Are you throwing money away?
   If you aren’t reusing you are.   

Paper or styrofoam plates cost a lot more than it does to just wash a plate or bowl. Each item that you purchase disposable plates you just toss them in the trash because with food on them they cannot be recycled. Which means that you have more garbage to throw out. Instead if you use reusable plastic or “china” plates and just toss them into the dishwasher as part of a full load you are saving time, energy and money.

Paper towels are very convenient but by using a towel that you can wash instead of a disposable towel you save money. Granted there are some messes that you want to use a paper towel for and at about $1.50 a roll for 70 or so sheets a roll can go pretty quickly. For the bathroom, have small towels – fingertip towels for hand drying. 

Another paper product that you can do without is the humble paper napkin. I challenged myself a few months ago to just use cloth napkins. I don’t miss the paper napkin at all. Every few days I use a different cloth napkin and then just toss them into the wash. I already had the napkins rather than having to purchase paper napkins. I don’t use ones that match a tablecloth for daily use because then they will be faded and won’t match the tablecloth, but instead buy stray napkins from the clearance areas of stores where I see them. Some can be

Reuse some containers that you have at home. If food came in the container, wash it out and use it a few times. This is especially useful if you want to give someone some food, if you forget to bring containers back from lunch or want to store up some tomato sauce and don’t want to stain your good plasticware. Think about those sour cream or dip containers – use them. What about the spray bottle or pump that you have, buy the refill and use the container again, instead of buying the smaller size. 

Batteries give you the blues? If so, buy some rechargeable batteries which will pay for themselves in a short while if you use batteries often. Rechargeable batteries are not lifetime batteries and must be replaced but by that time you will have saved a considerable amount of money instead of tossing $2.00 or so in the trash for a couple of AA or AAA batteries.

Some stores require you to purchase bags like Aldi’s or Save-A-Lot charge you for each bag you need. If you know that you are shopping there bring your own, even if you are reusing the plastic bags from a different store. 

After you replace your baking soda container in the refrigerator, pour the old baking soda down the drain to keep your drain smelling sweet or save it to sprinkle on your floor before you vacuum.

No matter how much you make, you can’t afford to throw away money.