REUSE + REPURPOSE
Here's a few inexpensive, money saving ideas to reuse, repurpose and recycle old things.
VEGGIE SCRAPS
Don't throw your leftovers into your trash bin to get all smelly. You can keep all your veggie peelings and end pieces to make delicious bone broth. I just place mine in a gallon freezer bag until I'm ready to make a batch, here's my recipe.
Your fruit and veggie scraps can also be turned into lovely compost to feed your garden. Just remember not to put any meat or dairy into the mix as these can grow harmful bacteria such as botulism.
EMPTY EGG CARTONS
Don't let these hit the trash bin! They can be reused or repurposed in many different ways. Just look up egg carton crafts on Pinterest! My favorite two ways to reuse them are actually to shred them (the cardboard ones) and add to our compost pile or use them as seed starter wells. You just need to add a bit of compost and dirt into each egg spot and plant your seeds. The cardboard material is great at keeping your soil moist.
CONTAINERS
A lot of times I opt to buy grocery items in glass jars vs plastic just so I can reuse the jars. You can use the jars for glassware, storage for spices, dried foods, homemade freezer jam, arts and crafts or home office organization. We also like to save ice cream pales and those plastic square tubs our mushrooms come in. They make for handy berry picking with the kiddos.
OLD CLOTHING
BUILDING MATERIALS
SHOP USED
Here's a great tip. Learn how to sew. When I was little I learned the very basics of hand sewing but always wanted to learn how to sew with a machine. I put it off for many years...partly because I found it to be a bit intimidating. However, I found it's not at all! The best part is, that favorite jacket of yours whose seam split-you can FIX it and not have to throw the whole thing away! When your kids outgrow that super cute favorite outfit of yours, cut it up and make something new to keep the cuteness alive!
Keeping your leftover building materials can save you lots of money for future builds or DIY projects. We have used so many leftover materials for all of our little farm builds, here's some examples.
But, here's the real tip- keep it organized! Designate a specific space in your basement, shed or garage and organize the items. This will help you keep your sanity and from "junk" laying all over. You will be able to keep much better inventory of what you have when planning your next project.
There's nothing wrong with shopping your local thrift stores! I have found many useful things over the years...a brand new roaster for bone broth making, an apple peeler for making applesauce and pies, and even a vintage 70's- bright yellow pressure canner my dad found at a garage sale! When you shop used you save money, support a small business or charity and are reusing useful things. Plus sometimes, the quality of older items is far superior to anything new we can purchase these days.
