Travel mugs, thermos, onya bags and more: What re-usable items do you use & save £s?

rosie383

I love the idea of making my own Morsbags. Has anyone made them without a sewing machine? I can sew (just) and have made cushion covers, doll dresses etc. with my limited skills.

DigForVictory

Jute bags for planned shops, fabric bags or samosa'ed bags for life tucked in coat pockets for splendid MS opportunities.

Lock & lock box in my tin mug to hold teabags, coffee & sugar sachets - all I need is hot water!

I get my coffee freebie black from Waitrose, hustle it back to the office & decant it into two china mugs to add the gallons of milk I prefer, thus two freebie coffees.

I've repurposed two summer frocks into multiple flat shopping bags that I can carry easily in pocket - handy gifts too!

nwc389

The big plastic buckets that the birds fatballs come in , they are great for weeding buckets in the garden , handy 'holders ' for paint , brushes and rollers when decorating , handy storage for my sons cricket balls and so many more things .

ZeroWasteWeek

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I've just looked at the SpicesofIndia website and ours are still there.

Fantastic - :T I've just seen they do a round one and I can buy just two layers, which is all I would want. Result - thanks so much Lynn! x

ZeroWasteWeek

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I've tried that - and it didn't work for me.

Well that's good to know; thanks for sharing. I was all set up for having a go at this (I have the vitamix too) but there's nothing worse than a bit of crunchy shell! Perhaps a pestle and mortar with some strong muscles is the answer

lushlifesaver

My bf and I each have a set of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aladdin-Bento-Lunch-Insulated-Containers/dp/B0036Y4KO4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1430906952&sr=8-3&keywords=aladdin+bento+box
his are this green, mine are pink


He uses a blender bottle (from boots) everyday for work/the gym etc) and I have a smaller sports bottle for days out. Our 1yr old also has her own flip top now she can use straws which we refill regularly. We keep two 2lt bottles of water in the car (just refill before heading out anywhere) and have those mini super concentrated juices to add a little flavour (yes they are more expensive but they do last a really long time and take up far less space and save us money on buying flavoured drinks!)


I save take away containers to freeze stuff in (either left overs or things I batch make to save time and money).


I have a couple of travel mugs I use, not so much for work as my commute is short and I have my own mug there but for when we go away to tournaments etc. I tend to have just a couple of hot drinks a day and take my time over them so like to keep them hot! We also take our own hot choc/tea/coffee - we often stay in the same hotel and stock up there thanks to friendly staff!


We also have two lunch boxes similar to these: http://img.promotionalgiftwholesale.com/delish-collapsible-lunch-box-842027808.jpg but without branding/forks on which I got cheap a while back.


Actually I have a few other lunch boxes that I've had for years since being a child my favourite is one of these https://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Sistema-Klip-It-Divided-Plastic-Lunch-Cube-14L-Pink/54592011?kpid=54592011&gclid=CjwKEAjw96aqBRDNhM6MtJfE-wYSJADiMfggpJCtXZyS2IeXuvNL8J_xb6f3rpSwmytPRa9C-8QrshoCLZnw_wcB however I don't use it much as I don't always bring sandwiches/similar and find it hard to work the compartments any other way. I use it for little one if we go out for a day though.


I have a flask but it doesn't get used much atm as I don't drink as many hot drinks. I'll often use it for soup in the winter - probably more now there is baby too as bf is away a lot so winter days out can still be economical


We have an easi-yo so make bigger batches of yogurt and portion it up


I recently invested in a coolbag backpack which saved us more than double its worth on food in London at a tournament for 4 days over the bank holiday weekend! very happy to finally have one - we love picnics!


I have a stash of re-useable bags (varying sizes - some are huuuge) in my car, desk drawer and handbag for shopping and when I get a home delivery (now more regularly from Ocado thanks to offers being exactly what we need!) we recycle the bags with the drivers


There's loads more but that's enough for now I think!

The_Rubbish_Diet

DigForVictory wrote: »

Jute bags for planned shops, fabric bags or samosa'ed bags for life tucked in coat pockets for splendid MS opportunities.

Lock & lock box in my tin mug to hold teabags, coffee & sugar sachets - all I need is hot water!

I get my coffee freebie black from Waitrose, hustle it back to the office & decant it into two china mugs to add the gallons of milk I prefer, thus two freebie coffees.

I've repurposed two summer frocks into multiple flat shopping bags that I can carry easily in pocket - handy gifts too!

Totally loving that Hot Drink Strategy, :T:beer:

good_advice

I wash and reuse many items in my home.
Plastic bags, cereal bags, card from boxes, marg tubs.
I store food in glass/pyrex trays with plastic lids.Suitable for oven (without lid. Fridge and freezer.

Days out, OH and & I. Plus dog always take a packed lunch.
I have bought (on offer) a picnic bag on wheels. Plastic lunch boxes, cold drink bottles and take a dog bowl.
Saves us a fortune on buying from a cafe type place.
We have a picnic rug for summer.

Feeding extended family in good weather we get the BBQ out in the garden. Very good for socialising.

ZeroWasteWeek

Sounds like you do loads, MrsLurcherwalker. And have a very happy and well loved dog too

I was put off trying a briquette maker when a friend made a batch which were so wet he had to put them in the OVEN to dry off LOL! Kinda defeated the object for me. But I love your idea of the greenhouse (We use our greenhouse to dry clothes in!)

Great to hear about those things to put on water bottles. I was given one once in a pack of stuff I got for my daughter and thought it was a fantastic idea. I'd always wondered if you could buy them anywhere but didn't know what to ask for. If you say you've got them from a garden centre, I'm going to check that out - thanks so much! :T

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I always save and reuse the plastic containers on those rare occasions we have chinese takeaway meals,

ZeroWasteWeek

Great ideas, thanks for sharing. It sounds like you have quite a collection of lunch boxes there! I've just bought a container like your Amazon one. Do you find it keeps things warm, like a stew or soup until lunch time, or do you need to reheat?

I've seen more and more of those tiny drinks flavours recently; good to hear they work for you

lushlifesaver wrote: »

My bf and I each have a set of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aladdin-Bento-Lunch-Insulated-Containers/dp/B0036Y4KO4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1430906952&sr=8-3&keywords=aladdin+bento+box
his are this green, mine are pink