I was reprimanded in the supermarket recently. Seems I strayed too far from my shopping cart. A self-appointed pocketbook cop gave me a talking to regarding the danger of leaving my handbag unprotected in the seat designed for children. I felt a bit chagrined, to be truthful, as if I needed to apologize to her. She was right, of course, and I'm fortunate no one ripped me off. Too bad I hadn't heard from our first reader before that. I might have been able to show her a clever precaution.

PURSE PROTECTION. When I go shopping at stores that have carts with straps for toddlers, I always connect the straps through my purse. That way if someone really wanted to take my purse, he would have to take the whole cart and the contents in it with him. I have seen so many ladies leave their purses in unattended carts. -- Jane M., e-mail

SHAMPOO WASH. In reference to a reader who asked about hair spray buildup on vinyl flooring in her bathroom, I offer this solution: shampoo! Because it's made to get hair spray buildup out of your hair, it can do the same for your floor. You can make a mixture of shampoo and water or rub the shampoo on with a cloth and then scrub with a brush and water. It's worked for me! -- Jennifer I., e-mail

MINI WASHING MACHINE. When washing small delicate items that would be unsafe to put in the washing machine, such as pantyhose or baby mittens, try putting them in a Mason jar filled with detergent and water. Secure the lid, and shake vigorously until you've got a nice clean look. -- Mia B., e-mail

CREATIVE CAMPING. I raised five campers. My husband would buy beer that came in heavy cardboard boxes with tightfitting lids. We saved these boxes and used them as suitcases when we camped. They fit on the floor of our camper while we were driving. Then we'd stack them when we got to the campground, three high along the inside wall of the camper. One time, a lady looked inside and said to my husband, "My, someone likes his beer!" We painted the boxes and decorated them after that! -- Shirley, Pennsylvania

SENSIBLE RECYCLING. I use the clean backs of used paper to print receipts, coupons, recipes, etc. I just make sure that no personal info is on the other side of items that I will be passing on. Junk mail is a great source of paper, and by using it, I'm reducing my trash at the same time. -- Carolyn N., Florida

If you like these tips, you would love Mary's booklet "Great Reader Tips, Volume 2," which is filled with ideas from Mary's most dedicated readers. Check it out at the Debt-Proof Living bookstore, at www.DebtProofLiving.com, or send $6 to Great Reader Tips c/o Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723-8135.

Do you have a tip for 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.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.