Being smart about money and reducing waste when it comes to your home go hand in hand, and I for one am definitely paying more attention to stuff like this as the cost of living goes up! I’ve put together a list of things I’ve been doing around the house to save money and be a bit more sustainable, so read on…

Save hotel toiletries for your guests…

My husband always makes fun of me for this, but if you have a big family that visits a lot, this really does help out! I love having toiletries available for guests in case they forget something or don’t want to travel with a lot of stuff, and using the ones you get for free during hotel stays is a great way to save a bit! Plus, I never really use hotel toiletries myself since I always bring my own, so using them for guests it’s a nice way to reduce waste.

Reuse old candle jars…

You know I’m a huge fan of Anthropologie’s Volcano candles! They always come in such pretty jars (& the price definitely reflects that!) so reusing they jars after the candle is done makes the investment even more wise IMO!

My tip for getting the leftover wax out of candle jars? Stick them in the freezer for several hours, then gently use a butter knife to pop the wax out. It comes out a whole lot easier this way!

I use my leftover candle jars for cotton ball storage in the bathroom, or a place to put all those extra buttons that come with clothes (like in the photo!). You can even use them as pretty votive holders! Here are my favorite Anthropologie Volcano candles for you to shop (&then reuse!)…

Clean out jam jars and use them for storage…

Jam usually comes in robust glass jars with nice lids, especially if you’re a fan of Bonne Maman jam like we are, so it’s kind of a shame to just throw them out after use! Once your preserves are spent, stick the jar and lid in the dishwasher and reuse. I love storing things like homemade beauty concoctions, beads, coins, salsa, and so many other things in my leftover jam jars!

Buy refillable soap dispensers…

(cheaper to buy refills in bulk than individual dispensers & less waste)

My favorite hand soap, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day in Rain Water scent, costs a little over $7 for the 33oz. refill size at Walmart as opposed to a little over $4 for the individual dispenser at 12.5oz. This makes it 21 cents per ounce for the bulk size as opposed to 35 cents per ounce for the individual pump bottle. Buying an inexpensive reusable soap dispenser (like this one from Target!) can help cut down not only on costs, but also plastic household waste, in the long run!

Buy food in bulk and freeze leftovers…

I’m a huge fan of shopping at Costco because you can buy food in bulk for much less than at the grocery store in most cases! One of our favorite things to do is buy mozzarella cheese in bulk at Costco, then vacuum pack portions to freeze for later. This way, we always have it on hand and it costs less than individual ones at the grocery store! PS – a vacuum packer for food is one of the best kitchen essentials! A bit of an up front expense but it’ll help you effectively store food when you buy in bulk! Here’s the one we use…

I hope these tips help you save money at home while reducing your overall waste! Drop a comment below with your money saving home tips, I’d love to hear them!

Xx Tabi