I'm doing this with cleaners. I don't plan on buying much in the way of cleaners for awhile. I also went through some spices, and I'm using ones that I had for specific recipes. I'm trying to find other ways to use them up. Good tips! Merry Christmas!
In preparation for a no buy January, I did an inventory of what was in my pantry and freezer. There are no particular surprises there, but now I have an organized list. The real surprise was in the bathroom vanity. I have 9 (!) full sized tubes of toothpaste unopened as well as 2 small trial size tubes that I think the dentist gave me. I live alone..... so I have enough toothpaste for a long time...lol
The same here I have not purchased any cleaners I bought vinegar and Dawn dishwashing liquid and then of course my own tap water to make all purpose cleaner.
I've organized my pantry to include a shelf of food items that are close to expiration so I can use them first. (However, I would have used up that cappuccino mix ten times over already!) Going to be hosting a women's group meeting at my house in February and am thinking of organizing a tea swap, because we all have teas we like and teas we don't - so let's redistribute!
I could probably not buy anything for the whole year or more. Do an inventory of what you have.. Eat up what is in your freezer. Use your grains and flours. Bake the bread, Burn the candles, use the expensive cosmetics up, wear the cute underwear. Use up the stationary, Make donations to food pantries. There are lots of struggling people out there.
Hey for your quinoa, you can do 1/2 that and 1/2 rice and it is wonderful and healthy. Great way to use it up. Loved your tips on all these things we have around that don't get used.
I've started knitting hats for the church's Mitten Tree for next year. (It helps to keep my hands bust so I'm not snacking while watching TV !) I found that I have enough yarn to make hundreds of hats! So no more yarn. I also have enough books to open a library ! So no more books. I have so many cleaning supplies that I have to store the excess in the basement so no more cleaning supplies. I also have to remember that it's only me here so I need to stop buying so much food to stock my pantry. Hoping that I'll save lots of money by cutting spending in these categories @
When stocking the larder we think in terms of how many will we use for a week and/ or in a month and go from there. We have gone on to stock items for "up to a year" that are at a good to excellent price based also on our storage capabilities and the expiration date. For those items actually stocked for upto a year, this gives us an additional 6 to 12 months should our estimated usage have been off.
People laughed, made comments, and chittered when I began making stuff a year out for years. It is definitely the way to go and all the more so when the making is as much of a "use it up" decluttering effort as anything else. If you sew and have a bit of collection of fabrics and yardage think crib/ toddler bed sheets, doll clothing, and accessories. I keep to 100% cotton for crib sheets but pretty much any type goes from hard cottons to knits. Some of those "oh my gosh what was I thinking" prints and colors actually look pretty good as a crib sheet too.
I have also started using applesauce to replace all if not some of the oil in baked goods. I had bought this big jar several years ago and I saw it was just sitting in the pantry, with the date of 2023! Like you I have also been trying to use up my quinoa, such as adding them to bean dishes and using them instead of rice or potatoes. Love your designation of "weird stuff" in the cabinets!
I'm right now making up some pasta sauce from tomatoes that were gifted to me, and which I canned last summer, and will make lasagna for dinner this evening. I'm trying to use up all my canned goods this winter. And I did the same thing with apple sauce I canned this fall: substituted it for the oil in my muffin recipe. Love your ideas .
We went on a decluttering driven effort Jan '22 to use up the contents of then toss open containers. By June '22 we became frugality driven to use up what we owned; we owned more than we had realized. I think it wss '23 when we asked why were we holding on to a lifetime's supply of special items for special occations which led to smelling pretty good while dying and gardening. '24 brought some closet, cupboard, and drawer reorganizing as there was now more room and some realizations that we fortunately have enough we csn toss some well worn but not completely unusable items. (We stopped at MacDonlds on the way home from a dump run in our serious diy clothes and some middle school types thiught we were homeless (in a kind way).) Im thinking '25 will be a mix of a revisit of the previous couple of years with the realization that it is ok to toss closet and other items before they have come to complete disuse; after the buttons and zippers have been removed of course. - I have been building a kiss of a wardrobe of sweat jacket type hoodies the past 2 years and i am about to give up on a few older ones that have NO visual appeal; theyve served me well for upto 20 years for the one.
I love to organize my cloths, clean, vacuum, wipe down every drawer and reflect what I have. I also print out my last three months of bank statements and really look at what I can do better. And lastly those dreaded Amazon purchases. What did am I still using daily that I have to have. I love coffee, tea, meat, nuts, books and warm socks anything consumable as a christmas gift idea for those who ask.
When the storm happened they gave out so much things. They let us pick up what we wanted. I picked up this extra, extra large roll of trash bags so that's one thing I don't have to purchase. Boxes of plastic spoons and forks (large boxes.)
Things I am banning myself from buying this next year……teas, coffee, candles, cute notebooks and I also have food. I know there is more and once I start my post retirement cleanup in January I know I will be in shock of what exactly I have accumulated .
I have lip balm beside my bed, on the end table by where I sit, and one in an accessible pocket on my purse. There may be a stray one on the kitchen counter or in a coat pocket. I can’t be without it!
I'd have to say I love office supplies. My mother-in-law regularly gets pads of paper and she has given me so many I have a plastic bin that I keep all of them and I will not have to buy pads of paper probably for the rest of my life, LOL. I use them for grocery list for wish list😊
Yeah, I’m using up all of my extra products too!!! I haven’t bought hair products in a few years with the exception of my youngest son’s hair products. I have a flairosol (?) refillable spray bottle that I put all different leave in hair products (even if it’s not technically for leave in lol) & shake it up & pour a bit more in here & there. Add a bit of vitamin E oil every now & then. I haven’t bought lotion in a hot minute 😂I’m using up ALL of my lotion before I buy anymore. I have a TON of bar soap that I’m using up now & not buying anymore for me to use, bath & body works hand soaps from a VERY LARGE order that I bought about 3-5 years ago… & I’m still using them up. Mostly just using the foam soap dispenser & using up the non foam soap & making it into foamy soap… it’s helped it last for SO LONG 😂 Not buying anymore toothpaste until I’m on my 2nd to last tube. Our homeschool group just made a bunch of bags for the homeless population & I got rid of 12-15 tubes of toothpaste. & still have at least 8-10 more to go through. Granted several of them are for the kid but … it’s not like you use more than a tiny bit each time you use it anyways.😂
I would have to say I kind of went on a kick where I bought some cans of cream of chicken soup and cream of mushroom soup thinking I would use them in recipes and I haven't. I think I might hold on to them for a bit longer and then if I see that I'm not going to use them I may need to donate them. Unfortunately our family particularly my husband is not a casserole person and I know those are more linked with casseroles.
I'm doing this with cleaners.
I don't plan on buying much in the way of cleaners for awhile.
I also went through some spices, and I'm using ones that I had for specific recipes. I'm trying to find other ways to use them up.
Good tips!
Merry Christmas!
Cleaners can build up with us realizing it! It happened to me. Merry Christmas!!
In preparation for a no buy January, I did an inventory of what was in my pantry and freezer. There are no particular surprises there, but now I have an organized list. The real surprise was in the bathroom vanity. I have 9 (!) full sized tubes of toothpaste unopened as well as 2 small trial size tubes that I think the dentist gave me. I live alone..... so I have enough toothpaste for a long time...lol
Inventory can be an eye opener and save so much money! Bright smiles!!
I had extra bars of soap and toothpaste and toothbrushes. I just donated some. Lots of places can use them if they are unopened. Shelters, etc.
💚❤️
I have over 25 bars of soap…
3 big packages of a-tips.
And for some reason I have 4 jars of those perrocini peppers which I barely use 😂
There is extra money in our stuff and you found it!
The same here I have not purchased any cleaners I bought vinegar and Dawn dishwashing liquid and then of course my own tap water to make all purpose cleaner.
Works just as well and smells better!
For sure
I've organized my pantry to include a shelf of food items that are close to expiration so I can use them first. (However, I would have used up that cappuccino mix ten times over already!) Going to be hosting a women's group meeting at my house in February and am thinking of organizing a tea swap, because we all have teas we like and teas we don't - so let's redistribute!
Great idea!!
@@MyMountainHomeandKitchenwe a Swap & shop at work ( free garage sale) it's been quite successful!!
@@rachels9598 I love this!
I could probably not buy anything for the whole year or more. Do an inventory of what you have.. Eat up what is in your freezer. Use your grains and flours. Bake the bread, Burn the candles, use the expensive cosmetics up, wear the cute underwear. Use up the stationary,
Make donations to food pantries. There are lots of struggling people out there.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hey for your quinoa, you can do 1/2 that and 1/2 rice and it is wonderful and healthy. Great way to use it up. Loved your tips on all these things we have around that don't get used.
That’s a great idea!! Thank you!
Was thought provoking gave me some value thank you merry Christmas
I’m so glad! Merry Christmas!
I’m getting ready to head out on my rv trip to Az…can’t wait to check in on your wintering in Texas. Safe travels ☀️
Let me know how your stay is! I have highly considered Arizona!
I've started knitting hats for the church's Mitten Tree for next year. (It helps to keep my hands bust so I'm not snacking while watching TV !) I found that I have enough yarn to make hundreds of hats! So no more yarn. I also have enough books to open a library ! So no more books. I have so many cleaning supplies that I have to store the excess in the basement so no more cleaning supplies. I also have to remember that it's only me here so I need to stop buying so much food to stock my pantry. Hoping that I'll save lots of money by cutting spending in these categories @
I’m sure it will save you money! I think we all have more than we realize. I think I’ve gone through stuff, and I keep finding things!
When stocking the larder we think in terms of how many will we use for a week and/ or in a month and go from there. We have gone on to stock items for "up to a year" that are at a good to excellent price based also on our storage capabilities and the expiration date. For those items actually stocked for upto a year, this gives us an additional 6 to 12 months should our estimated usage have been off.
People laughed, made comments, and chittered when I began making stuff a year out for years. It is definitely the way to go and all the more so when the making is as much of a "use it up" decluttering effort as anything else. If you sew and have a bit of collection of fabrics and yardage think crib/ toddler bed sheets, doll clothing, and accessories. I keep to 100% cotton for crib sheets but pretty much any type goes from hard cottons to knits. Some of those "oh my gosh what was I thinking" prints and colors actually look pretty good as a crib sheet too.
👍👍👍👍
🥰
Love the no buy January
Very Popular!
I have also started using applesauce to replace all if not some of the oil in baked goods. I had bought this big jar several years ago and I saw it was just sitting in the pantry, with the date of 2023! Like you I have also been trying to use up my quinoa, such as adding them to bean dishes and using them instead of rice or potatoes. Love your designation of "weird stuff" in the cabinets!
😂😂😂 Thanks, Linda!
Great inspiration.
I’m so glad! I need it, too!!
I'm right now making up some pasta sauce from tomatoes that were gifted to me, and which I canned last summer, and will make lasagna for dinner this evening. I'm trying to use up all my canned goods this winter. And I did the same thing with apple sauce I canned this fall: substituted it for the oil in my muffin recipe. Love your ideas .
That all sounds great! Thank you for being here!
Good morning Bonita 😊
Hope you’re feeling well with the cold weather.
Your hat reminds me of a hat and scarf I crocheted for my daughter years back.
Surprising how warm a crocheted hat is!!
Lip balms are good on dry cuticles.
Yes, great tip!
Morning Bonita! I keep lip balm, hand sanitizer, lipstick and hand lotion in a small makeup bag in my car.
It is so handy!!
We went on a decluttering driven effort Jan '22 to use up the contents of then toss open containers. By June '22 we became frugality driven to use up what we owned; we owned more than we had realized. I think it wss '23 when we asked why were we holding on to a lifetime's supply of special items for special occations which led to smelling pretty good while dying and gardening. '24 brought some closet, cupboard, and drawer reorganizing as there was now more room and some realizations that we fortunately have enough we csn toss some well worn but not completely unusable items. (We stopped at MacDonlds on the way home from a dump run in our serious diy clothes and some middle school types thiught we were homeless (in a kind way).) Im thinking '25 will be a mix of a revisit of the previous couple of years with the realization that it is ok to toss closet and other items before they have come to complete disuse; after the buttons and zippers have been removed of course. - I have been building a kiss of a wardrobe of sweat jacket type hoodies the past 2 years and i am about to give up on a few older ones that have NO visual appeal; theyve served me well for upto 20 years for the one.
You have been busy!
Leave in conditioner for curly hair is amazing ❤
I am learning that! Wonderful!
I love to organize my cloths, clean, vacuum, wipe down every drawer and reflect what I have. I also print out my last three months of bank statements and really look at what I can do better. And lastly those dreaded Amazon purchases. What did am I still using daily that I have to have. I love coffee, tea, meat, nuts, books and warm socks anything consumable as a christmas gift idea for those who ask.
Being organized can be a big money saver! You know what you have and where it is!
When the storm happened they gave out so much things. They let us pick up what we wanted. I picked up this extra, extra large roll of trash bags so that's one thing I don't have to purchase. Boxes of plastic spoons and forks (large boxes.)
Those are helpful!
Things I am banning myself from buying this next year……teas, coffee, candles, cute notebooks and I also have food. I know there is more and once I start my post retirement cleanup in January I know I will be in shock of what exactly I have accumulated .
I know I was shocked when I started going through things! Money in the bank 🤗
Clever to use up what we have we payed for it
❤️❤️❤️
Preparing for no buy low buy january
👍👍
Those to do list we can do on a no or low spend week or month to keep busy
For sure
Thank you. Merry Christmas Bonita!
Merry Christmas!!
Love your cap. Been wearing them too. 12 degrees here.
Merry Christmas!
Brrrr! It’s really warm even though it’s crocheted!
I haven't purchased a pen in years, apart from some markers. There are free pens everywhere. All of my pens were free.
Yes! I got a lot at trainings and conferences when I was working for free. Now, just the bank has them for free.
I have scissors on every floor of my house and the garage! Saves me from running up and down stairs
I love scissors:)
@jane6517 one pair of scissor in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, in my bedding to cut labels from clothes 🙂
Good morning, Bonita!🎄❤️🤶🏼
Good morning, Nancy!!
Great ideas! New subscriber.
Welcome! Glad to have you!
I have lip balm beside my bed, on the end table by where I sit, and one in an accessible pocket on my purse. There may be a stray one on the kitchen counter or in a coat pocket. I can’t be without it!
Smart lady!!
❤
🥰
I am using up odds and ends of toiletries, cleaners, detergents, mixes, teas and things I have canned. Cosmetics age poorly. Use it up.
Yes they do. You are correct 👍
I'd have to say I love office supplies. My mother-in-law regularly gets pads of paper and she has given me so many I have a plastic bin that I keep all of them and I will not have to buy pads of paper probably for the rest of my life, LOL. I use them for grocery list for wish list😊
I love lists so I do, too 🥰
😍
I have lentils. 2 packages. Didn't no I had them keep buying more.l lol
It happens to the best of us!
Organisation saves$$
You are right!
I prefer physical books as well
📚 me too
❤
❤
🤗
What are shower steamers. I've not heard of that?
They go on the drain while you shower and dissolve for aromatherapy.
@PenniestoDollars oh nice!
Yeah, I’m using up all of my extra products too!!! I haven’t bought hair products in a few years with the exception of my youngest son’s hair products. I have a flairosol (?) refillable spray bottle that I put all different leave in hair products (even if it’s not technically for leave in lol) & shake it up & pour a bit more in here & there. Add a bit of vitamin E oil every now & then.
I haven’t bought lotion in a hot minute 😂I’m using up ALL of my lotion before I buy anymore. I have a TON of bar soap that I’m using up now & not buying anymore for me to use, bath & body works hand soaps from a VERY LARGE order that I bought about 3-5 years ago… & I’m still using them up. Mostly just using the foam soap dispenser & using up the non foam soap & making it into foamy soap… it’s helped it last for SO LONG 😂 Not buying anymore toothpaste until I’m on my 2nd to last tube. Our homeschool group just made a bunch of bags for the homeless population & I got rid of 12-15 tubes of toothpaste. & still have at least 8-10 more to go through. Granted several of them are for the kid but … it’s not like you use more than a tiny bit each time you use it anyways.😂
I think so many of us have excess in those items. It goes farther than we realize.
I almost can’t live without my lip balm and body oil & cream. My body desperately needs it… just like the hair conditioning lol
I guess I’m lucky that I don’t need much of those as a rule.
I use lotion every day but it still gets used up slowly
💚❤️💚❤️
❤💚❤💚❤💚
Eat the chocolate! It ages badly. Old chocolate is sad chocolate.
🥰
I would have to say I kind of went on a kick where I bought some cans of cream of chicken soup and cream of mushroom soup thinking I would use them in recipes and I haven't. I think I might hold on to them for a bit longer and then if I see that I'm not going to use them I may need to donate them. Unfortunately our family particularly my husband is not a casserole person and I know those are more linked with casseroles.
I used to use the cream of mushroom in braised beef tips and green bean casserole before my husband became gluten free.
Gotcha
@@nancyanne5337 hi I saw a great recipe where the tinned soup mixed with cream cheese made a tasty sauce in a pasta dish xx
Step used to brown pork chops then add cream of mushrooms soup simmer til done. Serve with mashed potatoes, the mushrooms sauce is like gravy.
Thanks for the ideas! Merry Christmas 🎄