Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose by Morgan

use cycle purpose

Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose Frugal Tips and Tricks

use cycle purpose Frugal Tips & Tricks by Morgan Barnett

ÂŠ 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. The opinions expressed in this book are those of the author only and not those of York College of Pennsylvania. This book is an experimental class project for purely educational design purposes. Design by Morgan Barnett Printed by Lulu Publishing Photography by Morgan Barnett Some additional photographs from online sources Body copy text is Arno Pro Other fonts are Avant Garde Gothic

I would like to thank my mom for going on this adventure with me to the different stores to find treasures and I would like to thank the workers and the second hand shops for letting me take these images.

I dedicate this book to all who want to reuse, recycle, and repurpose, while trying to save money.

Preface This is a documentation book where I recorded and photographed the savings, skills, and projects that emphasize the general use of second hand stores. I would like you to be mindful of the ability to reuse, recycle, and repurpose.

Clothing

2-21

Comparison

2-9

Using Skills

10-15

My DIY

16-21

Kitchen

22-39

Comparison

22-27

Using Skills

28-33

My DIY

34-39

Living Space

40-56

Comparison

40-45

Using Skills

46-51

My DIY

52-56

DIY Section

57-63

Closing

Table of Contents

Intro

Why should you shop at secondhand stores? It is a way for you to reduce the impact on our environment and your wallet, to meet all kinds of great people, to support a good cause, and have the ability to dress and decorate in a unique way. It is also like a personal treasure hunt. I once saw a TED documentary about a woman named Jessi Arrington who shares great reasons on the philosophy of how shopping at second hand shops can affect your life in a positive way. She believes that money is immaterial, meaning that to look good you should not have to spend a ton of money. When shopping at second hand stores she believes that color is very powerful and fitting in is overrated. She says that wearing brighter colors can lighten your mood and by getting whatever you want and just being yourself, you to be a happier and truer you. Do not try to impress other people to fit in. If you are being yourself you will find the right people to surround yourself with. “If you are happy, you are going to attract other happy people to you,” Arrington says. Shopping at second hand stores shows you that confidence is key and if you think that you look good in something then you will look good. Once you allow yourself to be confident and believe that you are beautiful, it is going to show that you are both inside and out. You should be able to wear and strut whatever you want and people will see that you are confident. You won’t have be constantly worrying about your appearance. By shopping with such variety throughout the second hand shops you can develop your own personal style. By doing this you are able to share with people something about yourself.

Introduction In this book I have documented the cost savings of repurposing and upcycling preowned merchandise. I share some skills that I think you should know to better your life. By documenting the differences between cost and savings of necessary household and apparel items, you learn that it is a gratifying way to help your economy and the environment, not to mention the extra bucks you will save. I hope this book will show you that you do not need to buy the best things right from the original store at top dollar just because you feel the need to fit in with the latest trends and styles, even if you cannot really afford it. Within this book, I document the savings one could have if they would shop smarter. I have documented many uses that one can do with finds from second hand stores and I also give tips and tricks when you go shopping for the things you want or need from second hand shops. Throughout the book I have included photos and recorded details for clothing and household items that compare buying new versus buying second hand. For fun I have also included DIY projects that save money instead of buying new. There is a DIY kitchen item and a DIY decorative remake. I utilize these tips and information in my everyday life â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I am a college student without much money. While reading this book I hope to inspire you to be creative and show that many things can be done with second hand items. I want to open your eyes to the money that can be saved; whether it is fixing things up yourself or buying something used, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a way to better your life. I hope I am able to inspire you and help you make some super cool things along the way.

Clothing

Learn about the cost savings and excellent options you can find by shopping at second hand stores.

Clothing Comparison

Why Clothing Comparison?

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Professional At the Goodwill it is about $40 for a nice, brand new suit. For some people really trying to save money, this can still be fairly pricey. However, there are plenty of cheaper, gently used suits that are available at Goodwill. If you are in a tight pinch financially, do not worry, there are cheaper suits; they are just not brand new like this one that I found. This suite is an Evan-Picone. Though this brand is not as extremely well know as designers like Armani or BOSS, it is very common in large department stores like Sears, JCPenney and Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Looking up this exact suit on these sites and in the stores, I found one for about $89. This means that this suit is half of what it would be if you were to buy it from name brand stores or shopping sites. But if you need a suit to go to work in without going broke, this is your suit. With the wide array of colors and sizes you will be able to pick out the perfect work outfit. By shopping at the second hand store you also gain the ability to pick out secondary items that can go with the suit like this nice top and a pair of shoes for less than you would pay brand new. The blouse in the image that I found was only $3.99. You can find similar ones in retail stores for about $14 - $30. This image is from romwe. com and it is quite similar to the one I found and this sells for $13.39. Do not be deterred from the wrinkles in the shirt. Like most nice shirts it would need to be pressed. Shoes are also an accessory that can jazz up any outfit. These pictured here will go with this outfit and give you a nice lift. A similar product can be found for approximately $175. I got very similar looking boots for $15. Now that is what I call huge savings! 4

Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Professional At the Goodwill, it costs about $30 for an entire be pricy for some people really trying to save money and if so, there are plenty of gently used shirts, pants, shoes, and ties that are available for less if you look carefully. If you are in a tight pinch financially, you do not have to buy the whole outfit; you can just buy bits and pieces of the things that you need that are not very expensive like the ones I found. This is a Tommy Hilfiger name brand shirt for only $9.99, where online and in stores you would have to pay $30 to $40. This means that this shirt is under half of what it would be if you were to buy it from name brand stores or online shopping sites. But if you need a nice shirt to work in as an everyday type of outfit, the Goodwill is the place for you. Even though the shirt may look wrinkly, it only needs to be laundered and pressed before use. With the wide array of colors and sizes, you will be able to pick out the perfect work outfit. You can also find good quality pants that are suitable for many work environments. These were $7.99 and they are usually $20-30 new. You can add to this look by picking out secondary items that go with it like this tie you can find for less than you would pay new! The tie in the image I found was only $3.29. You can find similar ones in retail stores for about $15 - $40. The shoes are also an accessory that can make any outfit look put together. These pictured here will go with this outfit. A similar pair can be found for as much as $50, while at the Salvation Army it was only $12.99. That is crazy saving.

Women’s

Everyday By going to a second hand store you should be able to find all the desired looks that you want. It might take some time to search through the rows and rows of clothing (and there are so many rows), but eventually you will nail down some nice casual clothes. Also, you can find clothes that your friends won’t have because you didn’t go to the mall like everyone else. The casual outfit I have picked out to compare prices is an nice skirt, a lovely shirt and a pair of wedges that when paired correctly could be mixed and matched with other items and be considered both casual and nice at the same time.

When going shopping, much of the clothing you buy is for everyday wear. By shopping at second hand shops you can score many good finds. There are a lot of items you can find at second hand shops that still have the tags of them from the store. Often times people donate clothes that they got as gifts and didn’t like or they bought and the size was wrong. Therefore, the tags may still be on the clothes and have barely been worn. There are many different forms of casual clothing. By going to Goodwill, you can score a great outfit for going to the movies with your friends or going out to Sunday brunch with your family. 6

The white skirt can be pieced with many tops because an all white skirt goes with any colors or patterns. This skirt was only $3 at the Salvation Army and compared to others very similar at retail stores and on the web, many skirts like this one are $15 - $30. By getting a versatile, simple, white skirt that you can use for many occasions from a second hand store, you can save $12 or more. Also, nice tees can be found at amazingly low prices depending on the store you choose, but you never know if the one that you want to buy is the one on sale. By going to a second hand shop you have the ability to pick and choose from a massive variety of different plain and graphic tees that all basically stay under $7! Compare this to retail and the same types of shirts are sold for $12 and up. Lastly, I found these super cute shoes that were $10, when online they range from $30 - $60. That is a great amount of money saved and shows you that a trip to the nearby second hand shop is a good alternative to big stores.

Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Everyday Shopping for clothing has a lot to do with shopping for everyday comfortable clothing. Shopping at a second hand shop can lead to a lot of good finds. New clothing is always a good find, but it is okay if you find something you like that is not new. All you have to do is wash everything before you wear it. At a second hand store, you can find many different forms of casual clothing. From hanging out on the weekend to going to a nice birthday party with your family, some nice, new casual clothes will fit the bill. By going to a second hand store you should be able to find all the desired looks that you want. Yes, you can find some crazy things at the Salvation Army but if you look hard enough and make an adventure out of it you can find exactly what you are looking for to be comfortable and yet, save money. I have picked out a casual outfit to use as an example for price comparison. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a nice shirt, khaki shorts and a pair of shoes that when paired correctly could be mixed and matched with other items and can be considered both casual and nice.

you will not find a better deal. By going to a second hand shop you have the ability to pick and choose from a variety of different choices, all for basically $3.99. Compared to many stores that people buy This shirt can be pieced with many different from, the same type of pants are kinds of pants depending on the look you are $30 and up. The shoes I found going for. At the Salvation Army this shirt was were $10 compared with the ones $5.99 and compared to others very similar to sold online which were $30 - $60. it through stores and on the web, many shirts Think about all the money you like this one are $15 - $30. By getting a simplewill be saving by going to second short sleeve shirt that you can wear to many hand shops. occasions from a second hand store you save at least $10-20. Khakis can be found at many different shops for a variety of prices but you would have to wait for them to go on sale or on clearance if you want them to be a similar price to the ones at secondhand shops. Besides that, usually 7

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Formal Wear

Needing an attractive look for going out or needing a nice dress for a party can get expensive. The price to get a new dress, matching shoes and some nice jewelry to go along with it really starts to add up after a while to the point where it might not even be worth it! There is such a variety of dresses, from a simple cotton dress all the way up to some very formal, prom or bridesmaid dresses. In fact these dresses looked barely worn. Some had never been worn. No one has to know where you got your dress from and the fact that it makes you comfortable and confident is all that matters. The dresses that I picked were $7.99 each. So even if you bought all three dresses, that would be about 8

$25. If you were to find similar ones to these from a retail store youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d spend $50 - $150 for each dress. Now, even though you think that you are getting this dress on sale, you could be getting a very similar look for way less. The other dresses are around the same. What stores like to do is make you think that you are getting a great deal but if you do a little more research you find out that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the case and you can find something similar to what you want without having to spend all your hard-earned cash. Shoes and accessories are a great find at a second hand store and you can find something beautiful, unique and eclectic without having to spend a lot. By going to a second hand shop instead of your usual stores at the mall or online, you can save a ton of money and still get awesome clothes. Also if you already have the shoes and the jewelry then you are just buying a dress.

Men’s

Formal Wear Looking your best for going out or dressing nicely for a party or family gathering can get expensive. The price to get a new outfit or suit and matching shoes to go along with it really starts to add up after a while. If you look long enough however, you can really find anything at a Goodwill or Salvation Army store. I wanted to create a evening look so I ventured into the men’s dress section of the Salvation Army. There is such a variety to choose from: short sleeve to long dress shirts, plain colors or stripes. While you won’t be able to flaunt name brand stores all the time, you can still feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing. The shirt that I picked out was $7.99 compared to the regular price of $30-40. I also found a nice men’s suit to wear with the shirt for $29.99. For some this can be a lot but when compared to new suits they can be $100-$1000. Now

you can dress nicely for your significant other without having to break the bank. Suits are nice to have around because you never know when the next time you are going to need one is. So instead of renting or buying new you can just pick one up at the second hand shop and have it tailored if need be. Shoes can be great to find at a second hand store; you can find something unique without having to spend a lot. Shoes very similar to this can be worth $70-$100. Also if you already have the shoes and shirt then you are just buying the suit that can fill the hole in your wardrobe.

Within a few minutes you could be saving yourself money and learning a skill that could help you get out of a situation in a flash. Do you know how to sew a button?

Using Your Skills

Learn to Sew a Button

Sew on a Button Do you ever find yourself with a problem where one of the buttons fell off your favorite shirt or you are traveling and your dress shirt loses a button? What if that is the only shirt you bought for that event? What are you going to do, throw it out or give it away? If you knew how to fix this little problem, it would take you no time at all to fix it up, sew on a new button and go on your way. Within a few minutes you could be saving yourself money and learning a skill that can help you get out of a situation in a flash. Do you know how to sew a button? Sewing is often considered a “girl thing” and many people depend on their mothers or grandmothers to re-attach the buttons for them. Learning how to sew a button is a way to make yourself self-sufficient and gives you a skill set you might need when you are by yourself and in a pinch. Learning how to sew a button is easy. After learning these 5 steps, you will know how to sew a button too.

Tools You’ll Need: Needle, 2 if possible Thread, about 12- 24 inches long Button Scissors Note: If you are out or do not have the supplies you can get a cheap little travel kit.

Step 1

Thread the Needle & Knot the End You will have to use a single thread if you have less than 24 inches of thread. The first thing that you need to do is thread the needle. This means that you slip the end of the thread into the small opening in the back of the needle. Pull an inch or two through to have slack to not let the thread fall out of the needle. 12

The next thing you need to do is to tie off the back end of the thread. One way you can do this is you can wrap the end of the thread around the tip of your finger several times and roll the loops together with your thumb while rolling it off the end of your fingers. Finally pull the loose loops tight and it should give you a knot. Another way you can do this is simply tie a few overhand knots at the end of the string. Either way, you will end up with a knot at the end of your string that will be used as an anchor to help keep the thread from coming through the fabric.

If you have 24 inches of thread you can “double over” the thread. This means that when you pull the thread through the needle instead of just pulling a few inches through you pull half of your thread through and match the two ends of the thread up. You can use the same methods of tying the ends together as the single thread.

Step 2

Create Anchor “X” Point You are going to start at the back of the fabric. Poke the needle through to the front of the fabric where you will be sewing the button on. Run the thread through to the back, and then again back to the front. You want to make a small “x” where the button will be centered. This X is also the reinforced anchor for the thread to ensure that it won’t loosen when you start pulling the string tight.

Step 3

Position the Button

Put the button on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Xâ&#x20AC;? anchor and begin sewing. Punch the needle from the back of the fabric through to the front through the first button hole. Now is the point that the second needle will come in handy, it will be the spacer. A pin, toothpick or something that general size will work as well. Place the spacer in between the button and the fabric for the remainder of the stitching. Push the needle up from the underside of the garment and through one of the holes on the button. Pull the thread all the way through until the knot snugs against the underside of the fabric. Use a fingertip to keep the button in its place. Turn the needle around and push it back down through the hole opposite the one you came up from. Pull it all the way through and tug the thread tight. You should be left with a single small line of thread across the button, connecting the two holes. Repeat this process for six times, three for each set of holes on the button. Then remove the spacer.

Step 4

Create the Shank On your last repetition of the previous step, come back up through the fabric but not through the button. Come up like you were going to go through the usual hole in the button, but turn the needle aside and bring it out from underneath the button. Use the needle to wrap your thread around the threads beneath the button. Make six loops around the lines of thread that connect the button to the fabric, behind the button itself giving the button space between the button and the front of the fabric. Pull tight and slide the needle back into the front of the fabric to the back to be tied off. 14

Step 5

Tie It Off Make a small knot on the back side of the fabric. You can use the needle to guide the thread through a knot or you can snip the thread off the needle and tie the knot in the slack with your fingers, but either way you want it snug up against the back of the fabric.

The easiest knot to tie off is a simple overhand loop tied with the needle still attached. Pin the thread down right against the back of the fabric, under the button, then make a little circle in the thread just beyond your fingertip and pass the needle through the circle. Tighten it down and then cut off the excess fabric. These directions can be used on almost any fabric item that is needed. I hope you can use these directions and learn a new skill to add to your toolbox and I hope you find a good use for this in your everyday life.

Spend only a few bucks and create a cozy sweater pillow.

My DIY

Why Sweater Pillow?

Sweater Pillow Making a pillow with a sweater cover A great project to add decoration around the house is making a sweater pillow. It can be used in the living room to add an accent color or as a decorative, bed pillow. This is also a great way to update some of those throw pillows you might be tired of. Now just because I got my supplies from the Salvation Army does not mean that you have to. This project is a great opportunity to upcycle one of your favorite sweaters that you may have outgrown or a way to reuse a sweater that has a hole in the sleeve. This project gives you opportunities to utilize supplies that you already have lying around the house and prevents you from throwing away useful materials. Now if you do not have these materials lying around you can purchase them with significant cost savings sweaters that complement each other without being the same. Cost Savings DIY pillows (from Salvation Army)

Pillows = $2.00 Sweaters = $6.00

New/retail pillows

$25.00 - $30.00

Potential Savings

$15.00 - $30.00

Note: If you have the sweaters or pillows already hanging around your house then you already have the free pillows plus a little work, but that can be good for you

Tools Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Need: Pillow Sweater Scissors thread, and a needle If you want to be exact and use a fabric ruler. . . go right ahead! Skill level = easy to medium

What I learned from my research: After scouring the Internet from blogs, Pinterest, articles, and videos I saw many different ways to make a pillow. I found that there is a wide degree in difficulty and depending on your skill set and amount of effort you want to put into this determines which version you choose. My goal of saving you time, I have compiled a combination of the best practices for making a sweater pillow. There were many different ways create this project and I took the best from all the videos I watched and combined them into two pillows. 18

The difficulty of this, I would say, would be about a medium on average from the research I have collected. The easiest method was no-sew, no-cut where you generally just stick the pillow inside the sweater. You tie the arms into a knot and fold down the edges. I did not do this because after use the pillow would have to be put back into the sweater. But what I did take away from this video was the idea of tying the sleeves to not only add an element of pattern and design onto the cover but to also not have to cut the sleeves off and waist the fabric. So to stay on the easier side of the is project with the best outcome I chose to tie the sleeves in the front of the pillow. Another “easy” hack was to simply use a hot glue gun instead of sewing it, but again I feel that the pillow would be of a better quality if it was actually sewn. Which leads us to what I feel would be the hardest is using a sewing machine. These projects are supposed to be used with simple things you might have around the house and I would not want you to have purchase a sewing machine or have to learn how to use it. In one version of making a pillow, they cut the edges of the sweater and applied a fabric adhesive, making this process much harder than it needs to be. Based on my research I decided to hand sew the pillows. This method will allow you to gain moderate skills and create a professional looking product with amazing cost savings. Look in the learning skills section page #48 and see how to make a simple one stitch and page #12 how to sew a button.

Step 1

Preparations I started out by placing the pillow inside the sweater to get a general sense of how much I would need to sew. I did this step while in the Salvation Army store so I could pick out the right size shirt or sweater for the pillow I found. (This is how I could judge to do the least amount of sewing possible). For this project I chose a women’s medium and a women’s large for the two sweaters. I also chose according to color to be sure the pillows would make a nice set, but were not the exact the same. Using sweaters I am able to add more texture and patterns while keeping the same color scheme in my decorative pillows.

(Note: When I got home I washed and dried everything according to the tag instructions.)

Step 2

Planning Once everything is dry, I re-stuffed the pillow into the sweater and started planning on where I am going to sew. I experimented how to fold the excess fabric where it wouldnt bunch up and be noticeable this way I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to cut anything. I have folded the extra shoulder flap under to form a neat corner. I played around with this till I got it the way I wanted it to look. Then I pinned along a straight line of where it was folded after I flipped it inside out. Once you have a planned line you can begin sewing. Please try not to get discouraged because the more you work on this the better it is going to get.

Step 3

Sewing I used the most basic stitch for sewing (refer to page #48), this is where you go inside one side and out the other over and over again, for me this becomes very rhythmic and soothing. (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really inexpensive therapy!) I lined up where the knit was in the fabric of the sweater and went in and out every second hole. That way all your stitches are even and the results look professional.

Step 4

Stuff it After finishing the top, I flipped the sweater right side out and re stuffed the pillow. Next, I folded the excess of the sweater into the pillow and pinned the two folded ends together around the pillow to close up the fabric. By doing this it gave me the ability not to have to cut anything.

Step 5

Arms

For the arms, the first thing I did was tie them in a regular knot on the front of the pillow. I then tucked one of the sleeves under the part of the sleeves before the knot and laid it flat. With the other, I wrapped around the knot and tucked it under the other side of the sleeve. Then I sewed around the knot. This just gives the ability to not have them constantly come untied. (optional step) For the second pillow I added a button which you can learn how to do in the skills section of this book (page 12). And there you have it, two pillows that look like you spent 35 dollars on each, when in all actuality you only spent a few dollars.

Kitchen

Learn tips and tricks for shopping for dishwear at second hand stores.

Kitchen Comparison

Why Kitchen Comparison?

Kitchen Comparison Here are some comparisons of objects that can be found in the kitchen or used to accent your existing dishwear. This shows that things that you find at second hand stores are a great way to update your kitchen on a budget. Cost Savings

From Salvation Army Mugs Cups Bowls Coffee pot Wine glass Baking dish Crock pot

$.99 $.99 $9.99 $7.99 $1.99 $4.00 $9.99

Online Comparison $7.99 $15-25 $27. 00 $14.99 $12.95 $12.85 $31.76

Shopping at a Salvation Army gives you the ability to fill your kitchen without having to break the bank and gives you the ability to shop for only the items you need. When I visited second hand shops and flea markets I saw so many cooking sets that can be used in the kitchen. I also found all kinds of dishes and silverware. Some items need a little care and cleaning but then they look brand new.

There are some things you can consider when you are out exploring for your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;newâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; kitchen appliances. The first one being that if you do not know what to buy or where to start you can never go wrong with white. White is always classic, it is possible that through your treasure hunt for your perfect kitchen appliances you could find bone china or porcelain. Finding white dishware will never let you down; it is considered beautiful, clean, and versatile. When setting a table you can still make it look nice by accenting them with colorful mugs and bowls (which you can also find at second hand shops). Another great thing about white dishes is that food looks great on them and it makes them very easy to mix with other pieces that you find while still having a cohesive look. If you do not want to use colorful accent mugs then a great addition to have a pop of color are table cloths, placemats, or bright napkins. 25

Another tip for you when shopping for kitchenware is considering the size of the items you are buying. By taking into account of the size of your dishwasher, storage space, and cabinets you have, you should get dishes that accommodate them. Buying something that is hard to store away is one of many reasons that the large platters and appliances are given or sold to second hand shops, because people do not have room in their house and find it easiest to let someone else have it. The large platter you love in the store, you will not love as much when you are trying to find a place to store it. Just because things are cheaper at secondhand stores does not mean you should always buy them. If they do not fit in the space you have I would advise not to buy them.

A tip that is good to keep in mind is to get enough dishes, pots and pans to be able to have a gathering or a party. It is a good idea to have more than you need for just yourself or you and your family because you never know when it will come in handy, especially if you have to host a party or you suddenly have company over. You should be prepared for larger gatherings with your family and enjoy your time with them and not have to worry if you are running low on disposable products. A great reason for why you should buy your dishes and cutlery at a second hand shop is for the environment. When you buy disposable products you might think you are saving money because you are not buying a whole new set of dishes but over time the more money you spend on those could have gone to the discounted dishes at a second hand shop and saved you money in the long run. Also all those paper and plastic products are increasingly gathering in landfills. Reusable dishware is the best choice and will end up saving you money. Finally a good tip to keep in mind is to buy one set that can be used on every occasion. Get a set that will be good for both a formal dining setting or the everyday meal. In all reality you do not need two separate sets of dishes. If you find one set at a second hand store you can be able to dress the set up or down with extra serving pieces or linens. By getting one set you are able to always enjoy your best dishes and do not have to use extra storage. If you follow this tip, you will end up saving space and money.

Learn how to clean your pots instead of getting new nes.

Using Your Skills

How to Clean Your Pots

How to Clean Your Pots If you have burnt your pan here are some steps you can take you make it look like new. If you have other kitchen amenities that could use a good cleaning, I also have a list of different ways you can clean your stuff with other many common household things.

Tools Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Need: 1 cup of vinegar 2 tablespoons of baking soda 1 cup of water A burnt stainless steel pan A scourer or tough sponge Instructions

Step 1 Fill the bottom of the pan with a layer of water.

Step 2 Add the vinegar.

Step 3 Bring the pan to the boil. It should be starting to look cleaner.

Step 4 Remove the pan from the heat and add the baking soda. Expect some fizzing to occur.

Step 5 Empty the pan and scour as normal; if necessary add an extra bit of dry baking soda.

Step 6 If there are any super stubborn marks that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come off with scouring, make a paste of baking soda and a couple of drops of water. Leave the paste on the marks for a while and return to clean as normal.

Step 7 Enjoy using your clean pots and pans without buying new ones and prevent yourself from standing hours over the sink. Many pans get burned for many reasons this is just a quick way to help you fix it without you having to do a lot of work. This can sleo work well for baked on food and grime. Here is a list of other ways to clean your dishwear. 30

Images from: Starkey, Sarah. "How To Clean A Burnt Pot or Scorched Pan." Apartment Therapy. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. 31

Other Cleaning Hacks

Alka-Seltzer Say so long to scouring those stubborn stains off your ovenproof glass cookware. Just fill the container with water, add up to six Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let it soak for an hour. The stains should easily scrub away.

Aluminum Foil Don’t have a scrub pad? Crumple up a handful of aluminum foil and use it to scrub your pots.

Baking Soda Looking for a more powerful dishwashing liquid? Try adding 2 tablespoons baking soda to the usual amount of liquid you use, and watch it cut through grease like a hot knife!

Club Soda Food tastes delicious when it’s cooked in cast iron, but cleaning those heavy pots and pans with the sticky mess inside is no fun at all. You can make the cleanup a lot easier by pouring some club soda in the pan while it’s still warm. The bubbly soda will keep the mess from sticking.

Fabric Softener Forget scrubbing. Instead, soak burned-on foods from casseroles with liquid fabric softener. Fill the casserole with water, add a squirt of liquid fabric softener, and soak for an hour, or until residue wipes easily away.

Barber, Trish. "20 Ways to Easily Clean Pots and Pans | Reader's Digest." Reader's Digest. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Dec. 2016 32

Salt You can run out of elbow grease trying to scrub burnedon stains off enamel pans. Skip the sweat. Soak the pan overnight in salt water. Then boil salt water in the pan the next day. The stains should lift right off. Grease can be tough to remove from iron pans, because it is not water-soluble. Shortcut the problem by sprinkling salt in the pan before you wash it. The pan will absorb most of the grease. Wipe the pan out and then wash as usual.

Vinegar Nothing will do a better job than vinegar when it comes to removing stubborn stains on your cookware. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how to put the power of vinegar to use: To remove stains from your stainless steel pots and pans, soak them in 2 cups white vinegar for 30 minutes, then rinse them with hot, soapy water followed by a cold-water rinse. To get cooked-on food stains off your glass ovenware, fill them with 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water, heat the mixture to a slow boil, and let it boil at a low level for five minutes. The stains should come off with some mild scrubbing once the mixture cools. Remove burned-on grease and food stains from your stainless steel cookware by mixing 1 cup distilled vinegar in enough water to cover the stains (if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re near the top of a large pot, you may need to increase the vinegar). Let it boil for five minutes. The stains should come off with some mild scrubbing when you wash the utensil.

Barber, Trish. "20 Ways to Easily Clean Pots and Pans | Reader's Digest." Reader's Digest. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Dec. 2016 33

Become organized with this hand made hanging basket.

My DIY

Why Hanging Baskets?

DIY Hanging Baskets I bought 3 baskets in descending sizes and each were a dollar. This will be a gift for my mom so I did not paint it because she wanted the eclectic look of the varying shades. I also bought my yarn at salvation army, but if you do not have that at a second hand shop near you then there are always great coupons for art stores that you could go to. So I got a bargain and got 3 spools of yarn for a dollar. Basket cost comparison: Cost Savings DIY Hanging Basket (from Salvation Army)

Baskets = $ .99 each Yarn = $1.00

New/retail baskets

$25.00 - $30.00

Potential Savings

$15.00 - $30.00

Note: If you have some baskets and yarn already hanging around your house then you already have the free hanging baskets plus a little work, but that can be good for you.

Tools Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Need: 3 Baskets 2 Spools of yarn Scissors Crochet Hook (size of your choosing) If you want to be exact and use a fabric ruler. . . go right ahead! Skill level = Medium

What I learned from my research: When creating this, what many people have done is loop one string throughout the baskets and tie a knot at the bottom. That would be the easiest version of doing this. My original thought was to simply tie the string to the ends of baskets, but I realized that this would not be sturdy enough to hold much weight. I thought to crochet the yarn to give more support, but that was still too stretchy and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give enough hold so I decided to braid the strings together. I really want the baskets to be able to be replaced so I quickly crocheted a circle base for each basket and that is what I will end up tying the strings to. With this you will be able to replace the baskets if desired or you have the ability to take it apart for easy cleaning. 36

Step 1

Crochet Base The first thing I did when making the basket was create a base for the three baskets. I chose to crochet circles. If you know how to crochet, making a circle is easy. If you do not, there are other ways to make a base. If you do not want a base you can tie the strings to the edges of your basket as well.

Step 2

Chains I chose to make 24 crochet chains. Another option is to simply use rope. If you do know how to crochet, I made my crochet chains 64 links long. By making it this length you still have enough length to pull objects in and out of the baskets easily.

Step 3

Braid

To make the ropes stronger I took three of the 24 strings and braided them together. To do this, start by knotting the three chains together at the top and then braid the strings together. Finally, tie a knot at the end of the braid. Do this with all 24 strings so you will end up with 8 braids total: three for the first and second basket and two for the top basket.

Step 4

Attaching the Braid The next step is to connect the braids to the basket. Start with the largest base for the bottom basket and layout where the three braids are going to go around it and then just simply knot the braid to the edge of the base. If you have extra string from the knot either cut it off or weave it through the the crochet base. Once you attach all three to the base you are going to take the same braids and attach it to the next base. Again with just a knot or two so it does not come undone. Once this is done with all three braids, you will attach the next three braids. Right next to the knots you made from the bottom is where you are going to tie the strings for the next layer. Repeat this step till all three bases are attached together. For the top layer I only created two braids. If you would like to have three to go along with everything else you need to make 3 extra chains in step 2. Space the braids on opposite sides of the base and then tie the two braids together at the top.

Step 5

Assemble After you have the braids attached you can now hang it up and place the baskets in it. And there you have it -- a finished hanging basket that you can use around your house as a cool way of storage.

Living

Learn to love shopping at second hand shops by following these tips.

Living Comparison

Living Conmarison

Living Conmarison Too many people believe that shopping at second hand stores like Salvation Army, Goodwill, thrift stores and flea markets will only lead them to find junk and will be a waste of time. But in all actuality you should look at it as a rewarding hunt to find that exact object you are looking for. It is the best feeling to find something you have been needing or wanting. Looking for something new can sometimes be challenging but can lead to some of the most rewarding finds. Here are some tips that can help your experience, when shopping at second hand stores, be the best that it can be. First know what you are looking for and go to the second hand shops often as the merchandise is always changing. If you feel like shopping at second hand stores is very time consuming, go with a plan. My friend who just bought a house was looking for large framed pictures to hang on her walls. She went in knowing what she wanted and was out very quickly. She was able to find double matted images for $14.99 each. If you were to try to frame and matte your own things that could cost you up to $35 to $50 dollars or more. If you go shopping at a second hand store knowing what you want to buy you can quickly get in and out. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find your item, you can come back or hit another store. If you do not go in with a plan then browsing without one is a great way to kill spare time. If you decide just to go browsing it could be a great way to spend a day with someone. If you go often then you will be able to find the best quality items in any department. Also by going more often you know what stuff is newer, what the specials are and maybe even what day the store restocks. With this information you can plan your shopping to be even more efficient.

Another helpful tip that is similar to the previous is to decide what departments you are going to look through before you go to the second hand shops. When you do this it can make shopping quite efficient. If you make this decision before you go into the store then you can go straight to the section you are looking for and you do not have to get distracted by interesting things in other sections. Believe me, there are always fascinating things to see! Once you look through everything you wanted and you still have some time or motivation then you can move to the next section. If you have the plan of going to decorate your living space then you know what department to start in. With this in mind I found some pieces that many people use as a decorative element. The decorative bird house was $4.99 but is sold online for $52. Also the candle stick holder was $7.99 versus many online that are around $35. The next few tips have to do with being conscience about what you are buying. If you find what you were looking for when you go shopping then leave it there till you are ready to leave. This is a good idea because it allows you to see everything in the store before you make a commitment on that one item. It also gives you the time to consider other questions like is that the price you want to pay. If you decide that this would be the right item for you then go right ahead and buy it. If you are looking for big pieces of furniture to buy, 43

then the second hand shops are a good place to go because many things are considerably marked down from what they are generally sold for. For example the entertainment center was $40 but can usually range from $200-500. The next tip is if it does not impress or inspire you then do not buy the object. One of the main points of going to second hand shops is to save money on something you would buy from a store, so if you are buying things that you do not really need then you are defeating the purpose of saving your money. Another tip would be that if you find an object that is similar to something you already have then do not buy another unless you need it. This can be applied to all departments, but is mainly for the clothing department. It can be very easy to buy something that looks like what you already have. Just because it is new or name brand does not mean that you have to buy it. This is just another way that you can save money. I do not need a record player but I found a brand new on sale at the Goodwill that was being sold for $12 but online they are sold for $65 which is a crazy difference. If you are planing to buy things that are similar to what you already have then a good tip for you is to take something with you to donate to the shop. That way it helps you control the amount of stuff in your house, allowing you to make room for things you get from the second hand shop. Also donations are also nice because you could be helping someone in need or someone like you out. Donations can also help with your taxes and give you additional savings, so when you do donate, get a receipt.

When you are considering buying something be sure to keep two things in mind: question if the price is right and be sure to check for the wear and tear of the object. When considering if the price is correct ask yourself: is this price cheaper than a new item would be if on sale in the store? If your item would be cheaper being brand new from another store then you should get that, but that is usually not the case. If the item is brand new looking and a name brand then you probably will not find a better deal and you should get the item from the second hand store. Before you buy something from the second hand shops make sure you check the object because these are things that were once used so there is a possibility that the object you would like will have some signs of wear. When looking at lamps I had to double check the lampshades to make sure that there were no holes or stains on them. This one was $9.99 but lamps in stores are much pricier and are about $20-40. Double check the item you want and get it depending on what you find acceptable level of wear and tear. Be sure to go to second hand shops that have a turnover in items and products. When you do this you are able to see even more than you would regularly. This give you better opportunities to discover more finds. Another thing that you could do with your purchases is either reuse them or repurpose them to give them a new life. When you do this you can be able to even sell it for more than you bought it for. Throughout this book you can find projects that use items purchased at second hand shops which will allow you to make them better and will give you the opportunity to make money if you decide to try to sell them.

One final tip I have for you is that if you see something you like and it does not have a price tag then bring it up to the counter and then one of the managers will price it for you. This could potentially be an even better deal than it was originally, if they are guessing at a price that it would be. If you find objects that are in multiples and one does not have a price that is the one that I would probably pick up and see what the â&#x20AC;&#x153;newâ&#x20AC;? price would be. Shopping at second hand stores can be rewarding and fun if you follow some of these tips and go in with a plan. Saving money and giving these objects a second life is a great way to go shopping. 45

Learn to sew and become more self sufficent.

Using Your Skills

Why Sewing?

How to Sew Knowing how to sew a very simple stitch is a good skill to have under your belt. You will never know when you might need to fix a small hole in something and instead of buying something new, utilize a new skill and fix up what you already have. Along with fixing up fabric that has a hole or is missing a button, you can make something yourself like the sweater pillows in this book to prevent you from spending money on something you could very well make yourself. And it will look more unique! The six simple steps I have for you here are for one of the most simple sewing stitches and should be easy for you to follow along. This technique will allow you to fix and make whatever you desire. Read along and learn how to sew.

Tools Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Need: Needle Spool of Thread Fabric that you are sewing together Scissors Note: The fabric I am using for a demonstration so they are small pieces that I hope it will be enough to learn from. I used 2 different colors to be clearer on the two sides of the fabric.

Step 1

Cut the Thread To begin you want to unravel the thread from the spool. Be sure to pull out a good amount but not too much. I personally double or triple the length that the path that I am sewing. Once you have the length desired, use your scissors and cut the thread from the spool.

Step 2

Thread the Needle Weave the thread through the loop at the top end of the sewing needle. Pull the thread till it is halfway down the needle, so the thread is is folded in half at the loop of the needle. Finally place the two ends of the thread together.

Step 3

Knotting the End Before we start sewing we are going to make a knot at the end of the thread to hold as an anchor and keep the thread from going through the fabric. With the two ends that were placed together in step 2 you are going to tie them together. You should tie the knot two or three times so the thread can be nice and secure to your fabric. Now we are ready to begin sewing.

Step 4

Beginning of Sewing Once you have the thread knotted, you are going to push the needle through the fabric where you want to start combining the two pieces of fabric together. Do not do this too close to the edge; I would suggest to start at least a fourth of an inch or about a centimetre in from the edge. Pull the thread all the way through the two pieces of fabric until the knot that you made butts up against the fabric.

Step 5

Stitching Once you have the placement of where you started take the needle and put it back through the fabric next to the other spot you came up in the previous step. Keep it at least a half centimetre apart and pull the thread all the way through the fabric until you can not pull it anymore. Now that the needle is on the opposite side (the side you started with, that the knot is on) you are going to go back through next to the spot you came out of. Try your best to keep the spacing consistent for best results. Continue stitching back and forth through the fabric until you reach the desired length.

Step 6

Final Knot and Cut Once you finished doing the back and forth motion and get to the end tie a secure knot about two to three times so it will not come back through the fabric. After tying the knot cut the excess thread a few centimeters away from the final knot.

And there you have it: how to sew by hand. Even though this is quite simple, you can make many things by sewing from hand. Though it takes longer to do than a sewing machine, you are still able to sew and make many things like pillows, stuffed animals, or fix a piece of clothing with a hole in it. Knowing this skill will save you money and make you feel more confident that you can fix things in a pinch.

Put a spin on house decorating by creating your own clock.

My DIY

DIY Clock

DIY Clock By creating your own design and refacing a clock, a DIY clock not only gives you a fun and easy craft to create, but it also allows you to display something that you created instead of a bought painting or piece of art. Some would think that it is probably difficult to change the face of a clock but most clocks are made very similarly and it is quite an easy process. You simply take off the arms of the clock and lay whatever swatch you want on top of it. With this project, there is a wide range of ways you can decorate the face of your clock: you can go as simple as placing a single image on it or you can get extra crafty and create a collage of images, like I did here. By making your own swatch for your clock you have the ability to decide how permanent you would like them to be. By this I mean that if you want your image to be on the clock forever you can glue or mod podge directly onto the clock. If you want to be able to exchange the photo for different holidays or for just personal preference you can do that by either taping or if your clock has a cover it might be able to hold itself in place without any adhesive. Cost Savings Clock (from Salvation Army)

Clock = $1.99

New Wall Clocks

$25.00 - $40.00

Potential Savings

$23.00 - $38.00

Note: If you have a clock already hanging around your house then you already have the free clock and gain the ability to gave more cost savings.

Tools Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Need: 1 Clock Paper, Photographs, or Clippings of what you want to go on your clock

What I learned from my research: I learned that with this DIY project the creativity of what you want this to look like is completely up to you. You have the freedom to choose the style and feel that you want to look at when you check the time. Many clocks are used as decorative pieces with big bold letters, but if you want a more clean and modern clock with no numbers you can have that too. While walking around a Salvation Army I saw this very interesting clock tucked away on a top shelf. I found the physical shape of the clock very different from any others I have seen. I did not, however, like the image that was on the clock. 54

Knowing that I was going to change that part of the clock anyway, I bought it. After looking at the shape of the clock it inspired my design, so if you try to do this project and do not know exactly what you want to put on there maybe the shape of the clock you are working with will give you a good idea. The shape of my clock reminds me of a soda bottle cap so I decided to do a little collage on the computer of old coke-a-cola advertisements and posters. By the clock being a deep brown I feel it just further emphasized the old rustic feel I was going for.

Step 1

Decide on Image The first thing you need to do is decide what you want your clock to look like. You also need to consider what your medium is going to be. How are you going to create this image? Some suggestions are: use a single photograph, use magazine clippings and make a collage, or make your design on the computer. For this I collaged images on the computer with photoshop, but you do not have to use this if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to. Just use whatever will be the easiest for you.

Step 2

Create Your Image Once you have your idea decided, craft it together. You can simply print out the correct size or physically make the artwork do that now. This is where I started placing and cutting my images out and fitting them together. I then just printed my circle out the correct size. 55

Step 3

Hole and Gluing Mark where the arms of the clock are going to come through the paper. Then cut a hole, or hole punch around the area. Then adhere the paper to the clock anyway you would like. As mentioned before, you can use mod podge or glue. For my example I used tape.

Step 4

Arms

Re attach the arms in the correct order onto the clock and then you are done. Hang the clock wherever you would like and enjoy your little creation. 56

Find out why the DIY movement has become so popular.

DIY

Why DIY?

Why DIY? Over recent years, more and more people have been joining the DIY movement. But many people are questioning why this is becoming more and more popular. An article about embracing the physical comments on this by saying: “As we spend ever more time in the digital world, what's becoming increasingly valued is the time we do not spend online or in front of a screen—the time we spend with real people and real things.” Many people are fascinated by and love physical and real things and the more we get involved in the digital world of phones and computer screens the more we try to pursue physical experiences and objects. “The simple fact is, we’re physical creatures. We’re hardwired to respond to cues in the physical environment. That’s not going to change.” The more the time we spend in a digital world the more we begin to value the time we spend with the things and people right in front of us; things we can feel. More young people are in constant use of screens and immersed in the digital world which is why the DIY movement is constantly growing in numbers. DIY is good for you because it allows you to make mistakes and grow from them.We are too often taught that making mistakes leads to a negative result (for example grades) but with DIY projects mistakes can often lead you in a different and better direction and inspire you to make something even better.

Giving an object a new purpose.

My DIY

Why Upcycle Lamp?

DIY Upcycle Lamp This is a great way to save money and create an easy cool project for yourself or your children. The word upcycle means to reuse objects that have been tossed away or are no longer wanted. Upcycle is a way to change the object you have or to make it better than it was when you found it, while giving it a new purpose. For example, you can do this with an old lantern. These upcycled lamps are great for decorations or a cool night light. It gives you the opportunity to make something very easy look like you bought it from some high end rustic store or like it would have taken you hours to make, but in all reality, was quite simple. This project gives you opportunities to give a new life to this old lamp instead of it being thrown away. Lanterns like this are being sold online for a lot more than what you really paid for it. Cost Savings Lantern (fromFlea Market)

Lamp = $ 4.00 String of lights= $2.00

Decrative Lantern

$35.00 - $60.00

Potential Savings

$30.00 - $55.00

Note: If you have an extra small strand of light already hanging around your house then you already have the light part and save yourself 2 more dollars.

Tools You’ll Need: Old lantern Small string of lights (10-20 lights) That’s it! It’s very simple, if you want ribbon and string to decorate the lamp that is up to you. Skill level = easy

What I learned from my research: The lamp I have used for this demonstration was picked up from a flea market. The great thing about flea markets is that if you really want something then you usually bargain with the seller and get the price to go down. In all reality, they want to sell there products just as much as you want to buy their stuff. When this lamp was found at the flea market it was almost 8 dollars. By wanting to buy two the price was talked down to only $4 for both and so me and my sister split the cost and both went home with a cool decoration. For a while that was all it was — a decoration — until I decided that I wanted to give it another purpose. On places like pinterest I found that there were many ways that you could convert an old lantern into a light, so here is my take on upcycling an old lantern. 62

The lights that I bought for this project is battery powered and has a switch. I found that this would be the best kind of lights to use so I will have the option to place it wherever I want around the house and will not have to worry about placing it near a plug to be plugged in. I also realized throughout this process that many of the old lamps that you get open differently from one another. So with some of the lanterns you find the glass compartment can be taken completely out and of others they are simply lifted up (that is the kind I have).

Step 1 Lift the glass off the base of the lamp so that you have the hole in the bottom of the glass can be seen and accessed.

Step 2 Take the end of the string of lights and begin to thread them through the hole in the glass cover. If you have the battery pack switch string of lights then when you start to thread your lights through the hole make sure you are in the back of the lamp so in the end, you can simply hide the battery pack behind the lamp with no wires showing.

Step 3 Continue threading the lights through the hole in the lamp. When you get to the end then you can place the glass covering back down on the base of the lamp and turn on the lights. And there you have it, a very simple project that can be done quickly. It is great for decorating the house and even a good holiday decoration. 63

Closing I hope you are inspired by my book and can use some of these ideas in your own life. The main reason I wrote this book was to hopefully give you tips for saving money and the environment. These Ideas are here to show you how to save money while benefitting the environment by purchasing from secondhand stores. I hope your DIY projects and bargain finds lead to creative gratification in your life. So now go on and reuse, recycle, and repurpose things in your life.

I leave you with a quote that made second hand shopping just a little more popular. “Pop Some Tags” by Macklemore made this a cool popular thing to do… “I’m gonna pop some tags Only got twenty dollars in my pocket I - I - I’m hunting, looking for a come-up This is #*$%! awesome”