One of the first steps to saving money is to have absolutely no waste.
To use everything up of everything that you buy, whether that be eating all the leftovers and composting all the vegetable bits that are inedible, or making good use out of every last drop of something in a tube for instance.
I have spent years now cutting the ends of tubes to get out all the hand-cream, face cream or as in this case toothpaste.
It's surprising what is still left in there after you have already spent a week squeezing, shaking and scraping down the tube for all your worth to get the product out.
Of course I don't want the product to go hard or go off with the tube cut into pieces, so I always cut out a middle section then use the bottom as a top. It works a treat.
My little nail pencil, which was once the length of a normal pencil, is now just over an inch long, it's hard to sharpen it these days, but I will persevere. While it is still there, I am still using it.
All I ask of life at the moment is to live simply, to have enough of what I need, to make the best of what I have ... and to be grateful for each and every day.
What is one money saving tip that you would add in the comments to help others that might not have heard of it?
Sue xx
Same as you with all tubes and I heat jars of jam, chutney etc in the microwave for 20 secs to get the last bit out. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI never thought to pop a jar into the microwave to loosen the contents ... see we are all learning all the time. Thank you. :-)
DeleteMy favourite kitchen implements are a set of different sized spatulas. You can scrap the very last bits out of any jar.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I once thought I was being extravagant buying a lovely, green double ended spatula for over £5. We are still using it 17 years later, it must have paid for itself hundreds of times by now.
DeleteWe must be related! I use the last of the toothpaste too. The last sliver of soap is pressed onto the next bar. The shampoo is in a pump bottle, one pump is enough and when it seems empty, a bit of water will get several more weeks worth. There is an almost empty marmalade jar waiting to be rinsed to add to the next bara brith.
ReplyDeleteI don't do the pressing the soap thing, but I do push the last little sliver into my shower scrunchie, which makes it foam up and I get every last bit that way. Yes, my shampoo, some shower gel I have at the moment and my washing up liquid are all in pump dispensers. Things just last so much longer that way don't they.
DeleteMy never the same flavour twice soup tupperware box that I keep in kitchen freezer. Little bits of everything get thrown in there. The tough outer skin of onions once you've peeled them, nubs of carrot post grating, mushroom 'juice' after frying them, jar washouts, sauce bottle washouts, all of it. Once box is full, tip upside down, lid off in a soup pan and leave overnight. Next morning the multicoloured giant ice cube has melted. Some stock, red lentils, some spices, cook and blitz and hey ho, usually 5 portions of 'free' soup. Only downside is you can never replicate the flavour lol.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, I've not had a savoury bag on the go in the freezer for a while. I do have my fruity one going ready for the next jam making session though. The not being able to replicate something is literally the only downside isn't it.
DeleteCan’t think of anything new in the money saving tip line….but I do enjoy reading how others save and live frugally
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Sorry for putting you on the spot. :-)
DeleteI am with you Sue, all of my life has been about frugality (and I know all the tricks) needs must after growing up in a very impoverished home, even when I earned good money it was never wasted. My partner of 27 years calls me a ‘scrat’ but now he realises that on a modest pension we eat well, live in a comfortable house and can afford to do things we enjoy. I made sure that we incurred no debt, mortgage paid, house in order and some savings banked two years before retirement. Love reading
ReplyDeleteabout all that you and Alan do, you have my utmost admiration. PS our age group will cope with all that happens our way. Jan in Castle Gresley
My younger son used to laugh at all my money saving, especially when it was pennies here and there. When he started putting it all into practice, without telling me, he suddenly realised how much he was saving. Lets just say at 39 and 41, he and his partner are finally debt free and about to buy their first property. I'm very proud of him.
DeleteI use the roll up thingies for toothpaste and cut the tubes of face cream. Too expensive to waste one bit.
ReplyDeleteI used to want one of those, then I realised I prefer my way of doing it as it's just something else not cluttering up the bathroom. I run the back of a knife all along the tube before I cut it open, and this gathers all the toothpaste in the right place. I do understand why a lot of people absolutely swear by them though.
DeleteI don't buy any type of refuse sack. I reuse any old plastic bag for rubbish and the food caddy. A few months ago however, the council changed over to wheelie bins and food caddies .They tried to get us to use a wheelie bin, but we live 1/4 mile down a footpath in a very rural area. The bin lorries can't turn round if they drive up to our house and have to reverse back up the winding track. After endless arguments by email, we contacted our local councillor and she sorted it for us and we were allowed to carry on using the black bags previously supplied by the council, so when we run out of bags that they used to supply, we will have to supply our own, so I will use the plastic dog food bags instead. They will continue to supply the clear recycling bags or so they say! I think I rather enjoy finding ways to do things that save me money. Perhaps I'm just an awkward individual. Essie
ReplyDeleteAt least you managed to come to a compromise, and that's the main thing. We were issued with food caddies in our town a couple of months ago, but we have never needed to use ours. All leftovers get eaten, and all vegetable and fruit scraps go in the compost bin. Sometimes being an awkward individual is the only way to get things done to your satisfaction, I know from experience. :-)
DeleteCutting the tubes is a good idea. I'm always surprised (and frustrated) by how much seems to remain in there after I've squeezed the living daylights out of it!
ReplyDeleteI find handcream is the worst culprit, especially Alan's really concentrated stuff. He can't be bothered to do the cutting in half trick, so I claim the 'empty' ends of all his handcream tubes ... it saves me a fortune. :-)
DeleteI'm with you on cutting all tubes open and I make a lid like you do. It's worked well for years. Can't think of anything new to add to the discussion though, sorry...
ReplyDeleteAngie
We've all used a lot of these tricks for so long, that they are just second nature now aren't they. :-)
DeleteI, too, cut the tubes to get to the last little bit. :)
ReplyDeleteIt just makes sense doesn't it. We paid for the product, we deserve to get all of it.
DeleteIf one pays for something, I am definitely getting the most out of a tube, bottle or can.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Exactly, they cannot cheat us out of all the products. :-)
DeleteOne of my frustrations is opaque bottle like my face lotion where I can’t see how much is left, the pump isn’t bringing any up and the lid doesn’t come off so I can drain what is left to another container. My husband rolls his eyes before when I pay $10+ for a bottle of lotion I want to get my money’s worth. I’ve not tried cutting open the toothpaste tube but I do use the little squeezing tool. Hubs is less diligent and will throw stuff out before I think it is empty. Peanut butter jar is my pet peeve. He’ll toss it when there’s still plenty to scrape out. I use a spatula and scrape it all out to add to the next jar.
ReplyDelete~Carol
I've just switched from a face cream in a dispenser to one in a tube for exactly that reason. Alan is terrible for throwing away his washing-up liquid or fabric conditioner bottles without draining them properly. I fish them out of the recycling bin and stand them upside down until I need to use them. :-)
DeleteJust this morning I combined a couple of containers of shampoo and conditioner. I want to use every bit of product up before I buy a new bottle of anything. My frugal mom taught me lots of ways to use something completely up. As a child of the Great Depression she knew the whole "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" mantra.
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the best mantras out there for us frugal folk. :-)
DeleteWhat a wonderful process, choosing not to throw away things that can still be used. Otherwise, we simply consume and replace things at such a pace that we end up living at the same speed. It is a cycle that benefits companies far more than it benefits us.
ReplyDeleteI do not have a specific plan in mind, but I am drawn to a slower way of life. Buying fruit and vegetables from local grocers rather than supermarkets, supporting local businesses, not constantly buying clothes from large chain stores, and using our feet whenever we can instead of relying on a car or other means of transport.
Still, I believe that even in a fast-moving world, there are ways to live slowly. Blogging is one of them.
Blogging is definitely one of the slower ways of connecting with like-minded souls, and much slower and more considered than the fast world of YouTube. Supporting our local businesses is very important to us in our small town.
DeleteI have done the exact same thing with my tubes for years and like you cannot believe how much is left in the tube
ReplyDeleteBut once you know, you know ... and it's never wasted again. 😀
DeleteI don't think I can come up with anything that hasn't been said. But like you I waste nothing. Before i buy something new I do my research, so worthwhile. Then once you find your special item at a good price, then search for an additional discount code, or use top cashback or both. Before purchasing something for the home see if you already have something that will do the job, and sell off anything you don't use anymore to fund new purchases. Also check Freegle/Freecycle to see if anyone is getting rid of the thing you may need. Buying out of season is also a good idea. Buying Winter stuff in the Summer and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteSome excellent additions, thank you. 😀
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