Dear Readers: Several times in the last week, I've been reminded of one of my favorite time- and money-saving tips. It's not huge, but it's so useful. And I had occasion several months ago to be reminded of just how huge.
I have several wristwatches, three of them double-faced to keep track of two time zones. (Travelers know how useful this can be.) And that means double the watch batteries.
Of course, all of my watches died at about the same time -- all in need of new batteries. What a pain to haul them to a watch-repair store. I finally did, and the cost was staggering.
Nearly $40 for watch batteries! Let me tell you, that will not happen again anytime soon. I am now careful to pull out the stems on all watches I am not currently wearing.
And for those with two dials? While at home, I pull the stem on the dial I am not using. It's a simple trick to save battery life.
I don't plan to replace batteries for at least another decade. Cheap notepads: I reuse desk calendars as notepads. If you tear off a few months' worth of days at a time and flip them over, you've got a handy notepad.
--Melanie, Florida No-burn candles: I can have wonderful candle scents without burning a candle. Just set a glass, jar-type candle on your range top next to the oven vent. The heat melts the candle and sends the wonderful scent all through the house, and the candle never burns away.
I have had the same cinnamon candle for almost three years now, and it still smells as great as it did when I first bought it. --LeAnn V., Texas No-mess deviled eggs: When I make deviled eggs, I place the cooked egg yolks into a large zipper-type bag, along with the rest of the filling ingredients.
I then smash the mixture with my hands to combine. (The kids love doing that part, because it feels funny.) I carefully snip the bottom corner off the bag and pipe the filling into the egg whites.
Toss the bag, and your cleanup is complete. --Donna S., Minnesota Button at the ready: When I buy a garment that has extra buttons attached in a little bag, I sew them to an inside seam allowance of the garment.
Then they are always with the garment and there's no hunting for them when you need to replace a lost button. --J.B.
, Arizona Garage-sale prep: I have several boxes set up in the garage for our annual community garage sale. They are labeled: Toys, Clothes, Housewares and Misc. I keep a package of price stickers and a pen handy.
Every time I put one thing into the sale boxes, I price it. Then, on the sale day, I simply open the boxes and set things out for display. --Leonora R.
, Florida You can e-mail tips or questions to cheapskate@unitedmedia.com or mail to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O.
Box 2135 Paramount, CA 90723.
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