Use what you have

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Use what you have
20
Tue, 03-30-2010 - 3:41pm

I love that my youngest son did this. He made up new names for my creative meals.

I always seem to have the wrong bun for hamburgers or hot dogs. Or I will use half the bag of buns one night and the same bag another night with the two types of meat.

Anyway my youngest son's definitions:

Hamburgers with hot dog buns: Hot Burgers
Hot dogs with Hamburger buns: Burger Dogs

You don't have to run out and get new buns! Just cut the meat in half and shove it in the bun.

How do you use what you have?







Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2010
Wed, 03-31-2010 - 7:23pm

Karen,


I absolutely love this post!


One thing I frequently do is to reuse dryer sheets to dust with.

Robyn CL- Debt Support Group


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2008
Wed, 03-31-2010 - 9:16pm
Hi Robyn,
We have just stopped using paper towels. It was by accident really. Both DH and I had been to the store and forgotten to buy paper towels. Lately in an effort to use them less, we have been using dish towels more. We keep lots of them folded up on our counter, and throw them in the washer when they get yucky.
We have been using them more and more, and now, no paper towels for the past few weeks. I am sure it is saving us a little bit of money.





iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2009
Wed, 03-31-2010 - 10:26pm

The "frozen Grape" idea also works with berries and cantelope.

Lila
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2010
Thu, 04-01-2010 - 7:45am

Thanks for the feedback on that!

Robyn CL- Debt Support Group


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
Sun, 04-04-2010 - 7:03pm

We're also planning to take the no paper towel challenge. I've been trying to reduce our garbage for a long time now; but, DS is on a mission! He's also the one to come up with cool ideas to use with leftovers. I'm not really creative, but do try to plan menus so there isn't much left over and then have a soup or stir-fry prior to doing our weekly shopping. When the kids were little, they did call this "refrigerator soup" or other silly names. Love it!

We also use vinegar and water to clean windows and mirrors...so cheap and seems to last forever. We also wipe down the outsides of toilets with it.

Dee



Community Leader
Registered: 08-25-2006
Mon, 04-05-2010 - 7:41pm

I am curious.....


With the extra laundering of cloth towels, wash cloths, etc.

Serenity
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
Tue, 04-06-2010 - 6:47am

Serenity:

I bought a bunch of dishcloths that hardly take up any room in the wash and use them a lot so I'm already sure that I'm not going to be doing more laundry. I do have another motivation and that is environmental. I'm trying to not only save money, but not have as much garbage and I'm realizing that a lot of our garbage is made up of paper towels. We already use cloth napkins (have done forever) and never use paper plates, etc. The convenience of paper towels, and the habit of grabbing one for just about anything, will be hard to break; but, I'm about to try!

I'll let you know about the grocery bill, though...

Dee



iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2008
Wed, 04-07-2010 - 1:14pm

I rarely use

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Thu, 04-08-2010 - 1:06pm
I have stopped using paper plates, even when we go out for a picnic I take the heavier plastic plates that can be rewashed. We used pink and green heavy plastic cutlery for our wedding and we are still using those 12 years later with very few pieces having been broken or lost.


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2009
Thu, 04-08-2010 - 11:42pm

wow u gals are awesome at saving...


i handwash a lot so that my nice clothes last a long time and hang to dry...


i also love to make my own baked goods, ice cream and sherberts


Duke

Pages