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Gasoline is going up in price constantly, as are
groceries, taxes and other things we have no control
over. We are all under pressure to make do with
less--be it money or time.
Here are a few suggestions for saving time and money
around the house:
1. Instead of aerosol sprays or expensive candles,
when there is an odor in your home--from a smoker,
or from cooking, whatever--try this quick method of
getting rid of it: Heat white vinegar in a saucepan
on the stove for a few minutes. You will smell vinegar
for a few minutes, but when the vinegar smell is gone,
so is the offending odor.
A slower method is just to set a bowl of white vinegar
on the kitchen counter for a few hours or overnight.
2. If you have a septic system for your home, only
use white toilet tissue, no colored inks which break
down the chemical reactions that make the system work
properly.
3. Heat-producing appliances are the biggest wasters
of electricity in the home. Air-dry all the laundry
you can. For fluffy towels, dry in the dryer for 5-10
minutes and then hang outside to finish drying. The same
for permanent press items of clothing. Just dry for a
few minutes to remove the wrinkles and then hang to dry
completely.
4. Your microwave oven uses less energy to run than
your kitchen range.
5. Wash your windows on a cool, cloudy day so the heat
of the sun doesn't dry the glass before you can get it
clean!
6. Refill empty milk jugs with water and place in the
empty spots in your freezer to keep it running more
efficiently. Plus, you will have ice for your ice
chest in summer.
7. Save all your plastic shopping bags and use them as
liners in wastebaskets.
8. If possible, route your washing machine to drain
outside and water your lawn or garden.
9. Use small loads in your washer and dryer to help
eliminate wrinkles. Cold water rinsing also helps
keep wrinkles to a minimum.
10. When dusting, add a little liquid fabric softener
to a soft cloth. Because of the anti-static properties,
it helps keep dust off a little longer. Plus, it makes
the room smell really good!
11. Don't throw away your old shower curtain! Use it as a
drop cloth when painting. Or cover the floor or table when
you or the kids are working on a craft project.
12. To remove water spots from your stainless steel sink,
simply wipe with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
13. Instead of buying extra pillows to go in your pillow shams,
store your extra blankets in them.
14. For a natural carpet deodorizer, sprinkle carpet
with baking soda. Let sit for a few minutes or even over-
night; then vacuum as usual.
15. Put an old sock on your hand, dampen it a little,
and dust the leaves of your houseplants. Add a dab of
mayonnaise and your plants' leaves will shine!
"We have succeeded in life when all we really want is only
what we really need."
About the Author
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"
bi-weekly newsletter, featuring creative ideas and tips to help
you "live the good life...on a budget!"
Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to download a free "Recipe Sampler". Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
Written by: Cyndi Roberts
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