| How to Freeze a Credit Card Posted: 09 Feb 2018 04:00 PM PST Credit cards are a great way to build your credit and cover unexpected expenses, but they can also be a major temptation. If you're a big shopper or are going through a tough time financially, your credit card may be burning a hole in your pocket. To prevent overspending, you can freeze your credit card in ice to make it hard for you to access and use. If you are worried about your credit, you may want to freeze your credit or prevent credit card fraud. EditFreezing a Credit Card in Ice - Place the card in a freezer-safe container. You may want to use a plastic storage bag, a piece of tupperware, or even a cup. Choose an item that will either cover up your credit card number or is thick enough that the number will not be visible through the ice.
- If the number is visible through the ice, then you may be tempted to use the card number for online shopping.
- You could also cover the number with a paper towel or a small rag before freezing, but remember that it will be submerged in water.
- If you have a chip card, freezing it should not damage the chip.[1]
- Fill the container with water, covering the card. Your card needs to be completely covered in water so that once it freezes it will be covered in ice.[2]
- If your container has a seal, such as plastic storage bag, close it once you've added the water.
- Place the container into the freezer and let it freeze solid. It may take several hours or even a day to freeze solid. Once it's frozen, you'll need to keep it in the freezer.
- Usually, you'll want to leave it in its container. However, you may be able to pop the ice block out of a plastic container if you need the use the container for something else. This would be similar to popping ice cubes out of a tray.
EditDefrosting Your Frozen Credit Card - Remove the frozen card from the freezer. You'll need to pull it from the freezer at least 6 hours before you need the card. Defrosting will take several hours, which is the point of freezing the card. During that time, you are able to think about your purchase.
- If you are making an unplanned purchase, take this time to think about how it fits into your goals. Consider why you put the card in the freezer, and if this purchase is justified. If it isn't, you may want to put the card back.[3]
- If you need to quickly access your card, you could speed up the process by placing it in hot water. However, this method will take more effort on your part, as you will either need to let the water run continuously over the ice or replace the hot water often, as it will quickly cool due to the ice. Be careful not to burn yourself under the hot water.
- Place the container or block of ice onto a towel or bowl. If the card is still in the container, then a towel may be sufficient to catch the condensation. However, using a bowl will ensure that all water runoff is collected inside a container.
- Wait several hours for the ice to melt. Most cards will be ready to use in a few hours, but plan for the defrosting to take at least 6. Some people prefer to pull their card out the night before they plan to use it so that it has plenty of extra time to melt.[4]
- Again, this is the time for you to rethink your purchase.
- Dry off your card before use. Pour the water out of the container and retrieve your card. Gently blot it dry using a clean towel. You can now use your credit card!
EditMaintaining Your Account - Use your card every six months if the balance is zero. This will prevent the cancellation of your account. If your card is inactive, then the card issuer may cancel your account. This could damage your credit and leave you without an emergency credit card. A card with a zero balance will need to be used once every six months.[5]
- If you have a balance on your card or have bills automatically charged to the card, then you don't need to worry about inactivity.
- Remove your card from the freezer at least 6 hours before it's needed. Your card will take several hours to defrost. Take it out early to prevent having to postpone using the card because it isn't ready. If freezing your card helps you avoid using it, then you'll want it to spend as little time as possible out of the ice.[6]
- Make a minor purchase or pay for regular household expenses. You don't need to go on a shopping spree to keep your card current. Instead, just pay for a few small items or buy something you need anyway. As you spend, remember that you will need to pay the card in full if you want your balance to stay at zero.[7]
- For example, pay for your weekly groceries.
- Alternatively, you may plan your defrost around a time that you need to make a major purchase, such as replacing an appliance or purchasing a gift.
- Refreeze your card if you choose. After your purchase, don't leave your credit card in your wallet unless you're ready to put it back into use. If freezing your card helps you stick to your goals, then it should go right back into the freezer.[8]
- Pay off the balance when the bill comes. If you want to maintain a zero balance on your card, then you'll want to pay the entire bill when it comes. This will be easier if you only make small, planned purchases.
- Some people believe that paying off a balance over time improves credit, but this is not true. Paying off your card every month is better for your score and helps you avoid interest.[9]
- While freezing your card in ice won't affect your credit report, it will help you manage your spending. You'll also have your card in a safe place.
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| How to Measure Coffee Posted: 09 Feb 2018 08:00 AM PST Since everyone has different tastes, finding your perfect cup of coffee requires some experimentation. Fortunately, there is a simple ratio you can use to make a standard cup of coffee. Having a kitchen scale helps with measuring the ingredients accurately. Taste your creation and adjust the coffee's strength to find the flavor you desire. EditMeasuring with a Scale - Buy a digital scale for more accurate measuring. Although you can always measure out coffee with spoons, a digital scale leads to quality and consistency. Go online or visit a kitchen supply store near you, then select a scale that measures both grams and ounces.[1]
- Measuring coffee without a scale is difficult because all coffee varies in weight. For example, a spoonful of dark roast coffee weighs less than a spoonful of light roast coffee.
- Measure out the water. Place a cup on the scale and hit the tare button to reset it. Pour out . This will be enough for a standard cup of coffee.[2]
- Measure the amount of coffee you will use. Place another cup on the scale and reset it again. Add the coffee beans or grounds slowly until the scale reads .[3]
- Coffee mugs are actually about . Add another of coffee along with the extra of water.
- Grind the coffee if you are using beans. Pick up a grinder at a local kitchen supply store or coffee shop to break down the beans easily. Grinders come in a variety of styles. Blade grinders are cheaper, but burr grinders can grind beans more finely to create stronger coffee.[4]
- A blender, mortar and pestle, or hammer are a few common tools that can be used in place of a grinder.
- Brew your coffee. Do it the way you normally would. Using a machine works well since all you have to do is add the components. For other methods, such as a French press, you will have to boil the water on your own.
- For a French press, let the coffee steep in the water for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
EditUsing a Coffee Spoon - Get a coffee spoon to roughly measure coffee. Many kitchen supply stores sell coffee spoons. These scoops typically equal 2 tablespoons, which is the average amount of coffee used in a standard cup. The downside is that all coffee has a different density, so you won't always end up with exactly 2 tablespoons.[5]
- For example, a scoop of finely-ground coffee is less dense than a coarsely-ground coffee, which means less coffee in a scoop.
- Darker roasts are also less dense than lighter roasts.
- Pour the water into a measuring cup. To make this easy, use a kitchen measuring cup. They are available anywhere kitchen supplies are sold. Fill the cup ¾ full, which is about 177 ml.[6]
- Scoop the coffee with the coffee spoon. Dip the spoon into the coffee grounds to scoop out a full 2 tablespoons. If you don't have a coffee spoon, you can use your regular kitchen measuring spoons. Add the grounds to your coffee machine or French press.[7]
- If you're using coffee beans, grind them first, then scoop 2 tablespoons of grounds.
- To make a mug of coffee, add another ⅓ tablespoon of grounds.
- Brew the coffee as you normally would. Add the ingredients to your coffee maker, then adjust them to get the strength of coffee you desire. After brewing, note the coffee's taste so you can change the ratios next time to make it even better.
EditPerfecting the Coffee - Multiply your measurements for more servings. Once you know the ratio for a standard cup of coffee, making more servings is easy. Simply double the ingredients to make 2 cups of coffee instead of 1. Continue adding ingredients in proportion to make the amount of coffee you want.
- Use the coffee's weight to quickly find out how much water to use. Measure the coffee's weight in ounces using a scale, then multiply that number by 16. This tells you how many fluid ounces of water you need.
- For grams, multiply the coffee's weight by 16.6945. This gives you the amount of cubic centimeters of water to use.
- Add more grounds or beans for a stronger cup. Everyone enjoys coffee in a different way, so the standard cup may taste weak to you. If this is the case, add some extra beans or a small scoop of grounds to your next brew. As long as you keep the amount of water the same, the coffee will come out stronger.[8]
- Use more water to make weaker coffee. For weaker coffee, use the normal amount of grounds or beans. Add more water to dilute the taste. Keep track of how much water you add so that you can recreate the perfect cup of coffee after you figure out what ratio works best for you.
- Experiment by using different coffee. Coffee comes in a variety of flavors, so find the one that best suits your taste. Then change the amount of grounds, beans, or water you use to adjust the coffee's strength. As long as you use a scale, you will be able to make your perfect cup of coffee every time.
- The smallest cup size at popular coffee chains is usually larger than a coffee mug.
- For sample measurements, search for a coffee brewing ratio chart online.
EditThings You'll Need EditMeasuring with a Scale - Scale
- 2 clean cups
- Coffee machine or French press
EditUsing a Coffee Spoon - Coffee spoon or measuring spoon
- Measuring cup
- Coffee machine or French press
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make Cards for Valentine's Day Posted: 09 Feb 2018 12:00 AM PST A homemade card can show a little extra love and care on Valentine's Day. Homemade cards can include plays on language, like puns. You can attach small gifts, such as candy, to cards. Go for eye-catching decorations, like ribbon and fabric, to make your cards attractive. EditPlaying with Language and Puns - Make a tic-tac-toe pattern. Instead of using circles and X's, use circles and hearts on the tic-tack-toe board. Make a line of three hearts running diagonally, horizontally, or vertically on the board. Then, write something like, "You won my heart!"[1]
- If you're handwriting isn't great, you can use stencil letters or print out the words and then glue them onto the board.
- Use a king or queen card. Take a king or queen card from a deck of cards. Glue it onto the front of a blank card. Then, write, "You're my queen" or "You're my king" on the card.[2]
- Pick cards that are the right colors for Valentine's Day, such as red or pink cards.
- Use a maze. Go online and print out a small maze. For an added Valentine's Day effect, try printing a maze in the shape of a heart. Glue the maze to the front of a blank card. Either on the inside of the card or on the front, write, "You are a-maze-ing."[3]
- You can add other decorations to the front of the card to make it a little more festive. For example, you could use a stencil or stickers to add heart shapes surrounding the maze.
- Stencil a key shape onto your card. Pick up a key stencil at a local craft store or simply trace around your own set of keys. Draw a key shape on the front of the car and color it in in Valentine's Day shades like reds or pinks. Then, write on the card, "You have the key to my heart."[4]
- As keys may not lie completely flat on paper, it may be easier to use a stencil than your own key.
- Stencil on puzzle pieces. Take two connecting puzzle pieces and lie them flat on card side-by-side. Trace around them using a pen or pencil. Color them in in Valentine's Day shades, like pink or red. Write on the cover or inside of the card something like, "We're a perfect fit!"[5]
EditAdding Objects to Cards - Attach candy to cards. Candy is traditionally given out at Valentine's Day. Try arranging pieces of candy, still in the wrappers of course, into shapes or letters on a card. The recipient can then pluck the candy off to eat later.[6]
- For example, arrange heart-shaped candy into the outline of a heart. Inside the heart, you can write something like, "I Heart You!"
- Glue candles on a card. Take a few small birthday candles and glue them onto the front of a blank card. Draw little hearts puffing out of the tops of the candles like flames. Then, write somewhere on the card something like, "You Light Up My Life."[7]
- Choose candles with a Valentine's Day color.
- Add a race car. This is a great idea for young children who play with toy cars. Tape a toy card to the front of a blank card. Then, write something like, "You Make My Heart Race!" inside the card.[8]
- You can add extra decoration by drawing tire marks jutting out the back of the car.
- You can also glue or stencil on hearts, cupid bows, or other Valentine's Day shapes around the car.
- Glue letter magnets on a card. Take some letter magnets, which you can buy at most craft stores and even some department stores. Glue them on the front of the card to spell out the name or initials of the card's recipient.[9]
- Choose colors related to Valentine's Day, like reds or pinks.
- Add extra decorations, like hearts and cupid bows, surrounding the letters for extra decorations.
- Tie tiny toy animals onto cards. These are great for kids who love animals. Print out small, rectangle-shaped pieces of paper. Print out pictures of animals online and glue them onto the paper. Then, punch a hole in the corner of the card. Use a small piece of twine to tie toy animals onto cards. Tie animals onto the cards that have the same animal printed on them. For example, if a card has a lion printed on it, attach a small plastic lion to the card.[10]
- You can also write cute phrases on the cards, such as, "I'm Wild For You!"
EditUsing Eye-Catching Decorations - Make a pop-up card. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half. Draw a small heart on the fold, so the fold forms a line in the middle of the heart. Then, draw another larger heart around the first one. Cut around each heart, but do not cut them out of the card itself. On the sides of each heart, leave a small space uncut so the hearts stay attached to the card. Take a second piece of paper. Use a glue stick to glue a border around the sides of your first piece of paper. Attach your first piece of paper to your second piece of paper and fold your card in half. When you open it, both hearts should pop out slightly.
- For an added touch, use paper decorated with hearts, bows and arrows, and other Valentine's Day patterns.
- Paint on a card with watercolor. If you're adept at painting, get some watercolors. Do some free form painting on the front of a blank card. You can paint an abstract arrangement of Valentine's Day colors and then write a message over it when it dries. You can also paint Valentine's Day shapes, like hearts or bows and arrows. When you're done, let the card dry completely before adding any other decorations or words.[11]
- Add felt hearts. Pieces of felt can give your Valentine's Day card a fun, fuzzy feel. Pick up some red and pink felt and cut out small heart shapes. Glue them onto the fronts and insides of cards.[12]
- A fun idea is to use a needle and thread to run a string through a line of hearts. Then, glue the ends of either string down onto the card and write something like, "You Have My Heart on a String."
- Make a jar of hearts. Cut heart shapes out of construction paper in colors like red and pink. Use a stencil to draw a jar shape upside down on the top corner of your card. Then, glue on your heart shapes. Have some of them inside the jar and some spilling out down through the card. Add letters as well, spelling messages like, "Love You."
- Glue ribbon onto your cards. Ribbons can be a nice touch. You can add them as a finishing touch to any of the card designs listed here. For example, tie a ribbon into a bow and stick it at the bottom of a card if you feel it needs a little extra decoration.[13]
- Add a glitter heart. Cut out a heart shape from construction paper. Use a glue stick to glue the full surface of the heart and then sprinkle on some glitter. Once the heart dries, glue it to your card to add some sparkle.[14]
- Glitter hearts can be used as decoration in the above designs if you feel they look a little bare.
EditSample Valentine's Day Cards - Some stores sell a packet with everything you need to make your own Valentine's Day card. They often include red, white & pink paper for the card and stickers as well.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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Sample Sweet Valentine's Day Cards
Sample Romantic Valentine's Day Cards
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