Read This: Our Tips and Tricks Power Ranking

To celebrate Our Tips And Tricks' 80th day in existence anniversary, we present a Power Ranking of of our top 10 tips and tricks.  If you haven't read these tips, you should.

1. "Stretching" Your Spending series of articles.  So good we compiled them all in a primer.  Follow these simple tips by signing up for an airline dining program, using cash back portals for online purchases, and maximizing credit card rewards.  A recent study conducted by OurTipsAndTricks.com shows that not following these tips costs American consumers $3.5 billion per year.*
2. Replace Your Incandescent Light Bulbs with LEDs.  Good long-term, home investment tip.  Depending on how many bulbs you replace, the decrease in your energy bill can be noticeable.
3. Hang Ikea Ribba Frames Easily.  Genius, original Our Tips and Tricks fix to a problem.  Gets a lot of love via Google searches.
4. Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven.  Fantastic toaster oven.
5. Target REDcard Debit Card.  Save 5% on all Target purchases without a hard credit inquiry.
6. Let's Dish.  Includes an exclusive, Our Tips and Tricks coupon code for $10 off and free cookies.
7. Tips for Home Improvement Projects.  Some good stuff here.  Learn from my mistakes.
8. Window Blinds from SelectBlinds.com.  A good tip that should have been included in the original top tips for home improvement projects.  
9. Avoid Credit Card Annual Fees.  Too many people I know needlessly pay their credit card annual fees. Don't be another victim.
10. Price Protection and Other Credit Card Benefits.  Knowing your credit card benefits can save you some serious money.  

* Study may have no basis in reality and may be fictional.

Use This: Homemade Household Cleaner

Normally, I'm not one to shy away from using household chemicals.  However, the addition of Baby Ourtipsandtricks has me reconsidering some of my choices.  

For the past few months we've been using a homemade, chemical-free cleaner for the nursery and other baby-frequented areas.  While I can't verify cleanliness at the microscopic level, the homemade cleaner seemingly does a good job and offers some peace of mind.  It doesn't hurt that it's very inexpensive to make.  

I haven't done any scientific testing on this recipe so I recommend doing a little more research to make an educated decision before using it.  Keep in mind the active ingredient in the recipe, white vinegar, is acidic and may harm some surfaces like those that are painted.  

Homemade Cleaner Recipe

It couldn't be easier.

Ingredients

• Spray bottle
• Tap water
• White vinegar
• Essential oil (I prefer lemongrass, but other options are available)

Instructions

1. Add 2 cups of tap water to your spray botttle
2. Add 1 cup of white vinegar
3. Add 3 drops of your essential oil to mask the vinegar smell
4. Shake

Your homemade cleaner is now ready to use.  You can add more drops of the essential oil if the smell isn't strong enough, but keep in mind a little goes a long way with that stuff. 

Guest Adviser: Make Your Own Seasonings, Rubs, and Spice Blends

If all goes as planned, Sundays will be reserved for a Guest Adviser's Tips and Tricks.  First up is Bob, with his tips on making your own seasonings, rubs, and spice blends.  Please give the man a warm welcome.  He's shy.  

Bob's Tips and Tricks:  We usually make our own spice mixes instead of buying pre-made seasoning packets.  This is helpful for a number of reasons:

1. It's cheaper.
2. Recipes can be adjusted for allergies, medical conditions, and taste.
3. Mixes can be stored for multiple uses in ziplock bags, small containers, or my favorite, plastic deli meat containers (washed and re-used).
4. You control the spiciness (is this even a word?).
5. Less odd chemical additives.
6. It's cheaper.

Some example links to rub and seasoning recipes are listed below.  These are not my recipes and my hat is off to the original authors who put them together.  I have successfully used these exact recipes or variations of them for years:

• Taco Seasoning
• Steak Seasoning [editor's note: I can't wait to try this]

Most rub and seasoning recipes are nothing more than combinations of spices that you can mix at home with your own ingredients.  These spices can be bought online for additional savings if you're feeling froggy.  I have used the following site, but there are many like it:

• Spices for Less

One note of caution:  Spices are light and often ordered by weight. Be careful or you can wind up with enough bay leaves to last several hundred years for a very reasonable price.  Ask me how I know…

Cook This: Homemade Corned Beef

Who doesn't enjoy a good corned beef sandwich?  Today, I'm happy to share a homemade corned beef recipe I've been using for a few months.  After your corned beef is baked and sliced, add some Russian dressing, Swiss/Muenster cheese, and cole slaw on rye for a Reuben or just slap some slices on two pieces of bread with some mustard.  It couldn't be easier and it's about a third of the cost of store-bought corned beef from the deli.  You'll also get that do-it-yourself satisfaction.

Ingredients:

• Approx 2lbs of Corned Beef Brisket (thin cut) - $3.79 a pound at BJ's
• Mustard (Dijon or Brown) - I use whatever I have in the fridge
• Brown sugar

Photo of Corned Beef Package Bought from BJs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Remove corned beef brisket from its packaging and lay it on a piece of tin foil, fatty side up. You can first rinse the beef under water if you want.
3. Spread chosen mustard on top of the fat.  Be as generous as you want.
4. Sprinkle brown sugar on top of the mustard.  Again be generous.
5. Tightly wrap brisket in tin foil.  Place foiled brisket on top of a baking pan (juices will  leak from the foil).
6. Place in oven, with fatty side still up.  Cook for 2.5 hours.
7. After 2.5 hours, open tin foil and broil top of brisket for 2 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and let brisket cool for 10-15 minutes.
9. Slice beef and make a sandwich!