| Remember when your grandparents said. | | | | would last through that much cleaning, but the |
| This thrifty tip seems obvious but it isn't | | | | point they are making is good. Reuse anything |
| implemented as often as you would think. Are | | | | you can, for example, use yogurt containers for |
| you are trying to save money everywhere you | | | | plant starters for your garden. They are the |
| can? Are those trips to the grocery store are | | | | perfect size to get those seeds started in the |
| killing your budget? Does it seems like you are | | | | spring in your house. Then once the plant has |
| always out of the basics like toothpaste, | | | | come up and the weather is warm enough, gently |
| shampoo, paper towels, etc? | | | | cut the container off and place the plant in your |
| To reduce those grocery bills a little, start making | | | | garden. |
| an effort to use up what you already have. Use | | | | Small containers are also great for young children. |
| the shampoo to the very last drop. Turn the | | | | They love to fill and dump them, stack them, play |
| bottle upside down and continue using it until | | | | in the dirt, sand or rocks with them. Another trick |
| nothing is coming out. Even when no more is | | | | is to give a young child a container of water and |
| coming out of the bottle, some people will get | | | | an old paint brush and let them "paint" the |
| one more use out of it by taking the lid off, | | | | sidewalk, porch, deck, house or anything outside. |
| putting water in, swishing the water around inside | | | | Brings a whole new meaning to "Paint With |
| the bottle and using that. With toothpaste, use | | | | Water" doesn't it? |
| the entire tube. This makes the squeezable tubes | | | | If you still use something that comes in glass jars |
| better than the plastic ones. | | | | with lids, they are perfect for miscellaneous nuts, |
| The manufacturers have figured out how to | | | | bolts and screws in a garage. If there is a |
| make consumers waste more. They make the | | | | workbench in the garage, nail the lids of the jars |
| containers impossible to squeeze or they put a | | | | on the bottom of a board or cupboard above the |
| false bottom in the jar, making it appear like more | | | | workbench. Then the jars can be screwed onto |
| product than it actually is. Some of the shampoo | | | | the lids and since they are glass, the objects |
| bottlers make their lids flat so it is easy to place | | | | inside are easy to locate. |
| them upside down and use all of the product, but | | | | My favorite reuse trick is used when painting. |
| many don't. If the lid isn't flat, avoid buying that | | | | Next time you are painting a room or a house, at |
| brand of shampoo. Look closer at all packaging. If | | | | the end of the day, if you haven't finished and |
| there is a lot of material to the packaging, | | | | are going to paint some more, place the roller pan |
| chances are you are paying extra for the product. | | | | with any paint left in it and roller, and any used |
| Purchase items with as little extra packaging as | | | | brushes, in a plastic bag. Tie it closed and place in |
| possible and also be aware if the packaging is | | | | the freezer. When you are ready to paint again, |
| misleading in any way. To save on consumable | | | | just get the supplies out of the freezer about 15 |
| products you have to be a savvy shopper. | | | | minutes before starting, stir the paint and start |
| Another way to save is to reuse what you have. | | | | painting again. No need to wash them up before |
| Reuse those heavy duty freezer bags. Simply | | | | freezing. This tip saves a lot of cleaning and |
| wash them out with soapy water, rinse and air | | | | restarting. Come to think of it, it saves a lot of |
| dry. Have you seen the commercials where they | | | | water too. |
| reuse a single paper towel and seemingly clean | | | | Never stop looking for things around your house |
| their whole kitchen with it? That always makes | | | | to use up and reuse. While you're at it, teach the |
| me laugh, because it seems unlikely a paper towel | | | | rest of the family to do the same. |