Helpful Household Tips For New Year's Cleaning

To shine your appliances, rub them with rubbing alcohol.

To remove a bathtub ring, let warm water sit in the tub with vinegar (approx. 1 cup) in it. Wipe away with a damp sponge.

Either a baking soda paste or rubbing alcohol will remove permanent marker and crayon marks on walls/floors. Test a spot first to make sure it works with your finish!

Vinegar water will counteract pet urine smells.

If you sprinkle your carpets with baking soda prior to vacuuming, it will draw out odors.

Sprinkle baking soda in kitty litter pans after filling with fresh litter to prevent your stinky kitty from stinking up the whole house when she's done.

WD40 prevents soap scum from sticking to your shower doors. Wipe a thin film over the doors after cleaning.

Great Freebies & Dollar-Stretchers!

These days it's hard to get ends to just meet, let alone to have a little extra! Here are a few of my faves for a little boost every now and then:

* www.mypoints.com If you don't mind some junk email, this is a little gem. It brings deals straight to your inbox, and when you click the link, you get points. If you make a purchase, you get more points. When you've saved up 1400+ points, you can redeem your points for giftcards! I get a couple of giftcards a year this way.

* www.mysurvey.com This is one of those points-for-surveys sites that actually pays! Get a few points for qualifier surveys, and lots of points for full surveys! I've also received products to test & keep through this one (diapers, shampoo, & shaving cream)! Save up 1000+ points and redeem for cash, gift cards, or prizes! I've already received $70 and 100 free Snapfish prints!

* www.bzzagent.com This site sends you full-size samples, small samples to pass around, and coupons to pass around of new products that the companies want to spread the word about! All they ask is that you try them, share your honest opinions, and let them know what others think about the products! Take the surveys they have so that they can match you with the products that they receive! I've had free candy bars, shower cleaner, toothbrush/sanitizer, otc medicine, hair products, sunblock, bug spray, natural acne products, food, lip balm, makeup, and lots more! I just recently received a box of children's Zyrtec pre-measured spoons!

* www.vistaprint.com This one always has free business cards (which were great when I was doing my home business), but it also has frequent freebies like address labels, photo calendars, cards, and more! Just pay shipping!

* www.coupons.com Put in your zip code and print out grocery coupons! That simple!

* www.walmart.com Run a search on there for free samples, and there are always a few! I've had samples of things from personal care items to pet items to baby items! Completely free!

Hope these sites help you in your search to live frugally, too!

Halloween Tips

Sprinkle Cinnamon and nutmeg all over the inside of your pumpkin. When the candle is lit it will smell like pumpkin pie.

When your pumpkin starts to look a little shriveled place the ENTIRE pumpkin into a sink or bucket of warm water. After an hour or so it will expand back and look fresh! This is a great tip so you can enjoy your pumpkin longer.

An apple corer cuts round eyes or the chimney on top to let the smoke out.

For safer popcorn balls w/ no hard kernels, Place a Cooling Rack over your popcorn bowl, invert & shake--the unpopped kernels drop out.

Chop leftover Halloween candy with a Food Chopper and store in freezer. Great additions to muffins, cakes, and icings for kids of all ages.

How to Clean Permanent Marker off the Walls

How to rid your walls (or other surfaces) of that pesky permanent ink your child applied to them? Try these tips!

* Rubbing alcohol!
Works great on painted surfaces and carpet/upholstery. Will Strip off some paint, so test a spot first.

* Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!
Works great on painted surfaces and appliances!

* Baking Soda & Water Paste!
Might lighten the surface, so test a spot first. Rinse thoroughly to prevent a chalky residue.

* Dish Soap and Water!
Great on the little ones who used themselves as a canvas! Avoid the eyes.