In the last five years or so, I have yet to buy one tube of toothpaste, a bottle of shower gel or body wash. My shopping list seldom includes body lotion or shampoo. I never buy magazines, cotton swabs, baby oil, or baby powder, and yet we are always supplied with these things.
How? This past month, I have been using fabric softener and detergent and yet the last time it was on my shopping list was at least a year ago. Now, you might think this is because of stockpiling. Some of it is. But, some of it was also forethought, some of it was also luck. Most of it was from shopping at home.
Shopping at home here doesn’t mean using a catalogue or the Internet to shop. Instead, you are literally shopping the things around your house.
You might be surprised at home many thing you already have that you haven’t used. Usually these are bath and body products, laundry products and cleaning supplies. They can also be anything such as magazines, videos or board games for entertainment. Most of these bath and body items will last for years and years without going bad, as long as they are not opened. Many will still be good after being opened, if they are of a type that doesn’t promote bacteria (baby oil is usually good, mascara can easily go bad; fabric softener sheets is usually good, liquid fabric softener can easily go bad).
There might be that fun candy cane shower gel that you got as a gift last Christmas, or the shampoo that you bought a couple of years ago but never tried. There are also those products that we tend to save for a special occasion. For example, the shimmery lotion that we think we may use for fancy parties–go ahead and use it now.
Take some time today to go through stuff that you might already have and take inventory. Select an area, such as under the sink, at the back of the closet, in your pantry, forgotten drawers, the basement, wherever stuff tends to gather. Chances are pretty good that there are some products that you will find that can be used up. Vow to go through at least one area a day until you know exactly what you have.
Check back later today, when I tell you the easiest way to shop at home, and offer step by step tips. Then tomorrow, I’ll tell you exactly how I got all of those items I mentioned above–I’ll give you my sources.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.
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