Sunday, March 20, 2011

Green and Frugal: 20 Uses for Toilet Paper Rolls

Here's a great post from our friends at Coupon Sherpa...

Of all the necessities in my house, two things disappear more quickly than all else: food and toilet paper.

It amazes me how quickly a house with only four people goes through TP. Such quick turnaround means plenty of empty, unloved and seemingly useless cardboard tubes. The entire situation reeks of waste (no pun intended).

In response, several manufacturers want to stop using cardboard altogether. In late October of last year, Kimberley-Clark introduced “tubeless” toilet paper rolls under the Scott Naturals brand. Packs are sold at Walmart and Sam’s Club throughout the Northeastern U.S. According to USA Today, the trend could put a serious dent in the 160-million pounds of waste created annually by toilet paper rolls: and that’s just stateside.

Until the day tubes go extinct, we’re left with the conundrum of what to do with empty rolls. As with many household products, creative types know a cardboard tube is more than the sum of it’s parts. Read on to learn 20 uses for cardboard tubes of every kind.

1. Glove Dryer
This comes straight from my childhood coat room. Place toilet paper tubes in wet gloves, attach to a hanger with clothespins and drape in the sun to speed up drying. This works miracles for skiers and snowboarders who go riding several days in a row and can’t afford eight pairs of gloves.
2. Cord ProtectorWhy pay for store-bought cord protectors when they’re typically relegated to life behind furniture? Split long tubes up one side, cut into various lengths, and slip cords inside to keep them neatly organized.

The benefits go beyond aesthetics. This trick protects cords from pets and children with curious mouths, as well as clumsy feet.

3. Kindling
A favorite trick of penny-pinching outdoorsmen; Keep several toilet paper tubes on hand to kick-start a fire. Cardboard isn’t as easy to light as paper but, once it catches, it burns longer.

This is a good solution for backpackers as well and one I use on week-long excursions. Pack tubes with small sticks, lint and newspaper for several night’s worth of homemade fire-starter kits. Wrap them individually in plastic grocery bags to protect from rain.

4. Maracas and Rain Sticks
Maracas and rain sticks are a mainstay of the kindergarten set. Take several tubes of various lengths, fill halfway with beads or dried beans, and duct tape the ends securely. Beige makes an ideal canvas for kids to later decorate with paint, crayons or glitter.

5. Quick Travel Storage
Use paper-towel rolls to wrangle underwear and toilet-paper tubes to store pantyhose or dress socks. It’s a convenient trick that also saves cash. As an added bonus, you’ll avoid the dreaded “whitey-tighties on the tarmac” scenario.

6. Compost Aeration
Ashes to ashes, cardboard to mulch. Cut tubes into small sections and throw in your compost pile. The cardboard decomposes rather easily while creating pockets for much-needed air. If your compost is starting to stink or attract flies, use this as a quick fix. Small chunks can also be tilled into garden soil.

7. Seedling Starter Pots
Home-growing is a favorite of frugal folk everywhere. Cut cardboard tubes in 2-inch sections, place into rows in a large foam container, fill empty tubes with soil and plant seedlings. This works well for gardeners looking to cut the price of store-bought starters or those who simply like to do it all on their own.

8. Christmas Wreath
There’s no problem decking the halls with recycled cardboard, but try and spruce it up a little beforehand. Bend two wire hangers into a large circle and slide toilet paper rolls along the wires. Glue or tie the tubes securely, close the wire loop, and decorate as you like. Ideas abound on how to create a festive piece. Browse examples from Good Housekeeping for a simple starter.

9. Grocery Bag Holder
A double-dose of reuse. Poke holes in the top of a long tube, lace with string, and hang in your pantry. Stuff with plastic grocery bags for later use.

10. Hamster Toy
Hamsters and gerbils are easily entertained. Drop a long or short tube in their cage as a tunnel. The cardboard can also be torn into bits and used as a cage liner or chew toy. Seriously, it doesn’t take much to make them happy.

11. Candle Storage
Place tall candles in paper-towel tubes and votive candles in toilet-paper rolls to keep them organized and intact. Empty tubes are the perfect width and height for both. Coincidence? Probably, but no less convenient.

12. Document and Poster Protector
Transport fragile papers without folding, tearing or bending. Roll them gently and place inside a tube cut to the appropriate length. In my college days, this was a staple of the annual moving routine.

13. Clothes Hanger Cover
Dress pants can be obnoxious to store without a mandatory trip to the dry cleaners. Split a paper towel tube length-wise, lay over a wire hanger and tape in place. Drape your pants over the tube to keep relatively crease-free.

14. Knife Sheath
Flatten a tube of the appropriate length and wrap tightly in duct tape, making sure to thickly cover the sheath bottom. I have many frugal (aka broke) camping buddies with a kitchen’s worth of thrift store knives in cardboard sheaths.

15. Craft Organizer
Rather than let crayons, pencils and other craft supplies roll around unorganized in plastic boxes, cut cardboard tubes into sections and place them inside with the open ends up. It’s a simple solution when teaching young ones to respect their things and keep your home neat.

16. Bird Feeder
Turn your backyard into a topiary with the leftovers from your bathroom. Cover tubes of various sizes in peanut butter, sprinkle with bird seed, and hang from low-lying branches with string or wire.

17. Packing Material for Glassware
Moving mounds of glassware from house to house is nerve-wracking. Line the bottom of a cardboard box with long tubes cut to fit snugly and place drinking glasses in the rows. Separate further with toilet-paper rolls between each glass.

I learned this nifty trick after an old roommate threw away the box I used to transport drinking glasses. Improvisation isn’t just for musicians.

18. Linen Storage
Before relegating fine linen napkins to a musty drawer, wrap around a cardboard tube to keep crease-free until the next time dinner is deemed linen-worthy. It could be years.

19. Christmas Light StorageLooking for a way to use empty wrapping-paper tubes? Save the cardboard rolls until after the holidays and wrap strings of lights tightly around the outside. You’ll be a happy elf next year when the lights aren’t a tangled mass in a too-tiny box.

20. Boot Tree
Boots and shoes with soft or floppy tops need support when foot-less. Cut a longer tube to the appropriate length and place inside during storage. It holds the shape and prevents permanent creases and cracks.
How do you use your toilet paper roll?


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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Green and Frugal: Give a Little Love



 
Last month the Love Drop Team raised over $13,000 (and 3 iPads!) to help two little boys with autism receive a service dog. They were beyond touched, and we did this in only 1 month - that's it. Everyone came together and gave a few bucks each to impact one family's life. If you were a part of it, THANK YOU! You can check out the final video of us showing up to their house here - it's pretty cool!

This month we start all over again and rally behind Katie, a single mom out in Dallas battling not only two brain tumors so far (she's knocked out one, and currently working on the other), but who's also dealing with hydrocephalus. We'd love to bring the community her way, and make a huge dent in her medical bills.

Wanna help? Here are 3 ways we could use you:
  1. Give $1.00 - This is the best way to help out and join our team at the same time.
  2. Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.
  3. Give a gift or provide a service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Safeway, gas stations, etc would definitely help them out.
Thanks for reading! Here's to love, baby.

 

 
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Book Review: The Cheapskate Next Door

Being a true closet cheapskate, I borrowed this book from the library. LOL! I was looking at the new releases and couldn't help myself.  The back cover of The Cheapskate Next Door described "all-new secrets for how to live happily below your means."

Here is the table of contents:

1 - The Frenology of Frugality
2 - Good Habits are Hard to Break
3 - Money Management, Cheapskate Style
4 - The Oxygen Mask Approach to Raising Kids
5 - Thrift
6 - Clean Your Plate...and Save $1,500 a Year
7 - Come on and Take a FREE Ride
8 - We Can't Retire, We Went Out to Dinner Instead
9 - The Joys of Horse Trading
10 - Break the Mortgage Chains That Bind Thee
11 - Bon Appe-cheap!
12 - Don't Laugh. It Gets Me There...and It's Paid For
13 - Cheapskates Come Out of the Closet
14 - Insurance
15 - Cheapskates Just Wanna Have Fun
16 - Back to the Future?

While The Cheapskate Next Door was a somewhat entertaining read, I didn't feel like I walked away enlightened with all new tips and tricks on how to save money.

I was a bit put off in the opening when author Jeff Yeager described how he completed his book tour by staying on people's couches versus spending money on hotels. Hence, the material for this book. The advice is for hardcore cheapskates, not those who may just dabble.

Would I recommend this book? If you're just starting out on learning how to cut back and save money, I'd say it would be helpful. If you pride yourself on being a cheapskate, I don't think you'll find anything here that you aren't already doing.

Have you already read The Cheapskate Next Door? What did you think?
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Green and Frugal: Let's Give Thoughts, Prayers and Aid to Japan

Giving gratitude for what you have each day is important. Nothing brings that appreciation to the forefront more than having to sit on the sidelines when a natural disaster hits. It's so incredibly sad and disheartening to see the devastation Japan has endured.

So this morning my two children are complaining and whining about how they can't believe that regular Cheerios are the only cereal there is to eat. They're droning on and on. Meanwhile, behind them are videos and images of the sheer power and destructive force of the earthquake, flooding, tsunamis and all of the turmoil that comes along with these types of natural disasters. I finally yelled at them: "Do you see what's on TV? There are people whose homes have been demolished or swept away. They don't have Cheerios, let alone a house! Do you realize how grateful you should be that you have a roof over your head and food to eat?!" It's so frustrating to try and instill some gratitude into two children who, while not super-spoiled, do get the majority of anything they want.

But I digress. The purpose of this post is to appreciate what you have, but to also try and give something to those less fortunate. Right now that's the people of Japan. With that, here are some reputable agencies:

In response to the quake, The Red Cross has already launched efforts in Japan. Visit Redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone.

International Medical Corps is responding to the health needs of the disaster's victims.  To donate or learn about other ways you can contribute to its medical response, visit http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/. Also, text MED to 80888 from any mobile phone to give $10.

The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund was launched at GlobalGiving.org to garner funds that will be given to a variety of relief organizations helping victims of the earthquake. It has already raised over $100,000, particularly from concerned Twitter users around the world.

Remember to be grateful for what you have (and teach your children to do the same). Give what you can and be sure to keep the people of Japan in your thoughts and prayers.

 
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Green and Frugal: Celebrate Spring with 3 Eco-ideas

The thermometer may still register freezing, but the calendar says spring is on its way.

So whether daffodil stems have barely pierced the dirt or have already popped open where you live, here are five eco-friendly ways to dump the winter blahs and celebrate spring.

Why are they eco-friendly?

They don't require buying.

They produce no waste.

They have no impact on the Earth.

1. Plan an afternoon outside

Hunt for signs of spring. See who can find the most.

Dye silks that kids love to use for play.

Take a book about trees and identify as many as you can. Take a sketch book and let everyone draw the different trees.

Making bark rubbings using crayons.

Collect rocks to use for crafting.

Play clothespin tag and other tag games.

Build a shelter from things you have lying around.

Create an obstacle course from natural materials, for example, rocks and branches.

2. Create!

Look around your house and gather materials that you can use to make spring collages. Papers of all kinds of course, costume jewelry, even nuts and bolts. Give everyone a piece of cardboard, then glue the items on to make flowers or other spring images.

Make birdhouses cardboard or scrap lumber. The former can be hung outside in protected areas or kept inside as a reminder of spring.

Hand-make a book featuring quotes about spring.

Make up a play, song, puppet show or skit with a spring theme.

Paint or wrap paper around cans that you can fill with flowers or blooming branches when the time is right.

Make flower pins using felt you can easily make from old wool sweaters.

3. Go a little crazy! (You've just been through a long winter, it's OK!)

Eat breakfast under the dining table.

Stage a backwards dinner (insist that no one will get their broccoli unless they eat their dessert).

Make faces with your food.

Make flour finger paints then "finger paint" with your feet!

Exchange roles for a meal. Put everyone's name on a piece of paper (remember to recycle). Each person chooses. Whomever they get, they assume that role during dinner.

No matter your age, try standing on your head (with help and against a wall still counts).

Put on some springlike music and dance 'til you drop!

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors ofCelebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at http://www.celebrategreen.net/


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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Discover Love Drop & Micro-Giving

I recently discovered Love Drop, which is a micro-giving network of people who unite as a community to help one person or family a month. For as little as $1, Love Drop makes it easy to change lives in a fun and tangible way. Each month Love Drop delivers a unique combination of unexpected financial gifts, personal encouragement and the support of local and online communities.





Last month the Love Drop Team raised over $13,000 (and 3 iPads!) to help two little boys with autism receive a service dog. They were beyond touched, and we did this in only 1 month - that's it. Everyone came together and gave a few bucks each to impact one family's life. If you were a part of it, THANK YOU! You can check out the final video of us showing up to their house here - it's pretty cool.

This month we start all over again and rally behind Katie, a single mom out in Dallas battling not only two brain tumors so far (she's knocked out one, and currently working on the other), but who's also dealing with hydrocephalus. We're teaming up with folks at Blissdom this month to not only bring the community her way, but to make a huge dent in her medical bills.

Wanna help? Here are 3 ways:
  • Give $1 - This is the best way to help out and join our team at the same time.
  • Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.
  • Give a gift or provide a service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Safeway, gas stations, etc would definitely help them out.
Thanks for reading! Here's to love, baby.


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