Save Big Money with These Everyday Household Items

The following are five things that save me money on a regular basis and that are easily found right in my own home -- and probably yours as well.

Cooler or Mini-cooler

If you haven't been to a concert or major sporting event lately, you might be in for a rude awakening when it comes to food and beverage prices. Here in Chicago , a beer at a major sporting event usually runs around $7, and food prices aren't much better.

Due to these exorbitant prices, a cooler can save a boatload of cash on your next such adventure. Even a softpack or mini-cooler into which you can pack a few provisions can keep you filled up and satisfied while tailgating or be great to carry in with you should your venue allow. Doing so can significantly reduce the amount you spend on food and beverages once inside.

Coolers can also make a great money saving addition to your weekend excursion or when on vacation. Treats, snack food, beverages and the likes can keep expenditures on such fare at gas stations, fast food joints, or pricey hotel restaurants to a minimum.

Empty Food Containers

Empty food containers can serve a whole host of money saving purposes. From the plastic jug your ground coffee comes in to takeout containers and those re-sealable yogurt or cottage cheese containers, these items, once washed, can serve a multitude of purposes.

Rather than purchasing containers at the store for your leftover food, consider repurposing certain clean, safe, re-sealable containers from previous food items. You can also save money by using containers as pots or liners for plants and flowers, or to hold nuts and bolts, office supplies or small toys. My mother (a college professor) even uses old yogurt containers to put paint brushes in for her painting classes.

You could probably come up with many more money saving uses for empty food containers depending upon your particular needs and creativity.

A Needle and Thread

Staples of hotel sewing kits and grandmothers' cabinet drawers around the world, the needle and thread are items almost all of us have tucked away somewhere in our homes. And while they might be small, they are powerful money saving tools.

From tailoring an article of clothing to sewing a broken button back on or stitching a small rip in a piece of luggage or upholstery, I save money each and every year through the use of these tiny, yet incredibly valuable items.

Newspapers

Contrary to what many people say, the newspaper is not a dinosaur just yet, especially when it comes to being a valuable money saving device. But it's not just the knowledge it provides or the coupons that come inside that can save you cash.

As a child, my father used to wrap my Christmas and birthday gifts in the Sunday comics, which was cheaper and more entertaining than traditional wrapping paper. Meanwhile, my father-in-law uses old newspapers as packing material for shipping his small business products. This is less costly and more environmentally friendly than bubble wrap, foam popcorn or padding. Newspaper can also be useful in gardening, serving as an addition to mulch or compost, or used for bedding purposes as a possible weed reducing and eco-friendly alternative to plastic ground liners.

Old Food

You might be wondering just how in the world old food can possibly save you money. Well, just as shredded newspaper can help create great planting soil in mulch and compost; old food can do much the same. Using this leftover material to fortify your soil can help you save money by making it easier to grow your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. It can also reduce the amount you have to spend on potting soil or mulch, and if you pay to dispose of your waste per container or by weight, might also save you money by decreasing the amount of money you spend on garbage services.

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Disclaimer:

The author is not a licensed financial professional. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For financial advice, readers should consult a licensed financial advisor. Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is solely at the reader's discretion.