Distilled Vinegar: 3 everyday uses for a cheap, non-toxic, all pupose cleaner

Many people know vinegar can be used to make a variety of DIY cleaning products, but it's still surprising just how versatile this mild acid is. As an inexpensive, widely available, and natural cleaner, switching from cleaners derived from harsh chemicals to white or distilled vinegar is a great way to start trimming a household budget. A little goes a long way as well, and it is advisable to dilute even 5%* concentrations with a bit of water to prevent skin irritation, or damage to the surface being cleaned. Described in this article are three, everyday uses for vinegar as a cleaning solution that we at Cheap and Cheerful utilize in our own home.


Surface cleaner
Vinegar makes an excellent all-purpose surface cleaner, capable of removing dirt, residue, stains, and grease from a variety of surfaces including: tile, glass, stainless steel, counter tops, linoleum, vinyl flooring, Formica and hardwood surfaces. For an easy-to-use and convenient cleaning product, combine water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle (these are widely available at dollar stores, 1 pound stores and other discount outlets). Spray and wipe surfaces, just as you would with a conventional surface cleaner. This solution will easily remove stains, grease and residues, without damaging the surface, exposing you to toxic chemicals or requiring you to scrub really hard.

Vinegar is also useful for eliminating many varieties of molds, and effectively kills about 80% of mold species. In addition to killing mold, vinegar also kills a fairly high percentage of bacteria and germs, making it a great cleaning solution for kitchen surfaces as it is also non-toxic. However, be advised that vinegar does not kill 100% of bacteria, and after handling foods such as raw eggs, raw poultry or raw meat, it is best to clean any surfaces these substances may have come in to contact with a cleaner containing an antimicrobial agent or disinfectant. Take care when using harsher cleaners on kitchen surfaces, as they can be be toxic if ingested.

Vinegar can also be combined with water in a bucket or other container for mopping and scrubbing floors, showers, baths, etc. In addition to removing residues, grease and stains, vinegar is also effective at removing soap scum and mild limescale build-ups.

Deodorizer
Vinegar is a versatile air freshener and deodorizer, and can be used to neutralize odors in drains, carpets, lunchboxes, refrigerators, upholstery, car interiors and rooms.

To deodorize a sink drain, put a couple tablespoons of baking soda in the drain. Then pour in some vinegar. The vinegar will react with the baking soda; allow the baking soda and vinegar to stand for a couple of minutes and follow with less than one cup of boiled water. In addition to deodorizing your sink drain, the fizzing action will remove minor clogs.

To deodorize carpets and upholstery, combine vinegar and water in a spray bottle as mentioned before. Mist the vinegar and water solution over these surfaces to neutralize odors in fabric and carpet fibers.

To deodorize a fridge, wipe it inside and out with a cloth soaked in a vinegar and water solution. Wiping down all the surfaces of the fridge with vinegar will also help to kill and prevent certain types of mold from growing.

To deodorize a car interior or room, place a bowl or pot filled with vinegar and leave for several hours to overnight.

Descaler
In addition to using vinegar to remove limescale from taps, shower heads, tiles, and toilet bowls by either scrubbing or soaking, distilled vinegar can be used to clean all the crud crusted to the bottom of your electric kettle in just the few minutes it takes to boil water. To remove limescale from an electric kettle just add one or two tablespoons of distilled vinegar to the minimum amount of water required for boiling(this should be indicated by a measuring meter on the side or on the handle of the kettle), and boil the water. Leave the boiled water and vinegar to sit overnight. Pour out the boiled water and vinegar in the morning, and rinse out the kettle.


There are certain things this mild acid just doesn't do, like killing 100% of bacteria, so it may not be a substitute for every cleaning product and purpose. However, hopefully these three suggested uses will prove practical for you, and provide you with an inexpensive, natural cleaner to be used in the place of some other harsher cleaning products.


*Most vinegars sold in supermarkets have an acidity level of 5%. Stronger concentrations are available from some retailers, but require careful handling. Concentrations of just 11% acidity can cause burns to the skin and injury to the eyes.

Getting Care When You Can't Afford Coverage: Part 1

Welcome to the first part of an on-going series exploring how to get care when you can't afford coverage. In the coming weeks Cheap and Cheerful will cover some of the options available to those who need health and dental services but don't have insurance and can't afford to pay the astronomical out-of-pocket costs for basic services. Despite recent legislation in the US that extends health insurance to many who would otherwise have no coverage, many adults remain without any kind of coverage for health benefits.

A great deal of the literature published online regarding these issues is incredibly condescending. A cursory search for advice regarding the best way for the uninsured to afford a dental cleaning turned up embarrassingly out of touch articles urging uninsured readers to "give up pay-parking or the daily latte habit for a month" in order to afford a teeth cleaning every six months. To someone working a full-time job, or two jobs or three jobs and struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, this kind of advice is insensitive at best, and outright offensive at worst. In line with our objectives of researching and reporting on ways readers can live better on a budget, this week Cheap and Cheerful will explore some possible alternatives to climbing into the dental hygienist's chair uninsured.

"Toothbrush" CC-BY Lars P.

1) Have Your Teeth Cleaned at a Dental College
Getting your teeth cleaned at a dental college seems to be something many people have heard of, but fewer people have done. Admittedly, like many other things, the ability to obtain cheap teeth cleaning services at a dental college varies greatly depending on your geographical location. In some major cities, there may be 3 or 4 technical colleges offering discounted services to the public in exchange for allowing their students to practice their trade on an actual patient, whereas other towns may be at least 100 miles from the nearest dental college. If you aren't able to find a dental college in your local Yellow Pages, try looking up local vocational or community colleges. Many technical colleges offer associate degree programs for dental hygienists, and so offer cheap teeth cleanings to those willing to let students give-it-a-go on their teeth. After finding a dental college, or a technical college offering qualifications in dental hygiene, do a little additional searching to see if they have a website dedicated to this aspect of their institution. It may not be immediately clear if the number listed in the Yellow Pages entry for the college itself is the best number to call to inquire about a possible community patient outreach program. If searching for the name of the college in conjunction with terms like "patient" "clinic" and "care" doesn't return any useful results try ringing the number in the listing. Even if that number doesn't connect directly to someone who deals with a patient care program, it may connect to someone able to put you through to the right department.

If they are unable or unwilling to connect you, don’t get discouraged. Call back later and tell them you’re interested in the dental hygiene program there, but that you would like some additional information. Then ask them if they can put you through to the department directly, or give you more information on how to contact the program officer. While many colleges have clinics offering services to the public, each school will be different, and not every technical college with a dental program will have a patient care clinic as well. However, asking is free, so it’s worth asking to find out to potentially save significantly on your teeth cleaning costs.

Ideally, at this point you’ve found and spoken with the right person to book your cheap and cheerful teeth cleaning. Outside of showing up on time, the only other thing you’ll likely need to do is to fill out a medical history form upon arrival. The experience of the actual cleaning can vary widely from here, and can depend heavily on the experience of the student cleaning your teeth. It may take a less experienced student a while longer to complete a cleaning than it would a student with more experience. Certain aspects do seem to be standardized though, such as the presence of a licensed dentist or dental assistant overseeing the student’s work. Fees for a cleaning from a dental college can be as low as $10 and seem to top out around $60 in most areas.

Some criticize dental college cleanings, worrying that a dental student may potentially fail to diagnose the early signs of a problem that could later require surgery. However, remember that a dentist oversees student cleanings and that all dental hygienists and dentists were students themselves before becoming licensed professionals. Most dental hygiene students are trained to recognize common problems such as cavities, plaque buildup, and gingivitis. However, if you are experiencing dental pain or have other reasons to believe you could have a problem requiring surgery, the best thing to do is to schedule a consultation with your dentist.

Pros: significantly lower costs for a full teeth cleaning, some facilities may also offer X-ray services, cleanings overseen by a licensed dentist or hygienist.

Cons: variability of appointment availability, appointment lengths may be longer than an average cleaning by a fully licensed hygienist.



2) Try haggling or working out a payment plan with your current dental provider
Negotiating with your dentist can be tricky. Dental services can be expensive, and even basic preventive appointments can be cost prohibitive for those who have real expenses but not a real living-wage. However, many dental practices are small businesses and all dentists and dental hygienists are skilled professionals and like everyone else, they deserve to be compensated for their time. While asking for an outright discount may affront your regular dentist, discussing payment options with your provider is perfectly acceptable. Ask if your dentist offers any services on a sliding fee scale. Offering to pay cash up-front on the day may also increase your negotiating power, saving you as much as 10 percent of the cost of services rendered.

Pros: allows you to continue to receive treatment from your regular dentist or dental hygienist

Cons: not every practice will be able or willing to negotiate payment methods and/or costs


3) Consider Purchasing Teeth Cleaning Services Through a Deal-of-the-Day website
While buying your dental services through a deal-of-the-day website can be riskier than a cleaning from a reputable dental college, carefully reading the fine print can ensure that the deal you are buying fully covers the service or services you need, without requiring you to buy additional services or procedures in order to use the voucher.

Locating a Daily-Deal for a dental cleaning can be difficult, if not impossible to find out right. Sometimes searching for "Teeth Cleaning" or "Dental Care" and the name of a Deal-of-the-Day service produces useful results. Our search for "Living Social Teeth Cleaning" yielded a voucher for General and Cosmetic Dentistry in Tampa, Florida inclusive of a full dental exam, teeth cleaning, set of x-rays and bleaching treatment for $99, and this voucher for either a $49 dental exam, teeth cleaning and full mouth x-ray or a $129 teeth whitening treatment or a $1,8000 surgical tooth implant and custom crown in Macomb County, Michigan.

If today is not your lucky day on both Groupon and Google, then the other option is to periodically check the various deal-of-the-day sites, and bide time until an offer becomes available in your area.

Be sure to read the fine print of any discounted deal carefully. Most vouchers for discount dental services have certain limitations some of which include: non-transferability, the requirement of all services included in the discounted deal to be used by one customer in a single visit, and prohibitions on combining the discount voucher with other offers or promotions. These discount vouchers are also often only valid for new patients who have never visited the practice offering the deal-of-the-day coupon before.
The most obvious advantage to buying dental services through a deal-of-the-day service is the knowledge you'll be receiving treatment from a licensed dental practice. However, the actual level of service between dental practices can vary, so consider looking up reviews or asking for opinions from friends and acquaintances if they've previously used the practice selling the promotional voucher before committing to buying the discount deal.

Pros: obtaining services through a professional dental practice, some additional services such as x-rays and teeth whitening treatments are often included

Cons: level of service from practice to practice can vary, certain limitations and conditions may apply and are not always the same from deal to deal.

Hopefully one of these three options provides you with an option to make the dental care you need more affordable. If the three alternatives discussed aren't right for you, there are other options out there. Check out this article from MONEY Magazine for other ways to save on your dental costs such as joining a discount club, and advice on getting more out of your Flexible Spending Account.

One more step to building a better brown-bag lunch.

The Kitchn has put together a great collection of packed lunch recipes, ideas and inspirations. Buying lunch out everyday is expensive, but bringing a sack lunch is such a drag if you aren't sure what to pack. While there's nothing wrong with occasionally treating yourself to your favorite sandwich from that cute little cafe around the corner, bringing your lunch to work or university for the week can be better for your health as well as your wallet.

The main collection of (Our) Best Tips and Ideas to Help You Eat a Fabulous Lunch at Work is a great place for both beginners to start their build-your-own-brown-bag-adventure and for packed-lunch veterans to get some innovative ideas. Our personal highlights include: Office Lunch Survival Kit: 6 Essentials to keep at the Office, 5 Quick and Delicious Lunches Under 400 calories and Lunch-Packing Inspiration

3 Cheap and Cheerful ways to cope with what's left of the cold.

With February coming to a close, many of us in the northern hemisphere are looking forward to longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures. While many regions are already experiencing milder weather conditions, winter isn't necessarily over yet. Damp and chilly conditions can persist until well in to April, but here are three ways to cope with the what's left of the cold that don't involve adjusting your thermostat.

1. The Hot Water Bottle
These retro bed-warmers are due for a comeback having already experienced a return to popularity in Japan a couple of years ago. Hot water bottles are easy to use, and an economical way to warm up your sheets. The upfront cost of the items themselves is pretty low (easily under $20 USD), and once you've heated the water no electricity or other power source is required. Hot bottles are a great, often cheaper alternative to an electric blanket, and are less likely to cause a fire. Scaldings are not common, but they can happen so it's important to take care and follow safety instructions. Most hot water bottles come with safety instructions, but safety basics can also be found here.

2. Long Underwear/Long Johns
Long Johns, or thermal underwear still have a reputation as being bulky, woolly, and unattractive, which need not be the case. There is a huge variety of lightweight thermal fabrics these days, from space-age synthetics to cotton blends, to fine but durable woven and knitted silks. The popular brand Cuddl Duds can be found easily, directly through their online store, through third party merchants, and occasionally at outlet stores like Marshalls or TK Maxx. Lightweight thermal undergarments are a great option for those who spend a lot of time working outside as they add a great deal of warmth, without adding a great deal of bulk or hindering your range of motion. A pair of silk long johns feels feather light when worn, and they make elegant, but simple pajamas. While silk thermals don't usually come cheap, you can pick some up now for reduced prices. This scoopneck top from Land's End has been marked down to 24.99, from 49.50.


3. Slaving over a hot stove.
Cooking a nice, hot meal on a cold, wet evening serves two purposes. First, your culinary efforts produce something warm and tasty to heat your innards, and second there's nothing like standing in the dry heat of the oven as it slow roasts some butternut squash or bakes a delicious homemade lasagna. Cooking a hot and hearty meal has other benefits as well; after all the wisdom across budget-living blogs everywhere still contends that cooking at home is always less expensive than eating out. Additionally, cooking a big dinner creates more opportunities to try new recipes and build up your skill-set in the kitchen. There is a huge wealth of culinary inspiration on the web, and a great place for tips on how to make gourmet meals on a tight grocery budget is this and many other articles at lifehacker.

Stay toasty!

Roam if you want to: How to avoid your mobile carrier's roaming charges when you're... roaming

While the big national mobile carriers like Verizon and AT&T cover most of the United States, including parts of Alaska and Hawaii, anyone venturing beyond the lower 48 (and the aforementioned parts of Alaska and Hawaii) may find themselves hit with outrageous roaming charges should they try to use their mobile phone while away on holiday. However, with a little research and planning, these charges can be significantly reduced or avoided all together!

1.) Check with your mobile provider and ask if they offer any options like buying prepaid roaming minutes or an international texting bundle.

Rates vary among carriers but it's almost always cheaper to pay for roaming charges ahead of time, especially if you know you'll be making more than one or two calls or any calls lasting over a few minutes.

2.) If you own an unlocked, quad-band GSM phone, see if local networks offer pay-as-you-go SIM cards.

Mobile SIMs can be quickly and easily switched out by anyone, so if you have a universal phone, this is a worthwhile option even on short trips. There is the initial cost of buying a local SIM card and loading credit on to it, but many networks will "give" away the card for free so long as a certain amount of credit is purchased (usually 5 to 10 units of whatever the local currency happens to be; For example, if you're in the UK, a SIM could be yours for 10 GBP). Unfortunately some countries make it very difficult or impossible for visitors on a short-term visa to purchase SIM cards. Check a travel guide or forum like the one at lonelyplanet.com.

3.) Consider buying a cheap prepaid phone with a re-loadable SIM (or a cheap CDMA phone with re-loadable credit).

If you don't own an unlocked GSM quad-band phone, consider buying a cheap, prepaid or rolling contract phone. This option is better for longer trips and ideal for something like a study abroad term. Finding a mobile hand-set retailer in the region or country to where you're traveling may take a little time and effort, but a quick internet search beforehand will almost certainly turn up the name of the retail outlets, if not their addresses and street-view photos. If used with conjunction with Rebtel and their "ring-back" service, it's possible to use your new local mobile to call back home for only the price of the minutes that you've already paid for, or that are included in your rolling contract.

4.) Exploit the wifi capabilities of your mobile device.

Do you own an iPod touch, a tablet or a smart phone with wireless capabilities? Will you have access to a wireless internet connection on your travels? Then you may be able to rig your device to send free SMS and calls over the internet. If you'll mostly be making calls or sending SMS to other US numbers, then you may want to download the textfree app from Pinger. Now available for the iPod touch, the iPad, the iPhone, Android and the Web, users can send SMS to US numbers for free no matter where they are in the world. While originally textfree could only be used to send SMS, it is now possible to make and receive calls through this app, with many calls (incoming and textfree to textfree) being completely free!

Other apps that allow users to similarly send free SMS and/or calls over a wireless connection include: Talkatone, textPlus, and TigerText.

It is also possible to use Skype on your mobile device. Any calls placed to another Skype user that is signed in to their Skype account, will be free! (All Skype calls placed to mobile numbers or landlines however, will be charged usual rates) Get the Skype mobile app for free here (iPod touch & iPhone) and here (Android).

5.) If all else fails, there's always the classic pay phone + international calling card combo.

Depending on where you're traveling, you may save money or get a card with significantly better calling rates if you buy the calling card online or ahead of time. --But then again you may not. Check out this guide to call costs at lonelyplanet.com to start comparing rates.

Five Easy Ways to Save on Your Mobile Service

1) At the conclusion of your contract term, re-evaluate your wireless service needs.

If your contract commitment has ended and you're still paying for 1200 minutes per month but only using around half that amount, now is a great time to consider changing your service plan to one that more closely reflects your needs. Many wireless carries do not require customers to sign a new contract to change the terms of their service once the prior contract has ended. So, if you're satisfied with the service provided by your current carrier, this is a great way to continue your service through your preferred provider while still changing your individual plan to better suit your needs and budget. Most of the time, this change can be accomplished fairly quickly by simply calling your current service provider and speaking with a representative.

2) Even if you've been satisfied with current cellular carrier, shop around and compare plans from competing providers.

Depending on the time of year, new advances and releases in mobile device technology, and other market factors, wireless service providers frequently change the terms and prices of contract offers in order to stay competitive and retain their current account holders. If you've been satisfied but not wowed by your current provider's rates and service, start browsing what other companies have to offer. You may find that one carrier offers a better rate on a comparable service plan or device upgrade. Additionally, some companies will run promotions that feature deeply discounted mobile devices for new customers, these discounts may dip even deeper for first-time customers signing long-term contracts.

If you're satisfied with your current service and not interested in switching, consider taking the time to renegotiate your plan for a better rate or additional perks. Wireless providers are usually eager to retain accounts, particularly if they can convince account holders to sign on for another long-term contract. If your provider is willing to negotiate, all it usually takes is a phone call to speak with a representative. One cannot expect miracles of course, but it costs nothing to ask if it's possible to add voicemail to your plan for free in exchange for signing up for an additional 2 years of service.

3) Consider switching to a rolling service provider

If you don't want to be locked into a contract for 12 to 24 months, and you live with-in a service provider's coverage map area and don't mind paying a little more up-front for your wireless device, then switching to one of the Super-regional or Virtual mobile network operators may be a better option than renewing your contract with one of the national carriers. Additionally, many of the smaller, regional companies offer unbeatable rates on unlimited data, email, and mobile web. If you've been considering purchasing a data plan for your service but found the rates from your current provider cost prohibitive, then you may want to consider switching your service. However, if you want a free phone with your service, live in a rural area, or travel widely and frequently within the US, then a rolling contract with a smaller carrier may not suit your needs.

Pros: no long-term contracts, cheaper rates, and plans offering unlimited talk and text that start as low as $35 per month.
Cons: varying customer service between providers, devices must be bought out-right* or "flashed over" to the providers network for a fee, and most service providers usage of the CDMA channel access method making it more inconvenient to change devices over to a new carrier.
*Though buying a device out-right can seem more expensive as it increases the up-front cost of initializing a mobile service plan, it can often cost less in the long run. See item 5 for more information

Here is a brief comparison of three of the most popular Super-regional and Virtual mobile network operators:

MetroPCS
Pros: Great rates (Unlimited talk and text plans start at $40 per month), highly customizable plans, no activation fee for new service and no credit checks.
Cons: Reputation for poor customer service, device selection can be limited at certain times, and limited coverage in certain areas**.

**While MetroPCS is limited to providing service within major metropolitan areas, their current coverage is available to approximately 90% of the U.S. thanks to the fact that populations tend to cluster around big cities (see this map to see if you live within their current coverage area).

VS

CricKet
Pros: No credit checks, service covers 95% of the US***, and Muve Music plans.
Cons: Data and broadband are not available in all coverage areas, most of the smart phones available are lower-end models and the activation fee of $15.

***This includes regions where coverage is available, but may be considered to be in a roaming area. If you have a plan that includes roaming rates, it is possible to make or receive a call on the cricKet network nearly anywhere in the US. While some plans come with a certain number of roaming minutes per month, customers can also add roaming minutes as a pay-as-you-go feature through Flex Bucket or by purchasing an add-on to their monthly service. Check their website for coverage maps and plan specific details.

VS

Virgin Mobile
Pros: No activation fee for service, no credit check, unlimited text, email, data and web plans starting at $25 per month, and the kickbacks referrals program.
Cons: Service does not work outside of coverage area, device selection is currently limited compared to competitors, the only plans featuring unlimited minutes start at $60 per month.


4) If you use your mobile device infrequently, consider changing to prepaid provider.

While some may need a plan with unlimited everything in order to avoid substantial overage charges each month, a person using less than 100 minutes per month or sending SMS about as infrequently, could save by switching to a prepaid wireless service. Though the cost of prepaid minutes still remain higher than those purchased in a month to month plan, the cost minute-to-minute has come down. Additionally, many prepaid providers now allow customers to roll over their balance to the next month, so long as their service remains active. Other benefits of a prepaid service include: no early termination fees, no credit checks, the ability to change providers at will and the fact that they may be obtained and used easily by those who are unable to sign a service contract (users under 18, users without credit cards, users with no permanent address etc.).

Finding the prepaid service that best suits your usage needs does take a little bit of research. For example, TracFone offers 60 minutes for $19.99 (roughly 33¢/minute) that remain active for 90 days even if no other credit is added. Net10 sells 200 minutes for $20.00 (10¢/minute), but these minutes only remain active for 30 days if no additional credit is purchased. Though in this example the TracFone minutes cost more per minute, their service is more cost effective if you use less than one minute per day.

5) Buy a mobile device outright to save money in the long run.

Depending on the next make and model of mobile device you hope to acquire, purchasing the device outright may save you money in the long run. Especially if you outright purchase a device that is factory unlocked, as an unlocked device prevents you from being locked into a service contract, allowing you to change your provider at will to meet your needs. Well, theoretically speaking.

Unfortunately, as most of the large networks in the US use a CDMA channel access, changing networks while retaining the same cellular phone can be more of a challenge. Many providers will "flash over" a mobile device to their network for a fee, but the added cost and time required can render network hopping impractical. However, if you frequently travel to countries that offer more networks that utilize GSM (such as Canada or Great Britain), then a factory unlocked, outright purchased device becomes more practical****.

****Assuming the device is Quad-Band.

Later: You don't have to spend a fortune to avoid sacrificing your cell phone abroad!

Cheap and Cheerful Entertaining: The 50$ Cocktail Party for Ten

Anytime of year is a good time for a cocktail party as far as we're concerned! However, with the approach of the holidays, the new year, and chilly winter months, seasonal reasons for throwing a small soiree abound. This month, magazine articles, blurbs on email homepages and specials on television offering suggestions on how to throw a festive fete proliferate, but some of these suggested menus and decor ideas are just a bit out of range for some us. Still, you don't need to break the bank to put on a nice board of food and drink!

This week we'll be looking at some strategies to prevent a party budget from careening out of control, as well looking back at this past weekend's cocktail party! Ten were invited, costs totaled less than $50.00 and we still had left overs. Stay tuned!

Free International Phone Calls!

The modern world is ever shrinking through globalization, and yet ever expanding through the increased movement of more and more people. Odds are, at some point, someone in your life will find themselves far from home, out of calling range. Maybe you have a loved one serving in the military overseas, perhaps a chum is off doing a study abroad or maybe you're just fortunate enough to have friends in other parts of the world... If you've got people that are farther a-field than your phone service really covers, you may be able to still phone them for free!

--Provided certain conditions are met of course...

Rebtel is a mVoIP service, that is: it's a mobile Voice over IP service. Essentially what the service does is it first gives you a local access number with which to phone your friend (more on this later), and thus, turns an international call into a local one and connects it over the internet. By dialing the local access number assigned, the caller is only charged for placing a local call. This saves a small fortune considering what it can cost to call an international number with a mobile phone (or even a land-line depending on your service provider)!

However, that is exactly the catch: you and the person you're calling are still charged for the call, but you're both only charged the rate levied by your mobile providers of making a local call. Still, within this catch lies your loophole: if you and the person you're calling have unlimited minutes with which to call local numbers or you manage to do your calling when both parties have free minutes(such as nights and weekends), you can essentially make free international calls.

The service can be a bit tricky to figure out first so here's the Cheap and Cheerful Guide to making it happen:

You Will Need:
-Internet access
-A valid mobile phone number with the ability to receive text messages
-Someone to call in another country*

1) Go to Rebtel.com and fill out their sign-up form.
Once you enter your information, create your free account and sign in, Rebtel will automatically provide you with an access number and an SMS access information. These numbers allow you to do things like: add contacts, change your preferred number and double dial while away from your computer. When you sign in, the default page should be the My Contacts tab. If you've been taken to some other feature of your account, simply click on the tab and then...

2) Enter the name and (international) phone number of the person you wish to call
Once you enter that information, Rebtel will reload the Contacts page with the local access number for that person saved in your account information. (Note: unless you text "STOP" to rebtel when you receive the SMS containing the number to phone your friend, they will continue to send you text messages. We are not aware of any charges incurred by these texts other than the cost to receive a text levied by your mobile service provider.

3) Call that number!
Dial the "local" number. (It is also possible call this number from a phone other than the one with which you registered your account. Simply dial the number, Rebtel will then ask you to enter your account number (the phone number you used to sign up for the account) and then enter the PIN you set when you registered; you should be connected momentarily.) If you are placing a free call, the line may ring for several seconds. This is because when you place a free call, Rebtel connects to the line you're calling and then gives them further instruction so that the call may be connected for free. As the line rings, the other person will be given a local access number with which to call you, and must hang-up and then call this number while your end continues to ring. (If the other caller is unable to hang-up and ring you back their FAQ page advises: "Ask your friend to press the star button (*) on his/her phone and it should work without any problem.") Once this is completed successfully, you and your friend will be connected for a free call!

It sounds more complicated than it is; while it can be a bit difficult to time correctly at first, the service is quite reliable with a high sound quality and very little, if any time lag.

If things still aren't quite clear, try checking out their series of brief instructional videos.


Other Features...

-If placing a free call is not possible due to the party you're calling having limited minutes, you can buy credit and place a call at a rate still much lower than what one would typically pay for an international call. Depending on the country and service provider of the person on the other end, rates are generally competitive-with or cheaper-than, the average international calling-card.

-Rebtel allows you to send WebSMS to existing contacts or other international numbers. As you type, the cost of the message is displayed to the right of the text box. Rates for WebSMS are much lower than standard international texting rates.

-With this service, it is also possible to make Computer Calls. Computer Calls allow you to call anywhere in the world and only pay the per-minute rate to Rebtel, with-out paying any charges to your phone carrier.





*While Rebtel offers service to over 200 countries, its service does not cover all countries. Check the International Calling Rates listings to see if your destination is covered and what the rates for calls may be.

OATMEAL: natural exfoliant, or sticky, pastey mess?

The skincare aisle, beauty rags and every "natural-cosmetics-you-probably-already-have-in-your-home" list have long sung the praises of oatmeal or products made with oatmeal. When used in cosmetics oatmeal is called "avena sativa kernel meal" and when used in products for treating skin irritation it's called "colloidal oatmeal". There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of recipes available online for formulating and using your own oatmeal-based cosmetic and personal-care products at home, but one tip I saw over and over again was the use of oatmeal and water as an exfoliant. The idea is because oatmeal is coarsely ground (but not so hard or coarse that it will be abrasive) it is similar to scrubbing the skin with almond shells or apricot kernels. Supposedly, oatmeal also contains some natural compounds that "draw out impurities in the skin". Having run out of the scrub product I typically use, I decided to give it a try. Here's what happened:

1) I took a small handful of dry oatmeal, and ground it with a mortar and pestle

In hindsight, I don't know that this was necessary however, a lot of what I had read recommended the oatmeal more finely if you planned to use it as a facial scrub.

2) I poured the oatmeal into a rocks glass, and mixed in a small amount of water

It was really small, like less than 1/4 teaspoon. The first time I did this I actually used no more than that it was still too much water.

3) Next, after taking the oatmeal paste onto my fingers, I scrubbed my face with it




This is when I discovered I hate the smell of wet, raw, America's Choice traditional oatmeal.

4) RINSE!

The verdict: While, as I mentioned, it turns out I hate the smell of wet, raw America's Choice traditional oatmeal on my face, I still got that nice clean feeling I get whenever I use a scrub. However, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that I would get this feeling from the simple act of washing my face, regardless of what I used to wash it. I've been using the oatmeal scrub every other day for about a week now, and it certainly hasn't made my skin any worse.


So...

PROS
-"All natural"
-Inexpensive
-Easy to make
-Is readily available
-Is biodegradable
-Non-toxic*

CONS
-Smells
-Can be difficult to get the correct ratio of oatmeal to water
-People being weirded out over you washing your face with oatmeal
-Could potentially clog your sink if you were to wash it down the drain. It's recommended you scoop out the oatmeal and discard it in a trash-can or rubbish-bin.

POTENTIAL HAZARDS

-Unless you know how your oatmeal is grown, harvested and processed, like with all other foods, you never know what pesticides or chemical residuals could be sitting on your cheap-and-cheerful kitchen cosmetic. I don't know the exact level this presents in foods used as external cosmetics but like with anything else in life, I imagine there's some risk, but I also imagine that it's quite small.
-Everyone's skin is different and it is possible a person could suffer an adverse reaction while using oatmeal as a natural scrub, especially if they have allergies or a pre-existing skin condition. When in doubt, it's best to consult a dermatologist.



*Please see the potential hazards section.
Cheap and Cheerful is not written by dermatologists and accepts no responsibility for injuries, chemical burns or allergic reactions sustained while attempting to use oatmeal as a natural skincare product.

The Cheap and Cheerful Guide to Drinkin at Home Part 2: 5 ways you can make drinking at home more like drinking in a bar

Last week Cheap and Cheerful covered five ways that drinking at home can be better than drinking in a bar. Still, staying in often just lacks the glamour of going out. The commotion, the crowds, the new faces... they're usually lacking behind your own walls. While this isn't always a bad thing, there are a few things you can do to turn a somewhat solitary evening into a more social occasion!


The photo "Cocktail" is (c) Fibroblast (2007) and is used under the creative commons license


1)Have some people over (Bonus if you can get them to bring over some additional beverages or bits to eat)

Inviting some of your friends over quickly turns your Long-Island-Iced-tea for one, into a little cocktail party! If your friends have found themselves sailing the same saving-conscious seas as you, they may be only too happy to have the opportunity to be spending an evening (or afternoon, or brunch-hour) outside of the house, that isn't going to require them to drop a lot of this week's hard-earned cash. Good company goes well with good drinks; it also vastly improves the taste of cheap drinks.

2) Get some niffty serving wear

While perhaps not an absolutely necessary expenditure, some swanky bar-ware can make even your nightly cocktail seem like a special occasion. Great glasses aren't always expensive either! Many of the off-price department store outlets like Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and Ross often have attractive home goods at discounted prices. Another great place to search for bar ware is your local thrift store or consignment shop. Depending on the store, you may find an even better deal for wares that are much more unique.

3) Serve some snacks

You don't have to put out a huge spread, but setting out a few things to nibble on can really class up the occasion. It doesn't take much at all! A few handfuls of mixed nuts or even just some cheese and crackers on a plate, lend a great deal of flair to an otherwise totally casual evening at home. Simply using an eye-catching serving dish or plate and placing it on the table before your friends arrive looks like a great deal more than it actually takes!

4) Get dressed like you would if you were going out

If you are the type to dress before you go out, dressing for an evening in with some friends as you for an evening out marks the night as an occasion instead of reminding you that ya'll are sitting in your living room because you're broke.

5) Consider tidying up the joint

Make the place comfortable for you and your friends! Clearing the clutter or at least taking out the trash can really improve the feel of a place, your place included. While it's not really necessary to mop the floors and scrub the toilets, it's generally much more cheerful to drink in a place where you aren't staring down a week's worth of dirty laundry, pizza boxes and junk mail.

Happy Hosting!

The Cheap and Cheerful Guide to Drinking at Home, Part 1: 5 ways drinking at home can be better than drinking in a bar

Ever since the crash, it would seem that those among us lucky enough to be considering their options for social leisures, are trying to stick around the house more a little these days. This can, at times, be kind of a drag. One of the luxuries in life is going out: out to eat, out to drink, out to somewhere, where someone else, is taking care of the details. But this can get expensive. While I would never advocate abstaining entirely from going out to dine or drink, I would like to submit for your consideration, a brief list of reasons that suggests sometimes, it's just better at home.

5 WAYS DRINKING AT HOME CAN BE BETTER THAN DRINKING IN A BAR

1) You have control over the playlist and the atmosphere

In the comfort of your living room, there is generally no crappy Dave Matthews cover-band to be screaming over in order to tell your friends how much you wish this bar would stop booking crappy Dave Matthews cover-bands. If you want to spend the evening (afternoon, whatevs) drinking Maker's and listening to Muddy Waters or early Zeppelin or Ke$ha (hey it's your living room fella), all you have to do, is pour the drinks and drop the needle on the turntable. Or plug in the iPod. It's entirely up to you really. You lucky drinkin' dog you.

2) You can serve and drink whatever libations you like

Drinking at your house means you're not limited to whatever varities or brands of liquor stocked by your usual watering hole. Also, you're free to be creative in your choice of cocktail. Do you want a Dirty Frenchman, but your barman is unfamiliar with the term or refuses to believe it's a real drink? No worries friend, so long as you've got the necessary components in your cabinets, you're free to drink as many as you like. Or as many as you can. Whichever comes first.

3) Drinking at home is often more economical

That's the polite way of saying, it's cheaper bruv. For many, this will be the most compelling reason to keep your drinking on your property.

4) You don't have to worry about driving home later

Driving drunk should be avoided at all costs! What better way to eliminate this risk, than by not beginning your bacchanalia until you've reached your final destination for the evening?

5) You know exactly where all the exits and toilets are located

One of the downsides to drinking at home, is related to many of its advantages; because it is less expensive, and you don't have to worry about driving home at the end of the night, drinking in the comfort of one's abode (or one's friend's abode) makes some people more prone to indulging excessively. There is a point in such excessive indulgence, when certain consequences become highly likely if not inevitable. While Cheap and Cheerful urges you to drink responsibly, we recognize that disgorging at home is much more comfortable and much less embarrassing than doing so in a bar. Especially if you puke on the bar.

TALLY ROSE'S TOP TEN BUS TRIP SURVIVAL TIPS

1) Research your options

While perhaps one of the most widely spread and widely used, you're usually not limited to just "Going Greyhound", there are many other, often even more economical options! If you're in the Northeastern Corridor, most major and some medium sized cities have a "Chinatown" bus. These smaller, privately operated bus lines often offer more, if not the most competitive pricing of your options. Also, there are budget lines like Boltbus an Megabus operating out of major cities. Though sometimes more expensive than the Chinatown lines, they frequently offer amenities like Wifi.

2) Approach the bus-trip experience with the right attitude

Recognize that bus travel is not always the chicest or fastest mode of transport. What you lose in time, you save in cost and so vice versa. Also, with more and more people trying to save money these days, the bus can get pretty crowded.

That doesn't mean riding the bus has to be awful! It can be a good way to get a better look at the scenery of the area you're traveling.

This weekend I got a great view of the green fields and forests of.... NEW JERSEY


3) Come early, but expect delays

It's always best to arrive early, so that you are certain to make your
bus. Also, this allows you the chance to get a better seat and make
sure that there is room for your luggage.

However, buses may often be delayed due to things like engine breakdowns, inspections, inclement weather and heavy traffic. This can be endlessly frustrating, but simply being aware that delays are possible makes the occurrence itself much more bearable.

4) Don't sit too close to the bathroom

Just trust me on this one.

5) Remember your manners

Sitting down next to a stranger can be awkward, but it's generally much less awkward if you first ask "may I sit here" or even just "is anyone else sitting here?". It's rare anyone will say no, especially without reason (such as their friend who happened to be behind you in the boarding line, will be sitting there). Remember being mannered doesn't mean being a doormat; being mannered may not even mean being nice. Still, basic manners and civilities often make any social situation more bearable if not more pleasant, and many will appreciate the effort.

6) Pack a snack

This is especially important if you have a long journey! You never know how long the distance between stops at rest areas may be. Also, if you have any dietary needs or restrictions there may not be anything you are able or willing to eat available, even if your bus does make a rest stop. Finally, though bus breakdowns are hardly an everyday occurrence, they still happen! If you have to wait for repairs to be made or another bus to arrive to continue your journey, the wait will be much more bearable if you have something to eat in the mean time.

7) Bring something to do

It is much easier to deal with sitting in one space for a few to several hours if you have something to do. Using the time on the bus to be productive can not only reduce boredom but may also alleviate the feeling that time that could be spent at your destination, is wasted traveling. As mentioned previously, the bus is not the fastest or most stylish way to travel. However, with a little forethought, the time in transit may be put to good use by getting some paper work for home or office taken care of, or engaging in a portable craft such as knitting, or reading.

8) Bring some tunes

Number 8 is similar to item number 7 in that bringing along a personal music player, or headphones for your super fancy phone that apparently plays MP3s, helps to alleviate boredom. Headphones great and small can also save you some unwanted conversations; people are less likely to approach you for small talk about the wonders of where you're going/current events/sex tourism, if your ears are otherwise already engaged.

9) Don't reward aggressive behavior by responding to it

In the event that another passenger or passengers behave aggressively or belligerently towards you, do not respond and move. Move, and alert the driver. It is incredibly tempting to repay such jack-assery in kind, but nothing gives the jerk in question more satisfaction than seeing you riled. This is yet another good reason to bring along some headphones that go to 11. Moving and alerting the driver are not actually required, but I would highly recommend doing both if you genuinely feel threatened or endangered.

10) Be cool and keep calm

The most important thing to remember when making that leisurely journey down the highway, is to keep cool and roll with the punches.

Odds are good that there will be something that does not go quite right. The bus might be on the late side; the bathroom might be broken. However, simply knowing that these mishaps are a possibility, you are already prepared to deal with them on some level. It is always a good idea to consider the things that may go awry during travel, and prepare a course of action. Thinking about such issues ahead of time will also help you to identify and accept the situations that you can do little more than wait out.

Remember, all travel involves some kind of cost, and some kind of risk! All things considered, especially when costs are considered, the bus is not so bad so long as you can spend the time on the road. With some small preparations you may ensure an agreeable, pleasant, and relatively comfortable journey!

THIS WEEKEND: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT

FOOD FUN FRIDAY: I didn't know eggs could go in the microwave

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a rather bad habit. For months now I've justified it to myself, rationalizing that sometimes, I just need to do it here and there in the mornings to get through my working week... Ladies and gentlemen, the truth is I love to go out for breakfast, especially on a work day.

Eating a fluffy egg and cheese sandwich on an even fluffier croissant from my favorite cafe really perks up my Mondays through Fridays, especially on weeks where the days are crawling by because my morning bagel just didn't satisfy. Let me tell you though, I have no intention to quit the cafe habit cold turkey. It's important to allow oneself little luxuries here and there (so long as they're little luxuries you're not racking up credit card debits and overdraft fees for), otherwise you feel like as though you're constantly denying yourself which is a)counter productive to savings because you may be more likely to splurge on something you don't really want and b)no freakin' fun.

However, in the past few weeks I've started to feel like this habit has been getting out of hand. So, I thought I would curb this three day a week expense by finding a cheaper alternative that was at least almost as satisfying. --And I think I found it in the microwaved mini-omelet!

Materials:

-Eggs
-Greasing agent (butter, smart balance, butter-like spread of your choice)
-Microwave safe container
-Fork
-Omelet fixin's (cheese, vegetables, salsa, herbs etc)
-Microwave (le duh)
-Seasonings

(1) Get the eggs into the office/restaurant/where-ever-you-may-work

This may be the trickiest part of the entire exercise. I managed to get mine downtown by wrapping them in a clean dishtowel, and placing the towel-wrapped eggs in a close-fitting, sturdy, glass Tupperware container. Two out of two eggs survived a hilly bus ride and the two block stroll to the office.

(2) When it's time for breakfast, (or whenever you like your eggs) get your eggs out and lightly grease the bottom of your microwave-safe container



I recommend using whatever fat or greasing agent you use to cook your eggs at home. I typically would use a little bit of butter. I forgot to bring some though, and found none in the work-kitchen fridge. In the end, I used a smidge of cream cheese; it worked out.

(3) Crack eggs into container, whisk or scramble with a fork



You'll get fluffier eggs if you whisk them a bit more and whisk them so that you get a lot of air in there.

(4) Add your omelet fixin's!

All I managed to scrounge out of our fridge at home this morning was a bit of shredded cheese and some hot sauce. It's enough really, but I bet this would have been even better with some sliced mushrooms, spring onions and diced tomato.

(5) Whisk everything together a little more

Or really you can probably just gently swirl the container around to get your fixin's mixed in a little more.

(6) Put your container with the "raw omelet" in a microwave and microwave on high for ninety seconds for an egg and a half



If using more eggs than that in your mini-omelet, consider these guidelines (located at the bottom of the page) for cooking times.

When eggs are finished, check and make sure that the bottom isn't runny. If it is, the eggs aren't done yet, so microwave 'em a bit more.

(7) When eggs are thoroughly cooked, remove from microwave and season to your taste with salt, pepper, ketchup, Tabasco or anything else you like on your eggs!

I personally like a little bit of salsa and some hot sauce.

(8) Eat some breakfast!


Fluffier than I thought they would be!

Other ideas:

-To make a lower fat version of this recipe, eliminate some or all of the egg yolks by separating the eggs and use only the whites.

-For added richness, whisk in a little milk or cream to the egg mixture before microwaving.

-Use your microwaved egg-scramble to top a toasted bagel or English muffin for a fairly-satisfying-sandwich-experience.



All in all, my microwaved omelet was a little overdone, but it was far from the horror it could have been. I think with a little practice, and some actual vegetables, this could be almost as satisfying as souffle-d eggs on a croissant, with pepper jack and avocado. Almost anyway.