Waste not want not...

crana999

I might have missed it already being mentioned but what about saving stamps for charities? The ordinary 1st and 2nd ones are often not worth it but the more unusual ones are. I can get the address of where to send them to help with research into Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome if anyone is looking for somewhere to send them.

Squidgy

crana999 wrote:

I might have missed it already being mentioned but what about saving stamps for charities? The ordinary 1st and 2nd ones are often not worth it but the more unusual ones are. I can get the address of where to send them to help with research into Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome if anyone is looking for somewhere to send them.

I save all mine for a lady at work who collects them for guide dogs for the blind (I think). Had a bumper haul at Christmas with all the santa letters we did!

filigree_2

I save sticky bows and gift tags from presents, they're almost always fit to use again with a spot of sellotape. My family are hugely amused by this, but they dutifully peel the bows off their pressies and hand them straight back to me!

My son asked me in all earnest where sticky bows come from originally. I had to tell him the facts of life - other people buy them in the shops!

I always save the fat from cooking meat, I usually have a surplus and I have to cook roast spuds and yorkies to use it up. I'm thinking of trying it in pastry instead of buying fat specially. I've never made real pastry so it'll be an adventure !

Queenie

filigree - dripping is great in pastry! It's simply "fat" - so, if you make a savoury pie/sausage rolls it's wonderful! Do remember, you can use it as a base to make gravy and soups too.

Outgrown/worn cotton clothing (dh's white work shirts!) - fabric for quilting
Buttons/zips/lace edgings removed from articles that is going in the bin
Old calender pictures - recycled into envelopes/framed for walls
Old odd rolls of wallpaper - craft paper for kids; wrapping paper if not too thick
Newspapers - compost/cat litter tray/stuff damp shoes to keep shape
Old sheets - if beyond repair, used as material for rag rugs/quilting/curtains
Bottles - used when making flavoured oils as gifts
Small glass bottles - containers for HM bath oils
Old towels - used these to make the innerds for garden bench cushions (old shower curtain became the "waterproof" inbetween layer
Old CD's - (stuck onto a thick piece of cardboard which was covered in pretty paper) shiney side uppermost = funky wallhanging in daughters room. Also coasters (yawn), hung from the tree in our garden as a suncatcher mobile.
Plastic milk cartons/jugs - scoops! Also good for storing flour/rice etc. in the larder (the handles already built in )
Old plastic bottles - funnels; in hanging baskets with the lid in a "leakable" position to keep the baskets moist (slow release watering )
Old colander - hanging basket for herbs
Tins - tealight lanterns for garden (punched designs)
Old cot - one slatted panel hung by chains in Utility room for hanging pots/pans/barbeque items
Stale bread - puddings! Plus breadcrumbs
Old blankets - batting for quilts
Old pillows - stitch two parallel lines down the centre, cut between the lines = 2 cushions

Glad

Lillibet wrote:

Here's my list of oddities :


Old holey socks : Dusters

Plastic bottle tops : My Mum's Womens Institute group are collecting these to exchange for a motorized wheelchair for the local hospice

holey socks are great for dusters because you can put your hand in them to dust,


and yes all of the save bottle top schemes are scams see here

System

You lot put me all to shame!! The only thing i re cycle are carrier bags. Mind you i dont tend to have much food waste, but what i do have, i tend to keep it for the next day.

crana999

im in the somewhat odd position of never having enough carrier bags, i always have to go and borrow one off my flatmate. I don't usually t ake them in shops I just stick everything in my backpack, and then any i do have get used for shower bags (oh, so classy), wrapping broken glass, etc.

i have one of those huge Bags for Life that comprises my laundry hamper

Austin_Allegro

belts/purses/wallets - keep for patching shoes, bags etc

shirts/pants etc - remove buttons to keep, cut up for dusters/rags with pinking shears

Odd rubber gloves - keep to make up a pair if you get another odd one, or cut up for patching

Offcuts from altered trousers - keep material for patching

Small amounts of emulsion - keep to mix up and dilute with other colours for size coat/undercoats

Old toothbrushes - keep for cleaning

Curry_Queen

Now I know where the tumble drier fluff came from :rolleyes:

I had good training in recycling from my mother, who saved everything, but I'm not quite as bad as her. My list is ....

Carrier bags ... for cleaning out litter trays/animal cages.
Newspapers ... again for animals - bedding/litter tray liners.
Plastic food trays/dishes ... use in microwave and those with lids to store food in fridge/freezer.
Jiffy bags ... re-use with address labels to cover my address.
Bubble wrap/packing material ... for re-sending items to others.
Veggie scraps/peelings ... feed to animals.
Left-over wine (from bottles and glasses) ... freeze for cooking purposes later (saves opening a bottle just for a glass of wine in a dish!)
Toothbrushes ... for cleaning.
Boxes ... for re-sending parcels or used as animal houses.
Stale bread ... freeze for breadcrumbs and puddings.
Fat drippings ... to cook roast spuds/yorkshire puddings.
Egg whites (if recipe only needs yolk) ... freeze to make meringues etc when I have enough.
Bottle tops ... water bowls for baby snakes.
Bottles/jars ... home-made salad dressings, preserves etc.
Toilet/kitchen roll tubes ... hidey holes for pet snakes.
Envelopes/scrap letters/card etc ... writing lists, scribble pad etc.
Candle stubs ... melt down to make new candles.

I also recycle any unwanted plastic & glass bottles/clothes/telephone directories etc to the local recycle bins and any unwanted but useable household items go to a local charity that donate or re-sell them cheaply to hostels/benefits recipients etc.

needmoney

Curry Queen I have just noticed your piccie(OH no pun intended:D ) AND I have just eaten my food Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh:eek: