Anyone up for a Use it up and Don't spend January thread?

[nocutsnobuttsnococonuts]

I've sorted out my cupboards in the kitchen and bathroom today and realised I have so much stuff I have never gotten around to using and desperately need to use up.

we are on a tight budget and I seem to keep buying without using up the store cupboard stuff. I want to get to a point where we have 2/3 tins of each item and a packet of lentils/rice etc. not the 15 tins of chopped tomatoes, 4 bags of lentils and 12 soaps (Dr botanicals thanks to the bargain thread), 8 bottles of contact lenses solution I currently have!!!

we are in a smallish house and there's stuff everywhere so storing all this is ridiculous. plus I'm a terrible cook I have no idea what to do with lentils....

who's up for joining me? share your hoards and let's use up our cupboards up together 😁

Any suggestions for what to do with part used body lotions, moisturizers etc? I just have so many and apart from a basic face moisturizer I just dont use them!

wine that's lovely, good to know they've got a good home. I've probably got some that I could donate in similar fashion actually.

Katmarie any women's shelters or anything like that near you? They may take them but unlikely as they are open. Do frustrating. I've so got a bag full of moisturisers and hand creams I never use. A lot are sealed so I may be able to pop to a hygiene bank.

I need to join in with this. My food cupboards are fine so don't need using up but I have a lot of cosmetics and toiletries I need to go through and start using up. I also need to start taking food to work because I end up buying food every day.

Sounds like a productive day all round!
Made DD's birthday cake using store cupboard items; although it looked dire to me, her friends were happy with it as it was coated in chocolate Had to pay for food & treats for party but that was planned.
DS went out to nearby city & paid for travel himself - result!
Tomorrow I shall be hunting through the bottom of my wardrobe, who knows what lies beneath the jumpers & junk!

I'm definitely up for this. I need to use, eat and wear what I already have and not be spendy.

I also have a Brexit box that will need to be eaten.

@ katmarie only thing I can think of is either slather yourself in them to use them up or I know you can polish leather with body lotion so if you have leather sofas rub it on and then buff it afterwards

-kate honey Often thought there should be some sort of swaps thread maybe. I have loads of stuff including The Ordinary that have been used once that is to good to throw away.

We are doing this in the kitchen now, two store cupboard meals which went down reasonably well.

Used up the last chunk of Stilton for some sauce last night. Found some fresh salmon that I'd frozen about 8 months ago, will it still be ok? I froze it before the sell by date.

@theoldtrout01876 pork tenderloin makes lovely Viennese schnitzel!

I’m in will post properly later!

I have written down what is in my freezer which is really useful

@katmarie you can probably give your moisturisers away on olio they take non food items too, easy to do just download the app.

Yes, I am currently going through my bulging ( two) freezers and using up the stuff in them. Should only need fresh bread,milk, veg and cold meats. Really trying to pay off my credit card plus save for a holiday later in year so am meal planning. And I definitely do NOT need clothes apart from replacing undies and tights. Clothes are my downfall and I could probably open my own shop..

Nor do I need cleaning stuff apart from laundry detergent, and I only use Morrisons/Asda non bio as am allergic to everything else including Aldi's sadly.

Im in. January generally sees me doing a big 6 month household products shop but I over ordered last year and so we still have loads of everything. I've been trying to use up all my beauty lotions and potions. Im currently working through the little hotel bottles and its definitely satisfying to use them up and recycle the bottles.

We are just about to start work on our new en suite so I do have to buy stuff for that but otherwise there is no need for us to spend on anything really.

Are people using up their brexit stashes even though we still don't really know what's happening?

I'm trying a 'no unnecessary spending' in January. This will include no shoes or clothes for me and DC unless essential, no lunches bought at work, will take a pack up. Food shopping will be meal planned and only buying what we need, whilst also trying to make an effort to eat up stuff from the cupboards and freezer.

Forgot to say - bought 2 6-packs of mince pies in M&S last night, for 7p per pack. Plan on freezing them to have (with Brexit-stash custard) in a few weeks, when we've all forgotten what they taste like
So far, not spent anything today - & have sent DSS to look for furniture for his flat at a local charity centre.
Still not found the hoped-for facial moisturiser in any cupboards though.

Sorted another bag of clothes for the charity shop this afternoon, good to have a proper evaluation of what’s in the wardrobe too.

I am trying to get through my bathroom items need to sort medicines etc. out and bin anything that's gone funky

Good news I sorted the cutlery drawer bad news I went to Ikea I did buy more boxes for the kallax so kind of essential but we will ignore the fact I bought a doormat, a shoe rack and a felt pizza

@Clutterfreeintraining yep I will be replacing my brexit stuff... If I ever get to the bottom of it!

Went though the medicines yesterday, plus a coat sort out..thought kids need coats but turns out only my eldest does as perfectly decent hand me downs found hidden. Youngests coats & wellies off to a friend. ....

New year's day I attacked the junk cupboard ... All sorted, cleaned and loads for bin.
This weekend is cleaning products & makeup clear out.
Happy days.
Might have to splurge £5.99 at aldi tomorrow on a pinch of nom recipe book as also on diet...

A felt pizza? @wineandchoccy clearly an essential! I think I need one too.

I've downloaded the olio and freegle apps, and my next job is listing some stuff on those, so thanks for the recommendation :) I've put some more stuff on Ebay today, and finally got a bid on something, exciting! Dh is cooking a use it up dinner, of leftover ingredients from our new years eve dinner. And I've been dutifully munching my was through the christmas chocolate and biscuits to make sure they dont go to waste haha!

I'm in

Essentials needed and I'll try to stick to just these:

• 1x work top (one binned just before Christmas that was beyond repair), I'm operating on the minimum workwear so will have to replace.
• essential groceries only with a list.
• new socks. I really only have a few left without holes but can hopefully swap my ill-fitting trousers for socks in M&S.
• paying for kitchen appliance installation (needs an electrician)

Kids are fine for shoes and clothes bar growth spurts.

Oh and I felt pretty good after a tidy up of the kids' room resulting in finding an Ikea storage box that I was going to go and buy another one of (as I didn't think we had any spare). Saved a trip to Ikea and the temptation of all those little things to buy . Plus the kids' room is now as tidy as it's ever been and there's a huge bag for the charity shop.