Use It Up ...............

 Howdy all.  Hope you are all well and safe and warm.

Today we are going to talk about using it up!  We have all heard the saying - use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!  Well, it really is a good way to live.  Not only does it teach us how to be good stewards of what we have, but it saves a little money and helps the environment.  It also just makes sense!  If we stretch things to the max and get every ounce of use from them, we are also stretching our dollars.

I know we have talked out this before, but reminders are always good and maybe someone new will see something they never thought of.  We are here to teach and help - hopefully this helps.

I believe this saying with all my heart.  We have no way of knowing what tomorrow will bring, what life may dump upon us, how our finances can change - it is all uncertain.  Knowing what to do IF it happens is important.  I like knowing that I have 'practiced' all along the way and that I will be OK.  

We talk about stretching food a lot.  There is so much you can do with food and leftovers and bits and pieces.  You just need to get creative.

Those bones from any type of meat - can be cooked in a big pot of water to make great stock.  You can also throw in all those scraps from veggies - to enhance it.  Freeze or can this - and you have fully natural broth/stock to use in your cooking!

Whatever is left after that can be composted or dried and ground into free garden nutrients.

Use those leftovers in different ways.  Leftover veggies/meat can be made into soups, casseroles, stir fry, fried rice, added to pasta or rice - the list is endless.  Shoot, unless highly seasoned, you can even make pet food.

Oranges or citrus - it isn't just for eating!  Eat the fruit, juice the fruit - lots of vitamin C.  BUT you can use the peels as well.  You can zest and freeze for special recipes.  You can candy it and eat - that stuff is expensive to buy.  Candied peels not only taste good to eat - but it is great in hot tea or coffee or a warm cup of cider.  It can be used in potpourri.  You can use the peels for a great smelling natural cleaner (also helps keep ants away).  You can compost.  The fruit that just keeps giving.

Water!!!  Yep, you can use it again!  If you are cooking pasta or veggies - you can use that water (strained) to water plants.  It contains lots of nutrients.  Now if you use salt or vinegar in your water - you don't want to water plants - but you can pour over compost or you can pour on weeds.  Keep that water that just 'goes down the drain' when showering (or warming water to do dishes).  Keep a bucket in the shower to catch it.  Free water for plants, bird baths, pets, flushing, cleaning etc.  I dump my scalding canning water on weeds outside - it kills them quickly (plus it has vinegar in  it).

Some places have water troubles - it is good to use it in another way.

If you are throwing away clothes that cannot be donated - use what you can.  I keep buttons and good zippers.  Also, elastic.  You can cut those items up and use for rags for cleaning.  Keeps us from using so much paper.  Grandma always had a button box - so did mom - guess what?  I do too!!!  We should all keep those odd and end buttons - they can replace one on clothing or they can be used in crafts.  SO handy.

Baskets - they are pretty and they can contain about anything.  Books, kitchen towels, napkins, TP, crafts, spices, plants, toys, anything you can think of.  Depending on how big they are - they can hold throws.

                                                                           Pet toys!

                                  Any shape or size - can be used in some way.  Get creative.

Your baskets don't have to be just the pretty ones.  Keep those baskets from farm markets or orchards.  They can be turned in handy garden aides (carry your garden picks), or they can hold packets of seasonings.  They can carry items from basement or pantry to kitchen or other rooms.  They can be turned into gifts.

I have gifted more items in baskets than I can count.  I generally place a couple (thrifted) checkered napkins in the baskets (hanging over sides) - then fill with home canned goods or make a spaghetti dinner basket, pizza bake baskets, home baked goods, coffee/tea baskets, etc.  There is no limit!!

Old towels can be cut, and edges sewn to make wash cloths.  They can be used for pet bedding, They can be used as rags.

We could go on and on today - but I will stop for now.  There are just an abundant amount of uses for just about everything out there!  Use it up!!!!!  

A simple life isn't always an easy life - because living on less takes some work and thought.  But it sure can be a fulfilling life.  You can feel good about knowing you got your money's worth out of something - you kept it from a landfill - you saved a little money - and you are just being a good steward.

Learn to live on less now and IF or WHEN you HAVE to, it won't be such a culture shock.

We have become such a consumer driven world - people push it.

I say have self-gratitude for 'what you have' and don't feel the need to keep up with others.

It is all a mindset - you get to the point it is just LIFE - not "oh, crap I have to do without this week"

I will offer some other ideas to extend and stretch more items again this week.

Take a deep breath, look around at what you have, and use it and make it work for you!

Have fun and have a wonderful day!!!