What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

[Ima saver]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

I don't ever mail, in the left over envelopes because of that bar code. I just use them to put checks in, to leave in the mail box for sub contractors to pick up.

[crazyBMB]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

I turn the bottles of all of my products upside down to get the last drop out. I put a little bit of water in some things to get the rest of it out, like laundry soap. I reuse envelopes too.
Many other things also, but this is the short list.

[shengmei]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

I try to make everything last longer, but the same cannot apply for food purchases.

Everytime I try to make anything food-related last longer, they spoil first.

[disneysteve]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

Everytime I try to make anything food-related last longer, they spoil first.

Unless it is something you can freeze. One of our best money-stretching purchases was our extra freezer. It allows us to cook in larger batches, buy in bulk and take advantage of good sales.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

Cut it, whatever it is I can usually cut it with water, milk, or something.

beverages are 'watered down'
milk is the exception, though chocolate versions are 'milked down'

ground beef is breaded down (add bread crumbs made form toast and a chopper) adding pureed veggies or finly chopped ones is good too.

[BCHGRL]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

Clothes - my mom and I are the same size so we shop each other's closets for new clothes. My mom is still wearing some of my clothes from high school (mid-90s). We buy more less-trendy clothes (polo shirts) that never really go out of style.

Do the same as everyone else for laundry, dishwashing detergent and dryer sheets. I guess this is not making something last longer, but if I have a dry clean item that isn't very dirty, I use a dryer sheet to freshen it up rather than expensive dryell or dry cleaning. I wash some dry clean only items in the washing machine if they are a cotton type of fabric.

Pantyhose - Somehow I have a knack for ruining them so I only wear them when absolutely necessary (i.e. meeting with customers) so I haven't bought new ones in years.

Car - maintain both paid off cars with regular oil changes and check-ups with the hopes that they will stay in good repair for many years to come.

Old towels and rags - use as rags to clean cars

Dining out - never let a good leftovers go to waste

Plastic bags from the grocery store - save and carry my lunch in them.

bridal bouquet - silk flowers that are now a wall decoration in my guest bedroom. I also used shells as my wedding aisle, so now we are using the shells as decorations in our home.

[Ima saver]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

I turn bottles upside down too. We get our oil changed every time needed. Sometimes, i reuse aluminum foil! We bring all leftovers home, if we don't eat them (and we usually do) then the dogs get the leftovers.

[LuxLiving]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

Suck my lolly instead of biting!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

Suck my lolly instead of biting!

heh

[DivaJen]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

I reuse plastic spoons and such when we get them from other places.
I use bread bags, tortilla bags, etc. for packing sandwiches and such.
I use waxed paper repeatedly, and aluminum foil too.

A few things that come to mind.

[scrava]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

This isn't actually mine but I got it from another board:
water your plants w/ water collected in a dehumidifier.
I also change clothes when iget home from work in order to keep work clothes nicer longer.

[Ima saver]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

I buy plastic cups and washed them each time in the dish washer, so we use them over and over again.

[LuxLiving]

Re: What Things Do You Make LAST LONGER?

We use a thermos for coffee. Seems like on ours it -used to be- that the burner was always what went out. Now we brew, carafe to thermos, unplug maker.

[fruggal]

Shampoo Savings

I have to use a special pricey shampoo for a hair problem, so to save money I buy the cheapest on sale shampoo I can find and use it as a first shampooing to remove styling product build-up and rinse well. Then I only have to use a half-dime size or less of my pricey shampoo for the second lathering and it works just as well. Since doing this, my pricey shampoo lasts 3 times as long as it used to.

[snafu]

Use water that potatoes cooked in to water plants. Cook down poultry or beef bones to make stock. Freeze leftover veggies in zip bag for home made soup or stew.