About The Author:
Faylee James is a Life Coach from Northeast Tennessee, who has an above average interest in people, cooking and living life to the best of her ability. She enjoys sharing her ideas and tips on savings with others. You can find more of her thoughts at www.HassiesKitchenTable.com or read her articles at http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faylee_James.
We all have our favorite ways of finding small saving in our budgets, reusing or redoing things is one of mine.
I save the inner packaging liner from cereal boxes. I’ve used them as substitutes for plastic bags on occasion, but one of my favorite uses, is for pounding chicken cutlets. These bags are sturdy enough that I don’t break through the bag, and all the raw chicken juices are contained instead of being spread through the kitchen. When I’m done I just roll them up and throw them away, leaving counters or cutting boards to clean up.
As I live alone, I also divide my meats into personal servings, then I store those portions in my freezer. Each meat serving is wrapped, labeled, then placed into a waxed insert for extra protection against freezer burn, until I need it. A clothes pin can be used as a way of keeping the inserts closed. I use one for beef, one for chicken and another one for pork. That way I do not have to look through all the meat trying to find the chicken I need for a dinner recipe.
I use them for keeping my socks, undies and jewelry together when packing for a trip. I also, take a couple of different size empty ones in my suit case when traveling, in the likelihood I get something wet and do not want it up against my clean clothes. I simply place it in the waxed insert, fold down the top, holding the top in place with a piece of tape or a large rubber band.
I set a cereal box insert near my sink to place wet garbage into before placing it into my garbage can. It keeps flies and small animals from trying to get into the container.
The inserts can also be used as a means of transporting your leftover food items to your compost pile.
I save all sizes of these inserts and have come up with many ways to reuse them. They are durable, can be washed out and used several times before you have to discard them. Once you get into the habit of saving and using these inserts it will be hard to do without them.
Great ideas! Any suggestions on how you clean them before reusing them?
Faylee, I love this! I started using the bags, too, and then felt sort of pathetic. But you’re right–they’re strong and really useful. And to answer Annalisa, I just shake out the cereal crumbs, and don’t bother washing them. Kate
When I do wash them out, I find a damp cloth does the trick. Then I do a quick wipe with a dry towel or just leave them open to air dry. Inserts are one of the best reuse items I have found. Their uses are unlimited.
Faylee
I save the cereal liners too. I have for a number of years now. I use them to wrap individual brownies, cookies and rice krispy treats, I make care boxes for my college aged kids and they love these individual wrapped homemade items ! They look forward to the boxes and when they arrive the budget the treats and make them last almost until they get the next box. They can take them quick when they are on the run all of the time. Sometimes they find time to make a sandwhich other times they buy one while they are out during the day but if they grab a piece of fruit and one of Mom’s treats then all they have to buy is a sandwhich , until they can make it back home for supper. They often drink water and this has help them each with their college budgets as well.
I save the cereal liners too. I have for a number of years now. I use them to wrap individual brownies, cookies and rice krispy treats, I make care boxes for my college aged kids and they love these individual wrapped homemade items ! They look forward to the boxes and when they arrive the budget the treats and make them last almost until they get the next box. They can take them quick when they are on the run all of the time. Sometimes they find time to make a sandwhich other times they buy one while they are out during the day but if they grab a piece of fruit and one of Mom’s treats then all they have to buy is a sandwhich , until they can make it back home for supper. They often drink water and this has help them each with their college budgets as well. They work almost exactly like wax paper for other uses as well.