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Pipe Cleaner Butterfly Ring - child's hand wearing the ring

Pipe Cleaner Butterfly RingWith just a couple pipe cleaners you can make this beautiful butterfly ring. This could even make great gift favors for a little girl's birthday party.

A woman buying a phone at an electronics store.

Avoid Additional Warranties at CheckoutOnly buy products that have good warranties in the first place, and say "No" when a checker offers you an impulse warranty on electronics. If you are afraid that the product will not last past the manufacturers warranty, it's probably not worth buying.

Temporary Crate for My New Cat Conner - kitty in the crate

Temporary Crate for My New Cat ConnerI ordered my new cat a stroller. But it's low cost which also means a long wait. So I made something to allow him to get outside while we wait. He took to it in about 20 seconds, as soon as he saw he could watch the squirrels!

whipped cream on piece of Purple Sweet Potato Pie

Purple Sweet Potato PieI'm sure many of you have had sweet potato pie. This pie is very similar but uses purple sweet potatoes. Baking the sweet potatoes in the oven (in lieu of boiling them) gives this a beautiful creamy consistency and not at all watered down. Baking them also retains their beautiful purple colour. Purple sweet potatoes can be found in grocery stores labeled as Okinawan, Hawaiian, or purple sweet potatoes. They are packed full of potassium, B6, vitamin C, and fiber.

Making Rainbow Lollipops - lollies on sticks stuck into a piece of white foam packaging

Making Rainbow LollipopsThis is a super fun craft that doubles as a delicious treat. Use hard candies to melt into rainbows for one side of the lollipop, then create your own silver-spiked clear hard candy for the other side. The result is a beautiful lollipop that has a highly saturated rainbow side, and a pastel sparkly rainbow on the flip side. These are super gorgeous when held up to the light.

A file cabinet with manila folders and papers filed neatly.

Getting the Most of WarrantiesNearly everything that is manufactured has some sort of warranty, although the length can vary greatly. Sellers can also offer extended warranties and credit card purchases may have additional protection as well. But these do you no good if you cannot utilize them before they expire. Here are some tips for making sure you get your money's worth from new purchases.

Pest Control

Carpenter bee drilling into wood.

Getting Rid of Carpenter BeesCarpenter bees will attack the wood trim and porches around your home making holes and tunnels for nesting. This is a guide about getting rid of carpenter bees.

Horses with fly nets to keep the horse flies off their heads.

Getting Rid of Horse FliesHorse flies can be a menace to have around. This is a guide about getting rid of horse flies.

Flea on White

Use Ammonia to Kill FleasAmmonia applied to carpets where your dogs and cats sleep can be effective in killing fleas. Be sure to let animals out while you do this. This is a guide about use ammonia to kill fleas.

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DIY Foil Garden Pest Deterrents - deterrents in a fruit tree

DIY Foil Garden Pest DeterrentsFor several years, most of our big fruit trees were being attacked by squirrels, birds, rodents, raccoons, and insects. Deterrent sprays did not work. Hanging shiny CDs barely helped at all. Finally, we tried this foil method and we have all of our fruit intact and growing at extremely rapid rates. Anyone need nectarines? We can't keep up! :)

Mosquito on someone's hand.

Mosquito Repellent RecipesMosquitoes are a problem in many regions. This page contains mosquito repellent recipes.

A lizard on a porch.

Keeping Lizards Off Your PorchLizards love to sun themselves during the day. Your porch may very well be a nearly ideal place for them to catch some sun and warm up. If you live in an area with many lizards, keeping lizards off your porch might be an issue you have to deal with.

More Pest Control

Gardening Tips and Advice

PVC Pipe as Garden Support/Stake - PVC tree supports

PVC Pipe as Garden Support/StakeNeed a garden support/stake for your fruit trees, plants, or garden flowers? An inexpensive alternative from trellis and garden stakes is using PVC pipes! They are extremely inexpensive, averaging out to be $2-3 each depending on the pipe you go with.

Making a Strawberry Planter from a Laundry Basket - planted basket sitting on stoop

Making a Strawberry Planter from a Laundry BasketEven if you purchase everything new, this is not an expensive project. I found the laundry basket at the curb, got the potting soil and burlap on sale, and traded plants with a neighbor.

New Retaining Wall and Early Plantings - house with wall and first plantings in the fall

New Retaining Wall and Early PlantingsDuring the summer of 2018 we added a second tier retaining wall to our front yard. It improved the existing steep slope that was mostly useless, as it was difficult to water and slippery to try and weed.

Floating Flower Bed for the Hummingbirds - hummingbird and hanging flower basket

Floating Flower Bed for the HummingbirdsWe don't have much area to plant flowers in our yard as it's mostly concrete everywhere and an in-ground pool, so we had an idea for our backyard hummingbirds. That was to give them some real nectar, from real flowers.

DIY Wooden Raised Garden Bed - finished raised bed framework

DIY Wooden Raised Garden BedWe would love to have a garden in our backyard, but supposedly there are gophers. We decided on having a raised garden bed and after looking at the costs of already built raised garden beds and ready to purchase and install yourself garden beds, they were definitely out of our budget!

Propagating Lemongrass in a Plastic Bottle - roots developing

Propagating Lemongrass in a Plastic BottleHave an empty plastic water bottle? You can cut the plastic bottom down to size and propagate your choice of plant. I like this method because I'm able to see the roots grow and ensure it'll be successful instead of planting directly into soil.

More Gardening Tips and Advice

Summer Fun for Kids

A woman reading books in the summer.

Starting a Summer Book Club and Book SwapKeep your kids entertained and reading over the summer by organizing a book club and book swap. Consider one for yourself as well. This is a guide about starting a summer book club and book swap.

Almost Free Boredom Busters

Almost Free Boredom BustersIn June the kids aren't bored yet; the thrill of summer vacation is still upon them. However, August is another story. With movie prices at $6 or higher and gas soaring in its price per gallon, how can you keep the kids busy and your budget happy?

Fishing in a mountain lake.

Summer Crafts and Activities for Kids (and...If I do not make plans to keep my son busy this summer, he will be perfectly content to waste his days watching TV and playing with his DS. So I plan to set up a daily schedule for him.

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Summer Fun Box

Summer Fun BoxSchool is almost out! A great surprise gift idea for elementary-aged children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews is a 'Summer of Fun' surprise package. Try to think of all the things you loved as a child.

Yo-Yo

Attend Free Summer Community EventsThis weekend, we attended Celebrate Hillsboro, an annual summer event provided by the businesses and city of Hillsboro, Oregon.

A child blowing bubbles

Summertime Activities for Your ChildrenFrugal living is nothing new to us as I was raised in a family of 11 kids and many foster children. We may have struggled because money was tight, but we never seemed to lack for fun things to do and there was always something going on that held our attention.

More Summer Fun for Kids

School

First Day of School Photos

First Day of School PhotosEvery year, since our kids were in Kindergarten, I have taken a photo of them in their cubbies. Looking back at them, they are so small those first few years.

Yellow crosswalk sign.

Green Tips for Back to SchoolOther than the holiday season, back-to-school shopping offers consumers the largest opportunity to collectively vote with their dollars in support of environmentally and socially responsible products.

school bus in the country

Buy Teachers' Gifts NowIt might be fall, but now is the time to purchase your child's teacher gifts. Teachers always appreciate tokens of student appreciation, especially those that are hand-picked by their students.

Photo of two bananas and a brown paper bags.

Saving Money on Packed LunchesWith kids going back to school soon, it's a good time to start looking for ways to save money on packed lunches. Here are some tips shared by the ThriftyFun community. If you have advice, please post it here.

Pita sandwich with lettuce and tomato in it.

School Lunches With PizzazzThe prices of school lunches, like most other things, are rising. Yet, parents need to question whether these lunches are providing their children with healthy lunch options and whether or not the lunches are worth the money.

Back To School Breakfast Schedule

Back To School Breakfast ScheduleWe use to struggle with what to have for breakfast. My children have come up with a breakfast schedule and they posted it on the fridge. They listed days of the week and the breakfast meal that will be served that morning.

Videos

Someone laying down roofing tar paper.

Removing Roof Tar from Skin with Olive OilRoof tar and other sticky substances can be gently removed from skin by using regular olive oil from the kitchen. Learn how to do it in this short video.

A mantle pennant made in Halloween patterned fabric.

Halloween Mantel PennantsDress up a boring fireplace mantle with this decorative pennant made from Halloween themed fabric triangles. Learn how to make it in this short video.

A small jar of butterscotch pudding.

Butterscotch PuddingCreamy butterscotch pudding is easy to make at home with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Learn how to make it in this short video.

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Teak furniture on a deck outdoors.

Refinishing Teak Outdoor FurnitureTeak is a common material for outdoor furniture because it is long lasting if cared for correctly. Learn how to do it in this short video.

A fluffy Japanese style pancake in a snowflake shape with syrup.

Japanese Style Puff PancakesThese fluffy pancakes are a delicious alternative to traditional pancakes. Learn how to make them in this short video.

A tent pole elastic that has been repaired.

How to Fix a Tent PoleMany tent poles are attached with elastic, which can break with rough usage. Learn how to fix it in this short video.

Recent

Warranty paperwork

Using Warranties

Cream Puffs on plate

Cream PuffsCream puffs are good anytime! They can be filled with custard, whipped cream, or pudding. I like to make the filling with 1/2 sugar free vanilla pudding mixed with 1/2 whipped cream which is unsweetened. That way there's no sugar, unless it's added as for the powdered sugar dusted on the tops.

Instant Pot Blueberry Oatmeal

Instant Pot Blueberry OatmealSummer is here, and this is a great way to make breakfasts for a few days. Blueberries are at their peak. You can use other fruits, too. This tastes just like blueberry pie, but much healthier!

Kid's Diamond Necklace - child wearing necklace

Kid's Diamond NecklaceMy son wanted a diamond necklace like mine, here's a kid friendly version. To make this necklace setting, we used just beads and hot glue! You can make any setting you would like with beads. Then you'll need string, a clasp, and some diamond gems.

Kimchi in bowl

Easy Homemade KimchiAlthough it will take 2-3 days to complete the fermentation, kimchi has an excellent spicy, tangy flavor. A staple in Korea food, this side dish is easy to make and loaded with "healthy bacteria".

An exercise mat and a pair of dumbbells for exercising.

Frugal FitnessI am trying hard to stay healthy, isn't everyone? I've tried the YMCA, which was wonderful, but it isn't close by. Between the travel cost, time and membership, I looked for alternatives.

Questions

Painting the Outside of a Metal Lamp ShadeI have a lamp shade that has a beautiful brass lining. The shade is perforated and I want to spray paint the outside a different color without disturbing the inside lining. I'm thinking I can line paper on the inside and tape it to keep spray paint from bleeding in. Do you think this will work?

Half of Snowball Bush Not BloomingI planted a new snowball bush 3 years ago and get heavy blooms on only 1/2 of the bush. The other 1/2 of the bush looks healthy, but there are no blooms on it. What might be causing this? I had a snowball bush in same spot previously that was 12 years old and it froze out over severe winter cold.

Mallard Abandoned an Empty NestI noticed a mallard duck nesting in my yard, very close to a lake, for a few days. I put a piece of bread near her yesterday morning. Yesterday evening I checked on her, no sign of eggs. This morning I noticed she was not in her nest and no eggs. Would a duck relocate before she laid eggs? Is it because I went near her? I was always about 4 ft away.

Is My Chihuahua Mixed? - pretty light brown dog with large ears

Is My Chihuahua Mixed?I was told my Chihuahua was full bred, but I'm not sure cuz she's a bigger breed! I've googled so many times to see if she is mixed! I want to breed her with another Chihuahua before I get her fixed, but I want opinions if she's full bred or not first!

What Breed Is My Dog? - fuzzy photo of a white puppy

What Breed Is My Dog?Is my dog an American Pit Bullmastiff terrier or a mixed breed?

Whirlpool Ice Maker Spills WaterMy band new Whirlpool in door ice maker pours water out the ice chute of the door. It has made half a bin of ice, but now seems to not eject the frozen cubes and puts more water in the tray, overflowing out the door. Does anyone have any possible solutions to our problem?

Browse

A repair man fixing a leaky roof.

Finding Home Repair Help for Low Income Families

Roof with damaged shingles.

Roof Repair for Low Income Homeowners

Dirty jeans hanging out of a washing machine.

Removing Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Odors From Clothing

A man performing roof repairs.

Getting Financial Assistance for Roof...

Man sitting on couch looking through phone book in flooded room with water up past his ankles

Finding Plumbing Repair Assistance for...

Buy now pay later button on a computer keyboard.

Buy Now, Pay Later Websites

Electric Smoke Detector

Electric Smoke Detector Won't Stop Beeping

Close up of a roof being installed

Finding Roof Repair Assistance for Seniors

Itching from a bug bite.

Identifying Little Black Biting Bugs

Gravel Driveway

Preventing and Killing Weeds in Gravel

cigarette odors in a car

Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors from a Car

Dental tools in open mouth

Getting Dental Work w/o Insurance

Kitten outside of litter box on wood floors.

Cleaning Pet Urine Odor From Hardwood Floors

Bee on Hummingbird Feeder

Keeping Bees Out of a Hummingbird Feeder

A man cutting down a tree.

Selling Trees on Your Land for Lumber

Basement brick wall and window edge.

Getting Rid of a Musty Smell in the Basement

A bunch of ants on a white background.

Identifying Small Black Bugs

Shampooing a sofa.

Removing Urine Odors from a Couch

Weeds Between Pavers

Removing Weeds Between Pavers

Keeping Slugs Off Hostas

Keeping Slugs Off Hostas

Getting Rid of Fruit Flies, Fruit Fly on Apple

Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

Getting Rid of Ants

Getting Rid of Ants

Silver Bracelets

How Much is .925 Silver Worth?

Woman Cleaning Bathtub

Cleaning a Fiberglass Tub

Gas can on the car hood.

Cleaning Gasoline from Car Carpet

A woman looking at her medical bills.

New Era Medicare Supplemental Insurance...

Sink drain with water running into sink.

Clearing a Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain

80th Birthday

80th Birthday Party Ideas

Red on a shirt transferred to the white.

Removing Dye Transfers from Clothing

Ladder leaning against a gutter

Leaning a Ladder Against a Roof...

bug spray

Identifying Flying Insects

50th Anniversary Gift Box

50th Anniversary Gift Ideas

Closeup of termites in wood.

Homemade Remedies for Termites

Someone mopping a floor.

How Much Does House Cleaning Cost?

Tiny black bugs next to a penny for scale.

Tiny Black Bugs in the Kitchen

Kenmore Refrigerator

Kenmore Refrigerator Not Cooling

Cleaning a leather purse with ink on it.

How to Remove Ink from Leather

Finding a Lost Relative, Genealogy Study

Finding a Lost Relative

growing a cherry tree from a pit.

Starting a Cherry Tree from a Pit

White Heat Stain on Wood Table

Removing White Heat Stains from a Wood Table

Blue flame on gas stove burner

Cleaning the Burners on a Gas Stove

Hummingbird perched on a feeder.

Keeping Ants Out of the Hummingbird Feeder

Man scratching his head.

Getting Rid of Fleas in Human Hair

A birthday cake with the number 11 on it.

11th Birthday Party Ideas for Girls

Denture Fitting

Shaving the Bone to Fit Dentures

A blue above ground swimming pool.

Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

A professional cleaner with his cleaning supplies.

Setting Rates for Cleaning Services

multicolored flowerbed on a lawn

Preventing Weeds in Flower Beds

Raccoon Getting into Birdfeeder

Getting Rid of Raccoons

An upset mom burying her face in her hands.

Collecting Back Child Support if Parent is Deceased

Zucchini Plant Not Growing Fruit

Zucchini Plant Not Growing Fruit

bug next to a penny

Getting Rid of Tiny Biting Black Bugs

Underwear on Clothes Line

Removing Stains on Underwear

Two wood dressers.

Organizations That Help Low Income Families Get Free Furniture

Bug Bites

Getting Rid of Invisible Biting Bugs

A birthday cake with a 13 topper.

13th Birthday Party Ideas for Girls

Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping

Troubleshooting Why a Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping

Homemade Weed Killer Recipes

Homemade Weed Killer Recipes

A dog laying on a hardwood floor.

Removing Pet Urine Stains from Hardwood Floors

Three vintage appliances in white.

Buying Second Hand Appliances

50th birthday party numbered candles on a cake

Unique 50th Birthday Party Ideas

Water running into a garbage disposal.

Unclogging a Garbage Disposal

Woman with holding her mouth in pain.

Remedies for Pain from Wearing Dentures

Cigarette Smoke Odors

Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors From a...

Power of Attorney

Responsibilities of a Power of Attorney

Refrigerator's Ice Maker

Refrigerator's Ice Maker Leaking Water

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