HANDY HINTS - 🟠 BEFORE YOU BUY

Who says you have to buy it?

Before you reach for your wallet, have a look around. You might already have something that can do the job.

We all have things hiding in cupboards, drawers and garages that are perfectly capable of doing more than the job they were originally bought for.

And sometimes, a product exists simply because someone decided we needed a special product for something we were already perfectly capable of doing ourselves.

The reality is that prices keep going up, but our pensions don't always keep pace. So finding little ways to spend less isn't about being stingy — it's about being smart with what we have.

That's where Handy Hints comes in.

And, as with so many of our ideas, this is also where the PensionersForum community comes in. People are constantly sharing clever ideas, shortcuts and ways they've found to make something last a little longer or avoid spending money unnecessarily.

One person's good idea can become someone else's money-saving tip.

So before you buy something, ask yourself:

“Do I already have something that can do this job?”

1. Before you buy storage containers… check the recycling pile

That humble glass jar you were about to throw away could become a perfectly good storage container.

Use jars for dried foods, screws, buttons, seeds, craft supplies, small hardware or all those mysterious little bits that otherwise end up in a drawer.

Why buy another container when you've already got one?

2. Before you buy a specialist cleaning brush… find an old toothbrush

That old toothbrush may have retired from brushing teeth, but it hasn't necessarily retired from useful service.

It's brilliant for cleaning around taps, grout, appliance edges, window tracks and all those awkward little places that seem specifically designed to collect dirt.

A toothbrush might be one of the most useful little cleaning tools you already own.

3. Before you buy drawer organisers… find a cardboard box

You don't necessarily need a beautifully coordinated set of plastic drawer dividers.

A sturdy cardboard box can be cut into strips and used to make compartments in drawers, cupboards or storage boxes.

It won't win any interior-design awards — but your wallet won't mind.

4. Before you buy a small-parts organiser… look in the kitchen

That old muffin tin could have a second career.

Use the individual sections for screws, nuts, bolts, beads, buttons, craft supplies or other small bits when you're working on a project.

It's already divided into compartments.

Someone has already done the clever bit for you.

5. Before you buy cleaning cloths… look at your old towels or T-shirts

A towel that is no longer looking its best doesn't necessarily belong in the bin.

Cut it into smaller pieces and you've got useful cleaning cloths for floors, windows, spills, polishing and messy jobs.

The older towel might not be pretty — but neither is the cloth you're about to buy to wipe up engine oil.

6. Before you buy another storage box… check the cupboard for shoeboxes

Shoeboxes are already boxes.

With a label on the end, they can store cables, photographs, documents, craft supplies, tools, decorations and dozens of other things.

You might even find that the box is more useful than the shoes that originally came in it.

7. Before you buy seed-starting trays… check your kitchen recycling

Egg cartons can be surprisingly handy for starting small seedlings.

They already have individual sections, making them useful for getting seeds started before they're moved into larger pots.

It's a simple example of looking at an everyday object and asking:

“What else could this do?”

8. Before you buy packing material… look at your paper pile

Moving house? Sending something fragile? Packing away Christmas decorations?

Before buying packing paper or other protective material, check what you already have.

Old newspapers, magazines and suitable paper packaging can often be used to wrap and protect items.

And once again, something destined for the recycling bin gets another useful job first.

9. Before you buy another little storage tub… check the ice-cream tubs

Those sturdy plastic ice-cream containers can have a surprisingly long second life.

Depending on the container and its condition, they can be useful for storing leftovers, screws, nails, craft materials, garden bits and other small items.

Just remember: if you're reusing containers for food, make sure the container is still suitable for that purpose.

10. Before you buy a dusting or polishing cloth… look at that old pillowcase

An old pillowcase can become a useful cleaning cloth, dusting cloth or protective cover for items you're storing.

It's soft, washable and already sitting there waiting for its second act.

Sometimes the solution isn't hiding in the shop.

It's hiding in the linen cupboard.

And here's another one to keep in mind…

Before you automatically head to a regular retailer for something you need, there may be another option worth considering: salvage, clearance and outlet stores.

They can be treasure troves of perfectly usable goods, surplus stock, factory seconds, discontinued lines and products that retailers need to move on — often at prices well below what you'd normally pay.

We've put together 10 Places to Pay Less to help you find some of these hidden bargain spots — covering everything from food and clothing to furniture, household goods and more.

👉 Read: 10 Places to Pay Less

And, as always, we'd love to hear from our Community

Have you discovered a place where you can get good stuff for less? Tell us about it — your tip could help someone else PAY LESS too.

The PPL Handy Hints Rule

We're not saying never buy anything.

Sometimes you really do need to buy something. And when you do, that's fine.

But before you spend the money, pause for a moment and look around.

Don’t buy something simply because a shop has invented a product for a job your house already has a solution for.

Because every rand you don't need to spend is a rand you get to keep.

And that's what PAY LESS is all about.

Keep SHOPPING!!!!

Angela

The Voice behind PensionersPayLess!

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Angela is part of the team driving PensionersPayLess forward, building on its mission to help South Africa’s over-55s discover news, views, savings, opportunities and useful discoveries.

Through her work with Pensioners Forum and its community, Angela spends her time connecting with older South Africans, hearing real stories, sharing practical information, and helping people find ways to make everyday life easier and more rewarding. She writes about topics inspired by conversations within the community, personal experiences, money-saving ideas, lifestyle topics and the things that matter to people navigating life after 55.