Waste not want not...

greenpixey

Thanks for starting this post. My son will be old enough for solids after Christmas so if I end up buying any jars I now got some good ideas what to use them for.
I've seen people filling them with sweets (after cleaning them and removing the label) putting a piece of gingham cloth over the lid and sell them on market stalls/fairs/fete. They look really pretty.

Pink.

Hi Jess,

Good idea. I've added your post to another one that might interest you to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

Sarahsaver

my dad nailed the lids of baby food jars to the underside of a wooden shelf in his workshop for easily visible different sized nails/tacks etc.

v pleased to see this thread again

junior_j

:beer:

I save paper clips i find at college on the floor , saves me buying my own and they come in handy! you just have to bend one to get a good reset button poker lol!!



Lightbulb boxes i fill with seeds and treats for my rats then seal , they have fun chewing through the box to dig out there yummy treats! Same can be done for rabbits/guina pigs and the likes!

Green pixey if your son is starting solids soon , the jars from his baby food will be good to take in his changing bag!

Forexample i have kept the following in the bag when i childmind

- Mini breadsticks! You can even squirt a little cream cheese in the bottom so the sticks taste even nice
-Slices of cheese
-Baby buiscuits! cut to the size he likes them!
-Apple/cucumber/carrot sticks/slices
-You can also buy a large yoghurt , put ur own pureed fruit into it and then take that with you when you go out! That way he has a good portion suitable for him and its kept fresh ! easy to clean!

-If you have a newborn dummies in sterile glass jars are good same as put there spoon in a sterile glass jar!

Hope that helps!

Jess x

Primrose

I have a huge carrier bag hung up in our downstairs loo, gradually filling up with empty loo rolls. They'll be useful in Spring for filling with compost and individually sowing parsnips seed, runner & climbing beans, sweet peas and other plants which don't like to have their roots disturbed when planting out, as you plant the entire container and the cardboard gradually disintegrates and decomposes.

maman

I use a large cardboard roll (from kitchen roll ) and stuff it full of the little plastic bags from the supermarket fruit/veg. It keeps them really tidy in the kitchen drawer until I use for freezer or whatever

got-it-spend-it

In my family we never write on the envelopes of cards if you are actually going to be handing the card to the person (as opposed to posting it). That way the envelope can be used again.

Also, if you get given a gift voucher as a gift it tends to come in its own little free card. I find that a lot of people will buy you a card as well, then won't write in the free voucher card. I use these cards if I have to send out a cheque for something, or for casual correspondence. Saves using an expensive notelet card!

Some fab ideas on here!

Caterina

It is so great to come across this thread, I have already picked up a number of really useful suggestions and so far I have only read the last page!

My modest contribution: I pick up all the red elastic bands that the postmen throw away, and if I meet a postie near the post box I ask for more and they usually hand me loads. I use them to wrap sandwiches (in the pasta and other dry goods packets that I keep for this purpose!).

When I make sandwiches for my family I ask them to return the elastic band and even the package if it is still in good condition and not too mucky.

Rereading what I have just written I think perhaps I am getting a bit excessive in my OS ways?

Caterina

got-it-spend-it

Caterina, we also collect the red elstic bands that the postie drops- very useful!

I particularly love the idea of using an old kitchen roll tube to keep bags in- genius!

Becky_2

Thanks for some great tips in this thread. For the moment I haven't got anything new to add.