Consider the Container

Since becoming a student of frugality, I have enjoyed looking at the items I buy in a whole new way. In my spendthrift days, I enjoyed buying storage containers that were dedicated to specific, and therefore limited, uses. And being the type-A personality that I am, my containers HAD TO MATCH!

Let's just say I have gotten (mostly) over that! These days, when I buy something, I pay attention to the container in which it is packaged. In fact, sometimes the container excites me more than the product itself.

I took a picture of some of my favorite re-purposed containers. Left to right:

I love gallon ice-cream buckets. I use them to store lots of things, including candy, borax (not together, hehe), and washing soda. I also use them while cleaning, both for supplies and for soapy water.

A friend game me the sour cream container with elephant garlic she had just planted. What a great, frugal container. Obviously, it is time to re-pot!

I literally giggled with delight when I saw that Wal-mart is packaging their peanuts in plastic canisters instead of the old cardboard kind. They sell those same canisters, sans the label, in the kitchen aisle for about the same price I pay for the peanuts AND the container. I am excited to collect more of these as I buy peanuts in the future. Then I will have a whole set!

Yogurt tubs make great canisters for beans or pasta. They don't hold a lot, but they are an okay size for a household of two.

Rather than buy a new spray bottle for my homemade kitchen cleaner, I waited until I was out of my store-bought cleaner and re-used that bottle. If you do this, make sure you clean the spray bottle thoroughly before adding your own cleaner, and always label the bottle clearly.

My old chicken bullion container now houses my homemade seafood seasoning mix. I might even consider drilling holes in the lid of the next one and using it for a flour shaker.

On the far right of the picture is a take-out container from our local Chinese restaurant. Not only do these make great leftover and lunch "tupperware" (they are even microwavable), but they also make great gift containers at Christmas. Fill with Snack Mix or cookies and top with a bow, and you've got yourself a nicely presented homemade gift.

How do you re-purpose old containers?