When it comes to living frugally, one of the easiest ways to cut costs is to get creative with reusing items you already have around the house. Before tossing something in the trash, take a moment to consider if it could serve another purpose. You may be surprised at how much you can save each month by repurposing common household goods.

At i-bank, we're all about helping you make smart money moves. Here are five simple tips for reusing items to reduce waste and stretch your budget:

  1. Skip Buying Trash Bags

    Instead of purchasing expensive garbage bags, reuse plastic shopping bags or even resealable storage bags containing dry foods. Just give them a quick rinse and allow them to dry fully before reusing them as trash bag liners.
  2. Turn Old Clothes into Rags

    Don't toss out that t-shirt with a hole - cut it into rags for cleaning! Old towels, sheets, and clothing make excellent reusable cleaning cloths at no extra cost. You'll save money by avoiding purchasing paper towels or packaged rags.
  3. Repurpose Egg Cartons

    Those plastic egg cartons can find new life as storage and organization containers. Use them to sort small items like jewelry, craft supplies, and hardware, or even freeze portions of cookie dough or baby food.
  4. Cereal Bags Become Storage Bags

    Once your cereal box is empty, the inner plastic liner bag can be used to store other dry foods like rice, pasta, baking goods, and more. Some even get creative and use them as piping bags for icing!
  5. Mesh Produce Bags as Scrubbers

    Those nylon mesh bags that fruits and veggies sometimes come in make great heavy-duty scrubbers for tough cleaning jobs. You can also fill them with suet cakes to use as bird feeders.

Getting maximum use out of household items reduces your environmental footprint and keeps more money in your pocket. A little creativity goes a long way!