Challenge: Use it or lost it!

[jodi]

Okay, if you choose to accept it, here is your challenge for the day:
Use it or lose it!

Why? Well, because I find that I have a tendency to store certain things for "later" without defining later...meanwhile, I am buying other things that serve the same purpose. Or, my cupboards and closets become so cluttered that I don't realize what I have until I have bought a replacement. Yesterday, I ran out of Dove soap, so instead of running to the store, I rummaged around and found a pretty bar of soap from Hawaii that a friend gave me several years ago. I used it - and by doing this again, I can put off buying more soap until I find a good deal. I plan to start using up other items that have accumulated around the house, or ditch them if it's likely that I will never get around to it. What can you use or lose today?

[LuxLiving]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

Well today I lost three little high bounce balls to the trash can. I have shuffled these three (think jacks) balls around my house for ages now - the boys are way past the age where these hold any appeal. We don't often have visitors so there is no hope there and the people I normally pass this kind of stuff to has boys that are also too old. I just had the DAV come by and pick up a big sack of 'stuff' last week and it may be awhile before I declutter enough to go to either Goodwill or the DAV again. I was just tired of those darn balls floating around the house - they've been on the lazy susan on the dining room table for awhile now so I tossed those suckers in the trash way at the bottom. GOOD-BYE!!

Also in the trash this a.m. was one lonely brown sock that has been in the sock box for the last five or six cleanouts so I dusted around the house with it and then tossed it in the trash. Nope - no way am I saving it for an official dust cloth, I've already got a bajillion under the sink from other rags to reuse under there. GOOD-BYE!!

FrugalSon is just now doing another game of match up the socks in the sockbox. Why do boys just pile and pile and pile until the cupboard door won't close anymore???

I just did the soap dealywho last month - I had a bunch of extra soaps in my dresser drawers that I took to the medicine cabinet to be used up.

Tomorrow I'm going to my antique booth to put in more 'stuff' I no longer need at my house and while there I'm going to be shopping my own booth for something for Mom for Mother's Day. I think I've got a casserole over there that she'd like.

Old coupons printed that are now outdated - got lost under a pile of papers. GRR..the ink!! but I'm cutting the pages in fourths and using for scratch paper.

[JanH]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

I, too, have done the soap thing recently. I bought a new more organic facial soap that is too "soapy" for my face. But it is making a great body soap in the shower! I've cut up an old towel to use to "mop" my floor instead of buying something new to replace my old stuff. I am using a box of defective trash bags for the shredder since they won't work for the regular kitchen can. I'm learning!

[LuxLiving]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

Oohh Ohhhhh Ohhhh - I've got one!!


Just now refilled my vitamin daily pills box (what do you call that thing w/the daily dividers - morning, noon, evening, night containers?)

This is one of those places I've been practicing the use or lose it principle. I often (IN THE PAST) would buy various vitamin products but after taking them for a little while would just let them sit idle on the shelf. When you open that cabinet now it looks like a well stocked pharmacy in a third world country...so I've been trying to put some of them into the rotation. Usually a half-used bottle or three sees the trash each week as I work my way thru them. Too tight to just throw them away, unless they're outdated. In date - I'm using them up.

Today, two emptied bottles saw the trash... and my vitamins are ready to roll for the next week.

[frugalmomof1]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

I've been trying to use up all my free samples and leftovers from product tests. I have a ton of shampoos, conditioners, bodywashes, lotions, soaps, toothpastes, deodorants, etc. I organized them all and will use them up before I buy anything else!

[kealina]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

this is a great challenge because Dh and I, especially DH, have a tendency to do this... hmmm...

[jodi]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

Tonight I used some veggies that were getting too old in the freezer (although I found a bag too that I had to throw out...shame on me), some fruit that was getting old in the fridge for a fruit salad, and made lemon muffins, some with blackberry jam (made two summers ago) and poppy seeds (brought with me when I moved to this house 4 years ago, but not used since). I'll keep thinking of things I need to use...

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

I have an egg problem, I used some for dinner, but still trying to work up the motivation to use the rest today..

[tinapbeana]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

perky, i don't know if this will help or not, but my mom always made frozen spinach with egg and it was YUM YUM YUM!!! it tastes almost like creamed spinach, but in reality it's like an all mixed up florentine omlette...

[LuxLiving]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

Take too much milk (everyone stopped eating cereal all of a sudden & forgot to tell the purchasing agent) plus over-ripening bananas add in a blender and a couple of ice cubes and a splash of vanilla & a tsp. of sugar = Monkey Milk!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

perky, i don't know if this will help or not, but my mom always made frozen spinach with egg and it was YUM YUM YUM!!! it tastes almost like creamed spinach, but in reality it's like an all mixed up florentine omlette...

Thanks! but the real trouble is energy.....I am plumb out

[LuxLiving]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

Use it or Lose it!!

Dried corn! In my cabinet from God only knows when...

Today in the crockpot is catch-all soup/stew - in went the dried corn, a cup of rice, a handful of dried black beans (I have ALOT old ones here to use up), a cup of leftover mixed dried beans that were leftover from a giftjar I made, a couple of cups of leftover jerked pork in the frig...further frig cleanouts were some canned corn about 1/8 cup (why do boys think this is worthe saving?), a cup of green beans, and from the freezer a handful of celery, along w/some dried seasonings in the pantry and a jar of pork broth I had canned some time back and some water. When closer to eat time I'll toss in a can of tomato paste. And I'll make some cornbread and it'll be a warm and toasty dinner on this cold day.

??????Dried corn??????? Where did that come from and more importantly WHY??????

Must be something my mother brought over?????????????

Thanks all for inspiring me to use up some of what is already here!

[JanH]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

Use it or Lose it!!


??????Dried corn??????? Where did that come from and more importantly WHY??????

Was it a bag of popcorn? lol I have one sitting around here somewhere and I don't have the foggiest idea where it came from. My neighbor growing up grew popcorn, but that is 800 miles and a few decades away!

[family_of_seven]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

I started cycling through my hurricane supply kit. It can't just sit there forever. Started taking bottled water to work and it helps cut down on the soda cravings rescuing $.50 from wasteful spending.

[JanH]

Re: Challenge: Use it or lost it!

I started cycling through my hurricane supply kit. It can't just sit there forever. Started taking bottled water to work and it helps cut down on the soda cravings rescuing $.50 from wasteful spending.

We have started this also. I don't want another hurricane and find out all the stuff is awful from sitting so long. Also, the freezer. Want to use up all the stuff in the big freezer before the season starts in June so we won't waste as much food if the power goes out again.