Let these tips get your creative juices flowing on how you can substitute, reuse or repurpose what you already have. And send me any new tips you come up with: Go to https://every daycheapskate.com/tips to upload yours. I'd love to include them in a future column.
FROZEN BACON STOCKPILE
I have discovered what I think is the most effective way to fry up a lot of bacon for freezing. In a jelly roll pan covered with foil, I lay out the bacon strips in a single layer. I place the pan in a preheated, 450 F oven and cook, checking after 10 or 15 minutes. Sometimes I'll turn the strips over. Once cooked, I drain on paper towels until cooled. I separate enough for a morning breakfast, dividing the batch into freezer bags, and then toss them in the freezer. --- Dick
DISPLAY RACK FOR SCARVES
Displaying scarves so they don't get crushed is super easy. Simply take a tension rod and hang the scarves on it. I hang my scarves across the rod, loving the convenience of being able to see what I have and what matches different clothing combinations. --- Paula
DIY CHALKBOARD
It's easy to make your own chalkboard by buying spray-on chalkboard paint. I recommend getting precut pieces of medium-density fiberboard. You can get thin pieces in various sizes. Medium-density fiberboard is harder, smoother and cheaper than plywood. --- Ed
YOUR PARKING JOB
I can't tell you how many times I've "lost" my car in a parking lot. Not anymore! I use the camera on my cellphone to photograph where I'm parked, including an elevator name or lot number. Sometimes I'll snap two or three pictures. And it works every time. I no longer have to remember or write down where I left my car. --- Denise
SQUEEZE THE PANCAKE BATTER
Save empty ketchup bottles, thoroughly clean them, and allow them to dry. The next time you make pancakes, put the batter in the bottle and squeeze it out into the pan. --- CR
LIFE BEYOND PICKLES
I save the liquid from jars of pickles, olives and artichokes. These liquids are great for pickling or marinating other veggies. I also toss them into homemade salad dressings or into mayo-based salads like potato, macaroni or pasta recipes. The only thing to remember is to be careful about mixing these liquids in the same recipe. Sweet pickle juice and kosher dill pickle juice really don't mix well. --- Luann
GOOD TO THE LAST DROP
Don't dump the leftover wine. Even a little will add flavor to a dish, sauce or salad dressing. Adding a little wine to sautéed veggies or poached fish adds huge flavor. --- Cathy
SCRIBBLE CLEAN THE WHITEBOARD
To remove permanent marker images on a whiteboard, take a nonpermanent whiteboard marker, scribble over the permanent images and then erase. Works every time. --- BJ
SUPER GLUE FOR GREYHOUNDS
I read the tip in Everyday Cheapskate about using super glue for small cuts. For years, we've adopted greyhounds. They are wonderful dogs with great personalities, but they have very thin skin. The Arizona Adopt a Greyhound agency highly recommends that you keep super glue on hand for small cuts on your hounds. Living in Arizona, there are a lot of thorny desert bushes. The dogs can get easily scratched and then start licking the wound. This turns into a much bigger problem than it should, but a quick dab with the super glue quickly keeps the wound held together. Greyhounds run so fast they don't realize when they run into things. --- Kathleen