We’ve all had that moment – you open your fridge, take a look in your wardrobe, or stare at your kitchen cupboards and think you’ve got nothing there you can use. But most of the time is the real problem isn’t that you don’t have anything – it’s that you’re not quite sure what to do with what you’ve already got.
The good news is that when you think about things a little bit differently, it’s possible to turn those overlooked items into something surprisingly useful, and whether you’re trying to save money, reduce clutter, or you just want to avoid having to go to the shops, making the most of what you’ve already got at home can be practical and truly satisfying. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about some amazing creative ways to use what you’ve already got at home.
Cook With What You’ve Got
It’s worth starting with the fridge because that’s a problem a lot of people have. The fact is that most of us have bits and pieces that don’t look very helpful on their own, like half an onion, a red pepper, one egg, small containers of things, and when you see those, it’s easy to assume you need more to make a decent meal, but very often you really don’t.
Instead of defaulting to takeaways or another trip to the supermarket, what about building a meal from scratch using what’s already there? Scrambled eggs are an easy one – and you can add all kinds of things to them to make them more interesting and use what’s in your fridge. Or you can do a stir fry, or make a curry, and so on. If you can learn to be resourceful in the kitchen, it’s going to help you avoid unnecessary waste and you’ll become a better cook in the process, plus you’ll always know you’ve got something to eat at any time, and that’s a useful life skill to have.
Reimagine The Clothes You Don’t Wear
Before you decide to clear out your wardrobe and donate half of it, take a moment to think. The fact is that many items can have a second life with a few changes and tweaks, or perhaps just styling them differently. Maybe you’ve got a dress that feels a bit too formal, for example – what would it look like if you added a jumper and boots to make it more casual? Or perhaps you’ve got a long t-shirt you never wear because you don’t think it suits you – it could become something you wear in bed, or you could layer it over leggings or knot it at the waist. As you can see, there are usually options.
And even clothes that have seen better days can still have a purpose. Old cotton t-shirts make great cleaning clothes, and that old jumper with a hole in the sleeve could be a good one to wear when you’re gardening or doing DIY.
Make Use Of Pantry Oddities
There’s a pretty good chance your kitchen cupboards contain a few forgotten items – cans of things you bought because they were on sale or you needed something for a recipe you never got round to, for example. And you’ve definitely got herbs and spices you only used once and now don’t know what to do with. It’s these things that might not seem all that inspiring on their own, but you could potentially combine them into something truly delicious.
You could make all kinds of dips and sauces, for example, you can make a great base for a curry, you could make something to go with pasta, and so on. In fact, a lot of great chefs love working in limited conditions like these because they’re forced to come up with tasty but ultimately very simple things, and it gives their imagination a chance to come to life, so you could do the same.
Repurpose Everyday Items
Before you throw something away, think about whether or not it could be used for something else – could it have another purpose? Glass jars, for example, are really useful and you can use them for so many things like food storage, homemade dressings, or even to organise craft supplies or DIY bits and pieces like screws and nails.
Sturdy boxes from deliveries can be fantastic for storage – big ones can be kept in the garage or loft, and smaller ones could be turned into desk or drawer organisers. In the end, there’s sure to be a space that fits them. What about old towels? Well, you can use those as well – cut them into strips for cleaning and polishing, or keep some in the hallway or by the back door and you’ll be able to clean off muddy shoes.
With repurposing things, you don’t have to become a DIY expert right away because it shouldn’t be that complicated, it’s just about looking at things from a different perspective and then changing how you use them so they’re more useful and you don’t have to throw anything away.
Think About Leftovers
This one might seem rather obvious, but it’s amazing how many leftovers aren’t eaten – even when you specifically keep them – because you don’t know what to do with them the next day. The trick is to turn them into something different rather than just eating them as they originally were, and that’s going to feel a lot more inspiring and delicious. You might even look forward to having this kind of food, and you’ll have a lot less food waste as a result.
A lot of leftover vegetables aren’t particularly nice if you just try to heat them up (or even eat them cold) the next day, but if you blend them up and add some stock and seasoning, they can be turned into a very tasty soup, for example. Leftover chicken and rice can become a delicious burrito. Even a bowl of uneaten pasta can be a nice lunch if you add some herbs or perhaps some cheese. As you can see, there are loads of things that can be done.
And you can also freeze leftovers, and if you freeze them in individual portions, you’ve got meals ready to go when you need them – and if that stops you from having to go and buy more food, whether that’s a delivery or a supermarket shop, that’s got to be a good thing. It’s this kind of creativity in the kitchen that can help you reduce waste without compromising food because you’re using what you’ve got, keeping meals interesting, and in the end, you’re also getting a lot more value from your weekly shop.
Refresh Your Space Without Buying Anything
When your home starts to feel a bit stale, the temptation is often to buy something new – a new lap or rug or a piece of art, or whatever else it is that catches your eye and makes you think you can use it to improve your home. But in reality, you might be surprised at how much difference a bit of rearranging can make, so it’s worth trying that first.
For example, you could try moving your furniture around, swapping cushions from one room to another, or even just clearing surfaces for a better overall look. What about repositioning a plant? Restyling your bookcase? Hanging artwork in a different spot? They might only be small changes, but they can create a massive new look for your home and make your space feel better, all without spending anything at all.
Use What You Have For Gifting
Next time a birthday or some kind of celebration comes round, why not take a look at what you’ve already got before you go out and spend money on something new? You could make something homemade like cookies, jam, a cake, or anything else you know the recipient would love (and if you’re making that kind of thing, you’re also potentially using up leftovers and pantry bits, so it’s a win-win). Or maybe you’ve got a book you’d like to pass on, or you frame a photo to give to someone as a lovely keepsake.
Not only can you gift things to people you already have, but you can also reuse gift bags, ribbons, boxes, and even wrapping paper if it’s in good enough condition, and all of that’s not just a practical thing to do, but it’s a sustainable one too. And of course, thoughtful gifts don’t have to be expensive and they don’t have to be brand new – sometimes the most meaningful ones are the ones you know someone would love, even if you happen to own them already.
Rediscover Old Hobbies
When you stop and think about it, there’s probably something tucked away in your home that you used to really enjoy – a musical instrument you’ve not played for a while, for example, a puzzle, a colouring book, art supplies…
So instead of buying something new to fill your time, try going back to these old hobbies because often the things you already own have plenty to offer, and since you already know how to use them and that you enjoy them, it’s going to save you time getting started as well as money. Plus, if you do your hobbies without any pressure, you’re going to enjoy them even more.
