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Archived Message of "The Frugal Life
News "
Published by The Frugal Life.com
REMOVE PET STAINS AND ODORS - UNDER THE CARPET!
This really works! People are so excited when they reorder!
Get into the padding and subfloor where other products
can't reach. Cleans any surface without toxic chemicals.
Take care of unseen odor spots your pet still detects.
FREE SHIPPING on Orders Over $9.00
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/FRR/petforce.html <a href="http://www.healthypetcorner.com/FRR/petforce.html">Pet Urine Stains</a>
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THE FRUGAL LIFE NEWS
Published Weekly by Randal Watkins
http://www.thefrugallife.com
<a href="http://www.thefrugallife.com">The Frugal Life</a>
October 10, 2003
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A NOTE FROM RANDAL
Hello Everyone,
We have lots of good content in this issue. I am also in the process of
seeking some new content providers too. We are constantly looking for new
frugal providers, so let us know if you have any ideas.
We really value your readership and encouraging comments. Thanks again for
sharing and subscribing to The Frugal Life News.
Until next time,
Randal
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FRUGAL FINANCES
HOW TO SAVE THROUGH REFUNDING
By Dr. Charlotte Gorman*
You probably have a number of refund forms just lying around your house.
Look at them as INCOME MULTIPLIED. Use them and get back hundreds of dollars
annually. Try some of the ideas below.
1. Save all refund forms you come across. If you can't use some of them,
then trade them for forms which you can use. There probably is someone out
there who would like to have your refund form for receiving $1.50 back on
the purchase of a package of chewing tobacco. Refund forms are potential
money in your pocket.
2. Keep your refund forms organized, and you will be better prepared to take
advantage of refund offers. Here is one way you might organize your refund
forms: First, get out twelve used business size envelopes (from the stack
you have been saving). Second, write January on one of them, February on
another, and so on through December. Third, sort out your refund forms by
the expiration dates and put the forms in the appropriate envelopes. Being
organized will help you to take advantage of as many refund offers as you
can.
3. Never leave home to go shopping without your inventory of refund forms.
You might need to refer to them while you are out shopping. For example, you
find a shampoo on sale for $1.00 and you think you have a refund form for
$1.00 back on the purchase price. If you have all of your refund forms with
you, you can easily check to see if you have one for the shampoo.
For the rest of the article go here: http://www.thefrugallife.com/refund.html
<a href="http://www.thefrugallife.com/refund.html"> How To Save
Through
Refunding </a>
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SOURCE: The Frugal Mind by Charlotte Gorman
*Dr. Charlotte Gorman is an Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Sciences,
Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A & M University System. She is the
author of The Frugal Mind, The Little Book of Living Frugal, and Speak for
Yourself. cagorman@digitex.net
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GOT PETS?
Visit Healthy Pet Corner for lots of information, products,
and links for birds, cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and reptiles.
http://www.healthypetcorner.com
<a href="http://www.healthypetcorner.com"> All for Pets </a>
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FRUGAL DECORATING
UPDATE YOUR DECOR, WITHOUT EMPTYING YOUR WALLET
By Kathleen Wilson
As the Holiday season approaches, many people are wanting to make some
changes to their home décor in anticipation of upcoming events or
houseguests, or just because they want a fresh look for the season! However,
as we are all so very well aware, money is much tighter for many of us these
days, and many of us (including me!) would like bring more meaning to the
season, and spend less. Here are some great ideas for updating and
freshening your rooms without spending lots of cash!
1.Paint. A gallon of paint can be gotten for around $10 these days, and
nothing makes such a dramatic change in a room as new color! Paint just one
or two walls in the room a rich or daring color. Jewel tones, rich terra
cotta, sage greens, and honey gold are all very "in" colors, and
will be for
some time. They also bring a lot of comforting warmth to a room. Use a
richer form of colors already in your room, and you will need to change
little else!
2.Move things around. We all get bored! Try a new arrangement for the
furniture in your rooms, even try moving pieces from one room to another!
That sofa table may make a better sideboard in the dining room, and that
large fern may prefer a spot by the picture window instead of the entryway.
Try planning it out on graph paper first: each square will equal one foot,
and you can cut out templates of your furniture using the same graph paper
and the one foot scale. Now move the furniture templates around the room
drawing until you find an arrangement that works! Remember to leave 18-24
inches between furniture to walk around, more if that is not comfortable for
your family members.
3.Look for wintry photos online, in old books, calendars, catalogs and
magazines that you can use to replace your present artwork with. Just open
up the frames, and pop the new artwork over the old, then in the spring, you
can remove it for a "new" look!
4.Add a little nature to your home! Use natural items that can be gathered
on long walks or weekends away to bring charm and warmth into your rooms.
Always be sure you collect non-endangered items, and that you have
permission to collect. A bowl full of pinecones or seedpods, pressed fall
leaves scattered over a mantle, or evergreen boughs in a vase all add
wonderful elements to a room.
5.Dress up your window treatments by adding quick and easy layers. Use cloth
napkins to lay overlapping a valance to add pattern or color, add
inexpensive strings of beads from the thrift shop as tiebacks and curtain
"jewelry", or hang cafe curtains under your main treatments by suspending
them with ribbon from small hooks screwed into the window frame. Find old
quilts at rummage sales and sew a rod pocket to make warm and charming
winter treatments.
Great, easy, and cheap ideas to update your home and add terrific style!
Bring on those holiday guests!
Kathleen Wilson is the author of "Quick Decorating Ideas Under $20: The
Budget Decorator's Bible" and the editor of the free ezine, The Budget
Decorator. Find more free ideas and information on ordering her book and her
online workshops here.
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FRUGAL SIMPLICITY
UPHOLSTERY CLEANING 101 - THE NONTOXIC WAY
By Annie B. Bond, Executive Producer, Care2 Healthy Living Content
When I bought a couch a few years ago, I refused the stain guard because I
knew that the chemicals involved harmed the ozone layer of the earth, and if
they did that, what would they do to me and my family? But, of course, real
life isn't perfect, and our couches get very hard work as a first rate
destination for kids, dogs, and watching movies with snacks.
Here are the five techniques Annie uses to keep her couch clean and even
remove stains, in a safe, nontoxic way:
DONATING BAND INSTRUMENTS
There is no doubt that being a part of band or orchestra can greatly enhance
a child's life, both now and in the future. Recent studies from many
sources indicate that kids who study music generally have higher test
scores, watch less TV, and are much more likely to go to college.
It's a shame that for some children, the opportunity to participate in band
or orchestra is severely limited by their parents' inability to pay for a
quality instrument, as well as by their schools' inability to keep up with
the ever-increasing numbers of program enrollees.
Dayna Barnes wanted to make a difference. A band mom who started
Horns4Kids, a website project devoted to linking donated instruments to the
school programs that need them.
If you would like to donate your instrument to a school in need without the
worry that it will end up on an auction site, this site can help. Wouldn't
it be nice to know exactly what school or program is benefitting from your
donation? This site is dedicated to linking donors directly with needy
school music programs, with no middleman.
Visit Horns4Kids.com - DEAD LINK REMOVED
MAKE YOUR OWN CLEANING, BATH, and BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Here's a kit with everything you will need to start making your
own pampering and cleaning products for pennies with the
easy-to-follow recipe guide.
http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialstarter.html
<a href="http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialstarter.html"> Make
Your Own
</a>
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FRUGAL TIPS FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS
From CSinbad on how to use the annoying CD Internet Promotion Discs
The Cds make great paint pallets for the budding artist. They are
especially good for paints that need nonporus surfaces to prevent them from
drying out.
Editor's Note: You can find more ideas on how to Recycle/Use everyday items
in the forum. See directions on how to enter the forum below.
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WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FORUM?
Maybe you can help these folks out with a few suggestions? Or post some of
your own questions. LOG-IN TO POST Here's the link:
http://www.thefrugallife.com/bulletinboard.html <a
href="http://www.thefrugallife.com/bulletinboard.html"> Forum </a>
Questions Needing Answers at The Forum:
Holidays and Special Days
1. With the holiday season creeping up on us, does anyone have a unique
holiday gift exchange idea. Something unique, not too costly and fun.......
There is a good mixture of males and females (couples), but none of us have
a money tree growing in the back yard. I've thought about a 'white
elephant' gift exchange where everybody gets a 'slightly used' gift from a
thrift store, flea market or garage sale. Any suggestions would be
appreciated. Thanks for your help
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HOME-BASED BUSINESS IDEAS
NATURAL PET FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Healthy Pet Net has great products by Dr. Jane Bicks and Dr. Barry Sears who
developed the Zone Diet for Overweight Dogs. Besides dog, cat and horse
products, you will have a non-toxic line of cleaning products - safe for
pets and children. Visit this website for more information. This type of
site is also available for $10.95/month (plus an initial $20 set-up fee).
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/HPN/busopform.html <a
href="http://www.healthypetcorner.com/HPN/busopform.html"> Healthy Pet Net </a>
HOME SPA PARTY PLAN - MAKE BATH & BODY PRODUCTS
Have you noticed how popular bath and pampering products have become? The
HomeSpa Party Plan taps into that craze. Guests at HomeSpa parties will
learn how to make bath salts, personalized perfumes, body spritzers and more
using essential oils, while you make a nice income from Nature's Sunshine.
http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialspa.html <a
href="http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialspa.html"> Home Spa Party </a>
ARE YOU A NATURAL HEALTH NUT?
If you've been a natural health nut, you have a lot of information others
need to have. Earn an income selling over 600 natural health products, skin
care, water filters, beverages, essential oils, and more. Earn trips and
car allowance. Websites are also available for $15.95/month.
http://www.theherbsplace.com/busop.html <a
href="http://www.theherbsplace.com/busop.html"> Nature's Sunshine </a>
FLINT RIVER RANCH OVEN-BAKED PET FOODS
If you have pets, they'll love Flint River and you can make an income
providing good pet foods and other pet products to friends, neighbors and
your family. Pets keep eating, so customers keep buying. If you love
animals, this is a very rewarding home-based business. With only 100 volume
a month you can earn 19% on all sales.
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/FRR/busop.html <a
href="http://www.healthypetcorner.com/FRR/busop.html"> Flint River
Ranch
</a>
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER
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 TFL staff be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting
from any action arising in connection with the use of information herein.
TFL does not knowingly accept ads from advertisers deemed detrimental to
TFL's readers, however, publication of an ad in TFL does not constitute an
endorsement for such product or service.
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.