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Thank you Jamie, from Pittsburgh Clothing Swap for this GREAT tip!
Attend clothing swaps! It is a great way to clear out your unwanted clothes and receive new items for a very low cost! Not only is it thrifty, but a great way to recycle and help the environment!
05
During the Christmas season, there are usually a lot of free to the public events going on. I know in our area a local business owner decorates his yard FANTASTICALLY and puts on a laser show every year. This is, of course, free to the public and our kids LOVE it. Grab a newspaper or browse the internet to see what what free seasonal events are occurring in your area.
05
Amazingly, you can save hundreds of thousands of dollars on a dream home with a “pre-paid” dream home plan.
Also take advantage of the programs Insulated Concrete Form Building, for a superior energy efficient and safe home.
The program also offers an amazing affiliate type membership program, which allows you to not only build your dream home with almost no out of pocket cost, but also earn a substantial income as well.
This is an awesome thrifty must see!!
05
With rising gas prices, and air travel prices rising along with it, maybe you should consider taking your vacation by train. You can find some great deals on traveling by rail and it is also a pretty neat way to see the country side. The only bad thing about it is time of travel. If your vacation time is limited, it might be best to consider another mode of travel.
05
We know the local Wal Marts here will allow you to save up to 3 cents on the gallon by purchasing. Check at your local Wal Mart or other shopping centers for deals like these. You can really save some money and every little bit counts.
05
Find a nice quiet waterside spot and take your significant other. Watch the wildlife in the area of grab some stones and skip them across the surface. I find places like ponds and lakes especially romantic and so does the wife. They are great places to go if you have one nearby.
05
Check at your local pet superstore for information on mobile vaccination units and when. Vaccinations from specialized, government, or charity organizations can be up to 75% cheaper then at your local vet.
05
Severe cash flow problems? Consider dropping shampoo from your list of hygiene items. I use an anti-bacterial soap to shower with. I also wash my hair with it every other time. It tends to dry out my oily hair a bit (which I like) and it’s cheap. If you can’t afford shampoo for a bit, simply use soap in it’s place. It won’t hurt and will keep your hair clean.
05
Tap water. You’ve heard so much about it and may not like it. However, compare it to a bottled water and you’ll see the price difference awfully quick. You should think about switching to tap water. If you don’t like the taste, believe it or not it’s usually just a simple case of not having adapted to it yet. Drink enough times and you won’t even notice anymore. Studies have shown that most tap water is as safe to drink as bottled water (check reports in your area).
Also, check out where your bottled water does come from if you do decide to stick with it. There are a whole lot of them that come from… you guessed it, the tap!
05
This phrase is used to mean the act of producing your own power. Someday I’d love for solar power to advance to the point where I (and every other American) could step off of the electrical power grid completely and get cheap, free power. Talk about freeing up our dependency on oil.
Pipe dream? I don’t think so. There is some VERY exciting research going on in these areas. You can step off of the grid in some minor ways. Check our store for some products that help you step off of the grid. They’re not only cool but save you money in the long run.
05
Here’s a cure a reader from Florida suggested. If you are suffering from a sunburn, cover the burnt areas in milk of magnesia and let it dry. Once it’s dry take a good shower to wash it off. This should give you some much needed relief for your burn. Oh yeah, next time use some good sunblock.
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This information is directly from the ICFA (Insulated Concrete Form Association)
Greater Comfort and Lower Energy Bills
Energy savings and comfort are built into every ICF system. ICFs start with a high it-Value. Four inches of ASTM C 578 polystyrene foam insulation, combined with a five inch concrete wall a typical ICF system - are rated above R-17 at 75* mean test temperature. Other insulating form configurations and materials also exhibit high it-Values.
But that’s not all! Air infiltration in an ICF Home is minimal due to the continuous air barriers provided by the foam insulation and the concrete. Likewise, there are no convection currents within wall cavities.
The concrete walls of an ICF home have high thermal mass, which buffers the interior of a home from the extremes of outdoor temperature during every 24-hour cycle. This reduces both peak and total heating and cooling loads.
This combination of high R-values, low air infiltration, and high thermal mass is believed to account for the amazing 25% to 50% energy savings of ICF versus wood or steel-framed homes.
Peace and Quiet
New ICF homeowners almost always remark on how unbelievably quiet their new house is, compared with their old stick-built home. They expect the new-found comfort and energy efficiency, but the peace and quiet -the protection from outside noise - never fails to surprise and delight them.
In sound transmission tests, ICF walls allowed less than one-third as much sound to pass through as do ordinary frame walls filled with fiberglass. With double-glazed windows in ICF walls and beefed-up roof insulation, you will rarely hear street noises or airport traffic.
Solid and Lasting Security
The high-mass walls of an ICF home not only give it a remarkably solid feel, but they also make it safer for the family. And make it a remarkably solid and secure investment, too. Concrete homes have a proven track record of withstanding the ravages of hurricanes, tornadoes and fires, when all the stick-built houses around them are in ruins.
In fire wall tests, ICFs stood exposure to intense flame without structural failure longer than did common frame walls. The polystyrene foam used in most ICF forms is treated so it will not support combustion. Also, tests show that its tendency to transmit an outside flame source is less than that of most wood products. [Many insurance carriers are now offering a discount on a home owner's policy for an ICF home.]
Less Repair and Maintenance
With ICF homes, the equation is simple. No Rot = Less Repair and Maintenance. Neither polystyrene nor concrete will ever rot or rust. Concrete can even be exposed to the elements for centuries with few ill effects. Reinforcing steel, buried deep inside and protected by concrete’s alkalinity, does not corrode.
A Healthier Home and Environment
Building with ICFs is healthier for environment in a number of way minimizing the number of different building products involved in co tion, by reducing the amount of waste generated on the construction site by lowering energy requirements heating and cooling.
ICF homes provide a healthy indoor environment, too. Nothing held within or ordinarily emitted by an ICF wall is toxic. The measurement of the air contents of actual ICF houses shows an almost complete absence of any emissions.
Flexible Designs
ICF homes can be designed in any style, and will accept any traditional exterior finish including vinyl or wood siding, stucco and brick. Because custom angles and curves are easily created, it’s simple to build in bows, bays and radiuses. And ICF systems accommodate any of today’s most popular design features, such as tall walls, large openings, long floor spans, and cathedral ceilings.
19
Vacation areas are usually chock full of souvenir shops with horribly priced items. It’s okay to buy souvenirs but don’t break the bank doing it. The wife and I usually find a good place that has discount t-shirts to pick up some items to remember our vacation by. On our recent trip we managed to find a place selling them 3 for ten dollars. These were the same type of shirts being sold a half mile away for fifteen dollars each.
19
Before you drive somewhere, ask yourself that question. Frivolous driving can cost you about 40 cents per mile driven. Also, if you do have to make trips to distances farther than ten miles you should try to combine trips. Remember, every mile you can save driving can save you money.
19
The wife and I are avid readers (I more than she, admittedly). A good way to spend some romantic time is to just each grab a book and plop down on the couch together and spend some time reading together.
19
Unless your dog/cat or whatever is put on a specialized diet by your vet for serious health concerns, avoid picking up food products from your vets office. You can usually find the same items for much less at your local pet superstores. Don’t believe us, do some comparison shopping online.
Make sure to check the list of ingredients. Remember that “cheap” is not always better. After all, if your pet food makes your pets sick, you are increasing your cost (with vet bills) instead of saving money.
NEVER buy food that has “by products”, it is difficult to digest and causes intestinal problems.
www.CajunCatopia.org (and Thrift-opedia) recommends Nutrish for dogs (Nutrish for cats hopefully coming soon). Nutrish can be purchased at your local Wal-Mart.
19
Two necessities that a person should NEVER be without are soap and toothpaste. The simplest way to conserve toothpaste is to squeeze from the bottom, curling it upwards and using the minimal amount to cover your toothbrush. Don’t skimp on the dental hygiene as it will lead to much more expensive dental repairs (and pain) later on in your life.
19
Chalk is cheap. Very cheap. Don’t believe me, price some next time you’re out shopping. A great, fun way to have your kids unleash their creativity is to give them some chalk and let them draw on the pavement. Don’t worry about this, it will wash off in the next rain. You can pick up some jumbo chalk that is especially made for this purpose from almost any major store.
19
If you’re feeling itchy here is an old fashioned cure. Take yourself an oatmeal bath! Get some oatmeal and puree it. Add two cups of this pureed oatmeal to your bath and mix it all up. Hop in and soak for about half an hour. This cure should relieve the itch quickly.
19
When washing and drying your clothing, make sure you are using full loads if at all possible. Remember, you not only save on soap but on water and electricity also. In the long run, keeping full loads will save you more money then doing a bunch of smaller ones.
19
Can’t think of what to get the not so close relatives for Christmas you don’t want to spend a fortune on? Buy some simple Christmas cocoa mugs from the local dollar store and some bags of different Hershey’s Kisses. You can fill the mugs with Kisses, wrap them and give them to friends. They make a great and cheap gift!
This tip submitted by: www.CajunCatopia.org
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Some general advice when you’re looking for cheap, healthy alternatives. A good healthy diet will always have:
* Protein in it to build muscle, repair tissue, etc.
* Fat should have a balance of omega 3, 6, and 9.
* Veggies of all types, especially the green, leafy ones.
* Fruits are full of vitamins and “healthy” sugars.
* Water. D’uh. 
* Whole grain foods, such as bread, pasta, etc…
19
Do a little research into what types of bulbs will work in your light fixtures. If possible, replace your regular old incandescent bulbs with a type called compact florescent bulbs.
Why should you do this? Compact florescent bulbs use about 75% less energy PLUS they last about 10 times longer than regular bulbs. A small investment can save you tons of money in the long term.
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Do you have a thrifty tip to share with us and the world? If so, send your tip along with a link to your website and we will include your tip AND your website link in an exclusive post!
All we ask in return is a link back to us on your website.
To join our link share, send your tip and website link to: admin@thriftopedia.com
10
Did you know that one third of the energy we produce goes to one thing? That one thing is heating water. When it comes to heating water we usually say, “Hmmm… should I heat my water with gas or electric?”
What most people don’t realize is that there is a third alternative that is right above your head, the Sun! Although this method involves an initial investment, you can heat your water through solar heating. The sun has been providing the Earth with heat for billions of years now and will do so long after we’re gone. Why not tap into that heat to help heat your home?
09
Talk about thrift all around!!
With My Power Mall, you can start to live “greener” by saving energy and gas (working from home AND shopping from home = less driving), you can save money (find great deals in your mall, AND make money at the same time running your very own LOW COST home based business), enjoy great family fun and vacations (teach your kids to be entrepreneurs with their own power mall, plus find out how you can earn FREE vacation deals too).
It really does not get any better than this!!
Make sure to watch the video and get started saving and EARNING today!
09
If you are going to be out of town for a while see if you can swing a room that has a kitchen area. Even if it’s a little more you can cook in your room and save the price of eating out every day. When the wife and I took the family to Gulf Shores this year we shopped around for a cancellation and got a great deal on a condo with a kitchen! We cooked ourselves and probably saved ourselves a hundred dollars a day doing so.
09
Check the pressure on all four car tires about once a week if you can. Remember to read the side of the tire to get the proper air pressure. Remember, do not over-inflate your tires as this can be as bad as under-inflating them.
Keeping the tires properly inflated saves on tire wear making your tires last longer and more importantly saves on gas. If you have to drive make sure your car is properly maintained. For some good ideas on car maintenance, check out Auto Repair For Dummies
For those times when you do need to take your car into the shop, make sure you know how to avoid common auto repair scams and save a LOT of money.
09
The very fist date I ever took my wife on we decided to go to a park. The park was next to a bayou in Louisiana. We took the time to feed the ducks in the area together. It was a great time to discuss our view of animals, wildlife, etc… as well as share some quality time together next to nature.
09
Check a PetSmart or PetCo or whatever pet superstores you have in your area for deals on bulk cat/dog/hamster food. You know you’ll need it anyway so why not buy in bulk and get some savings doing it? You can also find some nicely priced items such as toys, collars, etc… if you shop around.
Shop around online as well!
09
When it comes to toilet paper, cheaper is not always better. The wife and I switched to the dollar store brands of toilet paper for a while and discovered that while cheap, they did not have the lasting power of some of the slightly more expensive brands. We use Scott tissue because it really lasts the longest and is the most comfortable we can find for the price. If you don’t like their regular version, try the new “soft”.
09
When living green, what we buy is just as important as how much we are spending/saving.
So lets say you are looking for some new art. Instead of heading to your nearest department store, head on over to artsy.etsy.com, and check out Cat Bishop’s amazing Recycled Art! Her original one of a kind designs are created using recycled vintage items, such as clocks, cameras, toys, kitchenware…you name it!
What an incredible way to live green with art!
09
Instead of purchasing ornaments and decorations for your tree and home, why not make some? You can use the old salt dough, cut it with holiday themed cookie cutters, and let it air dry. Decorate these, paint them, add some sizzle and hang them up or give them to friends and family to hang on their trees/in their homes!
Another idea from a reader is to use acorns and paint Santa faces on them for Christmas, or witches faces for Halloween (with the tops as hats!)
Being creative for every holiday, with your gifts, ornaments and decoration is not only a fantastic way to save money, it is also great family fun!
09
Don’t get to eat healthy enough? A cheap and healthy way to boost your immune system and overall well-being is to supplement your meals with vitamins! It is scientifically proven that people that use vitamins live healthier and even longer lives!
The wife and I take vitamin supplements, and along with regular exercise have found that we are much healthier and become sick less often! Your mom told you to take your vitamins, it’s time you listen!
09
A great way to have fun and teach your children the value of helping others is to volunteer. Find a program that helps others and join in the helping along with your family. Some great programs include Habitat for Humanity, neighborhood cleaning programs, manning a soup kitchen, Animal Shelters, etc…
If you are in the Houma, Louisiana area, we recommend contacting Cajun Catopia to volunteer in one of their programs. www.cajuncatopia.org or email: admin@cajuncatopia.com
09
If you’re buying a new appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR label. Products who earn this label have to pass strict government standards of energy usage. Normally, buying an ENERGY STAR brand appliance will ensure that you’ll save money in the long run even if you might pay a little more now.
09
Ah, crayons. You can buy these for very little especially in these back to school sales. But what can you do that is different?
Try some crayon etchings. Scribble a black crayon all over a sheet of paper then scrape the wax off to create scary pictures! This is great for spooky times such as Halloween.
Have the kids cover the paper in a bunch of different colors. Take this multi-colored rainbow and then cover this all with black crayon. Do the same as above and scratch out some pictures. This will have a rainbow effect you have to see to appreciate!
For coloring and arts and crafts ideas check here.
09
When we get a cut or abrasion we usually apply iodine to it to help kill germs and cleanse the wound. Well, if you are out of iodine are want to use what’s already handy, try this little cleansing solution! Iodized salt is simply salt that has had iodine added to it. Add some iodized salt to water (dilute as needed). Apply this liquid to the wound. It will sting a little (or a lot if you didn’t dilute properly).
Both the salt and the iodine will work to kill any bacteria around the wound. Clean, simple, and cheap!
20
A good, easy to grow crop is zucchini. Plant some and you will not be disappointed at the yield (it makes PLENTY!). Since you’ll probably have more than you can use at the time, a good idea is to dice the zucchini into about cup sized amounts. Take those, place them in a small freezer bag and store them. Whenever you need an extra ingredient for your soups or stir fry you won’t be sorry.
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For great thrifty and totally FREE family fun, don’t forget that most towns have a public park or playground for your kids to have some great outdoor fun in. Around here we have the Airbase which is a hilly area that is great for picnicking and running around. If your as lucky as we are, you’ll find plenty of trees to climb!
20
Set your thermostat comfortably low in the Summer and comfortably high in the Winter. In other words, don’t overdo it. The suggested setting that we’ve all heard before is 72 degrees.
Another important tool is to get a compatible, programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.
Here is a great one for a great price as well! Lux Products Smart Temp Programmable Thermostat TX1500
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What can I say? The best way to find the cheapest clothing is to frequent your neighborhood Goodwill or other thrift stores. Shopping around you can find very decent clothing (and other items) at these stores. A common misconception is that these clothes are stained or substandard. They’re not. Have a check yourself if you don’t believe me, you might be surprised at what you can find.
20
Buttons for sewing projects can be expensive. Don’t believe me, check some of the prices out there. If you’re serious about sewing and are going to throw away old clothing from your closets, collect all the buttons off the clothing you are throwing out. If you are looking for alternate sources, visit a thrift store and buy the cheap clothing with the buttons you love. This is a good, cheap way to scavenge instead of purchasing brand new.
20
Look around at all the things you throw away that can be converted to some cheap art projects. Make some bunnies using the old egg cartons plus pipe cleaners. Use some old toilet paper rolls and convent them into musical instruments using tape and some dried beans! Be creative and you’d be amazed at the stuff your kids can convert to art that would otherwise just be thrown away.
For some other great arts and crafts ideas, check here
20
A friend swears by the vinegar cure. When he gets a wart, which he is prone to, he soaks a cotton ball in vinegar and applies it to the wart for five minutes twice a day. He says that after about two weeks of this vinegar treatment, the wart is gone!
19
After 15 days without power, and 20+ days without Internet service, we are FINALLY back online!
We are having random connection issues due to our cable line still being down (but at least connected). Hopefully the cable crew will be out soon to have it fixed and have us back online at 100%.
New Thrift-opedia post will begin shortly!
Thank you for your patience during our absence during Gustave and Ike.
Thrift-opedia Admin
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Just a note to let our readers know, we are located directly in the current path of Hurricane Gustav.
Our area is under a mandatory evacuation, therefore there will not be any updates to this website until we return and power/cable is restored.
Thank you.
28
How often we forget the wonders of nature. Take the family out one winter evening (summer works too, just don’t forget the bug repellent). Show your family the basic constellations and enjoy a view of the wide open night sky. You don’t need a telescope to do this or any other expensive equipment.
For added fun, check out the dates of the yearly meteor showers and see who can spot the most!
If you don’t know the constellations and want to learn more basic astronomy, check here: Find the Constellations
28
Here’s a neat energy saving tip. Plug in all your entertainment devices into power strips. When you’re not using them you can just flip a switch on the power strip to ensure that your television, VCR, DvD, etc… all turn off at the same time to save the maximum amount of energy.
28
Soft Drinks cost a ton and are pretty unhealthy. The wife and I have a drink of choice that has been around for centuries: tea! We make a ton of the stuff and drink it with meals and pretty much whenever we are thirsty.
We purchased a cheap coffee pot to brew our tea. We buy the family-sized tea bags and brew up a pot by placing 2 of these where the coffee grounds go. After the pot is full we take the tea bags out and place them directly in the pot to let them steep. We then add the contents of the pot to a gallon jug, sugar it up to taste, and place it in the fridge.
If you like to shake things up with your teas you can always try Adagio Teas - Free Teapot Offer
for an awesome variety.
Since we have 3 kids we usually keep three gallons at a time in the fridge. This is a cheap and easy way to quench the families thirst!
**If calories are an issue, use an alternative sweetener such as Splenda, or simply use 1/2 cup of sugar vs. an entire cup. A one gallon container of tea, sweetened with 1 cup of sugar is approximately 135 calories, per glass of tea.
