Don’t Throw that Away! Save Money By Finding New Uses For Old Items
When most of us make the decision to start saving money, the focus is on the actual dollar amount we spend every month. Did you know that you can also save money by reusing old items that you would normally throw away? Our elders knew how to get the most use out of everything they owned and you can do the same. Here are some ways you can save money by finding new uses for old items.
1) Leftover cookies make excellent pie crusts for cream pies. When you have a few cookies leftover, put them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Put them in the freezer for future use. Get really creative and mix different types of cookies together for an interesting piecrust. Replace the graham crackers with cookies in homemade piecrust recipes.
2) Soap chips were never thrown away by your elders, they were used in many different ways. One way to reuse these small chips is to take a large washcloth, sew the edges all the way around leaving just enough room to insert the soap chips. Sew up the small opening and you have and instant loofah.
3) Need to keep your feet warmer this winter? Use old carpet or rug remnants inside your shoes for extra warmth and padding. Trace your feet, not the shoe, onto the remnant and cut out. Place inside your boots to keep your feet toasty warm. This is a money saver if your boots are great on the outside, but torn or worn on the inside.
4) If you have a wooden roller shade that is ripped remove the shade (measure length and width before tossing) and save the roller and slat. Purchase an inexpensive shower curtain or table cloth measure and cut to the size of the original shade. Staple to the roller and you now have a cute replacement shade for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
5) Save plastic mesh bags that come from oranges and potatoes. They can be used when washing items like stuffed animals in the washing machine or you can reuse them to store other fruits and vegetables that you buy in bulk.
6) You can reuse pickle juice. Add slices of cucumbers, cauliflower, peppers and onions to the juice and let it sit for a few days in the fridge before eating. You can use the same jar the pickles came in.
7) Bread crumbs and pieces of all types should be cubed or ground in the food processor as soon as possible before the expiration date. Store them in plastic bags and freeze. Use the cubes for homemade stuffing or croutons and the ground pieces for meatloaf and meatballs.
Finding new uses for old items can save you money over time. A penny saved is a penny earned when it comes to budgeting your money every month. What new uses for old items can you come up with?