Tomato season is almost over and the plant shown is not the greatest example of bounty but the idea here is to celebrate the rake.
Considering the high price of some tomato cages, the sawed off rake that would have been tossed otherwise, provided a certain “free range” for the tomatoes to grow with ample air and sun space. Leave alone hand space for harvesting.
The small bungee cords never once severed the branches and easily allowed adjusting as the plant grew. The rake never tilted in any direction because the bungee cords were arranged with a sense of balance and the pole set as deep as possible.
The growth of the tomato plant would gradually make the rake visually disappear.
The pole should be embed 2/3 of its overall length to avoid over turning.
So maybe next year instead of buying a couple of tomato cages, for the same money or less you can get the aging rakes replaced, avoid waste and still support your tomatoes off the ground.
Not to mention a refreshing state of the mind for experiencing something new, a witty solution and for supporting the economy.
Category: The Extreme Frugalista
The Best Deals, Month By Month
As mentioned by Consumer Report and ARRP, some of the best shopping deals in the USA can be obtained during certain and specific times of the year.
The list below is a very efficient tool for planning and saving money.
January:
TVs
Linens and bedding
Toys
Treadmills and ellipticals
Winter clothing
Indoor furniture
Sporting goods
February:
Treadmills and elliptical
Digital cameras
Humidifiers
Air conditioners
Indoor furniture
Luggage
March:
Digital cameras
Humidifiers
Small consumer electronics
Winter sports gear
China and flatware
Gardening tools
Winter outwear
April:
Laptop computers
Desktop computers
Digital cameras
Lawn mowers
Spring clothing
Athletic apparel and shoes
Vacuum cleaners
May:
Athletic apparel and shoes
Camping and outdoor gear
Carpeting
Cordless phones
Lawn mowers
Mattresses
Small consumer electronics
Spring and summer clothing
June:
Camcorders
Carpeting
Computers
Indoor furniture
Pots, pans and dishware
Small consumer electronics
Summer sports gear
Swimwear
Health club’s memberships
Men’s suits
Tools
July:
Swimwear
Camcorders
Indoor furniture
Outdoor furniture
Kitchen appliances
August:
Backpacks
Air conditioners
Dehumidifiers
Outdoor furniture
Camping equipment
Snow blowers
Linens and storage containers
Wine
September:
Lawn mowers
Automobiles
Bikes
Digital cameras
Gas grills
Shrubs, trees and perennials
Small consumer electronics
Snow blowers
October:
Bikes
Computers
Digital cameras
Gas grills
Cookware
Lawn mowers
Winter coats
Lingerie
November:
Gas grills
GPS navigators
Baby products
Bikes
Camcorders
Toys
TVs and electronics
December:
Automobiles
Bikes
Camcorders
Gas grills
GPS navigators
Home appliances, large and small
Small consumer electronics
Toys
Tools
TVs
Cabinet Pulls And Knobs
In some cases, rubber plumbing washers can enhance cabinet pulls and knobs by providing better bearing on the cabinet, provide more finger space, dramatically reduce scratches due to finger nails and add a splash of color.
When used one cannot tell they are plumbing washers.
Most of the plumbing washers are black but salmon, baby blue and reddish are easily found.
The washers can be flat or beveled, come in different sizes and some of them will easily buff to a luster with a small rag.
Using these washers will require a longer screw to make up for the added depth.
They can be used singly or as a stack of multiple sizes for a pyramidal effect.
Electrical Tip:
These rubber plumbing washers can also be extensively beneficial when used to bring forward a light switch or a plug in the wall so that they can be as flush as possible to the wall surface to receive the decorative plate.
This problem usually happens when the existing wall gets a “new face” and a new thickness added onto it, thus leaving the electrical boxes further back.
Replace the screws on the outlet with longer ones and impale the washers as needed.
It works!
Plastic Storage Jars: A Closer Look
These days plastic jars with lids to store dry foods are sold in stores for at least $5.00 ea..
Retail stores also sell foods and many other items in plastic containers which come in a multitude of shapes and sizes, and with no doubt we pay for them.
Fortunately, we can reuse the containers of the products we purchase rather than just donate them to the garbage companies to capitalize on our recycle.
The labels usually come off easily with paint thinner, rubbing alcohol or can at times be water soluble. 
The mouths of the jars are of standard sizes and come with colored lids which can be interchanged easily to suit. The jars offer transparency of the contents and keep us neat and organized.
When searching for an item, cupboards with clear plastic jars can be visually scanned at once and render an organized and elegant look.
Plastic storage jars will also allow you to fit more in the cupboards since product packaging comes in all different awkward sizes that do not relate to one another and therefore rob space.
SOME TYPES OF CONTAINERS
Large jars for bulk: 
These are very nice and very good quality large mouth jars good to hold bulk such as types of rice, beans, sugar, flour etc. They were found at Costco some time ago and Biscotti were sold in them.
Tall jars:
These long and skinny jars are made of a thinner thickness of plastic but they are great for long items such as spaghetti. Target sold nuts and the sort in them. They can also be found at the Popcorn Factory and some flavors have been spotted at the Burlington Coat Factory for a much better price. Sometimes the lids are in aluminum and sometimes in plastic.
Shown in the coffee jar is a flexible cutting mat which becomes very handy in delivering the goods with great speed and minimal spill.
The shape of the jar makes it rapidly possible to pour straight into the coffee maker.
No spoons, no measuring cup and all in the wrist.
Hexagonal/Oval jars:
These jars were found at Costco. Both types had Chocolates Of The World and the hexagonal ones had jelly beans.
Both types of jars hold the same volume.
Square tall and short jars:
These square food jars come in few different sizes and heights. Some of them may have lids that flip open to pour, they have built in handles and can be found anywhere. 
They are very handy for potato chips and cereals.
Peanut butter type jars:
This is a very common classic peanut butter jar but it could be found at Target holding nuts.
The plastic is tough, thick and durable. Very handy in the garage to hold screws, nails, nuts and so on.
Cheese type jars:
Found in supermarkets usually in two sizes these Parmesan cheese jars are handy to store goods and food. Their lids flip open allowing pouring or sprinkling.
They can be very handy for smaller quantities needing storage such as sour gummy bears and worms on the go, pastina, polenta, dry beans and so on.
Very handy for delivering Miracle Grow with no mess.
Spice jars:
Many types of small plastic storage jars are in the spices section of supermarkets. They provide an interesting assortment and are very handy for arts and crafts as well as many small items.
The ones shown are the Mrs. Dash brand. The lids come in different colors and the plastic is thick and strong.
Use them to also store the different kinds of beach sands of the world you encounter on your vacations. You will be surprised in the difference in the colors of the sands.
CD Containers:
When the compact discs are all used up we end up with a container that works well in impaling all kinds of tapes we have roaming in the garage. This container makes it a focus that this is the only place where the roll of tape we left behind should be. The rolls of tape could however at times be too wide to fit.
With the center rod removed, these containers could hold other kinds of items.
The CD containers also stack and interlock rather nicely.
Tip:
Samples of jars above have proven to be good every day gifts to friends, highly desired donations to elementary schools or local industries such as Goodwill.
Give plastic jars a second life and help reduce waste on the planet!
Roasting Coffee
Green coffee beans can be roasted to perfection with a pop corn popper. The picture shows a Toastmaster pop corn popper, model TPC2.
Two minutes after insertion, the coffee beans should start popping.
Six minutes from the start the raw beans should be a shiny and greasy brown perfection. The longer the roast, the darker the beans.
Tips:
Roast outdoors. The beans will make lots of smoke and the aroma should be shared with neighbors.
Careful, the beans could burn if left too long.