Everyday Cheapskate

I should add Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to the list of products that Everyday Cheapskate readers use creatively. Magic Erasers will join such amazing products as Original Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid, baking soda and vinegar, to name a few. If you have a trick for using a common household product in a slightly different way than its intended use, I'd love to hear about it. Email me at Mary@EverydayCheapskate.com.

ERASE THE RESIDUE. I use Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to clean the black residue from my candleholders. It works great. — Cindi, email

ORGANIZED GIFT CARDS. To keep track of my gift cards, I use a permanent marker to write the value on the front of the card. Then I put the cards in an envelope, listing the stores and restaurants and the amount of each card on the outside of the envelope. When I use a card, I note the balance on the envelope and write the new value on the card. Many restaurants offer buy-one-card, get-one-free deals, and I take advantage of those special offers. My husband and I purchase cards for our favorite restaurants to use ourselves. Last year, we had more than $50 in bonus cards that enabled us to dine for free! — Pat, email

WOOD STOVE FIRE STARTERS. My husband and I live in the mountains and heat our house entirely with a wood stove. We have no natural gas or propane expense for warming our home, and the heat from the stove is so comforting. Because we use our stove so much, I make my own fire starters. I stuff dryer lint into empty cardboard toilet paper or paper towel rolls and store them by the stove.

My husband loves them and says they work great. How's that for using two items you'd normally throw away! — Jean, California

PLANTING THE WATERING SYSTEM. When I do my planting in large containers, I also incorporate my own watering system. I take an empty plastic soda bottle, toss the lid, poke holes in the bottle's shoulder and cut off the bottom. I turn it upside down and actually stick it in the dirt, "planting" it along with the plant or seeds. As the plants grow, they grow around the bottle. This makes it simple to water without the water running off the sides of the container. — Bea, email

LAUNDRY BASKET OF GIFTS. Instead of placing a baby gift in a gift bag or basket, I use a laundry basket decorated with ribbons and bows the colors of the baby's gender or the nursery. I have received so many positive comments about the laundry basket idea. Everyone loves the practicality of this additional gift. — Lorrayne, email

BABY WIPES FOR MAKEUP REMOVAL. Baby wipes (unscented and hypoallergenic) work wonderfully to remove eye makeup. My daughters ruined so many washcloths until I had them try this. Eye makeup remover works great, but it's more expensive than generic baby wipes. — Maggie, email

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 20 books, including her January 2012 release "7 Money Rules for Life." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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