Don't Toss that - Recycle It

Every year we spend hundreds of dollars buying "fancy" items and products that we don't really need. With a little imagination and planning, many of the items you already have around the house can be used to save you time and money.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are great for acid-loving plants like rhododendrons and azaleas. Just spread them over the flower beds and mix in the dirt.

Before you toss the coffee grounds in the garden, rub a small scoop into your hands for a no-cost exfoliating treatment. To really treat yourself, mix in some honey, yogurt or olive oil for a luxurious gentle scrub.

Been chopping up garlic and onions? Rub coffee grounds into your hands to neutralize the odor after you're done chopping.

Foam packing peanuts

Save those foam packing peanuts to re-use for your own packing of items like cookies to a kid away at school or anything fragile.

Packing peanuts are great just to fill in when you have a packing box that's too big. Tossing in some foam packing peanuts will prevent your precious cargo from shifting and being damaged.

Foam packing peanuts are great for tossing into the bottom of pots where you'll be planting plants that require good drainage.

Magazines

Magazines not only provide information and some great ideas, they're often full of coupons as well.

Keep a supply of old magazines on hand to use for elementary school vocabulary word hunts, art projects and to place under any area where children will be gluing or using glitter.

Roll up magazines and put inside your boots to help them keep their shape.

Donate magazines to nursing or retirement homes for residents to enjoy.

Paper Towel Rolls

Empty paper towel rolls can be used to store extension cords and keep them from tangling.

Flatten an empty paper towel roll and use it as a sheath for a knife kept in your cutlery drawer to prevent cuts to you and nicks in the knife blade.

Plastic Mesh Produce Bags

Use plastic mesh produce bags as no-scratch scrubbers for pots and pans.

As bars of soap become too small to use, toss them into a plastic mesh bag. Send the soap bag off to summer camp with the kids.

Do you have great suggestions for repurposing everyday household item? Leave a comment and tell us about your great idea for saving time and money - and the earth.