Upsides to the Down Economy/ 10 ways to recycle Newspapers

So you've read your newspaper, clipped necessary coupons, decided the path of your life based on the generic horoscope readings ("If today is your birthday..."). Now, what do you do with your newspaper? Recycling springs to mind first, but newspaper can also serve other purposes beyond lining the proverbial bird's cage and using it to make Silly Putty imprints. Here are ten ways to reuse newspaper you might not have thought of.

1) If your shoes are stinky or wet, stuff crumpled up newspaper in them to deodorize and dry.

2) Newspaper is a Painter's Friend. Use on the floor to catch drips, under the paint can and tape around windows to prevent them from being painted.

3) Clean windows with them. Use a solution of vinegar and water (1 part white vinegar and 1 part hot water) and crumpled newspaper. This leaves a film that's resistant to dirt.

4) Packing. I don't know what I would have done without newspapers to pack for my moves.

5) Start Fires with tightly rolled and tied newspaper "logs".

6) Newspaper is also a Gardener's Friend. Shred and add to compost heaps, use as mulch in your garden to discourage weeds and use as a covering for plants during cold snaps.

7) If you are growing tomatoes in your garden, you can use newspaper to ripen green tomatoes. Wrap green tomatoes in sheets and lay in a box. Check every couple days to see if they are ripe.

8) Arts and Crafts! I remember my Dad making paper dolls for me out of the newspaper and making paper mache balloon creations with my Mom. When using newspaper for paper mache, tear the strips and dip into a solution of 1 part flour, 2 parts water to make a "glue".

9) Use as a mat when polishing shoes.

10) One of my favorite ways to reuse newspaper is as gift wrapping, especially for large gifts. I wrapped my daughter's suitcase in the travel section a couple Christmases ago. You could wrap a briefcase in the business section, or movie tickets in the entertainment section; use your imagination. A classic birthday wrap places the recipient's horoscope in a prominent location, highlighted in yellow to stand out. "If today is your birthday..."

Now that you have great ideas on how to reuse your newspaper, you don't need to be the cat lady with piles of newspapers stacked around your house. This photo came from the newspaper the day my son was featured in Tropical Life. I won't be recycling that one-