It is sometimes difficult to stay optimistic about the future these days and I consider myself a hardcore optimist. For what it takes to fill the family car”s gas tank today we could drive for weeks not all that long ago.
I went to the store a few days ago to buy a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jam, to make cheap and quick lunches. It cost me over $11 for the three items. News flash ? peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are no longer cheap fare.
While we may not be in the dire straits that Americans dealt with during the Great Depression, it does appear to be a time in which many of us are looking for ways to shave expenses in order to afford the bills we have to pay like food, shelter and transportation.
I”ve talked to a number of people who are figuring out what they are going to cut out of their life in order to be able to pay for the necessities.
One thing you shouldn”t do during hard times is stop your newspaper subscription. And, believe me; I”m not just trying to help my own cause here. There are some very legitimate reasons for reading and using the newspaper during tough times. First of all, the newspaper provides you with information and advertising that can help you get through the difficult times.
But, the news and advertising offered in the paper is not the only way to help you stretch a buck. The newspaper has long served many additional purposes long after the news and advertising on the pages have become stale.
Almost everyone who has ever had a bird or a hamster for a pet has lined the bottom of the cage with old newspaper pages. And, especially in this area, where nearly everyone goes fishing, who hasn”t discarded fish remains wrapped in newsprint?
Well, I”m here to tell you that those two uses only scratch the surface of what people have discovered that a day, week or month-old newspaper can do to help them out and often save them money. Here are a few of the best that I have heard about. I hope this will be of help.
* Use for mulch.
* Use as drop cloths for painting and other household projects.
* Use to protect the table from kids” art projects.
* Ball them up and put inside tight shoes to stretch them out a bit.
* Crumple and place inside hats and bags to help them keep their shape.
* Use with vinegar to wash windows.
* Use to protect Christmas ornaments and other fragile items in storage.
* Wrap fragile items to protect when moving.
* Use to cushion items when sending packages.
* Shred and use to line cat”s litter pan.
* Use as shelf paper.
* Use to help start fires in your fireplace or camp fire.
* Use to protect your knees when kneeling in the garden.
* Use to make papier-mache projects.
* Wrap birthday gifts with the comics section or articles you feel the recipient would enjoy.
* Wrap around unripened tomatoes to speed up the process.
* Ball up and stuff inside of food containers, lunch boxes and suitcases to absorb odors.
* Roll up and place inside wet shoes to dry and keep their shape.
* Line your fridge”s vegetable crisper with newspaper to absorb odors.
* Keep in your mud room or vestibule to go under boots and shoes during inclement weather.
* Use to clean a greasy oven.
* Shred and add to compost.
* Tape over windows when painting.
* Keep a stack in your car and use for traction in case you get stuck in mud or snow.
* Shred and use like straw for clean and warm pet bedding.
Gary Dickson is publisher of the Clear Lake Observer*American. He may be reached at 263-5636, ext. 24, or e-mail at gdickson@record-bee.com.
