My pantry is hodge podge of old biscotti containers and salsa jugs. I am all about repurposing the plastic (yes, I know plastic is not great for you, but I figure by the time I’m old enough for it to do it’s damage, I’ll be dead anyway—in the meantime, I’ll save the earth) and making things functional. I also reuse plastic jugs to water plants and mix fertilizer.

I make my own spice mixes and reuse plastic spice shaker containers to dispense my own mixes. What other hacks do you use? I’m a real junkie for household hacks—child of a survivor of The Great Depression. My mama’s stories were never lost on me as far as making things last. Though she would be scandalized at how much I waste. My next focus after gardening is to cut down on waste, especially food waste. Welcoming more ideas.

Our local water company had 2 major breaks and 2 minor ones in less than 2 years. I boiled water after those. I tasted the water out of the tap, and even though the co. said it was safe, it didn't taste good. So I boil water almost every day, a gallon or so. I'll buy jugs if I'm having company and then save the jugs for my use. When they get close to the expiration date, I replace them. I try to reuse, recycle or wear it out.

You do a lot to recycle and keep it out of the landfills. Thank you

My husband buys gallons of drinking water when he goes on a disc golf trip. He brings home the empties and we refill them with the water from our water purifying system. I stash these for emergencies for for his next trip. The water is always delicious. I have researched this...the water doesn't expire as long as you put it in a clean container.

With large juice containers, we refill them with regular tap water, freeze them and use them for ice chests.

When I buy chicken breast at the store I get the family size package which is usually priced less per lb.

Maybe twice a month I put a package of the chicken breast into my crockpot along with some garlic, onion, seasoning, etc. then cover it with chicken broth and cook on low for 4 hours. When it’s done, I shred it up for a dinner recipe for that night and divide and pack up the remaining shredded chicken and broth into 2 or 3 freezer containers and put them in the freezer. They come in handy for making soup.

I like your storage idea and your rice idea, Marthe. 🙂

I buy the family pack of chicken, too. I cut the breasts into bite-size pieces, repackage, and freeze them raw. I can thaw a pack and when I make dinner, add it to the skillet, and there's no messy chicken to clean up. I try to time the purchase and repackaging to the store wrap can go out with the trash. If trash day is a few days away, I keep stuff that might get smelly (or lure animals to my outdoor trash can) on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Not for so long the fridge needs decontaminated. lol

When my husband brings fish home from Lake Erie and fillets them, he bags up the garbage and puts it in the freezer until trash day.

I have a Food Saver for the fillets.

...but when I buy one of those roasted chickens from Costco, I'll eat the pieces I want then dump the rest in the pressure cooker with some water. I cook it about 20-30 min (lately I've been doing it in the Instant Pot--easier), let it depressurize naturally. The meat just falls off the bones and the bones basically disintegrate--except for the leg and thigh bones. I remove those, use the broth (add more water if needed to make 2.5 cups) and meat with a cup of rinsed brown rice, a half cup of steel cut oats, a couple of diced carrots, a cup of frozen green peas and a cup of frozen green beans (sometimes I add 1 cup chopped cabbage). I cook it about 10 min under pressure. This is food for my dogs. They are in hog heaven! Dog food is getting really expensive but this helps keep costs down. You may have to adjust proportions...I rarely measure--but I think they're about right.

I just used up most of it for canning. I save all kinds of jars for storage.

When measuring something sticky like molasses or peanut butter. Slides right out.