16 Old Fashioned Household Habits That Save Money and Make Life Easier

Shop Your Pantry Before Shopping at the Store

Before making a grocery list, take a few minutes to look through the pantry, refrigerator and freezer. You may already have pasta, rice, beans, vegetables or other ingredients that can become the beginning of a meal.

This old fashioned habit helps prevent buying duplicates while reminding us to use food before it expires. It can also spark a little creativity. A box of pasta, a can of tomatoes and a handful of frozen vegetables may not look exciting on their own, but together they can become a delicious and inexpensive dinner.

Try choosing two or three ingredients that need to be used and planning your meals around them before adding anything new to the shopping cart.

I have to tell you friends, I am doing this a lot lately. I am on a journey to save half of what I would spend in a week for 4 weeks. Kid of just resupplying fresh and items and what we use the most. I am literally using what I have. I am happy to say that I have successfully accomplished that on the first week and now we are entering the second. I am dead set on doing. I will get new recipes from this experience, new ideas, truly see what we eat the most of, see truly what we need and more!

Use What Needs to Be Eaten First

Keep one small basket or clearly marked area in the refrigerator for foods that should be eaten soon.(you get to use your new eat me first free prihtable) Add partially used vegetables, opened containers, ripe fruit, leftover ingredients and anything approaching its expiration date.

When you need a snack or begin planning dinner, check this area first. You can arrange the dry snacks by expiration date with a basket on the shelf.

This is such a simple way to reduce food waste. It also keeps those forgotten mushrooms, half an onion some garlic broccoli, a few baby carrots and last little scoop of rice from disappearing behind newer groceries. I would snatch those items up… maybe add a few and make a great fried rice! Maybe add tofu for a stir fry… you get it!

You might be surprised by how much money can be saved simply by seeing and using the food you already purchased.

Save Vegetable Scraps for Homemade Stock

This is one of my favorite zero waste cooking habits because it turns something we normally throw away into a useful kitchen staple. My Nonna did this always. Here and my Babo owned a vegetable store and never wasted anything. My mother did the same and I just picked it up and what a great habit to have!

Keep a freezer bag or container specifically for clean vegetable scraps. Carrot peels and ends, onion skins, celery leaves, parsley stems, mushroom stems and the green parts of leeks can all add flavor to homemade vegetable stock.

Wash the vegetables before peeling or trimming them, then place the usable scraps in the freezer. Never save anything moldy, slimy or spoiled. You may also want to avoid large amounts of broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprout scraps because their strong flavor can overpower the stock.

When the bag is full, place everything in a large pot and cover it with water. Add a bay leaf, a few peppercorns or some fresh herbs if you have them. Let everything gently simmer until the water has developed a rich vegetable flavor. Strain the stock and use it for soups, risotto, sauces, casseroles, beans and rice dishes. Here’s a little hack… if the taste is not strong enough add a teaspoon of boulion or a boullon cube!

It costs practically nothing, reduces kitchen waste and makes the house smell wonderful. Best of all, you know exactly what went into it.

Have a Use It Up Dinner Once a Week

Choose one evening each week to use leftovers and ingredients that need attention. This does not have to feel like a sad collection of random containers.

Leftover vegetables can become a frittata, soup, fried rice, pasta sauce or quesadilla filling. Cooked rice can become a vegetable bowl. Beans can be added to tacos, salads or chili. A few slices of bread can become croutons, breadcrumbs or a simple vegetarian bread pudding. It’s crazy what you can do with a little bit of this and that! We are pretty big on coming up with new quesadilla fillings and of course croutons and fried rice! Have fun with it!

Cook Once and Enjoy It More Than Once

Previous generations understood that cooking a little extra could save time later in the week. A large pot of vegetarian chili can become dinner one night, baked potato topping the next and a filling for nachos or burritos after that.

Cooked vegetables can be added to pasta, grain bowls, omelets and soups. A batch of roasted chickpeas can top salads or become a snack. Extra rice can be frozen in meal sized portions for busy evenings.

You do not need to spend an entire Sunday preparing dozens of containers. Simply making a little extra while you are already cooking can give your future self a very welcome break.

Keep a Household Notebook

A simple household notebook can be incredibly helpful. Use it to record appliance information, paint colors, room measurements, repair dates, grocery prices, gardening notes and anything else you always seem to need but can never remember. I am doing this now because I am tracking but my Mom always did it… religiously and she aways stayed on budget and she always knew her prices!

You can also keep a running list of household supplies instead of relying on your memory at the store.

It does not need to be fancy. A basic notebook tucked into a kitchen drawer can become one of the most useful things in the house. My Mom used a simple composition notebook and it worked perfectly!

Prepare for Tomorrow Before Going to Bed

A few quiet minutes of preparation in the evening can prevent a rushed and stressful morning.

Set out clothing, gather anything that needs to leave the house, check the calendar, prepare the coffee maker and make sure keys, bags and important papers are where they belong.

This is especially helpful as back to school schedules begin again, but it is a wonderful year round habit for everyone.

You do not need to organize the entire next day. Simply remove one or two possible problems before they have the chance to happen. A lot of times you feel and inner piece when you are doing this process.

Never Leave a Room Empty Handed

When leaving a room, look around for one item that belongs somewhere else. Take the coffee cup to the kitchen, carry the folded towel upstairs or return the magazine to its basket.

This does not replace regular cleaning, but it keeps little messes from growing into overwhelming ones.

The secret is not to stop what you are doing and begin an entirely new project. Just take one thing along with you when you are already headed in that direction.

Those tiny trips add up throughout the day. It really does help!

Keep a Basket for Things That Belong Elsewhere

Place a small basket near the stairs or in a central area of the home. When you find something that belongs in another room, place it in the basket.

Carry the basket with you once a day and return everything to its proper place.

This is especially helpful in a busy household where shoes, books, chargers, toys and other little belongings seem to travel from room to room on their own. It’s interesting what you find sometimes when someone say… I did’t take that lol!

Choose a basket that is small enough to empty easily. A giant basket filled to the top can quickly become another clutter problem.

Clean as You Cook

There is nothing enjoyable about finishing dinner and discovering a kitchen that looks as though every pot and spoon in the house was involved.

Fill the sink with warm soapy water before you begin cooking. Wash or rinse utensils, bowls and measuring cups during the natural pauses in the recipe. Wipe the counter while something is simmering or baking.

By the time the meal is ready, much of the cleanup will already be finished.

This old fashioned habit takes a little practice, but it makes cooking feel far less exhausting. My mother brought me up with this habit and so did Nonna. It is probably one of my most favorite habits because WOW does it make a difference to have a clean kitchen after you just cooked! Especially the counters being clean…ahhhhhhhh!

Use Washable Cloths for Everyday Cleaning

Keep a basket of washable cloths in the kitchen or laundry area for wiping counters, drying small spills and handling everyday cleaning.

Old cotton towels, soft T shirts and worn washcloths can often be cut into useful cleaning rags instead of being thrown away. Now this is something my mother ALWAYS had. Sometime I would catch her eyeing up a soft shirt asking me if it had any holes

Paper towels are certainly convenient, and no one needs to feel guilty about using them when they are needed. However, washable cloths can handle many ordinary jobs and save a surprising amount of money over time.

Keep a separate container for used cloths so they can easily be added to the next appropriate load of laundry.

Air Out Blankets and Pillows

On a clear, dry day, take blankets, pillows and small rugs outside for some fresh air and sunshine.

This simple habit can help freshen fabrics between deeper cleanings. Give everything a gentle shake before bringing it back inside.

Always check care labels and avoid leaving delicate or brightly colored fabrics in strong sunlight for an extended period. Even a short visit to a shaded porch or outdoor drying rack can make bedding feel refreshed.

There is just something lovely about bringing a freshly aired blanket back into the house.  

My Nonna had a huge clothesline and so did my mom. They both had the cute little clothespin holder bag too! My Mom even put silver collapsable one in the back yard for the blankets! Sad to say I have not taken up this habit

Repair Small Problems Before They Grow

A loose button takes only a few minutes to sew, but it becomes a much bigger problem once it falls off and disappears. A tiny tear may be easy to mend today and impossible to hide next month.

The same principle applies throughout the home. Tighten the loose cabinet knob, glue the lifting corner, replace the missing screw and touch up the little scratch before the damage spreads.

Keeping a small repair box with needles, thread, fabric glue, buttons, a screwdriver and a few basic supplies makes these quick fixes much easier.

Taking care of little problems early can prevent expensive replacements later. 

Take Care of What You Own

One of the most valuable old fashioned household habits is also one of the simplest. Clean, maintain and properly store the things you already have.

Wash gardening tools before putting them away. Empty and clean the vacuum filter. Store seasonal decorations carefully. Follow appliance care instructions. Polish wooden furniture when it needs attention and keep important items protected from dampness, heat and sunlight.

Not everything can or should last forever. However, many household items wear out early simply because they are never cleaned, maintained or stored properly.

Caring for what we own saves money and keeps perfectly good things out of the landfill.

Use the Good Things Now

So many of us grew up with special dishes, linens, candles and serving pieces that were carefully saved for important occasions.

There is nothing wrong with keeping treasured items safe, but ordinary days deserve a little beauty too.

Use the pretty mug on a Tuesday morning. Place flowers in the special vase. Light the candle during dinner. Serve sandwiches on the good plates every now and then. Have high tea with those the frilly teacups (pinkie’s out).

Things were made to be enjoyed, and life is happening right now. We do not have to wait for a perfect occasion to make an everyday moment feel special.

Wash and Save Useful Glass Jars

Our mothers and grandmothers rarely threw away a perfectly good glass jar. Once the food inside was gone, the jar was washed, dried and given a brand new purpose.

Glass jars can be used to store dried beans, rice, pasta, buttons, craft supplies, loose change, garden seeds, homemade salad dressing and so many other little things that need a home.

Before saving a jar, wash it thoroughly and make sure there are no chips or cracks. Remove the label by soaking the jar in warm soapy water. A little baking soda or cooking oil can help loosen stubborn adhesive.

Choose jars with secure lids and keep only the sizes you will realistically use. We are trying to create useful storage, not an entire cabinet filled with empty jars waiting for a purpose.

You can also use smaller jars to hold a simple bouquet, share homemade treats with a friend or organize tiny items in a drawer. Add a pretty label or a piece of ribbon and an ordinary jar can become something surprisingly charming.

Glass jars should not automatically be used for home canning unless they are specifically designed and approved for that purpose. For everyday storage, however, they are practical, reusable and completely free.

This simple habit keeps useful containers out of the recycling bin, reduces the need to purchase more storage and gives everyday objects a second life.