Declaring Jan. "USE IT UP" month

[annsteere]

I want to use up what is in my house before I buy something new.

We had too many little bottles of shampoo hanging around waiting to be needed for a trip. I saved one set and poured the rest into my big shampoo bottle to get used now.

I organized the freezer so I have a current inventory of what's in there and should be planned into our menu.

All gift cards are in a pile to be taken along when we go shopping. I end up with $2.58 left on a card that then takes up permanent residence in my underwear drawer. Making a special trip to ___ to use up that 2 bucks costs me money, not saves it.

I won't stop buying great stock up stuff--yesterday CVS paid me 12 cents to walk there and carry home a bottle of body wash, but I will concentrate on using what is already in my stock.

What can you think of that you can use up before buying new?

 

[sau418]

I did this last year as part of the pantry challenge and plan to do it again this year. It felt so good to get things cleaned out. We should be cleaned out just before baby comes which is perfect timing in my mind.

Shampoo and toothpaste are at the top of my list, I swear we have 5 open bottles of shampoo and everyone got new toothpaste for Christmas.

The cupboards and freezer are not too bad. I have a bunch of frozen tomato stuff that needs used from the freezer (diced, sauce, stewed). I can easily do some casseroles to use that up. The frozen halloween candy needs used too, but that will come in handy around Valentine's day to make brownies or cookies.

I have done a good job maintaining stock since we did this last year.

 

[beansmom]

i need to do this also...we have tons and tons of certain things here...free shampoo, shaving cream, razors, toothpaste. I won't have to buy these things again for YEARS...literally. We also have 2 full freezers--well, 3 really. I'm working on using up what we have and buying only fresh produce and milk and eggs. I plan to spend only minimal amounts of money this year so that we can still afford to travel.

 

[msmama]

I just went through my outside freezer this morning! Why do I have 3 containers of some chili-like substance? (Chili, chili-mac, chili with rice)

Later today is the inside freezer and cleaning out the fridge. I don't know if I can handle tackling the pantry today.

 

[hffmnheidi]

As a crafter, I am planning to use up most of the 3,000 sheets of paper I have...because I counted all my paper and came to the startling realization that I need to stay out of the craft stores and use what I have before buying anything else. I have already started on four projects for Christmas 2011 in order to use up some of that paper.

 

[Disneefun]

I was just cleaning out a closet this week and was shocked at how many notebooks I have. I'm a writer and I like to take notes longhand in spiral notebooks before I start writing on the computer. I've picked up so many over the last few years at back to school clearance events, I think my hand might break before I use them all up! Not to mention all the paper pads lying around that charities have sent me and I've picked up as freebies.

So my rule is no more notebooks, paper pads, journals, blank books, etc. until there is nothing left to write on in this house except toilet paper!

 

[Traveliz]

As a crafter, I am planning to use up most of the 3,000 sheets of paper I have...because I counted all my paper and came to the startling realization that I need to stay out of the craft stores and use what I have before buying anything else. I have already started on four projects for Christmas 2011 in order to use up some of that paper.

Not sure if this is for real or an exaggeration but it made me smile this morning...maybe because I can totally relate.

Liz

 

[hulagirl87]

Ah! I enjoy this thread. I can do this! Our bathroom cupboard could definitely fall into this category. I tend to buy a lot of things when they are on super good sale but then it takes us forever to use them. Time to slow it down! Toothpaste, lotion, and deodorant are 3 I can think of right off the bat. I'm all about a deal, but I'm running out of room in the cabinets too!

 

[MissBritt]

For those using up bath and body items, check out the B&B board on makeupalley.com... we do this every month/year there.

I also need to get to using my fabric scraps, and incorporate them into future sewing projects.

 

[annsteere]

I was just cleaning out a closet this week and was shocked at how many notebooks I have. I'm a writer and I like to take notes longhand in spiral notebooks before I start writing on the computer. I've picked up so many over the last few years at back to school clearance events, I think my hand might break before I use them all up! Not to mention all the paper pads lying around that charities have sent me and I've picked up as freebies.

So my rule is no more notebooks, paper pads, journals, blank books, etc. until there is nothing left to write on in this house except toilet paper!

When spiral notebooks got down to 15cents at Target this fall, I was really tempted. But, I still have some left from last year's back-to-school bargains. I'm working through my pile. Looks like next year I'll be ready to buy again.

 

[3boymthr]

I'm totally in on this. I need to clean out my HBA and my pantry. I have 7 open tubes of toothpaste in my bathroom cabinet. Three of them of the same kind with only a tiny amount in them. And I have a ton of lip balms. Every time the kids need one I end up opening up a new one because they've lost their old one, then I find the old one. I also noticed day before yesterday that I have 2 containers of black pepper - both open??? Yesterday I found I have 2 packages of plain white rice - again, both open. Plus I have pasta and cans and on and on. I really, really need to combine and use up all the open packages of food and HBA.

Hmmm....I think I'm going to start this project this afternoon with the toothpaste.

 

[momof1princess]

I'm totally in on this. I need to clean out my HBA and my pantry. I have 7 open tubes of toothpaste in my bathroom cabinet. Three of them of the same kind with only a tiny amount in them. And I have a ton of lip balms. Every time the kids need one I end up opening up a new one because they've lost their old one, then I find the old one. I also noticed day before yesterday that I have 2 containers of black pepper - both open??? Yesterday I found I have 2 packages of plain white rice - again, both open. Plus I have pasta and cans and on and on. I really, really need to combine and use up all the open packages of food and HBA.

Hmmm....I think I'm going to start this project this afternoon with the toothpaste.

i have a suggestion for the open white rice: take an old athletic sock, perhaps one that's missing it's mate, fill it as full of white rice as you like, tie a knot in the end. instant heating pad! just toss it in the microwave for about 2 minutes and wrap around your aching neck, arm, etc. my chiropractor gave me this suggestion.

 

[RRL38]

I am so on board with this. I can relate to almost every post.

 

[carebee21]

We're trying to do this as well. We leave for our 2 week Florida trip in about 3 weeks, so I want to try to use up most of the food in the house and grocery shop as little as possible.

I also have about 5 semi-used bottles of shower gel that I'm using before I open any of the new kinds I got for Christmas and the same for Yankee Candles. I must have at least 10-15 semi-burned ones so before I use any of the new ones I got for Christmas, I want to finish some of the half used ones.

And lastly, cleaning products. I have so many bottles and types of half used cleaning stuff. Before I buy any new stuff, I need to use what I have!!!

 

[RachaelA]

My goal is to use up all the stuff in our two freezers. We have so much frozen meat and vegetables and I just keep buying new stuff and never using the old stuff!

 

[crazelion]

I start this last year. It feel so good be able to find what looking for easily. I done for the closet, pantry, freezer, and just about everything in the house.

I about start again this year. The First place to start is my desk and computer room.

 

[QVCshopper]

There's a book Called Not Buying It. The author was on Oprah a few years ago. Anyway, ever since reading it, I've mostly stopped my stashes of stuff. Of course, the 10 cent soap at Pier One set me back, as well as 10 cent mashed potatoes, and I have too much TP b/c there was a spend $25 on P&G, get Toy Story 3 for $4. But, overall, I try to only buy what I need and can use up rather quickly. I'm tired of being an endless storage shed. Plus, I waste a lot less now, especially food.

 

[tinkarooni]

This is so funny, I started exactly this today. I am trying to free up some $$$ to work on a home project and I told DH we could probably eat for a year on what is in the freezer. He challenged me.

So tonight for my family I cleaned the upstairs freezer out and made one hamburger, 8 fried shrimp, 3 chicken fingers, 9 pierogies, two half bags of green beans, two frozen peaches, and a big pot of chicken tortilla soup made with frozen broth, dried beans, frozen corn and a bag of frozen cooked chicken. The soup rounded it all out and we will eat it tommorow for lunch.

Than I made a menu plan for the rest of the month using up what is in the freezer.

My bathroom closet may get cleaned out this weekend.

 

[Them!]

My freezer looks like I am an epic hoarder with frosty packages of who knows what.
My pantry looks like I am some sort of bean friendly survivalist.
My shower looks like we live in a crowded girl's dorm with all the half used shampoos, conditioners and samples. (there are still tiny bottles of shampoo from our Jan trip to Ft. Wilderness)

I am going to use it up! Thanks for the great thread OP.

 

[annsteere]

I've mostly stopped my stashes of stuff. Of course, the 10 cent soap at Pier One set me back, as well as 10 cent mashed potatoes, and I have too much TP b/c there was a spend $25 on P&G, get Toy Story 3 for $4.

Ouch. I hadn't even considered the 10 cent soap from Pier One. I've got that down in a make-a-gift cupboard. I pair a chocolate soap with an extra large chocolate bar for a friendly pick-me-up gift that costs less than two bucks.

I'll have to ponder whether or not I'm willing to use up all that soap before buying some Ivory.

Or, maybe, I should just make some gifts for my girlfriends and use it up that way