I have a relatively new car. Okay, new to me. My last vehicle died a slow death so to end up with something that actually worked, and wasn't stick shift was wonderful! Here's a story to tell you a little bit about my car...
So, I went to a local retail store, and realized I was incredibly thirsty when I got there. I stopped at the little in-store restaurant, and picked up a soda. After leaving the store, I put the cup in my cup holders. Now, I forgot to bring it in with me, and the next day I go out to my car and the 1/2 full cup of soda had leaked out of the bottom of the paper cup!!! No big deal, right? Just wipe the area down. WRONG. My cup holders sit right above my shifting unit. Every last drop of that pop seeped into the area where I shift.
I could barely shift that morning, or any subsqeuent mornings when my car was cold, but by mid-day it was better because the sticky pop had warmed up. I really didn't want to take it to the dealership because I knew they'd charge me too much. I decided to take it upon myself, and Googled. I came across an article that suggested using rubbing alcohol to fix the shifting unit. I went to the store, and bought a big bottle of it, and decided to give it a whirl. It makes complete sense. The alcohol eats away the sugar. And I wasn't too concerned that it would hurt that area of my car because of how quickly alcohol evaporates.
I poured it down the shifting unit, and shifted back and forth several times. It was a night and day difference! I tried it a few more times later in the week because there were still some sticky areas. Now, it's completely fixed! And it only cost me a little time, and a few dollars!
Do you have a thrifty car tip?
Please feel free to share it below!
P.S. I am no car expert, and I don't endorse this fix by any means. I just know it worked for my purposes.
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Have you been wanting a new piece of furniture? Say, a new couch, or dining room table? I did. Let me tell you about our "old couch" before I tell you about my frugal deal. Both our couch & love seat are hand-me-downs. Don't get me wrong. I'd take a gently used item over paying full price for a new item any day. I don't mind that the item has been used as long as it is in good shape. Well, our couch is probably 10+ years old. And when you sit on the middle cushion you sink in because it has structurally fallen apart there. And it is a narrow couch. There is no way both Mr. Frugal and I can sit/lay on it together comfortably. So we would take turns using the couch when we watched movies. Oh, AND Mr. Frugal is 6'2'', and his legs hang off the edge of the couch. Not fun. 
Well, we ended up scoring a GREAT deal on furniture. A couple of friends of ours just got married. They're moving out of state, and were trying to sell their furniture on Craiglist. I inquired about the price, and they were selling the oversized chair w/ ottoman, and couch for $150! It was a no brainer! The items are gently used, but structurally they are in great shape! I plan to buy some colorful small pillows, and a new throw to spruce up the set. I will probably spend $25 on those. So, for $175 total, I picked up a 7' long couch that Mr. Frugal and I can both lay on for movie time, and an over-sized chair that I call his "man chair."
