What do I do with all the bottles (ketchup bottles, glass jars for jelly, sauces, etc.) and plastic bags (used ziplocs, grocery bags) that I save up? I know they could be useful...someday....but that day hasn't arrived yet and they are collecting under my kitchen sink.
Lara, you bring up an excellent point. When you start saving consumer packaging, you will end up with an excess fairly quickly. It's great that you're saving them, because they do have myriad uses. You'll just have to start running your kitchen a little differently than Mom probably did.
Here's some ideas. These include ideas for food & non-food uses. (Remember that after a container has been used for a non-food purpose, it can never be used for a food purpose again!)
Ketchup bottles - homemade salad dressing, marinades, & other sauces; use to turn regular (cheap) sour cream into the "squeezable" kind, if you're so inclined; homemade finger paint; glue from a bulk container or experiment with homemade paste from flour/water; tightwad water gun for summer play
Glass jars - great for the freezer if you bring back to temp gradually; leftover storage in the refrigerator; mixing containers for powdered milk, protein shakes, etc.; airtight dry storage for coffee, loose tea, herbs, baking cocoa, etc.; canning jars (if standard size lids will fit); storage of small toys or hair accoutrements; endless crafty ideas (garden or other scene inside the sideways jar, snowglobes, colored sand dunes); science experiments; Christmas gift containers, such as the one pictured below for homemade vanilla extract I gave this Christmas:
Ziploc-style bags - perfect for grab & go snacks, especially for kids to eat on the go; foods in the freezer stack best & use the least space in Ziploc-style bags; bread bags for homemade bread; toys such as card sets, puzzles, paper doll sets, flashcards, and any other small toy sets; crayons & markers
Note: I'm assuming you are washing & reusing Ziploc-style bags? Please remember that once meat has been inside the bag, you cannot safely wash & reuse the bag. Bags that have contained meat (raw or cooked) should be discarded.
Grocery bags - work lunches; lining small garbage cans; stuffing in a dog bed; wrapping dirty disposable diapers before throwing away to contain smell; keeping in your car for any impromptu shopping or other impromptu pickups
I hope that gives you some ideas! Of course, the best way to eliminate excess stuff is to not bring it home in the first place. Consider changing habits when you can & as you're comfortable with it, such as using bulk bins more and consciously choosing the products with the least packaging, if possible. These often cost less as well. Never hesitate to write the company that makes your favorite foods if you are unhappy with their packaging & urge them to consider less or more environmentally-friendly packaging.
Thanks for writing, Lara! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
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