Use it. Don't lose it.

[Like2Plan]

One of the realities of getting older is I don’t remember where I put stuff as well as I did when I was younger.

When COVID came along we stopped going to movie theaters for a couple of years. We actually went to see a movie in person a few days ago, so now I have to remember where I put the movie gift cards.

I found $100 worth of Honeybaked ham gift cards in a random place when I was reorganizing (No, I wouldn’t have found them in a hundred years if I was looking for them- no idea how they got there). Anyway, we used those up right away (I love Honeybaked ham, so it was no problem)

There are some companies that allow you to add gift cards to your account right away for future use. (a big help for me).
Amazon, Starbucks and Target are three that I can think of off the top of my head.

I was thinking I need to have a Gift Card week where we don’t spend any $$ except for using gift cards. But, just thinking about this has made me focus more of how I can efficiently use what we have.

[crazyliblady]

One of the realities of getting older is I don’t remember where I put stuff as well as I did when I was younger.

When COVID came along we stopped going to movie theaters for a couple of years. We actually went to see a movie in person a few days ago, so now I have to remember where I put the movie gift cards.

I found $100 worth of Honeybaked ham gift cards in a random place when I was reorganizing (No, I wouldn’t have found them in a hundred years if I was looking for them- no idea how they got there). Anyway, we used those up right away (I love Honeybaked ham, so it was no problem)

There are some companies that allow you to add gift cards to your account right away for future use. (a big help for me).
Amazon, Starbucks and Target are three that I can think of off the top of my head.

I was thinking I need to have a Gift Card week where we don’t spend any $$ except for using gift cards. But, just thinking about this has made me focus more of how I can efficiently use what we have.

You could make a grocery shopping list based on what stores and types of things you can buy with the gift cards. With the ham, you could buy hams and save them for a holiday dinner and make meals now that use the ham. If you have other gift cards, you could give them to people for gifts or use them to round out other funds available for buying groceries, sort of like coupons.

[scfr]

Picked the bones of a Costco rotisserie chicken and made a nice Chinese restaurant style chicken and sweet corn soup for lunch.

[crazyliblady]

Picked the bones of a Costco rotisserie chicken and made a nice Chinese restaurant style chicken and sweet corn soup for lunch.

I love making food out of scraps. It feels good to do it.

[crazyliblady]

My use-it progress:
1) When I make burgers, sometimes there is one leftover. So, I put it in a container and put it in the freezer for later. Recently, my husband used a burger like that to add to macaroni and make an impromtu beefaroni for lunch.
2) When I made soup today, I saved the vegetable ends and peels for my compost. Sometimes, I save them for my veggie scrap bag to make more soup, but it was full this time.
3) I am a gardener and have heard from other gardeners that banana peels are good for roses.
4) I put my dead leaves in my compost pile. They will make great DIY fertilizer next spring for my vegetable garden.
5) I put old newspapers in my garden. It helps to keep the weeds down, as I don't use weed killers.

[scfr]

My use-it progress:
1) When I make burgers, sometimes there is one leftover. So, I put it in a container and put it in the freezer for later. Recently, my husband used a burger like that to add to macaroni and make an impromtu beefaroni for lunch.
2) When I made soup today, I saved the vegetable ends and peels for my compost. Sometimes, I save them for my veggie scrap bag to make more soup, but it was full this time.
3) I am a gardener and have heard from other gardeners that banana peels are good for roses.
4) I put my dead leaves in my compost pile. They will make great DIY fertilizer next spring for my vegetable garden.
5) I put old newspapers in my garden. It helps to keep the weeds down, as I don't use weed killers.

Very impressive!

[scfr]

Another use for those cloth masks: warming the cold air before it hits my lungs. I'm working on getting my driveway shovelled out and a cloth mask is SO much better than the old "scarf wrapped around the face."

[disneysteve]

Another use for those cloth masks: warming the cold air before it hits my lungs. I'm working on getting my driveway shovelled out and a cloth mask is SO much better than the old "scarf wrapped around the face."

Totally. I discovered early in the pandemic that wearing a mask while out walking in cold weather keeps my nose and face warm without getting me sweaty or fogging up my glasses.

[crazyliblady]

Another use for those cloth masks: warming the cold air before it hits my lungs. I'm working on getting my driveway shovelled out and a cloth mask is SO much better than the old "scarf wrapped around the face."

I also found cloth masks helpful. The paper, hospital kind must have plastic or something in them, because I have trouble breathing with them. I did, however, buy a polarfleece one called a "neck gaiter" on ebay. It was around $9.00 and probably the most essential piece of equipment I have for when I go outside in winter. I have asthma and it helps me by warming the air before I breathe it in.

[rennigade]

Another use for those cloth masks: warming the cold air before it hits my lungs. I'm working on getting my driveway shovelled out and a cloth mask is SO much better than the old "scarf wrapped around the face."

There are proper cold weather accessories called a Balaklava. Protects face, neck, head, ears. They're inexpensive and work wonders in the cold. Cloth masks are just face decorations, according to the CDC. Or in your case they are better suited for keeping your face warm. That's about it.

[disneysteve]

There are proper cold weather accessories called a Balaklava. Protects face, neck, head, ears.

That wouldn't work when I'm out walking/running. I would be way too hot if my head and neck were covered. The mask is perfect because it's really just my nose and cheeks that get cold.

[crazyliblady]

There are proper cold weather accessories called a Balaklava. Protects face, neck, head, ears. They're inexpensive and work wonders in the cold. Cloth masks are just face decorations, according to the CDC. Or in your case they are better suited for keeping your face warm. That's about it.

I found the versatile neck gaiter to actually be better than just a balaclava.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/403729672777

[disneysteve]

I found the versatile neck gaiter to actually be better than just a balaclava.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/403729672777

Those are nice since they don't cover your head. As I said, I'd never be able to exercise with my head covered. I'd be dying of heat.

I still like a mask for my purposes because it's easy to remove and shove in my pocket or just lower it if I get too warm.

[rennigade]

I found the versatile neck gaiter to actually be better than just a balaclava.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/403729672777

That looks nice too. I actually use a UV resistant Balaklava looking thin neoprene thing when I snorkel. Its open at the face and covers everything else. Protects my bald head from getting burnt without caking myself in sun screen.

[scfr]

There are proper cold weather accessories called a Balaklava. Protects face, neck, head, ears. They're inexpensive and work wonders in the cold. Cloth masks are just face decorations, according to the CDC. Or in your case they are better suited for keeping your face warm. That's about it.

In keeping with the "Use it. Don't lose it." theme of this thread, about using up or repurposing things that are not being used, for anyone interested in making a "balaklava," what might they have sitting around their homes unused that they could repurpose to make one? I won't be making one since cold weather is so rare here, but someone else might be interested.