A NOTE FROM RANDAL

Hello Everyone!

We hope your summer time is going well for you and your loved ones. Here in Virginia, we have had some hot days but the morning and evenings continue to be cool. Because it is cool, morning and evenings have become one of our favorite times of the day. Soon school will be starting up again. It is amazing how fast the time has gone by.

If you haven't stopped by the forum lately, then do so. There are numerous new posts and tips that may be just what you are looking for. Remember if you have a frugal question this is a great place to get an answer.

Thanks to our new readers and thank you to all who share this newsletter with others. Your help is invaluable to us.

Frugally yours,
Randal

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FORUM

Add your advice for these questions at The Frugal Life Forum. Ask your own questions or leave your favorite frugal tips while you are there.

Cleaning Forum

1. Foul Odor coming from air conditioning floor vent
Hello, I have a problem with a foul odor coming from my central heating and air conditioning vent. It is only one vent that the odor is coming from.It smells like urine or feces,something like that.I do not know exactly how to describe it, the smell is just really bad. Does any one know how to get rid of that odor, or what could be causing the smell? Please help. Thanks so much.

Do-It-Yourself Forum

1. The plans for the can roller have been found, just go to this post in the forum:
www.thefrugallife.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=DIY;action=display;num=1178294449

Gardening Forum

1. Honeysuckle
When I was a kid living in Connecticut, I remember seeing a lot of white honeysuckle vines which always had such a great smell. Many years later... I am not able to find this creamy white scented version at garden centers, etc... With so many varieties of honeysuckle, does anyone know the proper name for the heavy-scented variety that I mention from my youth. Many thanks!

Recipes Forum

1. Green Tomatoes
Hello, I have Plenty of green tomatoes !! and if summer doesn't last until late Nov. that is ALL I am going to have.. I love the cool summer we have had here in Iowa.. but the tomatoes sure don't Help ! Lisalynn

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FRUGAL FINANCES

So You Want To Be A Millionaire?

Many people think that the rich were born into money, inherited it, or got lucky. The book, "The Millionaire Mind," by Thomas Stanley reports that 70 percent of millionaires have their shoes resoled rather than buying new ones. 71 percent make out a list before going shopping. Sounds to me like millionaires are made by being frugal and smart with your money.

Even the rich need a purpose in life, so most of them continue to work or give back to society in some way. When asked what led them to the work they chose, 81 percent said they chose a job that "allowed them to use their abilities." It's okay to do what you enjoy doing for work. You will do a better job working in a realm you love and that will lead to wealth in one way or another.

But being wealthy doesn't stop them from thinking frugally. 57 percent adjust the indoor air conditioner temperature setting during the summer to save energy and 49 percent use coupons for groceries and buy household supplies at warehouse stores. When buying a home, 65 percent take plenty of time to find the best deal, 79 percent research recent home prices near homes they are interested in, and 86 percent never pay the initial asking price. So, it's not cheap to want a deal.

These results seem to indicate monetary success comes more from a person's disciplined spending habits, than just the desire to achieve wealth. Matter of fact, a desire to appear wealthy can keep a person from making wise choices and might present an inability to exercise the discipline needed in making them.

Tips and Articles on Finances

FRUGAL COMMUNICATIONS

• 3.9 Cent Long Distance With No Access Numbers to Dial
• Save on Cellular Phone Plans
• Prepaid Phone Cards
• Internet Service

No hidden fees or charges at Blessed Hope Communications.

FRUGAL APPROACH

Shopping For Free From Your Local Dumpster

Freegans are dumpster divers. While some do it for economic reasons, most dumpster dive for political reasons. By living completely on the trash of others, freegans claim they aren't contributing to big corporations and they're helping reduce their impact on the environment.

There's an interesting article in the Times Online about the growing movement called freeganism. Visit this site:
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article596764.ece

Editor's Note: This form of frugality is not something I plan to endorse or ever will.

FRUGAL HOW-TO

Money From Heaven

There may be money floating around with your name on it. An estimated 24 billion in savings accounts, stock dividends, paychecks, utility deposits, and insurance proceeds are waiting to be claimed.

By law, companies must turn this money over to state governments for safekeeping. To find yours, go to www.unclaimed.org, which is run by the National Assoc. of Unclaimed Property Administrators, and start by clicking on the link to your state's site.

Check every state you've ever lived in. It's a free service.

Tips and Articles on Do-It-Yourself

Make Your Own Cleaning, Health, Bath and Beauty Products

Essential oil kits allow you to make your own safe non-chemical home and beauty products. Replace the toxic cleaners and household products that can harm you, your children and pets with a Starter Kit. Instructions are in English and Spanish.

We make our own cleaning supplies from Sunshine Concentrate and essential oils. My wife has used this product since 1987 for laundry, soap pumps at the sink, in the shower, cleaning kitchen counters, soaking fruit and veggies to remove pesticides, doing dishes, and more. I use it for washing cars and gardening since it keeps soil wetter longer and holds the nutrients for the plants. Read more about Sunshine Concentrate.

Don't like to make your own cleaning supplies?

FRUGAL COOKING

Homemade Shake and Bake recipe
Shake and bake coating mix is handy but way too expensive for what it is. The other night, I made my own and it worked beautifully! Measurements are approximate and spices can be adjusted or substituted as desired. (I made this batch for chicken...when I try it for pork chops, I'll use finer bread crumbs and more sage.)

Shake Mix for Baked Chicken

1 cup bread crumbs
1/8 cup flour
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 tsp. paprika
1 tablesthingy parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. each sage, thyme, poultry seasoning, celery salt
1/2 tsp. pepper (next time I'll use a pinch of cayenne, too)

Place all ingredients into a sturdy plastic bag and shake. Wet chicken pieces, place in bag and coat, shaking off excess crumbs. Place on baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes (depending on how much chicken you're using, increase bake time accordingly).

I plan to make big batches and store in mason jars.

From MissSuzy's contribution in the Cooking Forum

FRUGAL TIPS

Summer Vacations - Are You Saving Money While You're Gone?

Vacation is a chance to get away from it all, but while you're gone, the bills keep rolling in. Or do they?

You probably know to put a hold on your newspaper and mail, but temporary service suspensions, which are offered for everything from your landline and wireless phones to your high-speed Internet and cable, allow you to shut down your service (and those monthly bills) while you're away. Setting it up is as simple as calling your providers and asking for a "vacation service," or, alternately, a "temporary suspension."

Read the entire article here:
www.smartmoney.com/dealoftheday/index.cfm?story=20070711

Search The Frugal Life Forum for answers to your questions or to share tips with other frugal folks.

FRUGAL DECORATING

Favorite Frugal Decorating Tip

Another thing I have done to save money is to save boxes as I buy things and use them for storage in other areas of my home. I just decoupage them with paper or fabric to match the room they will go in. I have found beautiful wrapping paper at the dollar tree and I just use watered down school glue to adhere it and then go over the top too. Even better protection is given if you go over the final product with varnish. I have used the big diaper boxes from Costco as toy boxes so that the various rooms don't look so cluttered. I cover them with adult appropriate paper that matches the decor of the room. I put up shelves in my craft room and put all my supplies in different boxes that I have saved. A round grits container is perfect for pens, shoe boxes are perfect for odds and ends, the boxes that paper came in are perfect for other papers. I also printed labels using my computer and glued them right on too.

From Belinda's post in our Decorating Forum

Tips and Articles on Decorating

We need more articles in this relatively new segment. Submit your article. We will tell you we received it and if it is used, we'll notify you and, of course, give you proper credit.

FRUGAL PETS

Healthy Pet Foods

Pet food ingredients can create a lot of health problems for our pets, and that can cost a lot of money with recurring health issues feeding that drain our budgets for the veterinarian. Be an informed pet owner when it comes to what's in pet foods. You already know that you feel better if you eat right. Help them to feel better too. View this video or site to be an informed pet owner.

Natural Remedies and Herbal Heartworm Programs

Yes, there are natural ways to deal with heartworms and there are herbal prevention programs also. Get more info on heartworms.

Pet Topics Information Site

Healthy Pet Corner provides informational links for dogs, cats, birds, horses, rabbits, and reptiles. Visit Healthy Pet Corner.

FRUGAL LEARNING

Singing Success At-Home Study Course

100% guaranteed. The Singing Success Vocal Training Program, by celebrity vocal coach Brett Manning, is the only vocal training program that guarantees a full octave increase in your vocal range. And you can do it at home. You'll learn to sing as easily as you speak, completely eliminating vocal strain, and you will learn to master the techniques of vocal style, including runs, licks and trills. Get a full refund if it doesn't do all it promises. Read more about the Singing Success Program.

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COPYRIGHT, LEGAL DISCLAIMER & REPRINT INFO
© 2003-2007 Randal J. Watkins

Information in The Frugal Life News (TFL) has been derived from sources believed accurate and reliable. In no event shall *The Frugal Life,* Randal Watkins, or the corporate sponsor, Sunshine Life Center, Inc. staff be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of information herein.

There is no remuneration for suggestions, tips, or ideas submitted by readers. All suggestions, tips, and ideas, submitted for publication in The Frugal Life, become the property of The Frugal Life, notwithstanding similar rights of the reader submitting such suggestions, tips, or ideas. TFL publishes readers' names with their suggestions, tips, and ideas unless a reader requests otherwise at the time of the submission.

Forwarding and Use of This Newsletter
You may forward this newsletter in its entirety and/or use this copyrighted newsletter on a website if you include the following credit with an active link:

Editor, Randal J. Watkins, of TheFrugalLife.com, provides this free newsletter to subscribers. Visit The Frugal Life website to subscribe or find frugal information to live well on what you already have.