If you learn how to reuse what you have, you can save a lot. This is the second principle of living a frugal lifestyle.
In an earlier article, I talked about how The First Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle is to reduce consumption. The next step, or second principle is to reuse everything you can. You will purchase and consume less, and therefore save money.
There are so many ways that you can practice reuse in your life and home. We’ve all heard about washing out plastic baggies to reuse them. That is just one example of stretching out the useful life of an object.
The first step is to look around you and see what can be given an extended life, so you can get more use out of it and save money. You may be doing some of this already. An easy example of this is mending or fixing something instead of automatically tossing and replacing it. My son’s Buzz Lightyear comforter has been mended a few times. it still looks great and keeps him warm, so why would I spend $50 or more for a new one?
The second step is think about your purchases and how long they will last. Buy things that can be used over and over again instead of those “one-use” items, such as paper cups, paper plates and baggies. Why not purchase inexpensive glass or plastic containers to bring lunch to work? And while you are at it, you can bring some coffee, tea or hot chocolate, made at home, in a thermos.
The third step in reuse is to see what items you can repurpose for new uses. Many times, there is no need to run out and purchase something new when you can use what you have. I just laugh when I go into a store and see “bags of rags” that people can buy. I can’t believe that there is a market out there for rags. Fifteen minutes in the closet and drawers looking at stuff that is torn, stained, doesn’t fit or doesn’t match, and you can have all of the rags you’ll ever need.
Think of MacGyver, that television hero who could save the world using some gum, an old sock and a paper clip. If you need something, is there a way to make it out of household objects? When you are all fired up to go mend those socks, don’t run out and by a darning egg when an old light bulb would do. Need a memo pad for the phone? Sure, you can go down to the card store and buy something pretty, but why not cut your junk mail to size and just use that? Think before you buy. With a little imagination, you will be surprised at what can be reused.
Here are some of my favorite ways to reuse and repurpose items. What are yours?
The Reuse Category here in the Frugal Living Blog
New Uses for Old Baby Blankets
HOFF: Real Uses for Dryer Lint
And for more principles of a frugal lifestyle:
The First Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle: Reduce
The Third Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle: Recycle