RE - PURPOSE YOUR COFFEE FILTERS

                                                       week 9 (save $9)

On the weekend, I had baked some cookies for a friend’s house warming.  I searched everywhere for a paper dolly to line the bottom of the cookie tin and I was out of luck.   What could I possibly use instead?  Searching through my pantry desperately... eureka! I can flatten a coffee filter.  
A  simple ideal solution solved and it lined perfectly!

 

It got me thinking, what other creative ways can I make use of  these lint free, durable, recyclable coffee filter that are sold in packages of one hundreds? 
 
Here is my multi- purpose list of uses other than making a great cup of Java.

• Clean windows, mirrors and chrome.  Coffee filters are lint- free so they’ll leave windows sparkling 

• Shield stacked china from scratches and nicks by layering a filter between each delicate piece.

• Keep your fresh produce crisp by wrapping in coffee filters before putting them in your cooler.  The coffee filter will absorb any moisture.
• Put a filter on the bottom of your flower pot containers, over the drainage holes. This keeps the soil from leaving the container while still allowing water to run through it
• To soak up excess grease, Put under fried foods such as bacon, fries, fried chicken etc. to soak up excess grease.
• You can also use a coffee filter to help ward off unwanted odors from your shoes, gym bags, closets refrigerator  by applying a little bit of baking soda and wrapping it up in the filter with a rubber band.  It keeps everything smelling fresh and odor free.
• Use coffee filters in the bottom of the kitchen compost pot. It keeps messiness from sticking to the bottom of the pot, and goes right into the compost pile outside along with the pot of compost when emptied.
• Filter wine when you break the cork.
• Use to dry wine glasses and prevent water marks.
• Use a coffee filter to prevent splatter when heating something in the microwave.
• Put flavorings (bay leaves, woody herb stems, etc.) in a coffee filter, tie with string, and stick in soup  while cooking for quick and easy removal later.
• Use a coffee filter as a makeshift rag. Unlike paper towels, coffee filters are lint free and take up very little space.
• Use to line bamboo steamers.
• Strain bacon drippings by pouring them through a coffee filter into a ceramic bowl or mug. The brown bits and grains will stay in the filter. Also works well for recycling frying oil.
• Use as a sandwich wrap (inside the baggy or plastic container) so your sandwich doesn’t get soggy in your lunchbox.
• Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
• To sprout seeds, dampen a coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag until they sprout
• The next time you need to check the oil level in the car, use a filter to wipe the dipstick or for quick clean ups.
• Line a colander or strainer with a coffee filter, place the strainer in a bowl, fill with regular yogurt, and let sit in the fridge overnight. Fresh Greek yogurt for breakfast!
• Use a coffee filter to spot clean your clothing. Use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and the spot will be greatly reduced if not disappear completely.
• Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.
• Get spills out of carpets, before they stain. While the spill is still wet, cover it with a coffee filter. They will pick up the spill.
• Separate individual tortillas for freezing.
• For perfectly heated tortillas, spritz a coffee filter with water and lay a tortilla on top of it. Spritz a second coffee filter and put it on top. Heat the stack in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, and your tortilla will be warm and still pliable. You can use the same ones over and over.

 

How do YOU re-purpose your coffee filters?

 

Your local Toronto Public Library

  

 

                                                                                                    week 8 (save $8)
If you live within the city of Toronto, you can get a Toronto Public Library card.  With your library card, it’s obvious that you can borrow books, e-books, cd’s, dvd’s, etc for free!  

But there is so much more than books the library provides.  There is always something happening at TPL branches within the GTA whether it be author talks, lectures, children's activities, workshops, book clubs, art exhibits, movie night, crafts and games. 

Did you know, once a week at every TPL branch a limited number of Sun Life Financial Museum and Art Passes (also known as MAP), which offer free admission to one of several Toronto attractions become available. With your library card, you can get one of the passes and will be able to explore over one of a dozen museums and historic sites in the city. There are limited passes to the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Metro Zoo, Ontario Science Centre, Casa Loma, Black Creek Pioneer. MAP can offer a great opportunity for those on a tight budget to experience more of Toronto for FREE!  There are some restrictions, visit your local TPL or website for full details.

I had the opportunity to see the Ai -Wei Wei exhibit at the Art Gallery for free with my friends.  The exhibit was amazingly  powerful and I look forward to future MAP passes to explore other free Toronto attractions. 

If you are looking for a quiet place to relax, or study, all the TPL branches have computers for use and offer free wireless internet access. Bring your laptop and find a comfee seat or just catch up on some Zzzz’s.   

Go get your card and take advantage of all that the TPL has to offer. 

What did you discover at your branch? 

www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

Good Will Hunting

 

                                                                                                            week 7 (save $7)

No, this blog is not about the movie with the same title.  

For those who are not familiar with Goodwill, they are a second hand bargain hunter's paradise with lots of hidden treasures.  There is a stigma attached with shopping at Goodwill as if its demographic only consists of those people living in the lower income bracket but this is a spurious assessment. You will be surprised as to the wide array of people and different cultures that shop here. It might be far-fetched to claim that Goodwill is a leading retail of this generation's consumer zeitgeist but it is quickly becoming a trendy outlet to purchase goods that caters to everyone. You never know what you might find when you step through the doors. 

Goodwill resells the donated household goods which would be filling our landfills.  You can look at them as one of the early, "green recycling retailer" pioneer’s since 1939. The revenue profited from the donated goods goes back into valuable training programs to create more jobs. With brand name fashions both new and used and home merchandises all selling at bargain prices. Watch out for their daily or monthly sales dates for even more savings.

I’ve managed to find a brand new Club Monaco blazer with the original price tag attached, retail for $150. I only paid $10!  I also managed to snag up a few Department 56, ceramic collectors pieces for 5 and 15 bucks!  What a find!   

Tips: Go early on their extra special saving days.  Don't bring girlfriends, who are the same size as you.  Don't be discouraged if you don't something this time--It's a hit and miss situation.  Drop in once in while or visit their other locations and maybe you will find something amazing! Do bring hand sanitizer.

What great finds did you come across?

Happy GoodWill Hunting!     www.goodwill.on.ca

A Simple Money Saving Solution

What if I told you that it was possible to save $1378 this year with very little effort or substantial budget cuts? Please…that is impossible you may claim, especially in this unstable economy! Wrong. It’s actually very simple: the idea is loosely based on the theory of saving one dollar a day for one whole year but with a slight alteration. You start with putting $1 into your piggy bank for the first week, then add $2 for the second week, then add $3 for the third week, and so on.  Just keep increasing and continue the amount by a dollar over the next 52 weeks. The most you will ever put into your bank is $52 and at the end of the annual challenge you will hopefully realize how easy it is to save with just a little discipline.  

I know we are into the second month of this year, but it’s never too late to start when it comes to saving money.  This is a great challenge for the whole family, especially when it comes to teaching children the value of money and how to spend responsibly.

I hope you will participate in this challenge.  Good Luck and feel free to post your progress in the comment section.
                                                                                  this is week 6 (save $6)
                                                                                  weeks 1-5 (save $15)