here is a useful household tip to prevent salt and pepper shakers from clogging up. All you need to do is keep the salt dry by adding in a few grains of uncooked rice. The dry rice will absorb any moisture present. Dried peas work as well! Also, when they start rattling it's a good indicator that it is time to add more.

here is an eco friendly tip. By using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables, you will save money and reduce land pollution in the long term. And if you want to help the environment further you can buy solar powered battery recharges. Sun energy is free to all of us.

we have a useful tip to share with you. Would you like to learn an easy and painless way to get rid of a splinter? Simply put scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. The scotch tape sticks to the splinter and removes it painlessly and easily. It’s quick, simple, and no more ouches!

We’d like to share this helpful hint today: If you spend long hours sitting in front of your computer working, you can always do some small forms of exercise to lessen the strain on your body. For example, you can move your ankles in circles or stretch your legs out. Wiggle your fingers and stretch out your arms. Not only will this lessen the strain on your muscles but it will help reduce some stress as well!

here is a useful tip. For those of you in dry and cold climates, if you tend to get dry skin, you can lubricate from the inside out by eating plenty of fresh, healthy oils like olive oil or seeds and nuts.

we have a tip for helping to reduce our expenses. The clothes dryer uses a tremendous amount of electricity. Hanging clothes to dry reduces our monthly utility bill, will prolong the life of some of our clothes, and is better for the environment!

now for a home cleaning tip. Lemon juice, vinegar, and cream of tartar, also known as tartaric acid, are all inexpensive ingredients you might have in your kitchen pantry. They help remove tarnish and other corrosion from metals; they also remove hard water deposits, and discoloration and corrosion from metals.

we have a Winter Frugal Fun tip from Shel Horowitz and Dina Friedman. Shel and Dina are writers, speakers, consultants, teachers, community organizers, and frugalists who created the award winning website www.frugalfun.com. In the December 2001 issue of the Frugal Fun newsletter, they advised readers to . . . “Bundle up properly and spend some time outdoors almost every day. The human body needs sunlight, and by getting out, you're a lot less likely to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. You'll want to keep your outside trips short and manageable so you don't get chilled—but you DO want to be out.” That sounds like some good advice!

here is a useful tip that saves time and reduces traffic. If you coordinate your shopping trips, with friends, and neighbors together, making one trip to three or four stores at the same time rather than three or four separate trips, these not only save time but also means that you will drive less. You’ll earn a star for being environmental friendly that way!

here is a useful household tip. Sometimes glass jars are just too tight to open. This can be overcome by wearing latex dishwashing gloves. The gloves give your hands more grip which stops them from slipping; this should enable you to twist off the lid with ease. Another way is to put the jar under hot water; this causes the lid to expand and makes opening the jar a lot easier. Or turn the jar upside down and pat the bottom strongly.

With the cold weather outside, remember to wear your hat and gloves to help you prevent catching a cold!

we would like to share with you a useful tip on how to remove candle wax stains. It’s easy. Just use a cloth or brown paper bag, place it over the stain. Next, iron over the stain area; the candle wax will then transfer to the cloth or bag, and that removes the stain.

here is a useful tip for teaching a new dog. You can begin house training your dog by hanging a bell by the back door. When you want to take your puppy outside, ring the bell. As he gets older, with the innate intelligence of animals, he will know to ring the bell when he needs to go out.

for those of you who are new puppy owners, here’s a tip especially for you. Do you know that a new puppy will often whine because she or he misses his or her mother? A towel wrapped around a warm water bottle and placed in the puppy’s bed will help comfort him or her. Soothing music can also be helpful. Yes, puppies and other sentient beings do love music, too!

it’s vata season out there! This is the cold, dry, and windy season according to the ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, sesame seeds are especially good for balancing vata. Other good foods include rice, olive oil and sesame oil; vegetables such as beets, carrots, asparagus and sweet potatoes. Raw soaked nuts, such as cashews, almonds and pistachios are also balancing during this season.