Odd Uses for Tea Bags

I've used tea to season food, steam my face and to soothe aching muscles. What's more, I've heard of using brewed-out tea bags (or coffee grinds) for plant fertilizer. There are a number of unusual uses for tea bags, both used and new. I've collected a few with some of my own experiences tossed in.

• Anti-rust. When you have finished washing and wiping down a cast-iron pot, swipe it out with a brewed-out tea bag. Why? "The tannins [chemical compounds] in the tea create a rust-preventing layer" in the pot, according to a past past edition of Woman's World magazine.
• Dry skin treatment: Green tea is great in the bath. Here's the recipe: Place a couple of tea bags under the faucet as you run hot water for a bath. Green tea has a lot of antioxidants. "The antioxidants will rehydrate your skin." --WW
• Anti-odor kitty litter. Place the contents of used, but dried out tea bags into your cat's kitty litter. The antibacterial features of the tea "neutralize odor."--WW
• DIY facial. The editors of WW recommend the application of warm, but wet tea bags on the face. "The tannins will tighten pores and reduce puffiness."

I have my own version of the DIY day spa. In Manhattan, I once spent about $65 for a yummy facial. But get this: about 40 percent of the facial consisted of a pot of herbal tea, one large towel and my sweaty face. As I bent over the steaming tea with my head covered by the fluffy towel, a little voice in my head said: You can do this at home for far less money.

So with my own hot water, mint tea and towels, I've steamed my pores. This treatment works best if 1) you let the water cool a bit. I don't recommend hot-hot-hot steam; 2) put on New Age music and; 3) burn a scented candle. Finally, close your eyes. Under those conditions, you'll feel as if you are in one of the most expensive spas in South Beach or Manhattan.

I also recommend tea for cooking. By opening unused bags of tea, I have spiced up soups, stir-fried veggies and meats with unusual tea flavors. Celestial Seasonings, with its wide and random selection of tea flavors and spices, makes great teas for cooking.

Here's a link to cooking with teas, with great recipes for: chocolate mint bread pudding, meatballs, Thai dumplings and chamomile cauliflfower soup.

Here is a link to other uses for teas and teabags. I recommend the puffy eye treatment.

And Happy Skye has 101 uses for tea, a list that is also entertaining and informative.

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Home Repairs: When to DIY; When to Hire a Pro

When our sliding glass door gets stuck, my husband blasts the track with WD-40, a popular lubricant. But not all home repairs are so simple. Home improvement experts offer these guidelines.

There are a number of basic repairs that homeowners should master, according to Stefano Bello, manager at A1 America's Handyman in Miami. ''A normal person should be able to patch a wall,'' Bello said. Painting and pressure-washing of outdoor walls are other simple tasks.

EASY REPAIR PROJECTS
Here are some additional DIY projects:
• Fix a loose or stuck toilet handle. The online how-to library at Lowe's (http://www.lowes.com/) has an extensive and illustrated primer on the mechanics of different repairs. To repair a toilet handle, for example, Lowe's outlines these steps: 1) Take off the tank cover; 2) Remove any buildup or residue from ''the mounting nut,'' which is inside the tank, just behind the handle. Apply vinegar with a brush to remove limestone crust from the mounting nut. 3) Check the tension in the handle chain. Loosen or tighten the chain by hooking the chain on a different link.

• Basic drain repairs. Consumers should be able to clear drains with a plunger or replace drain traps. For those tasks and other basic plumbing projects, Home Depot has a step-by-step guide at http://www.homedepot.com/, click on "know how" guide.

READ THE BOX
For these next three projects, follow directions that come with the product. If you still have questions, call the toll-free number or ask for help at a hardware store:
• Change door knobs and locks.
• Remove and replace a sink faucet.
• Install a sink stopper.

Consider A Pro
Attempt these intermediate-level jobs if you have the necessary skills, knowledge and equipment:
• Insulation installation. A novice should not attempt to handle and install fiberglass insulation in walls or a roof. ''You have to know how to protect your hands and your eyes,'' Bello said.
• Bathroom tiles.
• Tub installations.
• Low-voltage installations. Home Depot offers an online guide for installing a telephone extension and a jack for cable television.

Hire a Pro
• Installation of windows or glass sliding doors.
• Electrical installations of major fixtures or wiring

This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.
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How One Couple Saved $98,000 in Five Years

Two New Yorkers -- both self-employed web designers -- saved $98,000 to buy a $445,000 two-bedroom Manhattan apartment. Their story was recently featured in the New York Times. The money-saving tips in the article are interesting and I think the same strategies can be used for retirement plans, college-savings or other long-term goals.

Here's what they did.

1. Stopped smoking
2. No more Happy Hours with friends after work
3. Started cooking for friends rather than eating out. Entertaining at home saved a fortune.
4. Stopped buying new clothes
5. Saved tax refund checks
6. One spouse took a bank job and they banked that salary and lived on the income from the free-lance web design income.
7. Halted buying new gadgets and other stuff for the house.

Whenever they wanted to buy drinks, gadgets or cookware, they asked each other: “Do I want an iPod or a house? Do I want a latte or a house?”

--New York Times

Without parental assistance, the couple saved about almost $100,000 from 2002 through 2006.
Here's are the numbers: "In 2002, they saved their $3,000 tax return and another $5,000 between them."

Over the next two years, they each saved $15,000.By 2005, they thought about using their accumulated $38,000 in savings for a down payment. When they realized that they couldn’t afford anything, Mr. Agüero got a job at a bank and saved his entire annual take-home income of about $40,000. They lived off Ms. Lee’s salary. That drove their savings up to $78,000. By 2006, they had saved another $20,000, which pushed their savings up to $98,000.

The New York Times article also included other stories about the home-savings plan used by other people, including a single woman. Very helpful reading.
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Links I Liked: My Favorite Posts for the Week

The importance of disability insurance, smart driving and meal planning are a few of the topics that caught my eye this week:

From The Simple Dollar:
Five Really Easy Recipes To Make Once-A-Month Cooking Work For Busy People

I have a friend who operates her kitchen with marathon cook, freeze and marathon session. I've been tempted to give that strategy a try.


From Money Ning:
Waste Miles Per Gallon of Gas

I don't drive. I want to drive and I plan to learn and when I do learn to drive, I will make use of this strategy.

From Generation X Finance
Protect Your Most Important Asset With Disability Insurance

From Wise Bread
Going Freelance: The Top 10 Tips

From AllFinancialMatters
Is It Silly to Buy More Stuff Just to Get Free Shipping?


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Kiplinger Asks: How Will $1,000 Improve My Life

Can $1,000 really make a difference in my life? The folks at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance think so. The staff sent me a list of what can be done with $1,000. I've added a few ideas of my own. The magazine's list, which is a preview of the August issue, includes:

"Boost Your Career With Professional Classes. New Horizons, a computer school with 148 locations across the country, offers software courses for less than $1,000. UC Berkeley Extension offers both career-directed and liberal-arts classes online. For less than $1,000 you may get a lucrative promotion or simply learn something new.

Let Time Cut Future College Costs. Contributing $1,000 to a state-sponsored college-savings plan is a great way to take a bite out of future college costs. Earnings through a 529 plan grow tax-deferred and withdrawals are tax-free if used for qualified educational expenses. Check out www.savingforcollege.com for more details.

Invest in Some College Advice. Worried about getting Junior into college or grad school? For $1,000, an admissions consultant can help your child narrow down thousands of options to a dozen or more schools that could be the right fit. For more details, visit the Independent Educational Consultants Association website: www.educationalconsulting.org

Take an Energy-Saving Tumble. Front-loading clothes washers run about $1,000 and use 50% to 70% less energy than top-loaders. While a front-loader may cost $300 to $400 more than a top-loader, it will pay for its extra cost in utility-bill savings within the first few years of its 13- to 15-year life span.

Earn 18% Guaranteed. No investment can promise that rate of return—but paying down a credit card can. Six in ten of us carry a balance, many at a rate of 18% or higher. So put $1,000 towards that credit card bill and guarantee yourself $180 in savings."

Here's what I would do with an extra $1,000:

1. Invest in the Florida Pre-paid college plan or a 529 plan.
2. Attend a summer or winter writing workshop program.
3. Invest in a web designer for my blog.
4. Take a short vacation to Paradise Island and Atlantis.
5. Buy a new energy efficient refrigerator and freezer.
6. Buy a new AC system.
7. Hire a professional organizer to help me sort through my clothes, papers and junk.
8. Take a speed reading course.
9. Take off a week from work and donate 40-plus hours of my time to a charity.
10. Purchase subscriptions to every literary journal, newspaper or magazine I enjoy reading.

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My Favorite Celebrity Money-Saving Tips From the Green Book

To save money and water, Jennifer Aniston takes three-minute showers and even brushes her teeth while the under the nozzle. That's one of several celebrity tips in The Green Book The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time By Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen. I like the book and the concept because living green also saves greenbacks.


Here's a sample:

Will Ferrell: Drives an electric car

Owen Wilson: Uses recycled paper towels and eco-friendly cleaning products.

Tyra Banks: Uses a water filter instead of buying bottled water. Turns out lights after leaving a room and flushes the toilet only when needed.

Cameron Diaz:

"My grandmother raised her own livestock in her backyard, her own vegetables in her backyard. And it was just here in the Valley next to Glendale, next to where the California Pizza Kitchen is right now.

It was a different era and a different mentality. She raised her first four children there.I watched my grandmother reuse tinfoil and plastic bags. And when she was finished with a loaf of bread, she kept that plastic bag and she would use it for something. She would make soap out of the fat drippings off of the meat she cooked. Nothing went to waste. Everything was reused and recycled. So I had that as an example."

link to full interview




Here's The Green Book website. The "solutions" menu option on the official site offers a list of money-saving solutions.

The book was recently featured on Oprah. Here's a link to Going Green 101: What Your Family Can Do Today!


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How One Man Uses Price Guarantees for Big Savings

A reader named Barry sent me this piece about how he saves at different stores. Basically, he uses a combination of Back-to-School sales and price guarantees to save a lot. Here's what he wrote.


Staples, OfficeMax and Office Depot are battling each other with huge back-to-school savings. As a result, the consumer saves!

1. Each has a promotion when you return selected ink cartridges for credit. Staples gives you a $3 coupon, good off your next purchase within 90 days, Office Depot gives you a $3 coupon with no expiration date, and OfficeMax gives you an immediate $3 off your purchase!

2. The good news is that these coupons, plus those that may be published in newspapers or received in the mail, are accepted at all three retailers. Each of the three is accepting the others' coupons!

3. And, each of the three will price match the others' advertised prices when you present the printed advertisement, such as the circulars distributed with the Sunday newspapers! So, if you see Staples in [a distant neighborhood]has advertised a deal that you cannot resist, just drive down to Office Depot [closer to home], and they will honor the Staples advertised price on the identical item!

4. Staples' price match policy is slightly more attractive! Not only will they price match, they will also pay you 10% of the price difference in appreciation of your business. And with a deal like this, you'll save on gas and most importantly, your time."


Barry is right. I recently interviewed executives from Office Depot and Staples. Both individuals confirmed those details.

And when it comes to price-match guarantees, Andrew Schneider, an executive from Staples, told me: "We will look at the difference and give you 110 percent." Schneider also said that his company sells back-to-school items (normally priced $1- $2 and higher) for as low as 1 cent to 19 cents.
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Cheap Facelifts for the Bathroom

Superhero action figures saved the surfaces of my children's bathroom. My husband revived a tired decor by placing Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, King Kong, the Queen of the Elves from Lord of the Rings and other characters on a shelf.

Here are some other frugal bathroom fixes from the design pros:

• Banish flat mirrors. A framed mirror instantly updates a bathroom and becomes a decorative centerpiece, says Perla Lichi, owner of Perla Lichi Design in Fort Lauderdale. You can buy an ornate framed mirror or use liquid nails to attach a wood or resin frame to an existing mirror, Lichi says. Or consider framing a mirror -- like a window -- with curtains, recommends Kathy Wilson, editor of TheBudgetDecorator.com and home decorating expert for LifetimeTV.com.

• Update fixtures. Change the towel bar, switch plates, faucets, shower heads and cabinet handles. ''It's amazing how much change you can make in your bathroom by updating the smallest things,'' says Karen Cobb, a spokeswoman for Lowe's.

• Buy paint. A splash of color and texture provides an instant face-lift, says Deborah Zimmer, a spokeswoman for Rohm and Haas Co., a paint company. A faux finish or a textured paint design is more forgiving than wallpaper because it does not become unglued with humidity or display tell-tale seams.

• Experiment with lighting. Track lighting, sconces or new vanity lights along the mirror brighten the powder room. Avoid lights that cast downward shadows.

• Update the shower. ''Listelo,'' a tile border, can freshen existing marble or tile in a shower. This border can be installed like a chair rail or wainscoting on a shower wall.

• New accessories: You can find soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, towels and shower curtains in dollar stores and clearance aisles of high-end stores.

• Cut the clutter. ''If you can't get most of the makeup and shaving cream under the sink, pick up a few baskets from the dollar shop to put them in,'' says Kathy Wilson of TheBudgetDecorator. Make sure there is a hamper.

• Clean up: Don't underestimate the power of soap, Cobb says. Clean the grout between floor tiles and in the bath/shower area -- high-traffic surfaces. It's an inexpensive way to brighten the room.

This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.
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Links I Liked: My Favorite Posts for the Week

As I wind down a book project, I've been getting back to my old reading habits. I enjoyed a number of posts this week. Here are a few of my favorites:

From Wise Bread: How to Brown Bag it With Style and Gourmet Pizza for Less than a Buck.

From Dual Income No Kids: Wealth and the Quality Of Your Marriage

From Mapgirl: What I Do to Live Frugally

From My Two Dollars: It Takes The Devastating To Remind Me Of What Is Important.

From MomAdvice.com: Dishwashers vs Handwashing: The Debate on Value
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Welcome to KS95 (94.5) Readers

A special welcome to readers from KS95 (94.5 in Minnesota). Special thanks to Greg & Cheryl from the Morning Show, who chatted about kids and spending. And recently provided a link to my post on that topic.

I'm glad to be included in the morning posse. Thanks to the KS95 morning crew for the link.

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Frugal Honeymoon for Tony Parker & Eva Longoria?

How do you top off a lavish wedding in a 17th century French castle? After spending a small fortune on a luxe wedding, Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs basketball player) apparently spent far less on their low-key honeymoon, according to People magazine.

Ping-pong, rounds of Yahtzee and simple candle-lit dinners filled their post-wedding agenda, according to news reports.

Here's my list of frugal vacation activities:

1) Picnics

2) Enjoy free entertainment offered in the resort

3) Use the complimentary spa and pool area.

4) Find the resort's lending library for free books, magazines and board games.

5) Go to a local supermarket. In Saint Maarten, my husband and I got a local taste of the Caribbean by going to a down-home market where area residents shopped. In this un-glitzy location, we sampled another culture.

6) Find local museums.


This site has some great ideas for a frugal honeymoons and I also liked the ideas listed here.

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The Cheapest Times to Shop and Save

Over the last few days, friends and business contacts have gifted me with advice about finding the best times to shop and save. Basically, some days of the week are best for scoring deals on airline tickets, books and other items.

For instance, managers of some of my favorite stores have shared their markdown schedule with me. At Marshalls, a manager told me that she marks down merchandise every Thursday. So when I was interested in a pair of shoes, housewares or other merchandise, I would show up on Thursday to see if the item had a red-ticket discount.

Likewise, an assistant manager at Ann Taylor Loft once told me that Friday was her day for receiving marked-down items.

Here's a great article from SmartMoney.com about the best times to buy stuff. This is a very short summary:

Best time to buy airline tickets: Wednesday

Best time to buy books: Thursdays at Borders; Tuesdays at Barnes & Nobles.

Best time to buy cars: Mondays

I use a simple fact-finding approach for finding out the best days to shop.

1) Get to know the sales people.

2) Ask about upcoming sales or markdowns. Some will shrug and say nothing, but others will offer tips. An employee at Payless shoes once tell me to wait a few days, because a sale was pending. I waited and saved.

3) Study the promotional schedule for the distribution of store flyers and discount coupons. CVS and Walgreens have sales that run Sunday through Saturday. But some of the grocery stores and organic food chains work with a mid-week schedule.

4) Go early. Sometimes items are marked down the night before a sale, according to a report I read in a recent magazine.
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How to Redesign Your Home For Less

From home stylists to certified specialists, the field of home design has widely varying costs. To get the most for your design dollars, industry experts offer these tips:


• Consider frugal alternatives. Younger designers and in-house store decorators are low-budget options for consumers. Professional organizers and stylists -- who charge by the hour or the day -- can give a room a new look by working with the furniture and accessories that you already own. Some designers are willing to take on smaller projects such as a single room or a bathroom.


• Get referrals: Do you admire the decor in a friend's home? Ask about the decorator, says Tori Mellott, senior market editor of decorating for Domino Magazine. ''Ask if the designer is easy to work with, accommodating and if they explain their fees upfront,'' Mellott says.


• Use Internet search engines: Many designers operate websites showing work samples, Mellott says. Looking online lets you study a portfolio without the pressure (or potential cost) of a face-to-face meeting. If you like the online version, make an appointment or request to see the full portfolio.


• Pin down fees: The range includes initial consultation, shopping rates, hourly charges or fees based on the cost of the whole project. Ask about additional costs for illustrations and floor plans. Inquire about mark-ups on furniture purchases. If your designer purchases furniture at a wholesale price, ask for a lower markup or a cut in shopping fees.


• Request a contract: Don't rely on word of mouth when it comes to financial details, according to the American Society of Interior Designers. A written contract protects both parties by outlining the size, deadlines and budgetary limits of a project.


• Create your own portfolio: Reduce hourly fees by collecting samples and photos of furniture and accessories from magazines, books and store catalogs. Your tear sheets will help eliminate misunderstandings that waste time and money. By doing your homework, you also create less work for the designer, Mellott says.




This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.
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Simplicity, College Costs & Other Links I Liked

Dawn at Frugal for Life offers a thoughtful post on gadgets, spending and our lifestyle choices: Is Simplicity for You. Here are other links that I liked:

7 Myths About College Financial Aid (From the WSJ) from JLP at AllFinancialMatters

The Connection Between Financial Choices And Personal Values: The Kind Of Parent I Want To Be from Trent at The Simple Dollar

The Issue of Gas Prices: Complainers vs. Complainers from Flexo at Consumerism Commentary

Life's Big and Little Extravagances from Madame X at My Open Wallet
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An MSN List of Fave Freebies & My Top Freebies

A recent MSN message board list of favorite freebies prompted me to write down a short list of some of my favorite freebies. Give-away programs mentioned over at MSN included frequent shopper/customer programs from MyPoints and MyCokeRewards.


Here's my list freebies or cheapies

1. Free makeovers at Sephora.




2. Free gym workouts. Ask for a trial week or month at different gyms. Ethically, I try this only when I'm really trying out a new gym for possible membership.

3. Cheap: Some ice cream chains (Ben & Jerry's and Baskin-Robbins ) either sell or giveaway away free ice cream scoops on the store's anniversary). Ben & Jerry's also has a free on-site tour with free samples.


4. Birthday freebies. Restaurants, chain stores and ice cream stores have different birthday discounts and freebies when it's your birthday. Here's the link to the Birthday club at Baskin-Robbins.


5. Free tea samples: I have called Celestial Seasonings to praise them about their wonderful teas. They have offered me coupons, free samples and a free tour, which I will take if I ever get out to Colorado.


6. Free back-to-school supplies. For a home-based writer like me, back-to-school sales feel like a seasonal gift. I look for all of the Buy-One-Get-One-Free sales of pens, paper, index cards and other supplies that I use during the year.


7. Car show giveaways: My boys went to a car show and came home with hats, tee-shirts, key chains and other really cool stuff.



8. Industry trade shows. I love the trinkets that are handed out at trade shows: I always need more pens, post-its and desk toys.


9. Here's how I get Free soda at Epcot. Free chocolate samples at Ghiradelli.


10. Television and free cable shows on the Internet.



11. Music on the Internet. Here's a link to one of my favorite songs: The Gap Band's Outstanding. I love the old school mix at offered by moongirl.


Here's the link to Outstanding at moongirl.








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My Conversation with Chris Gardner: Pursuit of Happyness

He does sound like Barry White on the telephone and his story is packed with meaningful (and frugal) advice. That's my response to a recent telephone interview with Chris Gardner, author of The Pursuit of Happyness. He also was an associate producer of that hit movie, which starred Will Smith.

Chris Gardner's story has been well documented. Homeless with a young child, Gardner worked as a stock broker trainee during the day. In the evenings, Gardner and his young child navigated through the maze of homelessness in America during nights and weekends. Ultimately, he scored big time on Wall Street and became the founder and CEO of Gardner Rich & Company, a successful brokerage firm.

I spoke to Gardner last week because he's working with Visa on a stored-value card for under-served banking communities. (I'll address that topic in a later post.) But in the here & now, this is what I learned about frugal living from Chris Gardner.


1. Hard work pays: As a novice broker, he really worked those phones to produce investment business. Cold calling is a cold business, but Gardner generated big-ticket sales. What's more, he paid close attention to the successful working styles of others.


2. Use second-hand furniture: After sleeping in a transit bathroom and rooming in a shelter, Chris Gardner and has young son were eventually able to rent an apartment. He furnished the modest apartment with second-hand furniture."That is where friends came through," Gardner told me.


Friends gave him: a king-size bed, a card table, linens, lamps and other old, but functional items that they weren't using.


And during his early days as a stockbroker, he went to flea markets to find cute splashes of color and other fun trinkets to decorate the home for his two-year-old son.




3. Find low-tech toys for kids: When he and his son were homeless, Chris Gardner found creative toys for his son. For example, a used juice can made a wonderful kick-it toy.

"We'd find things," Gardner said. "The juice container became a little soccer ball. And as long as I could kick it forward, he [his toddler] would run. We could make fun out of anything."

4. Free entertainment: During the long stretches of weekend hours, the father-and-son team were often on the streets for extended periods. Therefore, Gardner became a pro at hunting down free community activities that would keep his son entertained without spending money.

Going to the park was one of their favorite activities.

5. Give back: Gardner is now a very wealthy man and he shares his good fortune with many charities, including those individuals and institutions that offered him support during the lean years.



He also has his own foundation.







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Unusual Uses for Baby Wipes: Shoes, Screens & Faces

Is it really possible to clean a computer screen with a baby wipe? That's one of the tips provided by a reader of Real Simple magazine. I have not tried that trick, but I have used baby wipes for other cleanup duties:



I've swiped floor, counter tops and faces (to remove make-up and grime) with baby wipes. In fact, some stylists on South Beach modeling shoots have used baby wipes to clean up cosmetics and clothing.

And when traveling -- cars, trains and planes -- wipes are great for quick and emergency cleanups when water and soap are not available. Likewise, during hurricane season when we have lost access to running water, wipes have been great for hands and faces.



Here's a list from Woman's World:

Shoeshine: A swipe with a baby wipe will "clean and shine" a leather shoe.

Make-up remover: A cleanser and a moisturizer all-in-one. (Works great for me).

Sunburn relief: Pat down burnt skin with a baby wipe. ( I would use those with aloe, a plant that is great for burns)

Laundry help: Use a wipe to blot away deodorant marks on a garment.

Banish crayon marks: Wipes are great for removing crayons (and scuff marks) from laminate surfaces, tiles and walls. (I've had success with this tip.)

Screen saver: Like the reader from Real Simple, Woman's World also claims that baby wipes are great for cleaning dust from "TVs, stereos and computers."
source: July 17, 2007 issue.

Meanwhile, the folks at RDLiving.com -- the online version of Reader's Digest -- believe that wipes are great for cleaning computer keyboards:

"Clean your PC keyboard

Periodically shaking out your PC's keyboard is a good way to get rid of the dust and debris that gathers underneath and in between the keys. But that's just half the job.

Use a baby wipe to remove the dirt, dried spills, and unspecified gunk that builds up on the keys themselves. Make sure to turn off the computer or unplug the keyboard before you wipe the keys.

--Extraordinary Uses for Wipes

The rest of the list provides other interesting applications. My favorite: dried out, but fairly clean wipes can be used as furniture dust cloths.

Thriftyfun.com also has a great thread with comments about unusual uses for baby wipes.

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Thanks to JLP & Other Bloggers

Thanks to JLP of All Financial Matters for including my Money-Saving Guide to Theme Parks in a recent roundup. Thanks also to the Chief Family Officer and Babble for linking to that post as well.

Also appreciation to: The Mint Blog and to Mom Advice for mentioning my Cheap but Elegant Guest Room Tips.

Thanks to No Limits Ladies for the recent links.
By the end of the month, I will resume a Sunday roundup of my favorite weekly posts.
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Expert Storage Tips for Saving Money With Your Frig

An organized refrigerator saves time and money. Smart cooking habits lengthen the life of your frig, as does proper storage. Here are a few tips from the pros.


• Use the crisper. Leaving fruits and vegetables on open shelves is a recipe for limp and spoiled produce, according to Paul Leuthe, corporate marketing manager for Sub-Zero appliances. A steady stream of cold air, great for other foods, is deadly for produce. ''Air dries things out,'' Leuthe says. In contrast, the ''crisper'' drawer helps fruits and vegetables stay crisp longer by providing higher humidity.


• Isolate and segregate. Randomly tossing fruits and veggies into the same bin can be wasteful, say the experts at Sub-Zero. Many fruits -- apples, melons, apricots, figs and bananas -- produce ethylene, a gas that hastens ripening. Ethylene makes most vegetables spoil faster, so store fruits and vegetables in separate bags or drawers. ''Wash them, put them in bags and keep them isolated,'' Leuthe says.


• Reconsider the door. It's tempting to store milk, eggs and other high-use items in the door. Think twice about putting highly perishable products there because the door has the greatest temperature fluctuation and agitation. Both shorten a food's shelf life.


• Maximize multilevel storage. Hot air rises. Foods needing cooler temperatures should be on the lower shelves. Use the upper ones for items less prone to spoil.


• Don't crowd. An over-packed refrigerator reduces the flow of air. With reduced circulation, the unit becomes less energy-efficient and more prone to frost and freezer burn.


• Reduce humidity. Your refrigerator will work more efficiently if you keep a lid on moisture in the kitchen.


This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.
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Welcome to Consumerist.com Readers

If you're new to the Frugal Duchess, thanks for stopping by and please look around. Thanks also to existing readers for the support and interest.

This week I was featured at Consumerist.com, which resulted in a sharp spike in traffic. Thanks to Ben at Consumerist for including me in the roundup.

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Frugal Fun in New York

During the 10 years that I lived in New York City, I developed a repertoire of no-cost and low-cost fun activities. Here's a list of my cheap, but fun things to do in NYC.


· Staten Island Ferry: When I lived in Manhattan, the Staten Island Ferry was 25 cents for a great ride. (The private cruises are lots more). Now the ferry is free and you catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty during the ride. Here is a link to the ferry.

· Street Performers: Central Park, Washington Square Park and Union Square Park: On the streets of New York, I have seen extreme skaters, dancers, musicians, singers and little girls jumping Double Dutch at heart-breaking, breath-taking speed.

· Free Spectator Basketball games: Okay. The Spurs vs. Cavaliers NBA championship final was not exciting basketball, but in New York there are some awesome pickup games that are great to watch. Here's my favorite spot: Fourth Street B-ball Courts in the West Village.

· Free summer concerts:

· Shakespeare in the Park: There's a great lineup for this summer. Awesome casts & free tickets.

· Improv Jazz sessions at Dan Lynch Blues Bar in the East Village: In between weekend gigs, many professional musicals in Manhattan show up for free jazz jam sessions on Sunday afternoons. Some of my happiest afternoons have been spent listening to star-struck music at Dan Lynch.

· Cappuccino at Caffé Reggio in the Greenwich Village: With a cup of coffee, you can sit for hours at this café and people watch in the Village. This place has been around since 1927. You'll forget that Starbucks ever existed.

· Halloween Village Parade

· Moses Beach/Jones Beach

· Coney Island Boardwalk

· Museums (Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc and art galleries, especially in SoHo.)

· Discount show tickets (Broadway and off-Broadway) from the Theatre Development Fund

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A Money-Saving Guide to Theme Parks

From New Jersey to Florida, I have been to a lot of theme parks: Here's my guide for having lots of fun while saving money:


Bring your own rain coats or ponchos. Of course, when it rains, theme park gift shops have ample supplies of rain gear, about $6 per poncho. That’s convenient, but for a family of four that’s $24, plus tax. That bill represents money that could be saved or spent on other vacation treats. In contrast, you can buy ponchos for a buck a piece at Walgreens and dollar store chains.

Pack Sweatshirts or extra clothing. When the sun goes down—especially in the winter and spring -- temperatures sometimes dip sharply in the parks. We’ve been in Orlando during the December holiday season when the thermometer has dipped into the low 30s. Brrr. I’ve watched in sympathy as tourists in shorts, halter tops and bathing suits have purchased warmer clothing at gifts shops, with prices that start at $25 for a sweatshirt. (Been there, done that). We bring our own jackets and we check the forecast before leaving our home or hotel room.

Carry your own snacks. As special treats, we occasionally buy the park-branded snacks (ice cream, soda or candy). But most of our snacks are from the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) label. Likewise, bring your own water bottles. It’s best to freeze the bottles the night before (in your hotel room) and sip the defrosting water in the hot park.

Enjoy spray-and-soak rides in the middle of the day, when you’ll dry off faster in the hot sun. Otherwise, you’ll be tempted to buy new gear at one of the conveniently located clothing stores in the park. Or bring extra clothes and store them in a park locker.

Get a room with perks: A great hotel—with lots of free activities and services—will save you hundreds of dollars during a vacation. That’s because the more perks your hotel offers, the fewer days your children will want to spend in the park, which translates into fewer admission tickets, meals and treats.

For instance, with my extended family, we have frequently stayed at a kid-centric resort in the Orlando area that offered free entertainment, crafts, games, miniature golf and sporting events for families. What’s more, the main pool—with water sprays, fountains and other fun surprises—was like a water park. Once, we even had to bribe our kids to get out of the pool in order to use the theme park tickets that we had already spent a fortune on. We didn’t make that mistake twice.

Check out free or low-cost attractions: Orlando has more to offer than Disney or Universal Studios. There are many frugal entertainment options that cost a fraction of theme park admission tickets. This logic applies to other areas of the country. Lesser known –and cheaper—local attractions often try to ride the coattails of nationally known parks. There are also municipal parks, zoos, museums and other affordable attractions.

Shop outside the park: Many of the dollars stores and gift shops on the nearby highways carry affordable souvenirs and trinkets.

Give each child a trip budget: We provide our children with a trip allowance to spend as they choose. Of course, we cover the basics, but for buy-me, buy-me trinkets, the kids are on their own and when their fun money runs out, that’s it.

Don’t overstay. Kids nine and under have about a six-hour window in the park. My husband and I have timed our kids and we have watched the temper tantrum cycles of other children. Trust me. Don’t stay in the park with irritable, tired grumpy children. You will feel as if you have wasted a ton of money.

Leave the park, get your hands marked with a re-entry stamp. Go back to your hotel for naps and consider returning to the park for evening parades, fireworks or other festivities. Mothers with younger children can also go to the nursing station in some Disney parks. This facility—with rocking chairs, microwave ovens, televisions and play areas—is an ideal “chill zone” when you, or your toddler/baby need a time-out.

Find the playgrounds. Inside amusement parks and municipal parks are real playgrounds where the kids can just play and get exercise. A constant diet of theme parks represents too much passive entertainment. Sometimes, kids and adults just need to play and run around. _____________


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After 4th of July Picnics: Odd Uses for Paper Plates

With the yearly celebration of the Fourth of July, barbecues are fired up across America, and that American cuisine is typically served on lots of paper plates. However, after the food and the fireworks, many of us are stuck with a stack of paper plates! From Woman's World magazine, intern Maya Jaffe has pulled together a list of unusual uses for paper plates. Other links--including a tip about making index cards from plates -- are below.


Microwave food shields: To limit the amount of food that gets splattered when using a microwave oven, place a paper plate, on top of the food while heating up a meal or snack.

China Security- When stacking, packing or storing fragile China, place paper plates in between the dishes in order to guard the fine porcelain.

Garbage Liner- Place paper plates at the bottom of a trash can. Cut and shape the plate to fit the bin.

Paint Ring Prevention- Place a paper plate under a paint can to save the surface it’s placed on from a paint ring.

Disposable Cutting Board- Eliminate messy cutting boards by using a paper plate. This step works very well if you are in a hurry and the cutting board is dirty. By using a paper plate, you can cut an entire salad and when you're done, so is the plate. I use this tip all the time when preparing for a family gathering or entertaining.

--written by Frugal Duchess Intern Maya Jaffe
source: Woman's World 7/03/2007 issue

Odd uses for paper pates from Living a Better Life: 51 Money-Saving Uses for Ordinary Kitchen Items

"1. Place two plates together, edge to edge, fill with beans or rice, staple the edges together, let children paint and decorate for a fun musical toy.

2. Use as a cover for food to keep warm.

3. Place ½ of a plate on top of a full sized plate,
edge to edge, staple edges to create a letter holder. Great for kid's
Valentines."

Paper plates are also good for Make-it-Yourself index cards, according to RDLiving.com, (the online version of Readers Digest) which offers these tips for alternative uses of paper plates.


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Cheap but Elegant Guest Room Tips

Creating a comfortable but affordable room for guests can be a challenge. But it's possible to make your home more inviting without spending a lot of money.


• Furnish a multi-tasking room. The guest room serves many functions for Tammy, a Miami Beach homeowner. On weekday mornings, the spare bedroom with its own bathroom doubles as a home office. In the evenings, it becomes a media center for her children. But on weekends when guests visit, it turns into a bedroom. A large cabinet, which houses the media center, also has clothing hooks and extra pillows and linens. A couch converts into a bed with a festive quilt added for guests.

• Create a gift basket. From sunscreen to new toothbrushes, Tammy provides guests with a large stock of personal care products in an attractive basket. She purchases travel-size containers of shampoo, lotions and other grooming products and refills them from economy-size bottles as needed.

• Create privacy. The ideal guest room enables a visitor to retreat behind a closed door, complete with a private bathroom. (If you don't have an extra bathroom for guests, Woman's World magazine recommends placing an attractive towel stand in the guest room.) The guest area should also include space for suitcases, clothing and other personal belongings.

• Use color wisely. Walls painted in soothing colors, such as soft greens and aqua blues, can create a relaxing retreat, says Jane Heaton, owner of Designing Woman, a design firm in northern Broward County. She recommends against wild and hot colors, which can make some guests feel claustrophobic.

• Decorate with a theme. Use accents and accessories to create a vacation environment, Heaton says. She recommends tropical, nautical or fishing themes. Mounted seashells, unusual picture frames, photographs and other accessories can provide decorative accents. Potpourris, scented soaps and other aromatic treats also create a relaxing environment.

• Stock up. Supplies of festive hand paper towels, fluffy towels, appliances (reading lights, an iron and a clock) and extra pillows make guests feel pampered. In my home, we also provide visitors with a wide selection of reading materials: novels, nonfiction books and magazines.


• Be prepared: An inflatable air mattress, additional blankets, sleeping bags and cots are helpful if guests arrive with children.


This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.
______________





The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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