If you've got pets, you are going to love today's first reader tip that combines creativity with recycling. Even if you don't have pets of your own, it is a great gift idea for someone who does have animals.

THIRSTY PETS. I had a trainer give me the following tip for carrying water along for your animals. Take two plastic milk jugs that are exactly the same. Cut out the bottom of one jug to make a bowl about 4 inches deep, and fill the remaining jug with water. When your pet is thirsty, fill the bowl with the water from the jug. To store, slip the makeshift bowl under the jug full of water. Now you have a traveling water container and a bowl for your animals. -- Karla F., Illinois

UNIQUE WEDDING SPOT. I read your recent column on services provided by local libraries. Our new downtown library has beautiful architecture, and it is a common site for weddings! They even provide a conference room for receptions. I hope this will help people find wedding spots in their cities. -- Melissa B., e-mail

MORE NUTRITION. If you want to make potato salad a bit more nutritious, serve it on some dark-green lettuce, such as romaine. -- Naomi L., e-mail

FLOOR SOLUTION. Here's a great recipe for a laminate floor cleaner, recommended to me by a floor installer: Mix equal parts of rubbing alcohol, white vinegar and water plus three small squirts of dishwashing liquid. My floors never have looked better! -- Ann P., Illinois

SAVE ON INSURANCE. I recently changed jobs from one for which I drove about 250 miles a week to one to which I can commute by train. Because I am driving only about 50 miles a week now, I called my insurance company to change my status from a "commuter" to a "pleasure driver." This change lowered my insurance costs by $120 a year. It may not work in every case, but when it does, it's a nice little surprise! -- Robin H., e-mail

STEADY THAT BOWL. I use one of those jar-top-remover grip pads to put under a bowl or plate for my 2-year-old, who is learning to eat independently. The plate or bowl won't move as he shovels and scoops around to get food. -- Emily F., Georgia

QUICK PAN GREASER. When baking with butter, my mother taught me to save the wrapper from the stick and use it to grease the pan you're about to use for baking. You also can save it in a zip-lock bag for the next time you bake. -- Leslie, Ohio

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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