Mary Hunt: Handy reminders save money
Coupon Reminder
I used to have such a challenge remembering to use the instant coupons that came stuck to the front of a product. I'd get home from the grocery store, and there it was, still stuck to the product. One day, it dawned on me what to do. When I pick the product off the shelf, I IMMEDIATELY stick the coupon over the bar code. That way, if I get busy unloading the basket, the clerk will have to remove it to scan the product! — Sylvia, Louisiana
Odor-free onion stockpile
Make sure when you are freezing onions to use freezer bags, not just sandwich zip-type bags. Bags designed for the freezer do a better job of keeping the food's odors from escaping. I mean, who wants their freezer to smell like onions? — Tina, EC blog
No ketchup means meatloaf
When I was growing up, a nearly empty ketchup bottle meant that my thrifty mother's delicious meatloaf would soon appear on our dinner table. Mom added about one-quarter of a cup of water to the ketchup bottle, shook well and poured the thinned ketchup over the unbaked loaf. Just as tasty as tomato sauce and not a drop of ketchup wasted! — Rick, Michigan
Sticky bra straps
My bra straps will not stay in place, even after I've adjusted them. I solved the problem by tightening the strap to where I wanted it and then attaching a small, round Velcro piece inside each of the straps, facing each other. They've stuck together for more than two weeks, and I haven't had sliding bra straps to deal with. — GRK, email
Lottery ticket fundraisers
It seems that lottery tickets are a big seller for fundraising. I don't believe in gambling, so we don't buy or sell the tickets. I made that clear to the organizers of the fundraisers when my children were in school. I never got any hassles about it, either. Instead of selling lottery tickets, I donated my time. I worked the concession stands at football games, was a girl scout leader, etc. My kids knew they would never get any top-seller prizes, but they knew that was the way it was. Everyone was fine. — Cecile, email
Meal-in-one adjustment
I tried the meal-in-one recipes from an EC food column at EverydayCheapskate.com. I made an adjustment for two "eco reasons" — economy and ecology. I could not use the heavy-duty foil. Instead, I put the "packets" in a covered casserole and followed the oven directions. It turned out great! — Carol, email
Wrapping paper mystery
I use a different wrapping paper for each member of the family, skipping the gift tags and keeping the secret until Christmas Day. It's fun to watch everyone check out the presents and not know which ones belong to them. — Cindy, email
