Thursday, February 18, 2021

Trash or Treasure? BOTH!!!

 One man's trash is another man's treasure.  No greater truth.  
We now live in a throw away society, and that supports a "buy it" mentality.  People seem to love folding over those dollars and handing them to someone else - for stuff that doesn't last - and most things they don't NEED - and never thinking twice about it.
NOT ME.  I want to fold over those dollars and stick them back in my pocket!!!!!

There just isn't a lot of ingenuity now days.  No new ways of seeing things and re-inventing them to new uses.  I would rather have the fun of coming up with an new and inventive way to use something, than to add to the landfill problem.  It saves the earth, it saves you dollars, and it's fun.
We all need to use our old noggins a little more - I seriously think somedays that brain power is the most under used power on earth!!!!!!!

You can trash pick around the neighborhood, you can go to junk yards, thrift stores, yard sales or you can use what you have or what nature gives you.  Get creative and inventive.

A few ideas:
  • If you see piles of scrap wood - it can be used to make raised flower beds, bird feeders, animal pens,  crafts, borders for garden/flower beds, etc.
  • Old pails or buckets - use for container gardening - compost, feeders for larger animals, etc.
  • Old clothes - if not able to donate, scraps can be used to mend or make quilts, rags, keep buttons and zippers for repairs, remake material into new clothes items
  • Tree branches down after a storm? - Use for natural garden stakes, make into a border around the garden or flowers (use as fence posts for mesh or screen), use in camp fires
  • Trash bread or veggies/fruit - feed for animals (no mold).  Heck when we had a bread outlet I would get trash bags of bread called "feed" for a $1.  Some I kept for us as it was fine and the rest went to feed nature cheaply
  • Food - leftovers --- make into new dishes, get creative.  Freeze for another day.  Give to a neighbor or family member.  Just don't waste it!!!
  • Old pop bottles - can turn into creative craft items.  I use 2 liter and indiv. size bottles that my neighbor gives me for water storage.  They last a long time and work perfectly.
                             Pop bottles turned into cute bird  feeders - a fun project.
Old jeans and old clothes can be turned into cute pillows, lap throws, memory teddy bears (loved ones clothes) - oh so many uses
Use those 12 pack pop boxes to hold your pantry cans neatly in place.  You can wrap them in old gift wrap, newspaper, pretty magazine pictures or leave plain.  Great extra storage and keeps like items together
  • Even old cement or bricks or blocks can be used.  My neighbor tore up a cement sidewalk years back - all cement scraps were flat - he put them in the alley.  I got several pieces to use to raise up some container garden pots out back where it can flood.  My neighbors got a bunch and made themselves a fire pit in there yard
  • If you need a new item - think about getting an old version.  Older kitchen gadgets are made better and have lasted for years - and will last for many more.  Go to yard sales or thrift stores to bet that stuff.  Don't buy plastic and foreign made garbage that will end up in the landfill in no time.
  • Heck even the TP rolls can be used to start seeds in (homemade peat pots) or stuff them with drier lint and use as fire starters.  Cover them in peanut butter and roll in birdseed and hang for a easy and cheap bird treat!
  • Water - whether tap or rain - save it.  Water is a limited resource and we need to use it wisely.  Keep and catch for plants, animals, gardens, flushing, even drinking (rain if boiled), hand washing, etc.
I could go on for ages.  There is no limit to things we can re-invent and reuse.
The next time you have something break - think about buying a used older version or just NOT replacing it (like microwaves, etc.).  Many small appliances aren't really needed - there are others ways/things to do what they do.  Many older gadgets and tools are better made than new stuff.
Do you really need a new modern plastic bowl or brand new iron skillet?  Get an older version for pennies at thrift/yard sales and help save an older item from landfill.

Patience is something we all need more of.  If we wait long enough, we can usually find a wonderful answer or replacement for something.  Look around and get creative.

You save you hard earned dollars and you save some history and you save the earth.
Trash IS Treasure!!!!!!!!!!!!



36 comments:

  1. My husband and I have been doing this for decades. Now it's more of an entertainment. The "thrill of the hunt" so to speak. Thrift stores, estate sales and yard sales are fun and we meet a lot of nice people. Very rarely do we buy anything. So much more fun than the big box stores/

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    1. It sure is fun! Never see the same thing twice and always an adventure.
      Frugal fun!

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  2. Lots of great ideas. One other thing is to keep an eye out for high-end name-brand items when "thrifting" and "garage sale shopping." My sister does this and, if she can purchase it right, she'll buy and re-list on some of the upscale resale sites. While we were on vacation, she bought a pair of size 10 jeans. I asked if it was for her one of her grands and she said no, but that brand "goes for big bucks on xxx site (can't remember which one she named)." She later told me that the $2 jeans sold for $47 + S&H. Lots of $$ to be made in the resale market these days. Keeping an eye out for a lightly used breadmaker. I'm not paying full price!!!!

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    1. Excellent tip. I know some of our readers do that and make decent money. Let someone else pay full price - give me the discount!

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  3. When I determine we need something, I do 3 things: 1. Post in my FB Buy-Nothing group, 2. Check FB marketplace 3. Hit the thrift store-I have 2 I will drive to within 7miles. If I can't find it, I really have to think twice about "consumerism" and if there is another way to meet that need.

    Items I buy new? Irons. I buy cheap ones. I require steam. I quilt. I tried 2 expensive irons that were supposedly going to last decades-nope. Got the usual 3y so I've gone cheap. Another thing I buy new? Jeans which I find at Costco and have never paid $20/pair. I buy 2 pair and generally get 2 years out of them.

    I wish your blog was mandatory reading for every kid starting at age 15. Wouldn't this be a different world?

    Happy Thursday everyone!

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    1. I think I have had the same iron for 25 years - of course I hardly use it!
      I thought about buying a tea kettle once - but why? I can heat water in a pan. I don't have an InstaPot - I have a crockpot - I am never in that big of a hurry. I finally replaced my hand mixer that was 30 years old with a $15 on from Kroger. It will last my lifetime.

      I really wish there a class that taught young people these things. So much they don't know. I had home econ. and boys took shop and auto mechanics - we had economics that taught us about finances. Nothing like that today. PLUS my parents took time to teach things.
      THANK YOU

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  4. We rarely buy anything new during the yeas when we are able to yard sale. I miss that and hope this year we can return to it. One other thing you can do with old clothes is to tear them into strips and use them to hold up plants in your garden.

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    1. I know, I hope this summer is different.
      Good tip - on the garden supports!

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    2. Agreed, Belinda! My house is almost completely furnished with garage sale finds. I find wonderful decor, clothing (often new or gently used), gifts, kitchenware, bedding, gardening & yard items and more! I have been a garage sale buyer since I was a child and I passed it on to my children too.

      It's funny that we will go to the Goodwill and my children and I will have "sticker shock" because of some of the prices. We have gotten spoiled with yard sale prices!

      Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

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  5. I had to stop going to the dump with my husband to take our garbage. It just made me sick to see all the perfectly good things thrown in the dumpsters. One thing we live by is that if you think you need something new just give the one you have a good cleaning and see if you aren't perfectly happy with it afterward because most of the time you will be. Over 20 years ago some neighbors of ours decided to sell their house and move to a better one. She made the comment to me afterward that she liked their house and would have preferred to stay after they got it ready to sell just because everything looked so nice and fresh. But, they had already moved and it was too late.

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    1. Lana, I have long thought it odd that folks will "fix" a house to sell, but won't "fix" a home to live in.

      We have our home exactly the way we want it.

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    2. There isn't a dump around here that can be visited and probably a good thing! It is just so disgraceful to see all the waste. Don't like it - throw it away. It is sad.

      I have heard a lot of people say the same thing when getting ready to move.

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    3. Ella - good for you!!!! Make yourself happy NOW

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  6. Love these ideas! I'm gonna go back and read it again. I had a thought about what you might try re: Blogger/pix problems. Could you upload these photos to Google Photos or Google Drive? They might cooperate with each other??

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    1. Glad you found ideas you like.
      I think that is what I may have to do - now I just need to try and figure how! Pictures from my previous posts are in a Google file. Just not sure how to get new pictures there - since I can't do things the way I always did. I will get it figured out EVENTUALLY!
      Thanks

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    2. Cheryl, go to your Google page. At the right top of the page are 9 dots...click that. You will see lots of options - click Photos. On the top right is an icon for Upload/download...click that. Then choose Computer...depending on what type machine you're using (mine has an option to choose Photos), you go from there. Hope this helps!

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  7. My husband has to wear button down shirts to work. He has quite a few as I buy nice ones at thrift stores when I see them and they each get less wear as he can rotate them so often. Recently he had two that became unwearable at work. One became a work around the house shirt, the other I cut the bottom third off of it and sewed to the bottom of one of my tshirts that had grown too short to make a new night gown! I then removed the rest of the buttons and put the rest in the rag bag. A couple of days later, a work around the house shirt came up with holes in it after some car chemical had gotten on it. I grabbed the leftover fabric that was a blue plaid and patched the holes in the other shirt that was a blue plaid flannel. The holes are noticible, but better than if I had patched with red!

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    1. SUPER ideas! Good job. I just love there are so many of us who truly want to be thoughtful and caring to not falling into the consumer trap and stay frugal.

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  8. That's one thing I hate about all these dollar stores. So much of it is cheap crap and will end up in the landfill sooner rather than later. Ugh, that just drives me crazy. Don't get me wrong, I go to the dollar store too but for cleaning supplies etc. not for a bunch of cheaply made goods that I know won't last. I love me some Goodwill. I just scored the cutest lamp for my study. And it's something you're not gonna see at one of these discount chain stores. Plus, I saved it from the landfill. Stay safe!

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    1. Yes, people spend a ton on cheap throw away junk!
      I go too, but usually for food items.
      Goodwill has gotten really expensive (compared to other thrift). I have a local shop I like to visit - when visiting seems safe. Haven't been other than to drop off for a long while.
      Love saving and reusing things. Enjoy your lamp!

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  9. I love to reuse and repurpose things. I call my house early attic.

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    1. LOL - that is funny. I like that. That is one I will have to remember.

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  10. I love the energy that comes from your readers! You write such good posts about thought-provoking subjects and the ladies chime in with other good ideas. It is disheartening to see waste. I think that your premise of common sense plays into overbuying and them tossing things or having them fall apart. I guess I would call that a lack of common sense. Another way to look at it is coveting, which the Scriptures expressly forbid. Seeing that your neighbor has something that you would like to have leads to impulse buying and most likely dissatisfaction.

    I agree with you about Goodwill getting more expensive than other charity shop options. Did you know that Wheeler Mission has a thrift store on the Southside? I have been collecting things and will drop them off at Humble Impressions. If we can ever get rid of the snow! ha!

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    1. Not a lot of common sense - so it seems today!!! My Daddy always the anticipation always out weighs the reality of having something. Sooooo true. I am just happy for my neighbors - I sure don't want to be like them.
      We used to have a neighbor years ago that always had to keep up with us. We got new windows and doors - he got them. We got glass block for basement - he got them. We got out Blazer - he went out and got a new truck. Neighborhood looked nice - but good grief!!!!

      The Wheeler shop is pretty nice - it has been a while since I have been in. I need to get more stuff to Impressions as well - one of these day!!!!!

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  11. All such great ideas, Cheryl. I try to do my part as best I can and went on a 'no spend' the first of the year to buy just necessities. I cant' believe how much I saved since then. I use the "want or need" question to myself.
    I hope you have a wonderful weekend- thank you for your wonderful posts. xo Diana

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    1. Want and Need - 2 very important words and have such different meanings. Good to understand both.
      It is amazing how much you save when you stay home!! I have found the same here.
      Have a good one.
      Thanks

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  12. I have the jeans (and some flannel) just need to get to the sewing part!

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    1. I need to get busy sewing too. I just need to make myself get up and do it!

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  13. But I do have to say that my electric kettle gotten for Christmas is probably the best gift in the last five years (and Ihave gotten good gifts).

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    1. Cool - it is wonderful to get something you really use and love!!!
      That is like my Ninja blender/mixer/chopper I received as a gift a few years back. I LOVE it and it replaced several other small appliances - which I donated.

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  14. A woman after my own heart. I repurpose everything I can and if it can't be repurposed they are recycled into something else that could be useful around the house. I save zippers, buttons and at times even elastic. I have taken apart sweaters and reused the yarn.

    Eventually things go into the rag bag and after that if it is no longer useable, I will put what I can into our recycle bins to be made into something else.

    God bless.

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    1. I love it!! I forgot about repurposing yarn - great idea for the crafters. I have saved elastic as well - it has come in handy.
      There are so many uses for things if people just stop and think.
      Thanks for being aware and doing!
      Blessings

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  15. Love this! I've been knitting for a few years. I haven't had to buy yarn, because people give it to me. One lady took apart a poncho that she knew her daughter wouldn't wear. She said, "This yarn will be better in the hands of Laura Lane." I took the balls of yarn she gave me, and I've made several little hats for charity and am now making a pair of mittens.

    I'd like to share this in my next Weekend Reading post at Harvest Lane Cottage. It will be on February 26 or 27th.

    Let me know if you'd rather I not share the link.
    God bless!
    Laura Lane
    Harvest Lane Cottage

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    1. How cool on the yarn. I love that - repurposing yarn is the best and what wonderful ways to repurpose - helping others.
      Dear you can share my posts anytime you wish.
      Thank you.
      Be blessed.

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  16. Love this post! I grew up in a different country where we used everything until it broke. Then we'd repurpose whatever we could. There was very little waste back then. My mom even saved gift wrap (which embarrassed us a bit) and reused it when she had to give someone a gift. Looking back, I now realise that she was actually smart. No waste & money saved.

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    1. I think many of us grew up with the use it mentality. There was no waste at my house either.
      I am glad we were taught those things - it is just the right thing to do.
      Uuummmm - I still save tissue paper and some wrapping paper to re-use. Why not?
      Thanks!

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