(Bernie Carr) Everything is has gotten so expensive lately so I am trying to find more ways to save money. Even though I already consider myself frugal, there is always room for improvement. I recently started reusing some items I would have previously thrown away. Here is a list 10 items:
Related 13 Brilliant Uses for Used Coffee Grounds
by Bernie Carr, January 3rd, 2022
Parchment paper
I use parchment paper for baking to save time and I used to think they were good for one use only. I happened to notice the Reynold’s Parchment Paper box says “reuse up to 3X.” After baking cookies one day, I saved the parchment paper and reused it the next time I baked bread rolls. They worked just fine. As long as the food slides off and is not sticky, the parchment paper can be reused three or four times.
Plastic bottles
- Squeeze bottles: Wash ketchup and mustard containers thoroughly and reuse for a variety of purposes. One use that comes to mind is for measuring pancake batter. I really like Sriracha bottles: I kept one to store cooking oil for a camping trip, and I have another one that I use for homemade dressings.
- Parmesan cheese container: Wash and dry the container before reusing. I use one to store baking soda so I can easily sprinkle it on the sink or pots and pans for scouring.
- Spray bottles: Once the Windex bottle is empty, I just buy refills which cost a lot less. Or, clean the spray bottle thoroughly and refill with vinegar to make an all-natural cleanser.
Aluminum foil
I reuse aluminum foil for storing food, as long as they never touched raw meat or eggs. Here are a few other re-uses for aluminum foil:
- Sharpen scissors by cutting a couple of layers of aluminum foil. Repeat at least five times and your scissors will be sharper.
- Ball up used foil and use it to clean pots and pans.
- Tightly balled up foil also make great cat toys. Just make sure your cat doesn’t try to unravel it and eat it.
- Place a flat piece of used foil on the bottom of your oven to catch drips when baking pies.
- Cat’s don’t like to step on aluminum foil. Reuse a piece of foil by lining chairs or tables to keep your cat out of certain areas.
Glass bottles
Glass bottles with tight fitting lids can be reused to store leftovers, sauces, spices, seeds, dried herbs and many other items.
I repurposed a wine bottle instead of buying a rolling pin.
Paper bags
Used paper grocery bags are great for book covers.
One of my readers told me she used paper bags to drain oil from fried foods instead of using paper towels.
Re-sealable bags
Everyone has used resealable bag (such as Zip-lock bags); yes, I have a box and I reuse them over and over. The only ones I don’t reuse are the ones that previously had raw meat stored in them. I have a few gallon sized bags made by HEB Texas Tough that have lasted for three years.
If you don’t buy bags, save the ones that previously contained products such as tortillas. The best ones are the mylar bags that are resealable, such as the ones for Panko crumbs.
Eyeglasses frames
My eye prescription changes every couple of years.To save money, reuse the old frames and just swap the lenses with the current prescription. Or, have some prescription sunglasses made with the old ones.
Hand soap pump dispenser
I save hand soap pump dispensers and reuse them by filling them with hand soap or just dishwashing liquid mixed with water. I made foaming hand soap for the bathroom and kitchen sinks.
Onion mesh bags
I save onion mesh bags once they’re empty. They make good scrubbers for pots and pans. You can also use them to scrub bugs off your windshield or as a mesh cover for small plants to protect them from birds.
Coffee grounds
Last but not least, I save coffee grounds to use as odor control instead of baking soda. Leave them in a bowl to dry first, or they will get moldy. To freshen your fridge, just place used coffee grounds in a glass bottle, punch holes in the lid and store in the corner of your refrigerator. Sprinkle coffee ground directly on smelly containers such as pickle jars or even 5-gallon buckets and let it sit for a few days. The coffee grounds will absorb any remaining odors. For more uses for coffee grounds, click here. Bonus tip: Here are some ways to reuse tea bags.
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Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Bernie’s latest e-book, FRUGAL DIY has just been released on Amazon. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.
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