Frugal Friday Link Up--Uses for Dried Beans

It's Friday and we are heading in to the weekend.
I did get caught up on my mailbox posts by putting 2 weeks in to one. That post will be linked up today.

I've been entering more blog giveaways and hey I've actually won a few things along the way. Last night I made up the 250 flyers that I won in a UPrinting giveaway. Of course I made them to advertise my blog. I got word last night that I won $25 in Del Monte fresh fruit and veggie certificates.

Moving along in the 99 Cent Solutions book, we are up to uses for dried beans. Dried beans aren't near as cheap as they used to be that's for sure, but they are still relatively inexpensive whether you buy them at the grocery store or at the dollar store. In addition to being cheap and a great source of protein, they are great for other things too like:

1. Train a dog. Most dogs hate the sound of dried beans rattling in a can. Put a handful of dried beans in an empty soda can and seal the top with tape. When your dog misbehaves, shake the can a couple of times.

2. Make a close fitting hot pad. Soothe aching muscles with a custom fit hot pad. Fill a long sock with beans and tie the top tightly with a sting or ribbon, Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds and place it right on the painful spot. (I could use one of these this morning on my aching neck) You can drape it around a stiff neck or wrap it around a sore wrist (hey, I need one for my wrist too). It will mold to you, providing faster relief.

3. Prevent a scorched pan. Have a lot of pans on the stove? Toss a small handful of beans in the bottom of a double boiler or a steamer, and as the water boils down, the beans will rattle. This trick only works when you are boiling water for less than 30 minutes as any longer and the beans will start to cook. (I assume this is just to remind you that you are cooking??)

4. Make a beanbag. Put 1 cup of beans in the toe of a cotton sock, and tie a knot in the remaining material, pushing it down till the know is close up against the beans. Make two more and you have a great juggling set or start of a bean bag toss for kids. Set your kids up with a few beanbags and a clean wastebasket and they are ready for hours of fun. (I've made tons of beanbags over the years and the kids do love them. I made them with material sewn over a sock though. I have numerous bags of beans in the cabinet. Beanbag games is a great though for Christmas gifts!)

Now it's your turn. Please link up any frugal, money saving, simple life, cheap menus, etc type posts that you have posted this past week (or today)