If you’re thrifty like me, you like to get your money’s worth on virtually anything inside the home.
Today, I wanted to share with you some strategies that I use with some items that I use around the house to make sure I get every “last” drop.
1. Products in tubes
You can save a lot of toothpaste and cream by ensuring that you use them to the last drop. A massive amount of the products often gets stuck at the neck of the tube, which is often hard to reach because of the container’s design.
The part between a tube’s body and the cap is, as you probably know, impossible to squeeze. Make it easier to get out the lodged product by simply cutting the tube into two with scissors.
Once open, get the product out using your fingers. If there’s any left after the initial use, seal both parts with pegs, and notify everyone in your house about your cost cutting agenda so that they don’t think that the sealed parts are trash they can throw away.
2. Use left-over fruit juice as a sweetener
Did you just open a can of frozen fruit juice and still have some left? Do you need to drink tea at four o’clock? Use the leftover juice to sweeten your tea as the juice will give your beverage a sweet fruity flavor.
If you’re not a tea drink, consider using the juice to make popsicles at home during those hot summer days.
3. Products in bottles
Trying to get out leftover product from bottles can be frustrating, just like the tubes mentioned earlier.
To get this product out, turn the bottles upside down, and make sure the cap is on and closed before doing so. Let the bottle stay in the upside down position for a few hours and wait for all the substance to trickle down to the cap. The next time you need it, simply open the cap while upside down and get as much out as possible.
If you need it know, you can also cut the bottle open if the product in the bottle is too thick to trickle down. After cutting the bottle in half, also consider scraping out the product with a spoon.
4. Pump bottles
For bottles that have pumps, such as beauty products like shampoo, open the top part of the bottle and use a cotton bud or paper clip to get the product from the bottom and sides. The method is a cost-effective way to save on beauty products that are often expensive.
Also, like the bottles, you can also cut the bottle in half, even though it may take some force, to take everything out from the inside.
5. Barbecue sauce bottles
If you still have a lot of barbecue sauce left in the container and don’t have a sharp knife to cut through it or, don’t have enough time to stand it upside down, swish the remainder with water or vinegar. This simple mixture, surprisingly, can be a great way to use as a simple marinade.
6. Foundation in glass bottles
Many foundation containers, as you women know, come in glass bottles. Foundation texture and consistency makes it hard to get out the last bits from the glass bottles, and for obvious reasons, you can’t cut open the bottle as it could make things worse. Plus, I highly advise against it.
Turning the glass containers upside down doesn’t work, either. Instead, squeeze a few drops of lotion into the foundation and shake it vigorously. The mixture saves you the cost of buying a tinted foundation.
7. Batter from the bowl
Knives and spoons aren’t always helpful when getting out batter that stays stuck on the sides and bottom of a batter bowl. A spatula can get out a sizable amount, usually a full muffin’s worth.
8. Plastic spoons
The next time you go to Wendy’s or your favorite frozen yogurt place, grab a few spoons. These spoons are handy when getting the product from the sides of your bottles and other containers in the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. After use, you can simply throw them out.
9. Peanut butter
Peanut butter often becomes hard a few weeks after opening, and some people throw it away, unaware that they could use it to make a tasty dip. If your peanut butter is too hard, consider adding some honey, mixing it thoroughly with a spoon, and then placing it in a small bowl.
Dice up some green apples and place them on a platter. Use the peanut butter to dip your apples for a healthy snack in-between your meals.
10. Mushy watermelon
Sometimes, getting kids to eat fruits can be a daunting task, but here’s an exciting way to sneak fruits into your children’s diets, especially during the summer.
Instead of throwing mushy melon, use it to make slushies and cut the cost of buying slushies from the store. Ingredients are just strawberries, lemon, honey, ice, and of course, watermelon.
Slice the watermelon into a blender. Next, squeeze the lemons and add the juice into the blender. Add the strawberries, ice, and honey until there’s sufficient space to close the lid of the blender. Blend the ingredients until smooth. Pour the mixture into glasses and serve your kids. They won’t even suspect that there’s fruit in there.
So there you have it. The next time you think about throwing away any of these items, highly consider these strategies to make sure you’re getting everything until the last drop.
AUTHOR BIO
As a freelance writer, Stephanie resides in Arizona with her two sons and husband. She spends her time reading, mountain biking, working out at the gym and spending a lot of time with her family. Visit her website, Howmuchisit.org, to see what unknown things cost in life.
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