10/1/24: Dollar Stretcher Tips

A Trick for Keeping Cool Without the A/C

The world is getting hotter, and those of us without home or car air conditioning are a bit challenged. I have a 25-year-old car that the air went out a few years ago. I have to drive a lot for work, but it's been ok. My trick is to fill up apple juice-sized empty bottles with water, freeze them, and then take them with me when I drive. I have one of those Omaha Steaks styrofoam mailing coolers in my car (that I pulled from a neighbor's trash), and I put the frozen water bottles in the cooler. As I need them, I take them out and have them sitting on my lap or up against my legs or touching one of my arms. It's amazing how it helps, and just having that frozen water touching even a small area of my body, really draws the heat away. It's not perfect, but makes a bad situation very tolerable.

I do the same thing at night. My 85-year-old historic home doesn't have air conditioning, and the main bedroom is on the second floor. Depending on how hot it will be, I use one or two of those apple juice-sized bottles with frozen water (ice) in them, wrap them in a thin towel, and then snuggle with them. Again, it really draws the heat away, and I've been able to sleep well, even in temperatures pushing 90 degrees up there.
Shelley

Related: Cooling Your Home Without Cranking Up the A/C

Simple Skin Care for Sensitive Skin

I have very sensitive, acne-prone skin. Exfoliating is essential to keep skin healthy, but my dermatologist said that washcloths and exfoliating cleansers, like apricot scrubs, can be too harsh (not to mention expensive) for my skin.

Her recommendations were as follows. A few times a week, when washing your face, just sprinkle a little baking soda into your hand and mix it with your regular facial cleanser or soap. The baking soda will gently scrub off the dead skin. I keep baking soda in a little glass sugar dispenser beside my sink. It can't get much easier or cheaper than that!
Chris

Related: Reduce Your Beauty Budget With Baking Soda: Tips and Recipes

Junk Mail as Printer Paper

Here is an additional use for junk mail: If a junk mail letter is 8 x 11 with a blank side, it can be used to print anything, especially if you are printing something for temporary use. There are also sometimes blank paper backs on bank statements, health reports, invoices, etc., on pages you do not need to file. Printer paper is a lot more expensive than it used to be, and using the blank back side of outdated files for printing will save money.
Mel

Don't Toss the Stalks

We eat broccoli fairly regularly, and because no one really likes the stalks, I was cutting off nearly 2/3 of the broccoli and throwing it away. Now, I save these stalks and toss them into a freezer bag in the freezer. Once I have at least ten stalks, I throw them in a soup pot (no need to defrost) along with some bouillon cubes, water and some dried rice/lentils.

After simmering for about one to two hours and using a hand blender to puree the cooked broccoli, I have a huge pot of delicious broccoli soup. By the way, I understand that most of the vitamins are in the stalk and not the florets, so this has the bonus of being very healthy soup. And to think you made it with something you were going to throw away!
Kirsten

Related: 11 Creative Ways To Use Food Scraps To Reduce Food Costs

A Quick Furniture Scratch Fix

An owner of a local furniture store taught me how to quickly and easily fix scratched furniture. Get a can of shoe polish that closely matches the color of the wood and use that to repair your scratches. It works great. Just rub the polish on like you would for a pair of shoes and lightly buff. The minor scratches will become unnoticeable, and the deep scratches become much less noticeable.
Nicole

Related: Fixing Up Furniture the Frugal Way

When Renting Out Living Space in Your Home

I'm suggesting an addendum to Lucy's tip from last week — Empty Nest Extra Income — about renting out the extra bedrooms in her home.

The additional insurance needed is called an Umbrella insurance policy. Almost all insurance companies offer such policies. Umbrella insurance is extra insurance that provides protection beyond existing limits and coverages of other policies. It can cover injuries, property damage, certain lawsuits, personal liability situations, etc.
Jane

Related: Homeowners Insurance Basics Every Homeowner Should Know