Saving Money Little by Little: #7 - Reusing Glass Jars

As indicated in the title of this post, another easy way the hubs and I save money is by reusing glass jars. Jelly, salsa, spaghetti sauce, etc. all come in great glass jars that are perfect for other uses.

I started out saving glass jars because I had run out of plastic containers (Tupperware, Gladware, you know). I needed something else to put food in but didn't want to pay for more plastic. I was also aware that plastic wasn't the best place to be storing our food in the first place but found that buying glass storage containers was going to become pretty pricy, pretty quick.

That's when I started saving glass jars.

I'll admit that it took a little bit to get used to. Isn't it strange how we become accustomed to doing things a certain way? But, after a while, I really liked what the glass jars had to offer:

• They're glass. No chemicals, no BPA fuss, no worries.
• The lids seal tight. Every time.
• They come in all different sizes. Spaghetti jars hold big stuff, olive jars hold little stuff.
• I can put them in both the freezer and the microwave (lids off, of course).

Frozen jars of chili and "sloppy joe, slop, sloppy joe." (Thank you, Adam Sandler.)

• They're clear so I always know what's in them. 

Leftover corn off the cob, cuh-learly.

• And they're free. If one breaks or gets left at a friends house, it will easily be replaced the next time we finish our orange marmalade (that stuff is so good).

It was a match made in heaven.

My sister came up a few weeks ago and told me that, while she was in the Dominican Republic last spring, the people there use jars for everything as well. Specifically for their drinks.

I've definitely seen people use glass jars for their drinking cups but I had never thought about it as an alternative to a water bottle.

I really should be less lazy and goo-gone the leftover adhesive from the labels... but that hasn't happened.

I started putting my water in leftover jelly jars and they're awesome.

• Again, lids seal tight. I haven't had the slightest leak yet. 
• They fit perfectly in the cup holders of our cars.
• And they're super easy to clean.

I'm one of those people who's seriously grossed out by mold. In most water bottles, it seems nearly impossible to clean out all the little corners, crevasses, spouts, and straws. The thought of fun, green friends potentially growing in them keeps me from putting anything other than water in those containers. The jars, however, have no hard spots to clean. Arnold Palmers and homemade iced coffees now accompany me on many outings (which is actually not such a good thing because I really should be drinking more water but they just taste so dern good).

Mr. Arnold, in the flesh.

Obviously, if we were going on a hike, I wouldn't use the jars - too heavy. But for most other purposes, they're really useful. I use them in other areas of the house as well: buttons, thread, etc.

Convenient, free and gets the job done. Seems like a good deal to me!

Oh, and bonus: they fit perfectly in the side pockets of Abilene's diaper bag.

Please excuse my water-retaining, 38 1/2 week pregnant hand.

Abilene's cool with me using some of her storage. She told me.

She also likes to completely upend reorganize her bag every day regularly.

No, there aren't Cheerios all over the kitchen floor. I don't know what you're talking about.

 I just like to tell myself that she's going to be a problem-solver some day.

Apparently, she likes to tell herself that too.

So that's number 7! If you're looking for other little ways we save money, you can do so by clicking here!