December 28, 2006

You can recycle your child's artwork by using them as thank you notes. Just write the message from your child on the back, and send to gift givers. We always had too many drawings/paintings to hang, but the kids never wanted to us to throw away anything! This way, we were able to share and teach how and when to say thank you for gifts.
TM

A few years ago, we switched from using boneless, skinless chicken breasts to boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are much cheaper. They are ideal for Asian food (that is what Asian restaurants usually use anyway). The higher fat content yields a much better flavor as well.

Or put several thighs in a slow cooker, dump 1/2 to a whole bottle of barbecue sauce on top (it depends on the amount of chicken you use and the slow cooker) and cook until the meat falls apart. This is great over potatoes, rice or as a sandwich filling. You may also use cheap boneless pork and shred it. This is great after a long day. Cheap barbecue sauce works well.
Dina H.

We recently reroofed our home with metal roofing. When our home insurance payment was due, I called our insurance agent to see if there was a decrease in the premium because the new roof was more fireproof. Sure enough, we saved over $100 on our annual premium. It sure paid to ask!
Terri B.

I have a gas oven, and find that any time I bake I can turn the oven off five minutes early and it doesn't effect the quality of the baked item, just leave it in for the five minutes, saving quite a bit of gas or electric. The oven stays hot for that long.
Liz

The dollar stores have very pretty wine bags for only $1. I buy a bunch of them and use them for all kinds of gifts all year long. And, of course, we used them for wine that we chose to give as a gift or a housewarming present.
Marlene B.

I was forever finding expired coupons in my caddy that I wanted to use. I came up with a new system for my coupon caddy. I put the current month's coupons that will expire in the first compartment (usually by expiration date). Then the next month's coupons go in the back of each section that they belong in. This way, when I'm in the store, I can quickly look through for the coupon that will expire first. I only cut out the ones I know I will use and any new items I may want to try.
Nancy T. in Cato, NY

A way to save money while still using your dryer is to spin them in the washer more than once. You have to determine where in the spin cycle the water spray ends (at least, that's what my washer does), but once you do that, you can mark the dial. Then, when you wash a load of heavy items like jeans and towels, just turn the dial around to spin them again. I sometimes even re-spin a load more than once. I find this really saves on drying time!
Kathy D. C.

Glass stovetop cleaner is costly. As an alternative, I use about 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda sprinkled over the glass, and using a wet plastic scouring sponge, rub over the whole glass. Taking a clean clothe or towel, just polish the glass and it will look like new. After moving into a home with a glass top stove already in place with stains, the baking soda cleaned the surface back to its original luster after a couple of uses.
Carol C. in Fancy Gap, VA

Buying the cheapest hamburger meat isn't always the best deal. Lower fat hamburger meat can be so much fat that it is a bad buy (beware the shrinking meatloaf!) Look around for the best buy on lower fat meat. I like to buy it in bulk (5+ lbs), bring it home and cook it all at once. I cook it with onion, garlic, salt and pepper and then drain it. Once it is cooled a bit, I divide it into freezer bags (about 3/4 pound per bag) and then I can pull out individual bags for recipes. Most recipes that call for 1 lb raw hamburger, I use the 3/4 pound cooked. I defrost in the refrigerator overnight or the microwave, or even just in a skillet. Hamburger, in my opinion, holds up well when frozen after cooking.
D in Austin TX

A thrifty oven cleaner that uses minimal elbow grease: Heat oven to 400, then turn it off. Place an oven proof bowl of amonia inside the oven, on center rack. 1-2 cups of amonia should do. Let sit overnight. In the morning just use a sponge to wipe the oven clean- even baked on debris comes right off.
Joann