Despite my husband's concerns that I'm becoming an episode of Hoarders, I like to save the waxed paper bags from cereals and other boxed foods. I use them when I microwave frozen veggies and other small dishes. I just slip the bowl into the waxed bag and fold the excess under the bowl to create a steam bag. I don't need to use any water with the frozen veggies, making them healthier.
And, you can wash them out and use them again. Yes, I said, use them again. Why not? It's only veggie steam that's come in contact with the bag. I just rinse it out with very hot tap water, turn it upside down in the dish-drying rack, and there you go.
I don't like using plastic cling wrap in the microwave, so this is a better alternative. And best of all, it's free and keeps some junk out of the landfills for a while. There are lots of other uses for these bags if you give it some thought.
Really frugal or really cheap? You decide.
By ~gloria from Western NY
Check out these photos.
I save the wrappers the crackers come in, because they're a wax paper. I use them to wrap sandwiches for lunch and to wrap meat when I buy a large package of meat like chopped meat.
I recently helped a friend clean her kitchen during a surgery recovery. While she was chatting with me, I gathered some cookie and cake containers for recycling. I snagged them for my own use.
By cutting my kitchen cardboard empties into 3 different star sizes, then stacking them I now have "chunky stars" to use in decorating. I fasten them with glue or tape, and paint them and add glitter or cover with pretty paper to disguise them from their original state.
