(Permission has been given to post tips from the websites below.)
Back-to-School ~ Speaking as a teacher in a low-income area, stock up now and don't give your kids all their supplies at once. They are cheaper during the school sales by far than they will ever be the remainder of the year. If you give your kids everything now, you'll have to replace at least some of it later because most kids will not be able to keep track of a year's worth of supplies for an entire year. ~ karenteacher - www.stretcher.com
Teeny Tiny Treats for Teething and Tantalizing Taste ~ Regular sized popsicles are often too large for toddlers, and are wasted. Many are also full of sugar! Try filling Tupperware midget cups with plain yogurt and fruit (frozen, fresh or canned) for smaller nutritious treats, sweetening with liquid or powdered Stevia, and adding a popsicle stick. Blueberries or strawberries blended with yogurt are tasty for these teeny tiny treats! Popsicles also relieve teething pain. Note: Babies under a year should not have honey (possible chance of botulism).
Popsicle Drip Catcher ~ Slip a coffee filter or cupcake liner through the popsicle stick before you give your child a popsicle to cut down on the messy drips. Teach the older children to do the same to prevent dripping on their clothes, unless you want to try the next tip!
Not Just Blueberry Stains, but Plum Stains Too! ~ I had picked plums yesterday and got a stain on my shirt. I read in Heart to Heart that you could remove fruit (blueberry) stains with white vinegar. (Remove Blueberry Stains by pouring white vinegar on the stain and pouring boiling water over it). I had worked and worked to get the stain out and then after reading the hint, I tried it and the stain came out immediately. ~ Lucy Poland in Virginia
Remedy for Sticky Plastic ~ Plastic coated shelves (in closets, etc.) get so sticky and are hard to clean. I tried using Goo Gone to clean the shelf and couldn't believe how easily and beautifully it worked. ~ Karen Coughlin in Florida (This works great for removing gummy substances such as labels or tape residue. I found Goo Gone at the Dollar Tree for $1. Can't beat that price! ~ Lois)
When you use the last of your sweet or dill pickles, save the juice and add fresh veggies to it. Cucumbers, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower all work well. Let it set in the fridge at least a week before using and you will have delicious pickled veggies. ~ Twara Kellam - www.LivingOnADime.com
When making potato salad, add the dressing to the warm potatoes. It will absorb the flavor better and give you a better taste. ~ Twara Kellam - www.LivingOnADime.com
Free Soup ~ No need to toss leftovers or let pussy willows grow on them in the fridge! Keep a container in your freezer for all leftover meat (cut up into bite sized pieces), vegetables, sauce, broth, pasta, rice, beans, and any other foods you might use in soup. When the container is full, add whatever you like and enjoy a flavorful soup, served with muffins! Delicious!
Playing Restaurant ~ Our grandchildren were resistant to eating "leftovers" until our son-in-law came up with the idea of playing "restaurant" with them. He wears a white shirt, puts a dishtowel over his arm and uses a fake French accent as he tells each child what is on the menu (the various leftovers) and asks for their order. They each can order what they want to eat. It is warmed up in the microwave, and they love it. They look forward to "playing restaurant" every week or so and leftovers rarely go to waste. ~ Joe in Arizona - www.stretcher.com
A "New" Refrigerator for Less than $20 ~ When we remodeled our kitchen last summer, we looked at new appliances. We needed a new stove and bought a black flat top. Our refrigerator was white and looked out of place with our new black stove and black dishwasher (not to mention that with 5 children, it frequently had dirty fingerprints on the handles). Our refrigerator was only 5 1/2 years old, and new refrigerators like we wanted would cost us about $1500. We had spent enough money already, but my husband decided to turn our white refrigerator into a "new" black one. He bought a couple cans of black appliance epoxy paint. After a light sanding, he painted the refrigerator. For less than $20, we have a "new" refrigerator that looks great. Everyone thinks we bought a new refrigerator and is surprised to find out that we painted it.
Rachel K. - www.stretcher.com
Memories ~ Remember those little T-shirts your children got when they were small and you just couldn't part with them so you saved them in a box or a bag somewhere? Well, I sewed the arms and neck closed and stuffed it. After stuffing, I sewed it across the bottom and my child not only had a pillow, but the tee got used more! She is 12 now and still uses it. It's big/small enough to fit into a bag for a sleep over. She used it for naptime in kindergarten and it sits upon her bed to this day. Plus, I just throw it in the wash with towels and it's clean again! ~ Peggy B. in Wyandotte, MI - www.stretcher.com
Bird Baths ~ Giving your children a full-fledged bath every night isn't always necessary, and it may also cause their skin to dry out. For small toddlers, an alternative is to give them a "Bird Bath" at the bathroom or kitchen sink. Have everything you need right there, because of course, you can't leave your baby to run and retrieve the PJ's. Lay a hand towel on the counter next to the sink as a non-skid seat for the slippery child, as well as to soak up the drips, and then sponge her off. Later let her feet get a good washing in the sink. You'll have a clean baby using less time and water!
Storage Bin Splash Cubicle ~ Turn a deep storage bin into an outdoor water splashing cubicle for your small child, add toys and bubbles, but do remember not to leave him for even one minute. This could be a great way for a summer bath just before bedtime as well.
Cooler Carseats ~ Cover carseats with windshield sunshades or reflective emergency blankets to keep them cooler.
Baby-Proof Your Fireplace Hearth ~ Cut a lengthwise slit halfway through one or two long pool noodles, which can be found at a dollar store. Fit the cut part of the noodle over the edge of the fireplace hearth. No tape should be needed, as it will cling to the edge. Soft pillows placed around the hearth will help prevent head bumps and scrapes as well.
Drip Dry Rod ~ Hang an extra shower curtain rod inside the bathtub just next to the regular shower curtain rod. Clothes can be hung there to drip dry, with the shower curtain closed.
Changing Pads ~ Cut a shower curtain or vinyl tablecloth into multiple diaper changing pads (2'x3'). Or if you sew, lay two pieces of fabric, approximately 2'x3', right sides together, with fleece on the bottom. Pin the edges and sew a 1/4 inch seam around the edge, leaving about 6 inches to turn right side out. After turning, press, hand sew the small opening shut and topstitch all around the edge. Burp Cloths can be made the same way.
Library Benefits ~ Libraries have much more than books to borrow at no cost, as long as you return everything on time. (Mark your calendar!) You can find books on how to do almost anything, children's story books, videos, CD's, DVD's, current newspapers and magazines. Some libraries even loan out art work and cake pans of various shapes for your children's birthday cakes! Years ago, however, I found that I had to be discerning on which books and videos we brought home for our children, with so many on witchcraft, and I know it's worse now! You may also want to take advantage of Story Hour and puppet shows.
Check Over Your Receipts ~ I try to check over my receipts and it definitely pays off. During two consecutive trips to the grocery store recently, the inexperienced cashiers forgot to use my coupons ($17), and had I not remembered, they would have been useless. I was also charged the regular price rather than the sale price on three items ($5), and got home without five items I paid for ($7). So being alert saved me about $30.
Waxed Cereal Liners ~ Save these durable, free liners! They make good splatter guards while microwaving. Lay a liner over a plate of food or slip a small plate inside the liner. Bake potatoes in the microwave inside these bags. Prick the potatoes first so they won't explode, and arrange them in a circle for even baking. Clip shut or simply twist and fold under the opening. Use them to store homemade bread and other food in as well.
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