As 2024 comes to an end, it’s time to take a good look at your finances and look for even more ways to boost your habit of saving money in 2025. One way to do just that is to start reusing or recycling some everyday items you’ve got at home. By doing this, you can not only save money that would have been spent on new purchases, but you can also cut your expenses down regularly.
Whether you’re following through on a past resolution to cut costs and live a little more frugally or you just want to challenge yourself, here are some of the top items to reuse or recycle in the new year.
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Bread
Do you love eating bread but aren’t sure what to do with the heels? Turn them into croutons for your next salad or soup.
All you need is a food dehydrator, which you can also use to make jerky and dry fruits, vegetables and herbs and more. Simply dice the unused bread and dehydrate the pieces.
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Glass Bottles
If you’re the creative type, take those old glass bottles and turn them into works of art. You can put fairy lights inside to add to your home ambiance. Or you can use them to hold liquid soap or similar things. Just be sure to clean them carefully beforehand.
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Egg Cartons
Do you enjoy gardening and happen to have a carton of eggs in your refrigerator? If so, use those cartons to plant small seeds and start an indoor garden. Once it’s time to start planting outside, you can transplant the sprouts.
And if you don’t love gardening, you can still use egg cartons for other things. Got a room you need to soundproof? Use the cartons to add a buffer to every wall.
Specialty Grocery Bags
Some grocery stores will charge you for using their grocery bags, but if you want to live more frugally, start using reusable bags instead.
“Reusing grocery totes also saves money over time,” said Diana Howard, financial analyst at CouponBirds. “The Natural Resources Defense Council says American households use about 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year. At 5 cents each, that’s $75 a year. Sure, it’s not much right now, but it adds up with time.”
Old Rags or Towels
If you’ve got some ratty old hand towels or bath towels at home, don’t throw them out. Cut them up and convert them into rags for cleaning. This can cut down on the number of paper towels or more expensive cloths you have to get.
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Tea Bags and Ground Coffee
Before you toss out that gently-used tea bag or coffee grounds, see if you can reuse them a second or third time. In the case of coffee, you can add a few extra grounds to make the flavor bolder. It’ll be just like enjoying your first cup.
And once you’re done with your old coffee grounds, tea bag or leaves, turn them into compost for the garden.
Paper Towel Tubes
Instead of throwing away empty paper towel tubes, see if you can reuse them. For example, you can do a fun arts and crafts project with the kids. Or you can use the tubes to organize and hold your various cables or cords.
Blankets
If you’ve got some old blankets lying around, cut them up into smaller pieces and create a quilt. Or convert them into a pet bed.
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Fruit Peels
Don’t throw away your fruit peels. Instead, toss them into a pot of water and set the heat to low. Over the course of a few hours, your home will smell quite fragrant. This can save you from having to buy expensive diffusers and candles.
Alternatively, you can make infused water. Simply put the peels into a glass container and store it in the refrigerator for around 12 to 24 hours. Enjoy the flavor and get hydrated.
Mason Jars
Mason jars are great for canning or storing dry ingredients or your signature sauce. They can also be reused multiple times. And if that doesn’t appeal to you, consider putting small lights or festive decorations in them for a cheap — but pleasing — bit of home décor.
Old Clothes and Shoes
Rather than discard your old clothes or footwear, see if you can reuse or repair them. And if they’re too far gone, see if you can convert them into something else.
“You can still use clothes even if you can’t wear them,” Howard said, “like cutting up old T-shirts to use as rags for painting or using them to create reusable cleaning cloths.”
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Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes will eventually wear down and become unusable for the originally intended purpose. But you can still use them for minor household cleaning projects — like cleaning grout.
Water Bottles
Have you ever bought one of those fancy glass or hard plastic water bottles at the grocery store, like Voss? Don’t immediately throw the bottle away once you’re finished drinking it. Instead, clean it thoroughly and reuse it a few times. Or simply buy a sturdy reusable bottle or thermos and use that.
Cloth Diapers
If you have a baby, use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. Aside from cutting down on waste, this can save you a lot of money. Just make sure you properly clean them before each use.
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Sponges
Do you use sponges to clean your dishes? Rather than throw them away after a few uses, toss them into the dishwasher or a pot of boiling water to clean them. This can prolong their lifespan and save you money.
Electronics
Old electronics can be recycled, repurposed or even sold.
“Phones, laptops, tablets — they’re full of reusable materials. I always look for responsible e-cycling options where I can get a little cash back, too,” said Stacy Savage, founder and CEO of Zero Waste Strategies LLC. “In fact, here in Texas, we have laws on the books that require manufacturers of computers and TVs to ‘take back’ their products for free.”
Dishwater
If you wash dishes by hand, you might be able to use the remaining dishwater to water your plants. Just make sure it doesn’t contain anything that might do more harm than good.
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Reusable Filters
If you enjoy drinking coffee or tea, buy a reusable filter. This will save you money at the store while still letting you enjoy a hot beverage at home.
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Reusable Storage Containers
If you’ve ever baked a casserole or pie for someone and left them with the container, there’s a good chance you never got it back. Or if you did, chances are it took a long time to get it back and you already bought a replacement pan or casserole dish.
To avoid this problem and save money by getting some cheap, reusable storage containers and putting your food in those. That way, even if it takes a while to get them back, you won’t have to keep purchasing new containers.
Milk Cartons
Don’t throw away your old milk cartons. Clean them out and convert them into water containers for your garden.
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Food Waste and Used Napkins
Certain food waste, like egg shells, act as a great composting agent.
“I compost all our food scraps and yard waste, even paper towels and napkins,” Savage said. “It cuts way down on our actual garbage levels. Then, I take that nutrient-rich ‘black gold’ soil and use it to feed my garden, houseplants, whatever. Super green solution that saves money on trash fees and store-bought fertilizer.”
Dryer Sheets
Another great household item to reuse is fabric softener sheets. You might be able to use them in a second load of laundry. Or you can put them at the bottom of your trashcan to cut down on odors.
Newspaper
If you get the newspaper, don’t toss it out once you’ve finished with it. Use it in arts and crafts projects — like papier mâché. Or use it to wrap and protect small breakable items when you’re moving. Alternatively, you can use it to line a pet kennel to cut down on messes.
Furniture
Have old furniture you want to get rid of? See if you can fix it up instead.
“Upcycling furniture, such as repainting or reupholstering, can save money and add a personalized or modern touch to your home,” said Scott Lieberman, founder of Touchdown Money.
You can also buy used furniture instead of new pieces. Secondhand furniture is not only cost-effective, but it might also be more durable than mass-produced pieces.
Holiday Cards
Another way to save money is to reuse old holiday cards you’ve received. Get a little creative and cut out the parts of some of the more generic cards. Then, reshape them into a holiday-themed craft project.
Old Paperwork
Recycling old paperwork can save money and cut down on environmental waste.
“I’m big on repurposing whatever I can, too. Old paperwork gets used as scratch paper or rough drafts instead of going right to the recycling bin,” Savage said.
You might want to shred any confidential or legal documents, though.
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Bubble Wrap
You can reuse old bubble wrap in several ways. In the winter, you can tape it to your windows or doors to keep your home warm and cut down on the electricity bill. Alternatively, you can use it when sending packages or wrapping fragile items.
Bacon Grease
If you frequently cook with bacon, store the extra grease. You can use it for future dishes that normally require oil or butter, such as grilled cheese sandwiches or meaty stir fries.
Chicken Bones
If you buy chicken with the bone in, you can use the bones to make homemade chicken stock. This can cut down on grocery costs, especially if you make a lot of soups.
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Plastic Bags
“Here’s another big one — reusing stuff like plastic grocery bags as little waste bin liners or scooping out the kitty litter,” Savage said. “It keeps me from buying zip-top bags and things like that. I find ways to transform what I already have into what I need. Cuts waste and saves a ton of cash.”
Laura Bogart contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 30 Items To Reuse or Recycle More Often To Save Money in 2025
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