So, the moral of the story is, it never hurts to ask. It just a took a few minutes of my time and I saved our family $18 a month.

10 Gadgets That Save You Money

 I am a gadget lover.  I especially love gadgets that save me time or money so I really enjoyed an article I read on the All You site titled, "10 Gadgets That Save You Money".  Here are highlights.

1).  Concoct your own cola.  The average family consumers 2,400 soft drinks per year.  They can save $720 per year by concocting thier own soft drinks.

2).   Get free HDTV.  You no longer have to have cable to watch HDTV.  For static free reception, all you need is a digital antenna (and converter box if your TV is analog.  You can save $700 or more per year. 

3).  Lower your cell phone bill. With XLink you can talk as long as you want.  Route your cell phone calls through your regular phone through the XLink console.  Save $33 per month depending on your cellphone usage.

4). Cut heating and cooling costs.  The average family spends approximately $1,000 per year on energy cost. The bulk of which goes to heating and cooling.  Purchase a programmable thermostat which powers down during low use periods. Saves approximately $180 per year depending on usage.

5).  Lower grocery expenses.  Purchase a FoodSaver.  Put food in a reusable bag and seal to extend freshness. Save approximately $600 per year.

6).  Install motion activated sensors.  Replace regular light switches with motion activated sensors.  Light will automatically shut off after a pre-set time.  Saves 10% - 70% off your electric bill per year.

7).  Kill wasted energy.  22% of power usage is through electronics and appliances that are plugged in-even if they are not in use. Bundle electrical cords into powerstrips and turn off when not in use.  Save $50 - $100 per year.

8).  Power up with fewer batteries.  Using eco-friendly rechargable batteries rather than regular alkaline batteries.  Save $80 - $250 per year depending on usage. 

9).  Get free home telephone service.  Connect Magic Jack into your phone and computer USB port to save money on phone calls.  Save $30 - $100 per month.

10).  Spend less on water.  Typical showerheads use 40 gallons of water during a typical 5 minute shower. Install a low flow shower head for as little as $5 to save 8,000 gallons per year.  Save approximately $250 per year.

Read more of this article on All You.

3 Tips To Save On Music Downloads

I recently discovered Smart Money TV.  There is a wealth of information presented in video version.  I was thumbing through the videos and found a video entitled 3 Tips For Saving On Music Downloads.

1. If you are music lover subscribe to Rhapsody.com or Napster.com.  At $4.99 per month for unlimited downloads, it's much cheaper than paying $1.29 per song.

2.  Download free radio such as Slacker.com or Pandora.com

3. Check download prices at Amazon.com, Walmart.com and  iTunes.  There could as much as $0.35 difference in price. For easy comparison visit downloadshopper.com

Speaking of free music,WalMart.com currently has the following free music downloads:

"CUPID" by Boys II Men

"AMOR QUEDATE" by JenCarlos (See his video here.)

"IMPREDECIBLE" by Eiza (See her video here.)

"I"LL DO IT ALL AGAIN"  by Corinne Bailey Rae (See her video here.)

"TIKTOC"  by Ke$ha (See her video here.)

"MY COWBOY" by Jessie James (See her video here.)

Imagine That!

When a gift bag can no longer be used for gift giving, use it as a portable trash can. When someone is sick, give them a box of tissues and a well used gift bag. The gift bag can be taken with them from bedroom to den and can be thrown away when full.

A New Frugal Resource: A Frugal Blog

Many of us are already familiar with the Free Shipping.Org site which has a list of online stores that offer free shipping. I recieved an email from Jeff Cambron from Free Shipping.Org informing me about thier new frugal blog, "Go Frugal Blog". There are articles written by many of our favorite bloggers. Here is a list of articles that caught my eye.

11 Frugal Activities To Keep Kids Busy This Summer

5 Tips To Exercising On A Dime

How To Reel In Wedding Reception Costs

Go Frugal In New York City

Dinner For Less (A Sweet) and Sour Bargain

Stop by Go Frugal Blog and see what articles interest you.

Salt Is Not Just For Cooking

Image Courtesy of RecipeZaar

1. Chill a bottle of champagne or wine faster by layering salt with ice in a bucket

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2. If you have a spill at the dinner table, simply blot up the spill and cover with salt. The salt will absorb the liquid and lessen the stain.

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3. If food spills in the oven floor, cover it with salt to stop it from smoking. Salt can also smother a grease fire.

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4. Mix on tsp of olive oil with one tsp of salt and gently massage your face using long, upward strokes. Wash with mild soap

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5. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Soak cotton pads into the solution. Press on your eyes to reduce puffiness.

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6. When bold colored vegetables stain your hands, make a paste of salt and vinegar and rub it all over your hands. Rinse and repeat if needed.

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7. Place a thin line of salt wherever you see ants. The ants will not cross line. Less expensive and less dangerous than chemical pesticides.

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8. Clean cast iron skillets with salt and small amount of cooking oil on a dishcloth. Wipe clean. For other types of pots, use salt and lemon juice.

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9. Dissolve salt in water in a spray bottle. Spray on hair and scrunch. Let air dry. You will have that just from the beach look.

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10. Rub salt with a lemon wedge on your cutting board. It will deodorize and remove stains.

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Credit: June/July ReadyMade Magazine

Frugal Uses For Plastic Easter Eggs

Household Uses
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I know that most of us reuse our plastic Easter eggs from year to year; however, I read a post on We Use Coupons and thought there were some great household uses listed.
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If the eggs do not have holes in them, you can use them to put small amounts of varnish, paint or stain when doing small projects.
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They can be used to store, paper clips, push pins, and thumb tacks or screws. These items always seem to end up on the bottom of junk drawers.
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Drill a few small holes in eggs and add potpourri. Then place them in your clothing drawers for a nice scent.
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Personal Uses
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There was a time when panty hose came in eggs. You can use the larger eggs to store your panty hose in so that they do not get picked or damaged.
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Put jewelry in the eggs when traveling to avoid losing it.
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Other Uses
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Use half of the eggs as scoops for sand at the beach or in sand boxes.
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Poke holes in each end and run a string of lights through eggs. Seal the eggs and use them as homemade patio lights or party lights.
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Can you think of any other uses?

Did You Know That May Is National Vinegar Month?

The French use the term vin aigre - sour wine, which is very appropriate considering how vinegar was discovered. It was discovered 10,000 years ago when a cask of wine was discovered to be past its time and had turned sour.

Vinegar was used as a preservative and condiment by ancient Babylonians.
The Romans used it as a beverage (they must have been desperate for something to drink). Cleopatra used it to dissolve preious pearls in order to win a wager. The Greeks used it to pickle meats. And finally, when Hannibal, a great general, crossed the Alps with an army riding elephants it was used to crack and dissolve boulders that obstructed thier way.

Now that you have had your history lesson for the day, click over to Keeping The
Kingdom First for 10 tips and uses for vinegar.

Credit for information for this history lesson: The Vinegar Institute

Buy Forever Stamps Now Before Price Increase

I just read on Moneywise Moms about the postage increase and wanted to remind you that the price of stamps is increasing to .44 on May 11. You can purchase the Forever Stamps until then for .42 ea. Stop by your local Post Office this week and get you a good supply before the price increases.

A New Use For Ice Cubes

Reviving stale bread. Rub an ice cube (or drizzle water) across unsliced bread until the crust is damp, then bake at 370° F for 12 minutes.

Reward: Save yourself a trip to the supermarket.

This tip courtesy of Real Simple Magazine

How Long Will It Last?

Since many of us die hard couponers stockpile items I thought I would share a list that I found in the Real Simple Magazine.

Here is when to let go of beauty products:

Bar Soap: 18 month - 3 years

Body Bleaches and depilatories: Unopened 2 years, Opened 6 months

Body Lotion: 3 years

Foundation: Oil Based: 2 year

Foundation: Water Based: 3 years

Lipstick: 2 years

Mascara: Unopened 2 years, Opened 3-4 months

Nail Polish: 1 year

If you are rotating your products properly, you should have no problems with expired beauty care.

When To Replace Dry Baking Ingredients:

Flour: To prevent pests, flour should be stored in air tight containers in a cool dry place. White flour should be replaced once per year. Whole wheat flours and other whole grain flours can turn bitter after a few weeks so they should be stored in air tight containers in the freezer and should be replaced every six months.

Sugar: Plain white sugar is indestructible and can last for two years. Brown sugar is more perishable. Replace every year.

Leaveners: Baking powder should be replaced by the date on the label. Store in cool dry place, but do not store in the refrigerator.

Frugal Tip! Homemade Calzones, Pocket Sandwiches

Because of our busy schedules, we love quick and easy meals. We usually resort to frozen, ready made products from the grocery.

I received an email from Creative Homemaking on how to make your own pocket sandwiches, calzones and turnovers that I wanted to share.

There is a free downloadable e-book and video to help you get started.

You can buy dough presses very inexpensively; however, they also have instructions on how to make pocket sandwiches without a press.

The great thing is these can be made up ahead of time and then popped into the oven or microwave on those busy evenings when you are running kids to soccer or baseball practice.

Do you have any frugal tips??

You Can Do That With A Dryer Sheet???

While browsing, I caught a post on dryer sheets by Gather Little By Little. Who would have thought you could do so much with a dryer sheet?

1. Dusting: used dryer sheets can knock the dust off nearly any surface, including furniture, blinds, car interiors, baseboards/molding. Also works for on saw dust and drywall compound.
2 Keep bugs away: Tuck some in your picnic basket or under lawn furniture to repel bees from your juicy flesh and encourage them back to the flowers, where they belong. You can also rub a sheet directly on your bare skin to discourage would- be buggers from leaving their mark.
3. Keep your clothes fresh: tuck a few fabric-sheets in your drawers to keep that ‘just-washed’ smell happening for weeks. Throw one in your dirty clothes hamper to prevent any rampant, residual odors from escaping into your bedroom.
4. Scrub your showers: Lightly wet a used dryer sheet, and scrub to remove soap build-up and mineral deposits.
5. Freshen your home: Place (or tape) a dryer sheet on your HVAC vents to scent the air circulating through your home. You can even place one alongside your filter in your central heating unit to distribute the scent. Also works on ceiling fans, and on the back of box/portable fans.
6. Reduce static cling: Pat your self with a sheet to combat static on your clothes, stockings, and even long hair!
7. De-stink your pets: Scrub incoming dogs or cats (especially wet ones) with a dryer sheet before the come back into your home. You can also place one in your litter box to cut down on odors.
8. Clean your laundry room: When you finish drying a load, hold on to the dryer sheet, and wipe down the inside of your dryer’s drum, your lint trap, the outside of your washing machine and dryer, and scrub away any excess or spilt laundry detergent.
Scrub the bugs from your car: Summer drives often equal insect gut polka dots all over your auto’s body and windshield. Simply wet your car down, and use a dryer sheet to scrub away carnage with ease.
10. Wipe up hair: The cling of a dryer sheet is perfect to wipe up pet hair from your furniture, or even your own hair from your bathroom.
11. In your shoes: Toss a dryer sheet in the toes of your shoes to minimize odors and prolong the just-purchased smell.
12. While traveling: Place a few dryer sheets in between items in your suitcase to keep both your clothes fresh and to prevent your items from picking up any mustiness from old luggage.
13. In your crafts: Use dryer sheets to add texture to cards, scrapbooks, etc. Also use for reinforcement in appliqué and quilting work.
14. For diapers: Keep your used dryer sheets in your diaper bag, and roll one up in the diaper to prevent odors before you have to chance to throw it away.
15. In the kitchen: Soak cookware with burnt or baked-on food in warm water, with a dryer sheet or two. Makes clean-up easier than you’d expect. Also works on cook tops and dingy cabinet doors.
16. Clean paint brushes: Soak your used paintbrushes in warm water with a dryer sheet, and that pesky latex paint will come off in under a minute.
17. In books: placing a dryer sheet in new books or photo albums will keep them smelling fresh, and can combat the musty paper smell of used or old books. Also works as a killer bookmark.
18. In toilet paper: Roll up a dryer sheet in your toilet paper roll. Each time you spin, it releases a little freshness into your bathroom.
19. As you sleep: keep a fabric-softener sheet in your pillow case and under your mattress or mattress pad for sweet dreams of summer all year ‘round.
20. While sewing: use a dryer sheet to store your needles while threaded to keep them from tangling, for paper piecing whilst you quilt, and for backing for embroidery.
21. Repel rodents: Use dryer sheets to keep out mice, skunks, squirrels, rats, etc from your basement, garages, boats, campers, and clubhouses.
22. In your car: stash dryer sheets under your car seats and floor mats, and in your glove box and trunk for fresh scents as you travel.
23. At work: Hide dryer sheets in drawers, behind computers, and in cabinetry to keep your workspace fresh, and combat your co-workers awful perfume or stale cigarette scent.
24. In you vacuum cleaner: Place a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag or dust containment unit. As the hot air moves as you vacuum, you’ll bulk up your cleaning efforts. (Make sure this is in NO WAY a fire hazard)
25. In storage: tuck dryer sheets in your rarely used items such as luggage, camping gear, sports equipment, or specialty craft or kitchen items to prevent the inevitable smells of basements, attics, and garages.

Do you have any other ideas on how to use dryer sheets? Let us know.

Coffee Filters...Who Knew!!!

Since this site is about saving money and frugal living, I had to pass on this email that I got on uses for coffee filters.

And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing.

COFFEE FILTERS:

Not just for making coffee....

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messyfoods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chickenfingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

Can you think of any other uses for coffee filters?

Buy Steak at Pot Roast Prices....Here's How

I read this article on The Coupon Cupboard and wanted to share it with you. It makes alot of sense for you steak lovers out there. Who knew pot roast is like ribeyes!

It was written by Tom Mylan. Mr. Mylan is a buther at Marlow & Sons in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Buy Steak at Pot Roast Prices

Sure, ribeyes and porterhouses are juicy and delicious. But as food prices continue to rise and the stock market continues to sink, the thrifty shopper might assume that good cuts have gone the way of the brontosaurus burger. Not so. With a little bit of knowledge about “Butcher’s Cuts,” the average consumer can snap up a steak at pot roast prices.

1. The Reliable Chuck Eye Roll or Boneless Chuck Roll.

Don’t be fooled by its reputation as a roast! This cut is greatly overlooked by the home cook and typically bought as a chuck roast to be slow cooked. But it’s actually a continuation of the expensive ribeye as it expands into the chuck, or front quarter of the side. The chuck roll is sold as a roast for half the price of a ribeye, and simply needs to be portioned into steaks by cutting across the grain. Ask your butcher to divide the steaks, or go at it yourself. Either way, you’ll end up with a top quality steak for the pan, broiler or grill.

2. The Flavorful Flatiron or Clod Heart.

The flatiron is not quite as tender as the chuck eye, but has a superior beefy flavor. This cut is usually sold as a whole roast, but any butcher worth his steel can easily trim out the small layer of sinew and portion it into individual steaks. Fancy restaurants around the country have long depended on this delicious cut for their bar steak. Simply marinate your meat overnight in a zip-lock baggie with salt, pepper and a bit of dark beer. The marinade will make the meat even more tender and flavorful as it seeps overnight.

3. The Romantic’s Chuck Tender.

True to its name, this small and tender cut is from the center of the arm chuck. Shaped much like miniature tenderloin, it’s the perfect steak to serve with herb-roasted potatoes and a nice bottle of red wine. Take care though, while this cut is tender it’s also very lean and must not be over cooked. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking, and dose each side with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. The room temperature steak will cook faster and more evenly (3-4 minutes a side) with less chance of over cooking.

4. Skirt Steak for Monday Night Football

This cut is long, thin and narrow with a great texture and even better flavor. It really excels when marinated in a simple domestic beer, garlic and lime juice mixture and seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper. The longer you can let it soak up the flavor of the beer and lime the better, which also allows you to get the preparation done days in advance. It cooks fast and even, which makes it a satisfying meat to serve to the masses right before kickoff.

5. The King of All Butchers’ Treats: The Hanger or Hanging Tender Steak

Like the chuck tender, the hanger is a perfectly sized, quick cooking and beefy steak for two. And just like the flatiron, it has a small ribbon of connective tissue that runs through the center, conveniently dividing it perfectly into two elegant sized steaks. If you aren’t confident removing this portion yourself, ask your butcher. He or she can do it easily in a matter of seconds. This cut also benefits from warming to room temperature and seasoned with salt and black pepper before hitting the grill or pan.

(A few meat cooking tips:)

1. Remember that any steak will continue to cook one step farther after you take it off the heat. That means the medium rare steak you just took off the grill will be medium by the time you sit down to eat it.

2. Let meat rest for 10 minutes after cooking. Simply cover it with tinfoil to keep warm while the juices are redistributed into the meat. Otherwise, the juic e will run out as soon as you cut into it. 3. Pat the meat dry with a paper towel before you cook it to allow the flavorful browning to form faster on the outside of the steak. Skip this step and the steak will steam for the first few critical minutes instead of developing flavor.

4. Start a steak hot and finish it cooler. If you’re cooking it in a pan, start it on a high flame for a few minutes while it browns and then lower the flame to medium for the last few minutes. On a grill start it in the hot center of the flames and then move it to the cooler side once it has browned. This with insure a more evenly cooked, better tasting steak.

I found this to be very interesting and now am going to watch for a sale on Chuck eye rolls and have it cut into steaks.