Spare Change
There’s more than one way to make your money work for you: Just check out these savvy around-the-house ideas for loose change
1. Hang a Cabinet Door
Before fastening hinges to a cabinet, ensure there’ll be enough clearance along the bottom for the door to swing freely by resting it on a nickel during installation.
2. Tighten a Screw
A dime is just the right width to drive a standard slotted screw, making it a thrifty stand-in for a flathead screwdriver.
3. Space Tile
When setting tile, place pennies on end between the corners of each piece for spacers that are easy to remove.
4. Temporarily Fix a Wobble
Set a coin or two under the short leg of a shaky table to keep it from rocking until you can come up with a more permanent fix.
5. Straighten Drapes
Instead of spending on store-bought drapery weights, tuck some pennies inside the bottom hem of wayward curtains to encourage them to hang evenly.
6. Make a Doorstop
For a weight that’ll keep a door open, empty a few handfuls (or a large jar) of pennies into a small canvas bag and tie it closed with colorful ribbon or twine. Total cost: under $10.
7. Test Tire Treads
Place a quarter upside down in one of the grooves. If it just touches George Washington’s head, the tread’s depth is only 1/8 inch, and it’s probably time for a new tire.
8. Pop a Top
Slip a quarter under the snap-on lid of plastic containers, such as those that hold epoxy, patching compound, and drywall, to help pry them open.
9. Take a Quick Measurement
Don’t have a ruler on hand? A quarter’s diameter is just under 1 inch; a penny’s is exactly 3/4 inch.
10. Fluff Carpet
Steam indents made by furniture, then scrape the edge of a coin across the pile to revive it.