Bandage care
To keep a finger bandage dry and secure, pull a small balloon over it before you bathe or wash dishes.
Calcium absorption
Don’t drink sodas together with calcium-rich foods or supplements. If your soft drink contains phosphoric acid (and most do), it will block absorption of calcium into the bloodstream.
Canker sores—prevention
Prevent canker sores by adding 4 tablespoons of plain yogurt to your diet each day.
Canker sores—remedy
Try applying a wet, black tea bag to a nasty canker sore. The tannin acts as an astringent and will relieve the pain and promote healing.
Exercise—golf club burn
A round of golf burns well over 1,000 calories if you walk and push the clubs on a wheeled cart for 18 holes. That’s the equivalent of running 6 or 7 miles, depending how long it takes you to get those 18 holes in!
Exercise—health club memberships
Try the club before you join. Most offer several free visits or short, low-cost trial memberships. Join with a group of five or more friends, and at some clubs you’ll save as much as 35 percent. Pay a year’s dues in advance to save up to 20 percent (make sure the club has a reasonable likelihood of still being in business a year later). Ask about new member perquisites, such as a free session with a personal trainer. Also, if you need to take a long-term break for travel or other reasons, ask the club to freeze your membership and start it up when you return.
Exercise—strengthen your immunity
Want to beat the common cold? A brisk walk or exercise at a moderate level has been associated with strengthening the immune system. On the other hand, extremely strenuous exercise can actually lower immunity to colds and flu. So, take a walk but take it easy.
Exercise—winter motivation
Stay motivated to stick to your exercise program during the winter months: Put on your swimsuit and stand in front of the mirror once each month.
Eyes—emergency eyeglass repair
Here’s an emergency repair for the missing screw in your eyeglasses: Insert a wooden toothpick through the hole in the hinge. Break off both ends of the toothpick, and you’re ready to go.
Foot massager
Give your tired feet a mini massage by rolling them back and forth over an ice-cold soda or juice can.
Use isopropyl rubbing alcohol to remove hair spray buildup from barrettes. Some megahold hair sprays cause metal barrettes to tarnish. To avoid, allow hair spray to dry before putting in barrettes.
Hair—buildup remover
To remove a buildup of minerals, conditioners, sprays, mousses, and gels, here’s a cheap alternative one professional hairdresser we know uses on her own hair: Wash hair with a gentle shampoo, rinse in cool water, and towel dry. Saturate hair with apple cider vinegar (not white vinegar, it’s too harsh). Wrap hair in a plastic cap or plastic wrap, and heat with a blow dryer for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse hair thoroughly and shampoo again.
Hair—coloring not just for men
A woman we know colors her gray hair with a popular product, Just for Men. It produces identical results, costs half as much, and lasts twice as long as a similar product sold for women.
Hair—condition with mayo
Slather mayonnaise on your hair. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or a small plastic bag, and heat with a hair dryer. Leave on for 30 minutes. Shampoo and rinse well.
Hair—control with lemon and lime juices
The combination of lemon, which closes the hair cuticle, and lime, which is slightly emollient, helps break up static electricity to end flyaway hair. Mix together 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon lime juice, and 1 cup water. Pour into a plastic spray bottle. Spritz on clean, damp hair. Do not rinse. Style as usual. Keeps for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Hair—dye alternative
As a color pickup for drab brown hair, rinse it with strong, stale coffee. Then rinse with cool water.
Hair—residue remover
Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with the amount of shampoo you use for one hair washing, and shampoo your hair with the mixture. This removes residue buildup and leaves hair shiny and bouncy. Repeat about once a month. This is a cheap substitute for very expensive commercial products that do the same thing.
Hair—shampoo, half-price
Read the instructions on most shampoo bottles: Apply, lather, rinse, repeat. Don’t “repeat.” Your shampoo will last twice as long.
Hair—shampoo, inexpensive
Don’t be a shampoo snob. In a Consumer Reports test of 132 brand-name shampoos, the lowly cheap brands from the supermarket rated just as high as the pricey salon brands.
Hair—spray buildup remover, control dandruff
To remove stubborn hair spray buildup and to control dandruff, mix one package lemon Kool-Aid with 2 quarts warm water (don’t add sugar). Wet your hair and pour on the mixture. Work well into your hair, leave on for several minutes, and follow with regular shampooing. The citric acid is the key ingredient.
Hair—spray can clogs
Ordinary rubbing alcohol will unclog the spray nozzle of a hair spray container that even hot water hasn’t cleared. Just dip the nozzle into the rubbing alcohol, let it sit for a few minutes, wipe off, and spray.
Haircuts—for kids
Learn to cut your kids’ hair. Ask an expert to teach you or get a step-by-step DVD or video download. It’s not difficult but learn well. We don’t want any goofy-looking kids out there.
Here’s how to make an effective, inexpensive heating pad. Take a clean sock (a man’s tube sock with no holes works best). Fill halfway with about 5 cups of uncooked white rice. Tie a knot in the top. Warm in a microwave on high at 30-second intervals until desired heat is reached. (Caution: Rice can burn, so watch it carefully.) This heating device will conform well to any body part and can be reused many times. Just make sure to keep it dry.
Hot-water bottle
Fill a 2-liter soda bottle about 6 inches from the top with hot water. Screw the top on tightly. Wrap the bottle in a towel, and snuggle up with your very wonderful, yet cheap hot-water bottle. A smaller bottle with just warm water works well for an older child.
Ice pack, with rice
Instead of paying big bucks for fancy ice packs, do this: Freeze raw rice in a freezer-weight resealable plastic bag. To use, wrap it in paper towels. It conforms well to most body parts, such as backs and sprained extremities, and stays cold for at least 45 minutes. Use gallon-size bags for backs and legs, pint-size and snack-size for boo-boos. Double bag to discourage accidents, and don’t leave packs unattended with children.
Ice pack, with rubbing alcohol
Make your own flexible ice packs. Pour ¾ cup water and ¼ cup rubbing alcohol into a resealable plastic bag, and close. Put the bag into another bag, seal, and freeze. You will have a slushy bag of ice whenever needed for sprains, headaches, or other ailments because alcohol doesn’t freeze. Label clearly.
Jewelry—allergic to earrings
If earrings leave your lobes sore, chances are you are allergic to nickel silver, which is an alloy in many types of jewelry. Apply a coating of clear nail polish to the earring posts and backs or clasps, and other parts that come in contact with your skin. Only surgical steel and platinum are free of nickel silver; even 14- and 18-karat gold earrings can contain some of this alloy, to which many people are highly sensitive. You will need to reapply the polish after several wearings.
Makeup—blush color
To find the right shade of blush, check the color of your skin after exercising and try to match that color. Blush should add a healthy glow, not introduce a foreign color.
Makeup—economy line
If you love a particular high-priced cosmetic line, ask for the name of their economy line. For example, Lancôme (available in department stores) also produces the L’Oreal line (available in drugstores). Research cosmetic lines online or call the customer service department of your favorite line to inquire.
Makeup—eye makeup remover
Use a no-tear brand of baby shampoo to remove eye makeup. Ophthalmologists encourage contact lens wearers to do this to reduce protein buildup on their lenses. Apply with a cotton swab in a brushing motion while holding your eyelid taut. Rinse thoroughly.
Makeup—lipstick palette
Don’t toss the last ½ inch of lipstick in the tube. Do what professional makeup artists do. Using an orange stick or other clean implement, transfer what’s left of the lipstick from the bottom of the tube to one section of a compartmentalized medication container (the kind with a little space for each day of the week, available at drugstores for less than $2). Use a lipstick brush to apply. As you accumulate colors, fill each of the compartments, and soon you will have a portable lipstick palette.
Don’t use waterproof mascara on a regular basis. It’s hard on the eyelashes. But water-soluble types really smudge, especially in sweltering heat. Here’s a reasonable compromise: Use a waterproof version only on lower lashes, because that’s what usually smudges.
Makeup—curling first, then mascara
Use your eyelash curler before applying mascara. Otherwise, lashes could stick to the curler and break off.
Makeup—pencils
Long lip liner and eyeliner pencils are awkward to use and don’t fit into small handbags. Solution: Break the pencil in half; sharpen both pieces. Now you have two manageable pencils for the price of one.
Makeup—remove with baby wipes
Use baby wipes to remove makeup. They’re made for sensitive skin and won’t cause dryness or irritation.
Makeup—test samples
Before purchasing a new cosmetic or skin-care product at the counter in a department store, request a sample you can test for a few days before making a decision.
Medical facilities—ask questions before you choose
Inquire about specific hospital fees before you are admitted. Fees do vary considerably from one hospital to the next. Why pay for the availability of kidney machines and heart-transplant teams if you are having knee reconstruction? While you’re in an inquiring mode, ask what rating the hospital received the last time it was examined for state accreditation.
Medical facilities—avoid Fridays
Friday is the most expensive day to check into the hospital. Hospital labs usually close for the weekend, and you may waste 2½ days and a lot of money just waiting for the labs to open on Monday. If you must be admitted for surgery, insist that you go in the day of the surgery. An early admittance will run up your bill and is usually for the convenience of the staff, not the patient.
Medical facilities—cash discounts
Whenever undergoing a dental or medical procedure for which you will eventually pay, inquire about a cash discount. Do not be timid about expecting as much as a 25 percent discount when you pay by check or cash at the time the procedure is done. Never be afraid to ask.
Medical facilities—examine bills
Carefully examine hospital bills even if you have full insurance coverage. If you go in for a knee reconstruction and are billed for infant nursery time, put up a fuss. A good consumer scrutinizes every charge. Report all discrepancies to the hospital, physician, and insurance company.
Medicines—aspirin miracle
Research suggests that one aspirin tablet, at a cost of 1 cent, taken every other day helps reduce risk of heart attack, certain kinds of strokes, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease, among other serious ailments. (See your doctor before beginning such an aspirin regimen.)
Medicines—call around for prices
Most pharmacies will quote prices over the phone. Call around until you find the best price. Or go online and compare prices at sites like Drugstore.com and TheOnlineDrugstore.com. You won’t believe how the prices will vary.
Medicines—doctor samples
Every doctor’s office is flooded with all kinds of expensive prescription samples, also known as “stock bottles.” When required to take a medication, be sure to ask your doctor if he or she might have samples for you to try. Asking for sufficient samples to make sure the medication is right for you is especially wise, particularly if you might be allergic to it. Don’t hesitate to ask again every time you go to the office. Doctors can also write a prescription for a stock bottle to be filled at the pharmacy for patients unable to afford the prescription.
Medicines—measure correctly for kids
Don’t use tableware spoons when giving medicine to a child. Teaspoons and tablespoons in your silverware drawer may not hold the correct amount of liquid. A tableware spoon that’s off by even 1 milliliter (0.0338 fluid ounce) could mean you’re giving the child 20 percent more—or less—of the recommended dose of medicine. Use a proper measuring device, either one provided with the medicine or purchased separately, such as a measuring spoon, syringe, or oral dropper. Ask the pharmacist for a complimentary calibrated measuring device for dispensing liquid medications.
Medicines—numb your kids’ taste buds
You may be able to make unpleasant-tasting medicine a bit more palatable for your children. Have them suck on a small piece of ice until their tongues are numb (this will probably occur once the ice melts), then give the medicine. Follow with more ice. The cold dulls the taste buds just long enough to render the medication tasteless.
Medicines—prescription and over-the-counter equivalents
Ask for generic prescriptions, which cost less yet by law must have the same chemical makeup and potency as brand-name drugs. Also, buy generic nonprescription pain medication. You can purchase ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Advil) for less than half the cost of name brand. The same goes for Tylenol. It is acetaminophen. Consult your pharmacist when in doubt.
Medicines—split those tablets
If your doctor prescribes, for example, 50 milligram (mg) tablets, ask about changing that to the 100 mg version so you can break the tablets in half to accomplish the 50 mg dosage. If this is possible, you will save a lot of money, because the difference in price between 100 mg and 50 mg will usually be negligible. You can purchase a tablet splitter for just a few dollars at any pharmacy. Caution: Some pills’ delivery systems may be affected by splitting them in half. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Midday pick-me-up
Use a cosmetic sponge to soak up some of your favorite after-bath splash. Put the sponge in a small, resealable plastic bag, and toss it into your purse or briefcase. Now you can freshen up before an important meeting or at the end of a long, tiring day.
Nails—broken
Tea bag paper can mend a broken nail instantly and easily. Cut the paper to fit the nail, then coat with clear nail polish.
Nails—buffing
Buff your fingernails rather than polish them, because it’s quicker and cheaper. Apply a bit of petroleum jelly as a buffing compound, which will also soften cuticles.
Nails—polish bottle trick
Keep the top of a nail polish bottle from sticking shut by putting cooking spray on a cotton swab and wiping it around the neck of the bottle before closing it.
Nails—polish fix
Smudge your polish while giving yourself a manicure? Not a problem. Do what the professionals do. Put a drop of polish remover on the pad of your thumb, and rub it lightly over the smudge until the spot is smooth. Reapply polish.
Nails—polish prep
Scrub your fingernails with white vinegar, rinse, and dry. Now apply your nail polish. It will adhere better and last longer.
Nails—polish rolling
Don’t shake nail polish before using. Shaking whips bubbles into the product, which will cause chipping later. Instead, turn the bottle upside down and gently roll it between your palms.
Perfume—overdose fix
When you overdo it with your perfume, saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wipe it where you put the perfume. The alcohol will cut the scent without altering it.
Perfume and cologne—refrigerate
Refrigerate your cologne, and it can last for as long as 2 years. If a fragrance is exposed to heat, air, or sunlight, it immediately begins to change.
Remedies—bee sting pain
To soothe bee stings, immediately wet the spot and cover with salt.
Remedies—chicken pox itching
If your children get chicken pox, and an oatmeal bath is in order, save a lot of money by making your own oatmeal bath product that is similar to Aveeno. Take old-fashioned rolled oats and a clean, old knee-high nylon. Place a handful of the oats into the stocking, tie a knot in the end, and let it sit in the bathwater. Squish the bag of oatmeal to activate it more quickly.
Remedies—hiccups
Eating a teaspoonful of sugar gets rid of hiccups in a flash.
Make a paste of baking soda and water and rub it on insect bites to relieve the itch.
Remedies—splinter removal, sunburn relief spray
To reduce pain while you are trying to remove a splinter, spray the area with a dab of sunburn relief spray. The topical anesthetic will numb the area and reduce the pain.
Remedies—splinter removal, teething gel or ice cube
Before removing a splinter from your child’s finger, apply some teething gel to the area around the splinter and wait a few seconds for the skin to get numb. Gently remove the splinter with tweezers. If you don’t have teething gel available, put an ice cube on the splinter. It will briefly numb the area and allow the splinter to be removed. Follow with a first-aid antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin.
Skin—astringent
Instead of purchasing an expensive brand-name astringent to add to your skin-care regimen, use witch hazel, an old standby recommended by skin professionals for decades. It’s available over the counter at drugstores and performs as well as any brand of astringent, no matter how expensive.
Skin—baby oil before sunless tanning lotion
Smooth baby oil onto your skin, and allow it to penetrate before applying sunless tanning lotion to achieve a more even, lighter tanning effect, especially on elbows and feet.
Skin—calloused feet
Crush 6 aspirin tablets and mix them with a tablespoon each of water and lemon juice; work into a paste. Apply the paste to calloused spots or dry skin on your feet. Put each foot in a plastic bag and wrap with a warm towel. Sit for 10 minutes with your wrapped feet elevated. Caution: If you are diabetic or have circulatory problems, special care of your feet is essential. Get a doctor’s guidance for all questions regarding foot health.
Skin—deodorant alternative
Rubbing alcohol is an effective deodorant for both underarms and feet, because it kills odor-causing bacteria, dries quickly, and becomes odorless. Apply in a fine mist from a spray bottle or with a cotton ball. Spritz your feet and the insides of your shoes with rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to refresh and eliminate foot odors.
Skin—elbows
Elbows get lots of wear and tear, and they really show it. Here’s the perfect way to give them the attention they deserve: Cut a lemon in half and rest an elbow in each part for at least 10 minutes. (Sure, you’ll look ridiculous and that’s why you’re not going to do this in the middle of an important meeting or while sitting in church.) The lemon juice will remove the stains that make elbows look dirty. Jump in the shower, do the regular stuff, and then use those lemon halves for a final body scrub. Towel dry, follow with lotion, and you’ll think you’ve just visited an expensive spa.
Skin—exfoliate
Mix ½ to 2⁄3 cup granulated sugar with the juice of one lemon to form a paste. While showering, invigorate your skin with the paste. Rub heels and elbows with the inside of the lemon.
Skin—facial mask
Use milk of magnesia for a soothing facial mask. Spread it on your face, being careful to stay away from your eye area. Leave on for 30 minutes, rinse with warm water, then pat dry.
Skin—facial scrub
Baking soda mixed with a tiny bit of water makes an excellent facial scrub.
There’s nothing like a relaxing, naturally scented bath to revive a tired mind and body. Fill a piece of cheesecloth with fresh rosemary, tie it up with string, hang the bag from the faucet, and run the water over it into the tub.
Skin—inexpensive care products
A reader asked a doctor friend what he learned during his dermatology rotation concerning expensive skin- and facial-cleansing products. He informed her that the best products are not the most expensive. Dermatologists recommend Dove or Lever 2000 for cleansing and Lubriderm lotion for moisturizing. Both products are sold over the counter at drugstores and most grocery stores.
Skin—instant face-lift
Here’s how to give yourself an instant “face-lift” and beauty treatment: Mix 1 teaspoon each of baking soda and olive oil to form a paste. Gently massage it into your skin, rinse well, then pat dry.
Skin—itching, acne medication
One of the most soothing topical treatments for bug bites, poison ivy, rashes, and the like is your teen’s over-the-counter acne medication. It will dry the infected area and reduce itching.
Skin—itching, baking soda bath
Dissolve ½ cup baking soda in bathwater to soothe skin irritations from sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy, hives, chicken pox, and itchy rashes.
Skin—moisturize hands while you work
Keep a pump dispenser of hand cream in the kitchen. When you’re washing dishes, apply the cream before putting on rubber gloves, and you’ll get a quick hand-softening treatment as you work.
Skin—moisturize with petroleum jelly
Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to your skin nightly. It’s a natural moisturizer and is especially effective on extra-dry areas, such as elbows, heels, and knees.
Skin—on tired feet
Freshen tired feet and soften skin easily and quickly: Add 4 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Pour into a large container, and soak your feet for 10 minutes.
Skin—scrubber
Put leftover pieces of soap into a mesh produce bag to make an effective scrubber for feet, elbows, and hands. If the bag is fairly large, fold or cut it down to a delicate, dignified size.
Skin—sunscreen roll on
Sunscreen won’t spill and will be much easier to apply if it’s transferred to a roll-on deodorant bottle. Squeeze the neck of an empty bottle with pliers so the ball pops out. (Watch out because it can really fly.) Clean the bottle, pour in the sunscreen, and pop the ball back in.
Teeth—baking soda for toothpaste
An inexpensive toothpaste substitute that dentists endorse is plain old baking soda. Wet the brush and dab it in the powder. The cost is a fraction of what you’ll pay for toothpaste, and if you can handle the taste, or lack thereof, you’ll save a lot of money. Check with your dentist.
Teeth—dental schools
College and university dental hygiene programs are excellent places to get your teeth cleaned. Do an internet search to determine if your local university or community college has a dental school facility.
Teeth—orthodontic rubber bands
Anyone wearing orthodontic appliances with replaceable rubber bands should get a fresh supply of bands often, especially following an illness. When reaching into the bag of bands, the wearer will contaminate the supply, which could mean recurrences of the illness.
Teeth—prevent dental problems
Finish meals and snacks by rinsing your mouth with water. It’s fast, it’s easy, it washes out substantial quantities of bacteria and food, and it’s free.
Teeth—tea for fluoride
If your water lacks fluoride, drink teas. Black tea delivers more fluoride than fluorinated water.
Teeth—toothbrushes, hold pencil-style
Brandish your toothbrush with a pencil-style grip rather than a racket-style grip. Foreign research shows that the pencil grip gets teeth as clean but causes less gum damage. Apparently this grip promotes a vibrating motion more than a stroking one.
Teeth—toothbrushes, replace or disinfect
When family members have been ill with colds, flu, and other illnesses, make sure you replace toothbrushes often, or thoroughly disinfect them. Toothbrush germs can be destroyed by storing the brush, bristles down, in a glass of antiseptic mouthwash. Replace the mouthwash every few days.
Toiletries and grooming—beauty schools
Take advantage of the inexpensive beauty services available at a local cosmetology school. Students are carefully supervised, conscientious, and eager to please. Be nice but firm about your expectations and desires. If you’re a bit nervous, try a low-risk procedure, such as a wash-and-style or a manicure. The students who will be graduating soon are very qualified. The savings are fantastic. Basically you’ll pay only for the materials, not labor.
Toiletries and grooming—buy unscented in men’s department
Buy men’s toiletries if possible when it comes to such things as unscented deodorant, shaving foam, and hair coloring. Products specifically for men are significantly cheaper ounce for ounce. Go figure.
Toiletries and grooming—keep wipes moist
Keep towelettes and baby wipes moist by storing the container upside down.
Toiletries and grooming—pain-free eyebrow plucking
Put some over-the-counter oral anesthetic solution on your eyebrows 5 minutes before you pluck them. This will prevent the pain.
Toiletries and grooming—razor sharp
If you carefully dry your razor after each use, it will stay sharp much longer than if you simply rinse and leave it.
Walker caddy
Tie the handles of a plastic grocery bag to the arms of a walker. The bag will remain open and can be used to carry everything from eyeglasses to tissues to medication.