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Old Style Book - What Do You Stash?

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  • chickadee
    chickadee Posts: 1,447 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I stash away wrapping paper and gift bags. I also keep the tissue that is sometimes used to fold into clothes to stop them creasing when you buy clothes in posh shops. Also you get tissue in shoe boxes. I use these when I am giving a gift in a gift bag. I wrap it up in the tissue then put it in the gift bag. Perfect!

    I also keep christmas cards and I cut up a few yesterday to trim up OH's HM Valentines card. I made a kind of mosaic border using squares of different reds and sparkly cards. I shaped a piece of thin fuse wire into a heart shape on a bit of red tissue in the middle.

    In about October I will cut up the cards that have survives with pinking shears to make gift tags.

    DS says I am embarrasing when I collect up other people's wrapping paper and start flattening it out! I don't usually bother about this as I'm usually in the company of my family who all know me well anyway, but even I went a bit pink when I started scavenging paper at my neice's christening and there were loads of well off guests watching! :o

    Oh well.

    chickadee
    Sealed Pot Challenge #8 £341.90
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    Sealed Pot Challenge #10 £33.10
    Sealed Pot Challenge #11 Member #36
  • Rebob
    Rebob Posts: 1,010 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    Shampoo, shower gel, shower caps, soap, sewing kits etc - mum saves me these along with any individual wrapped teabags and sachets of coffee / sugar from hotels she visits.

    I save vinegar, sauces, wipes etc from cafes or takeaways.

    All are used when we go camping as they fit in smaller spaces than regular products.
    The best bargains are priceless!!!!!!!!!! :T :T :T
  • Sarahsaver
    Sarahsaver Posts: 8,390 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    pens teabags and biscuits and post-its from conferences
    notepads and pens from hotels
    serviettes
    wipes from woolworths
    plastic spoons/forks etc
    soaps, shampoo etc, then i use them at home if i have a guest and they think they are being treated like royalty
    mayonnaise from pub lunches - one sachet is enough for a sandwich
    the free copy of the mail from the gym
    anything free on offer in supermarkets, i never turn down a second taste, kids help with that;)
    when i was a student it used to be toilet rolls, beer glasses and industrial strength lavatory and kitchen cleaner but thats another story...

    women 'of a certain age' seem to 'borrow' plant cuttings when visiting gardens such as Kew and the like, you have been warned...
    Member no.1 of the 'I'm not in a clique' group :rotfl:
    I have done reading too!
    To avoid all evil, to do good,
    to purify the mind- that is the
    teaching of the Buddhas.
  • Spendless
    Spendless Posts: 24,644 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I save fruit shoot bottles from trips to McD/kFC, kids parties and pubs like Brewsters for use at home,filled with either water or squash. I like this 'sports type' bottle for when kids are too old for a training cup but too young for a cup without a lid. I also take them filled up for picnics, journeys or if I send a packed lunch (school,school trips, holiday playschemes) cos then I don't mind if they lose it in unlike when they lose a drinks flask that has cost a few ££.

    A chinese takeawaywhere we used to live delivered their food in the clear plastic containers instead of the foil ones so I used to wash and save them and use them for packed lunches or storage.

    Anywhere that does containers that are usually slung and I think they'll be handy or if they are unusual I keep. On holiday at Disneyworld the kids meals come in a plastic tray shaped like Mickey Mouses face and ears so I wiped them and fetched them home, to use at parties. I've also kept the little containers that supermarkets give tasters of food in to make small individual jellies in.

    I save all freebies from flyers or seen on this site and if I don't use them myself I may add them to peoples presents as stocking fillers.

    I save coupons from flyers,mags (I have a magazine swap going with my neighbour) and use it to knock 10% off shopping at Asda.
  • PaleScene
    PaleScene Posts: 1,029 Forumite
    I save the sachets and condiments many others have mentioned, plus I keep all the envelopes included in with various mail (plus decent used ones). Once in a while I go through with some labels and cover the pre-printed addresses, cross out any codes on the flap or top edge and put a scribble through the 1st or 2nd designation. I then have perfectly serviceable envelopes ready for use with a stamp (I know people sometimes send them without as pre-paid but you aren't supposed to, legally). I used to work at a non-for-profit company supporting sustainable living who did this to send out their newsletters and it stuck as a good idea. Really the only downside is the rate at which these envelopes build up - so I ought to pop in there to give some to them!
    Do I Need One Stops All Unnecessary Reckless Spending
    £2 CSC - £30 :kisses3:
  • If you are embarassed about taking most of the coffee sachets when staying in a hotel (what's embarrassment I hear you say :grinheart ) then take a small plastic container and empty the coffee into it. net result:the bin has empty packets as if you have drunk it all and you get the coffee to take home.
  • pixie1
    pixie1 Posts: 1,442 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    Spendless wrote:
    A chinese takeawaywhere we used to live delivered their food in the clear plastic containers instead of the foil ones so I used to wash and save them and use them for packed lunches or storage.

    Thank you Spendless, my local chinese uses these containers and for some strange reason Ive never thought about re-using them!

    Im always struggling to find storage containers since i brought my slow-cooker, Im freezing excess food all the time :)

    Thanks again, an excellent idea!
    :jDebt Free At Last!:j
  • I save stuff from the more expensive range of christmas crackers my mum gets:

    - i have one of the tiny sewing kits in my desk drawer at work, people keep borrowing it to reattach buttons etc
    - the tiny screwdriver kits are perfect for screws in glasses
    - a teeny-tiny spirit level
    Still wish I could buy a TARDIS instead of a house!
  • Spendless
    Spendless Posts: 24,644 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I forgot to say I also save the reply envelopes from junk mail but I rarely send letters so I use them to send money up to school (dinner money,trip money,gym club money) or nursery/holiday playschemes (fees).
  • I use the shower caps from hotels as covers for shoes - you can then pack a pair in luggage when space is limited - keeps marks of clothes. Also made a few small holes in one when teenage daughter wanted streaks in hair - pulled strands through with crotchet hook. Cinema's free postcards - great for entering comps by post. Cellophane and ribbon recycled to make your own bouquets from garden. Also save baskets from plant arrangements - my mum is elderly and gets sent a few as get well's, mum's day etc. I plant the plants/bulbs outside, save ivy etc and repot with things like pansies, little daffs etc.
    Weight loss - here we go again - watch this space!

    US...........And them............
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