100 things I NO LONGER BUY as a MINIMALIST (eco-swaps for wasteful habits) 

What else do YOU no longer buy?

I had no idea I was so advanced in my thinking, but it turns out that I've done most of the things you do for MANY years. I'm 72 years old and cannot abide waste. I make my own laundry soap (58 cents a gallon), which is much better than Tide or All -- even removes marinara stains from placemats and white linen napkins. Western use of soap nuts has driven up the price in India and Bangladesh, so they're not an ideal choice. Weather permitting, I hang my laundry to dry, but when I must use the dryer, I recently discovered that just one dryer ball does the trick nicely -- shared the other one in the pack with a neighbor. I don't buy wrapping paper, since it's not recyclable or compostable -- just decorate brown paper or stitch up gift bags for all my gifts. I capture tap water in a bucket when I'm waiting for hot water to reach the spigot in the shower, then hold onto it for flushing. I stitched up flannel kitchen cleaning wipes years ago, but still use paper towels for greasing baking pans -- nothing else works as well. A roll of paper towels lasts 11 months. I bake my own bread -- 20 cents a loaf. I also stitched up flannel wipes to use when I empty my bladder -- toilet paper is for more extensive cleanups. I cut washcloths from a rag-bin bathtowel, then made cotton strips from a rag-bin sheet to bind them with. The towels were threadbare on the edges, but still had plenty of wear in the body. If I need a household, clothing, or gift item, I check a local thrift store first. I make my own vanilla and almond extract, cream cheese and condensed milk. Of course, I don't eat meat. My daughter thinks of me as an escapee from a hippie commune, and I know I'm rather quirky, but it works for me. I live VERY comfortably on exactly half of my poverty-level Social Security income. Next, I'm going to try your DIY peanut butter!

I don't do zero waste. However everytime I see balloons I get so angry because they're so pointless and wasteful and bad for the environment.

I know this comment is coming a bit late, but I enjoyed this video immensely. Thank you for all the great ideas! One additional idea for people looking for higher quality clothes. We go to the thrift shops, second hand and consignment. It's easy to see the clothes that's going to get destroyed after the first wash when it's already been washed!

I love when helping your wallet AND the planet go hand and hand! Great video!

I won’t ever be “zero waste” or “minimalist” the way they are defined in modern culture, but I do try to only buy things that I will thoroughly use or truly want (I overthink many purchases lol) and have begun making a concentrated effort in the last two years to buy plastic free/reusable alternatives to consumables. Overall to me it is a process and while I try to be conscious of it and am getting better I also don’t stress about when I do use plastic.

I just find hair ties on the ground too lol. They find me.

I don’t want to go zero waste BUT I’m always looking for small things that not only save me money but also reduce waste this video was very helpful

My Chinese aunt makes seitan, she puts it in a bowl and covers it with a tea towel. Also I love how many people think they need cooking spray, it isn't even a thing in Germany. We use these silicone brushes (tbh I use my hands sometimes) and put butter with them on the baking dish.

For the makeup removing issue- using a fabric like microfiber to remove makeup does visibly remove most of the makeup but it isn't really getting it completely off your skin. However a great alternative or addition is to use olive or coconut oil as oils break down oils in makeup and will really get it all off. After that follow with your soap or cleanser. This is basically the same as the double cleansing method a lot of skincare enthusiasts use, but without the packaging that comes with buying oil based cleansers (However for people with sensitive skin conditions like me (rosacea), i still use specially formulated oil cleansers since olive and coconut oil severely upset my skin but they're tolerable for most people!)

For gifts, I put a clue in a card, which leads to a treasure hunt. Their gift will be hidden somewhere, not wrapped. Sometimes while they are deciphering the clues I’ll be hiding their gift.

I love this but one thing is the Jars. As someone who cans to save money and food waste I did have to buy some jars due to most jars I get (when buying something) not being able to fit the canning lids. You also can’t re-seal the jar lids that come on custom jars from companies.

Your all purpose cleaner that you make actually has disinfecting/sanitizing properties in it Just gotta leave it on/let it sit longer especially for bathroom stuff

I like to take the logo shirts and repurpose them into a quilt blanket. Lovely piece of family history and warmth

You should make quilts with all your event t shirts it’s a good way to get a second use out of them. You could also use the scraps to make rags

I love how instead of just telling us to go vegan and stuff she gives us alternatives and is encouraging. I can't be vegan (low iron and some other issues) so having these options to help the environment and stay health is amazing!!

Not that you need it, but if you do make bundt cakes from time to time, you can totally use the pan for other things. You can bake any cake in it, including angel food, you can bake brownies, quick breads, puddings, casseroles. You can also use it as a mold for gelatin or frozen fruit desserts. Just saying, if you have a pan that you think is single use, try using it for something else. It could become your favorite item once you stop thinking of it as a specialty item.

I am super weird about books. I can't focus if it's on a screen for some reason. If you're like me, thrift books is great! They have most books for super cheap, and even their fair is pretty good. Plus it's cool to find other people's notes.

the amount of money that you are saving is phenomenal!

No fabric softener or dryer sheets here, don’t have a dryer, put it on the line to dry (UK and have a garden). I buy TRU Earth, sheet laundry detergent, it works really well for me. Same with you I don’t buy tonnes of cleaners, we have a washable mop head too and use rags for everything from old t shirts etc. I use a shampoo bar soap, and bar for face soap hand soap. Ive sold a lot of nail polish and just have a few bottles left. I have a period cup, It’s a game changer. Love it. Your idea about hair elastics is great. I see loads out running and it’s a litter pick too.

You can make your own toothpaste and keep it in a glass jar. Coconut oil, baking soda and mint essential oil. You can get very small glass jars like number one baby food jars for travel toothpaste. I have used ads that come in junk mail or even magazine catalog pages that come in junk mail as gift wrap. You can use paper bags and decorate them yourself as well. There are also online groups that you can join to give and ask for things you might need for free. This is a good way to give away things that are not donatable- maybe they are damaged or have stains.

This is an excellent list! Thanks for shedding some light on the things I own or buy

Very informative, gets the creative juices flowing! But... conditioner (and several more products) is a must for the curly girls!

Thank you for including the blog with the written list that really helps

In addition to them, i quit coffee filters, replaced with a cheese cloth i had at home. And the most important one is i learnt to make soap at home that i use for everything: laundry dishwashing, cleaning... it helped me reduce a lot of waste

I've had one roll of plastic wrap last me about 20 years. I never use it to cover dishes that go in the refrigerator. You can use pot lids or plates to cover bowls. You can use an inverted bowl or cup to cover something on a plate.

Love it, thank you for mentioning a stain removing bar instead of the bleach.

I know not everyone can do this, but you can make a quilt from thoses t-shirts. I had a trunk of all the concert tees that I knew I would never wear again and made one. Sure, you buy stuff to make the quilt, but then you have something special that you take care of. (I mean, if you already have the shirts.)

This was a lot, but I really needed the reminder 🙏🏼 I salute you for your strength

Pam cooking spray is basically lighter fluid. Use butter or olive oil instead it’s so much better

Love all your swaps! I’m really working on this! I’m doing well but getting the family on board is not so easy lol thx girl

Hot tip! If you have blemish-prone skin and you're not using a commercial zero-waste oil cleanser to remove makeup (or reusable make-up remover cloth/pads), go with sunflower oil specifically, as the fatty acid profile is safe for blemish-prone skin (oily skins usually prefer it too). The reason is that it's mostly linoleic acid and has very little stearic acid. Sweet almond oil, as featured, is particularly good for dry to normal types, due to the higher oleic acid ratio. Avoid coconut oil for makeup remover unless it really works for you, because it tends to leave residue and is comedogenic. Hemp seed oil is another good alternative to sunflower seed oil--but that's definitely easiest to get! Whether a separate facial cleanser is necessary is totally up to the individual. Some skins are much trickier to manage than others. My skin is high maintenance, so I pretty much need a separate one. In general, even if you use the same cleanser all over, it's best to find one that's pH-balanced for facial skin, so slightly acidic. You can use a facial or cleanser all over, so that can be the best option. A lot of regular soaps have a very high pH, which tends to strip skin, but it also depends on the type of soap you're buying in the first place. But again, it honestly depends on how much difficulty you have with these things in the first place. TSE has incredibly gorgeous skin without the high maintenace! I just find that zero-waste care for blemish-prone or reactive skin is really not out there, so I wanted to share some pointers. I've definitely seen a lot of folks try things like coconut oil and regular soap and then breakout terribly, deciding that nothing works for them. Sunflower seed oil and Cetaphil bar soap (just as an example--it's not what I use) will go down so much better!

The amount of things that are individually wrapped in plastic wrap drives me up the wall.

I could never tell my friends to bring their own cutlery or reuse found hair ties 😮, but I appreciate all your other tips. Especially the apple cider vinegar…it’s so expensive why am I not making it! I make my own cleaning spray. Water soaked in lemon or Orange peel, a drop or two of dish soap, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and mint oil. Smell so good and really works! And yes, please make sanitary products video please. 😊

Some very interesting tips there. I'm into recycling and would like to be more zero waste so I love your blog.. I'd be interested in trying my own cleaning products and trying your homemade broth recipe 😊

These are incredible swaps!! I use almost every one of these things, and they help so much!👏Other swaps I love are my LastSwab reusable cotton swab and my stainless steel tongue scraper.

Good evening I am new here! I love your rant! I mean that in a good way! You gave a lot of things to think about. We just moved 1800 miles from home to buy a fixer upper for less money than a new car. We are debt free and mortgage free. We downsized quite a bit before moving of course but there is always room for improvement right! I already have a lot of mason jars but I do use them to store my flour sugar spices etc! I make my own jam and will be canning veggies etc from our garden this fall. I also save any glass jars I get and if I can get the smell out I give them to hubby for his shop. He will screw the lid to the shelf so the jar dangles and he can see what is inside! I also do the onion in the water. I just cut a bunch yesterday and dehydrated it. We like using it as a topping for our baked potatoes! I love that you use old veggie cans as planters what a great idea! I just used some to make a rocket stove the other day! I saw a RU-vid video on it lol!

Great tip with the frozen fruit and lemon for jam. I'll try that.

things i’ve cut out: -milk (i just don’t like it and use almond milk) -sponges(we use a brush or a sweatish dish cloth) -parchment/wax paper (sil pad is a god send) -we use cutlery from take out if we really need it and use bamboo plates if we HAVE to use disposable (picnics and places we can’t have heavy bags like zoos and nature centers etc) -basil and most herbs (we have a garden and freeze what we have left over for the winter) -we never bought croutons -jam/jelly (a guy at my church gifts it to us on almost all holidays in glass jars) -tea bags (bulk tea and a strainer) -mugs/cups/souvenir cups (we have enough) -plastic solo cups (we use the metal ones) -dryer sheets (we just don’t use them lol) -fabric softener (no need) -hair ties (i have teleties that have lasted me for years and my friends always leave them in my car) -shaving cream (coconut oil) -luffa (silicon body scrubber) -cotton rounds (reusable cotton rounds and miceler water bought in the biggest container) -pads/tampons (thinx) -pencils (i’m a student i use old ones) -rubber bands (asparagus bands) -my friends have a book circle and then i donate to my local library if i buy it or am gifted one because i can’t do ebooks. -planners (notion and apple calendars) -sticky notes (i have a ton of old half used pads or i’ll write it in my notion) -stationary (i have a single set of nice ones to write thanks you’s) -plastic water bottles or reusable ones (my hydro and nalgine are the only ones i use) -souvenirs unless they support a local artist (pics are more meaningful) -air fresheners (candles and diffusers) -DVD/CD (no one uses them) -Gift ribbon, bags, and boxes (i reuse old ones and use old wrapping paper or butcher paper) -fast fashion (most of the time. i don’t need a lot of new clothes and most of what i get is sustainable) -as for race t shirts i use them to dry my hair Things not mentioned -nail polish (i either dont paint my nails or get them done) -Vix vapor rub (tiger balm) -honey/syrup/coffee syrup in plastic (i find glass bottles and reuse the jars at bulk stores or i make my own) -blankets (i have SOOO many from gifts) -hangers (my dry cleaner gives them to us so i use those) -fuzzy socks (they get gross after wearing a few times and i end up wearing my llbean socks anyways) -lotion/shower sets (i don’t use them) -opted out of catalogs/coupons/junk mail -excess makeup (i just use my typical 6 products and have a few extras for crazier looks) -extra makeup tools and brushes (just don’t need) -lip balm (ALWAYS gifted to me. i have so much im working through before i buy any more) -suitcases (i have what i need) -masks (i way overbought at the beginning of the pandemic. i have a few reusable and i reuse the disposables afew times before i put them in my bottle brick) -makeup bags (i have a few and i don’t need more) -fidgets (no need)

Thanks for this. You hit on so many items I used to "collect". I know I'm 2 yrs late here but I relate to the mugs. Friends and I agreed on no gifting mugs long ago. I do make my own laundry detergent and I've learned to can foods. Large collection of reusable bags as well and I stock my vehicles with them. I shop my pet/animal rescue thrift stores for my retail therapy, as well as donate items. Now I'm interested in the rest of your content. Be well and thanks!

Omg cornstarch! I have some of that and had no use for it so I almost tossed it! Thanks for the idea 💡 😀

This video was so informative!

Your kitty appearing when you opened the different drawers 😂😂😂😻😻😻 I may have missed this when you showed your vitamins, but just in case since you’re eating plant based, don’t forget to supplement B12! It’s not naturally found in plant foods, and you don’t seem to eat a lot of prepackaged foods that are often supplemented with B12. B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage, so it’s very important to make sure you are getting a regular, reliable source!!

Thank you so much for your videos! I have been on my own less waste journey since 2018 (I also blog and post on IG about it to encourage others), and for the last year I just struggle to keep motivation to do the good things I do. Mainly because it seems that others either don't care, or don't think when putting cigarette butts in glass recycling container because it's nearer than the ashtray. I lost my spark and thought that it's pointless, the things I do and try out to embrace better habits. I found your channel and it has been such a positive push for me! I really like your narrative and ideas that you share, it really keeps my spirits up and helps to want to continue sharing my insights and encouragement with others, too. Big, big thank you for that! :)) cheers from Latvia!

I used those shirts as sleep shirts. We had one of those family vacation personalized shirts from 2010 and I still have it as a sleep shirt haha

Great video! It absolutely baffles me that some people buy disposable cutlery. As you mentioned some do in America I have never ever seen someone buy that in the UK for home use. Video: Liked 👍👍

Great video, learned a lot from it, thank you very much!

Wow, I love this so much. It left me hanging because I wanted more. Not only did you share the reasons why you no longer buy them, but you also gave us some ideas and alteernatives. Thank you. I appreciate this truly. More ideas for me! 💕

I have those silicone bags! Switched to silicone recently and found those same ones at TJ MAxx a few months ago!

Useful video! Appreciate it!

So far I'm halfway thru and everything we do is the same so far! wild! currently i have soap nuts on the stove getting ready to make dish soap, I use them in laundry too ✌🌱🌺💚

Thank you this helps me a lot!

With peace and love, love what you’re doing and your message. I think the point of your message is to spread the word, some of the way you explain what you’re doing I think comes off sort of judgey, which could exclude or prevent others from taking info in from the video. For some of the items, you are quite humble and do a great job. Constructive criticism from a blogger who struggles w/ the same at times and I have to work really hard to keep as positive as I can because this is the best way to effect change and spread love. Love the video, will keep watching.

So many great points. More authentic than other minimalists

That stain remover looks great. I have been drawing pictures over stains that I can't get out. I use gel markers and acrylic paint to do it. I like it.

I cut out a lot of things over the past year after either purchasing reusable or doing DIY to stuff I already had. I never bought disposable paper or styrofoam plates, bowls, or cups, plastic cutlery, or paper towels ever in my life. My parents never did either when I was growing up. The only time I ever bought a pack of plastic water bottles was to save that pack to be prepared for potential emergencies, and I still have them sitting in storage just in case. I dont ever buy those on a regular basis as all. I no longer buy: -paper napkins -disposable makeup wipes - food storage containers, plastic sandwich bags, cling wrap or aluminum foil -disposable disinfectent wipes -anything packaged in an aerosol can, especially shaving cream (I use bar shaving soap from Leaf) -disposable razors -dryer sheets - organizers - cleaner that comes prepackaged in a spray bottle -detergent pods in plastic container -shower products in a plastic bottle - plastic floss in plastic box - plastic toothbrushes - I dont go out of my way to get drinks from coffee shops, I almost always make coffee at home (once in a while I might get a drink somewhere) Things I avoid taking: -plastic grocery/retail store bags - syrofoam or plastic takeout containers - straws (usually I get one anyway though unfortunately) -plastic silverware -free handouts that I know I dont need and wont ever use Things I always take to reuse if I end up with them to avoid waste: -Toiletries from hotels - takeout or plastic containers that are reusable - plastic utensils - extra napkins I didn't use at restaurants - if I forgot my reusable bags in the car, I always try to get a paper bag and reuse it

Are there are specific veggies you avoid for veggie broth? I wasn't sure if there were any types that throw off the taste. Congrats on your subs skyrocketing!

I love so many things about this video! Our list looks very similar. I still use gift bags, because I'm the person that comes home with any that were about to be tossed [like at a Christmas party] and reuse them. I haven't purchased gift bags in YEARS because of this. I grow loofahs in my garden because I like using them to exfoliate and wash my skin. When they can't be used any longer, I compost them. Also, I would love for you to share your zero waste period tips because that is something I definitely want to do next in my zero waste journey. I currently use organic cotton tampons and pads, so not as bad as conventional products health wise... but still not great.

Do you have a seitan recipe or tutorial? There's the most amazing seitan kebab 'meat' that one can buy in Sweden, but I can never get it while I'm in Australia. I've not had huge luck making seitan in the past, although it's been a long time since I've tried. It's very hard to find good recipes, including the flavour aspect. BTW I never knew that people bought disposable cutlery or crockery for their home until I started watching American zero-wasters, haha. For anyone who really likes cooking spray, while I don't personally use it (I have to admit it's great over salads, though), there are refillable oil misters that you can buy. The one I'm familiar with is called Misto.

I crochet my own makeup pad removers instead of buying the rounds. I crochet my own washcloths/dishcloths.

Excellent list

The only ones I can say I actually DO buy on this list are the CD's, movies and sunglasses because once you reach a certain number of streams, owning the CD becomes the greener option. I don't have a link, but there was a study done that pegged the number at around 27 plays and for my big favorite albums, I can do through that in no time, and having sunglasses in many different places helps me remember them.

I appreciate that you brought up technology. I've had the same laptop for almost four years and it still works like new. It's not worth the money and resources to buy the newest models of phones, computers or tablets and most tech will last several years if it's properly taken care of.

I use hemmed fabric scraps as gift wrap and I made a handful of reusable bags of different shapes and sizes from old clothes for gift wrap as well. So we don't buy gift wrap. We save boxes because we have to ship presents as well.

its so weird everything you said we do it in our country, we never thought these were “eco friendly”

I found instant coffee the best and cheapest for my life too and make sure I always buy the brand in glass from my local store. I get delicious, fast, coffee and a ton of matching glass jars for storage 🙂

I agree with most everything but the flashlight. Yes our mobile phones have flashlights but in the case of a emergency like power outage you want to preserve your phone battery if there is any left but a flashlight would be extremely helpful. Not all flashlight require batteries in fact the best flashlight for emergency would be ons with a crank which powered it by turning the crank and usually these have radios in them as well

I love the cleaner I make! It’s a disinfectant and super cheap and easy to make at home with the right equipment. I make hypochlorous acid and it’s awesome 😎

I have a candle problem 😂 so that’s one thing I have really stopped buying. I have a large un-fragranced pillar candle that I use now. I am a card maker so handmake a card for birthdays and use lots of scraps so they are recycled and recyclable.

Awesome tips! Also, super cute cat!

Loved it! Thank you for all these helpful ideas! :)

The mug part hit home big time, I havn't quit yet, but they are all second hand :)

My grandma makes quilts out of our specialized shirts.

I love my keurig, but kcups are terrible. It’s probably obvious, but we started using one of those little reusable kcups. It saves a lot of money and uses less coffee and water when you only make what you need.

I started wrapping the stock of the bunch of bananas. I use plastic wrap and it does keep them fresher longer.

Good for you. (powder used to be cancer producing). I agree quality clothes can be stitched in case of prolonged wear.I have things that lasted for a couple of decades and still look nice. I like your idea for plants. I recycle vegetable scrapes,peels.. I use water,lemon and salt to clean vegetables. I use recycling plastic bags for the egg shells which my corner coffee shop gives me. I am trying too. Thanks.

During strawberry season you can go pick your own strawberries to make jam with. It’s way cheaper than buying strawberries at the store and you can pick as much as you want to be able to make enough jam to last the whole year. Plus the strawberries always taste better.

Lots of great ideas!!

Foil’s recyclable too!

I love jars. And most are the same opening size as a mason jar, so you can buy lids that have honey spoons, pumps, spouts, straw holes etc at like Jarware and you can use the jars for whatever whenever. That’s what I’m about to get, since I’m always saving jars and drinking out of them. I don’t like cups, I like jars.

I will still buy flowers or clip flowers from my mother in law’s garden. But, when they start to die she turns them into potpourri or composts them or uses them for her wood burning stove as extra kindling (depending on the type of flower or grassy filler they are)

This was a really good list! I already do a lot of these but there's plenty of new ideas as well. Subbed 😊

Love the idea

wow 'peas of the same pod' tho I'm in my 60's and you are looking pretty young. it was gr8 to realise there are people out there that do the same stuff i do..... right down to finding hair ties and pens as well as being a reformed "mug buyer" . Have you thought about making your own toothpaste - bicarbonate of soda mixed into smooth paste with coconut oil. I add my homemade turmeric powder to the mix as well. You can even leave it a bit gritty and use a tiny spoon to press it onto the toothbrush. You can add a couple of drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil if desired. Make your own 'underarm freshener' ( deodorant) mix equal parts of bicarbonate of soda, arrowroot ( cassava flour) and make smooth paste with coconut oil. add favorite essential oil if desired. simply apply a little dab to the underarm. test with very small amount to check that your skin is ok with this mix.

Yeah ♡ So Lovely to know that you exist ! Your video will no doubt inspire many people to do the same. Great job ☆ it's a pleasure to hear and watch ! My RU-vid feed was giving me similar recommendations but you're the best ! So natural ♡ I prefer your attitude compared to other videos that seem fake. You're truly an inspiration ✨️ American culture has been polluting our planet for too long ! Keep up the good work ☆♡☆

You strike me as a very nice and smart young woman. Bravo! Diane from Canada

Donating any clothing to a women's domestic violence shelter is helpful to the shelter. These clothes can be gently used or something that isn't appropriate to sell at a second hand store. Keep in mind these people have left their homes in an extreme emergency oftentimes with only their clothes on their backs. Toys and children's books are appropriate for shelters also, children will also come with nothing to shelters.

I want a low by year and I stopped the holiday decor and I haven’t missed it. I realized I liked devoting but in a week I wanted it put away

Ah, yes. The completly superfluous mug collections. I still have one of those. But since I am still developing my tea rutine I am not gonna declutter it just yet. For now I just stopped growing it. When it comes to pens, I love fountain pens. You can either get a piston fountain pen, or outfit any other one with a piston converter and you won't have to use disposable cartriges any more. Plus you have a much bigger choice of inks you can use. And for my teas I use a french press. Works just as good as it does for coffee.

Is the wall hanging you purchased from a local artist crochet.. or macrame? I crochet and knit and I'm in love with that (especially that it utilizes a branch) hanging and would love to make my own. It's beautiful and they did an excellent job.

My friends make fun of me for drinking instant coffee but it is so easy! I love the cold-brew instant from Trader Joe’s - it has a good flavor

I use mechanical pencils and G2s but recently I switched to fountain pens for most things. I didn’t do this for waste purposes I did it because I love writing with them and the variety of possible inks, but they are a good option if you want to stop tossing refills (they don’t work for every purpose)

Very nice list, I would just like to mention that as far as I know, streaming movies and music is not more sustainable than buying second hand a CD player, DVDs or CDs. Streaming uses more electricity than if you have your favourite music downloaded or playing from a CD.

Hibiscus leaf pulp is a really good conditioner. It's a traditional home remedy, but I'm yet to find a commercial conditioner that leaves my hair as soft and supple without leaving any residue. The only downside is that getting the pulp from the leaves is messy business

Me either. I became a minimalist when I had to travel and relocate often

I don’t buy batteries anymore. I bought a few rechargeable ones and have saved so much money and waste.

Dryer sheets and fabric softener gunk up your washer and dryer parts and contribute to them wearing out faster. Or so the electrician who installed my new dryer said. I use washing powders and borax instead of detergent and my clothes get clean and soft. If I need to pretreat stains, I rub a squirt of Dawn dishwashing soap on them. I save so much money on this method plus less wear and tear on my washer and dryer.

So many things that you do I do except we aren't vegan or vegetarian. On gift wrapping we do love to give meaningful gifts our closest friend is a single mom we bought her a tool set for Christmas she uses it all the time lol. I try to use fabric for gift giving kinda got off that wagon the past 2 years but still have all the fabric. I bought Christmas themed fabric and use shipping tape to hold it together. Once the gift is given we take the fabric back and reuse it again. I did buy bows but again we reuse the same ones every year I can't even remember the last time I bought bows hmm maybe 6 or 7 years ago? I just use a piece of tape on the back and remove the tape and put the bows back in a cookie tin. Anna In Ohio

I’m so glad you showed the pads now I’ll buy them I won’t do that cup

Hey! Loved this video. Thank you so much for taking the time to make it. Not sure where you live but where I live (PNW) there are lots of horse chestnut trees that grow around here -- we gather these when they fall to the ground, dry them out and use them as laundry soap, very similar to soap nuts but local! Check it out :)