4 ways to make your belongings last longer
We’re all looking for ways to save money. You buy the multipacks at the grocery store because they’re cheaper than the singles. You walk as much as you can to decrease your fuel consumption. You negotiate with the car dealer to get a cheaper quote.
However, many of us forget about the small things we can do in our homes to save money. Making your belongings last longer is the perfect way to get more bang for your buck, and this can be achieved with some simple home DIY jobs. You might need to apply a fresh coat of paint to your furniture, make small changes to your floorboards, or replace small car parts.
Here are some quick and easy ways you can extend the lifespan of your belongings to decrease the need for replacements and reduce your overall expenses.
1. Buy items made with durable materials
If you’re a sucker for a large, shiny ring, or you enjoy incorporating a touch of elegance into your home décor, have you ever stopped to consider the specific materials of your jewellery or accessories? We all know that gold and silver are the standard materials for many items, but they are not always the most durable.
Bronze and brass are long-lasting, easy to clean metals that look stunning as part of a ring or necklace. With the malleable nature of a brass sheet, it can also be used for several household accessories such as ornaments, dining ware, and furniture handles. By choosing more durable options such as brass, your belongings will last for decades to come.
2. Cut your sponges in half
Two is always better than one. To save buying a new pack of sponges every few weeks, cut them in half to make each one last twice as long. This is a super simple, yet very effective method of saving yourself some money.
3. Reuse your candles
Once your candle has reached the end of its wick, what do you do? Most people throw the whole jar and any remaining wax in the bin, rendering it useless. However, you can easily scrape the leftover wax out of the jar, remove the bottom of the wick, and clean out the candle jar to reuse in the future. There are multiple things you can do with your empty jar, such as keeping it for a brand-new candle or using it to hold your jewellery.
Place your candles in the freezer for 24 hours prior to lighting them to make them burn for longer too!
4. Make your toiletries last longer
Store your shampoo and conditioner bottles upside down when they get towards the end of the bottle and give them a good shake before use. This way, you’ll get every last drop and you’ll save some serious money in the long run! You can also do this with your condiments in the kitchen.
Cut the top of the toothpaste tube off to scrape out the last bits. This trick works for pretty much any soft plastic tube or bottle.
Save yourself buying new hand soap every month by mixing it with water. This is going to make a standard bottle of soap lasts twice as long.
