If you’re anything like me, the cost of living is really hitting right now. Nearly everything has gone up in price, including food, beauty, and fashion. However, there are so many ways we can repurpose and rethink how we use everyday household items for different purposes. If we think outside the box, not only will we be more thrifty but also more sustainable! Here are a few items you might have in your cupboard that have more uses than you might think.
COCONUT OIL: coconut oil is obviously great for cooking, frying and baking, but it has plenty of uses outside of the kitchen. Melt together solid coconut oil, a few drops of your favourite essential oil, and a light liquid oil (like almond or jojoba) to make an all-natural body balm that smells lovely. Coconut oil on its own can also be used as a lip balm or as makeup remover. Applying to dirty hair 30 minutes before washing leaves your hair feeling healthy and shiny after washing. Lastly, swish around some melted oil in your mouth for about 15 minutes to kill halitosis and cavity-causing bacteria. Coconut oil really is the renaissance man of the kitchen!
VEGGIES WITH ROOTS: If you’re thinking about throwing away that vegetable with the roots still attached, don’t! By simply placing it in a cup with water, you can “regrow” the vegetable you originally bought. This trick works great with green onions and butter lettuce.
BONE BROTH: Before chucking the carcass of the rotisserie chicken in the trash, save the bones and whatever vegetable scraps you create throughout the week in the freezer. At the end of the week, put the bones and scraps in a pot with salt and a lemon, and cover with water and boil for about 30 minutes. Once it cools down, you’ll have a highly nutritious bone broth that costs a fraction of the price in the store.
COFFEE EXFOLIANT: For a natural exfoliant for knees, elbows and feet, mix together used coffee grounds with lotion or coconut oil. Using this exfoliant gently on these areas stimulates circulation and gets rid of dead skin. As a bonus, it makes you smell like a fresh cup of coffee!