Free Cheaper, Better, Faster by Mary Hunt

small or have worn-through feet, cut off the part just below the elastic at the ankle. Next, get an adult-size tube sock and cut off all but about 3 inches of the leg part (more or less depending on your child’s size). Turn the sleeper and the tube socks inside out and sew a sock to each leg of the sleeper at the elastic (right sides together). Turn right-side out.
    Kids—sweat shorts
    Save children’s sweatpants, even if they have holes in the knees. When summer rolls around, cut them off and hem them by machine to make comfortable, cheap shorts for the kids.
    Kids—telling right from left shoes
    Put a sticker inside your children’s right shoes or sneakers. They will begin to learn right from left and also get their shoes on the correct feet all by themselves.
    Kids—trade clothes
    An alternative to making your children always wear their siblings’ hand-me-downs, trade with neighbors or friends who have children of the same sizes. The kids get a new look, and the price is right.
    Kids—tube socks save time and money
    Buy tube socks for your kids rather than the traditional type of sock. Tube socks last longer since the heel is not always wearing in the same spot. Get in the habit of always buying the same brand, same style, all-white tube socks, andyou won’t have to spend half your life matching socks into pairs.
    Kids—upgrades optional
    When buying kids’ clothes and shoes, set a budget figure, and if the child wants to upgrade to a trendier brand or style, require her or him to pay the difference.
    Label scratching solution
    If back-of-the-neck labels cause irritation, don’t cut them out. That just produces a scratchy raw edge or a lump, and removes important care information you’ll need in the future. Instead cover them with iron-on bonding tape.
    Odor—cigarette smoke
    To remove cigarette odors from a blouse, skirt, or pair of pants, place a fabric-softener sheet on the hanger with the garment and cover with a plastic bag. The cigarette odor will be gone by morning.
    Odor—mothballs
    Remove mothball odor from clothing by placing garments in the dryer with a couple of fabric softener sheets. Run on the “air only” setting for fifteen minutes.
    Odor—preventing in shoes, boots
    To keep shoes and boots from developing an unpleasant odor, make your own odor eaters. Pour a few teaspoons baking soda onto a small piece of cotton fabric. Tie the ends of the fabric together and secure them with a rubber band to make a sachet. Set one sachet in each shoe overnight. The sachets can be used again and again.
    Odor—removing in shoes, boots
    Stuff some newspaper into your shoes and boots to remove unpleasant foot odor. The paper absorbs odors.
    Odor—smoke in clothes
    To remove smoky odors from clothes, fill the bathtub withthe hottest water available. Add 1 cup white vinegar. Hang garments above the steaming water and close the bathroom door.
    Padded cases for many uses
    Surprisingly some eyeglass cases fit a cell phone or digital camera better than they do spectacles. Even more amusing, some padded cases created for cell phones or digital cameras are much better suited for eyeglasses. Just another way to use “this” for “that.”
    Repairs—collar and cuff turn
    Save money on men’s dress shirts. If the collar or cuffs wear out first, take the shirt to a dry cleaner or tailor (or learn to do it yourself) and have them turned over. It will cost about $5 to $10, which of course is much less than the cost of a new shirt.
    Repairs—frayed collars
    Use an old electric razor to “shave” the collars of men’s cotton oxford dress shirts when they begin to pill. Men’s neck whiskers chew up collars, and the “shaving” actually helps to slow the wearing process. They come out looking like new.
    Repairs—handbags, backpacks, luggage
    Don’t throw out that handbag, backpack, or piece of luggage