During high school, I babysat at least one night a week. My favorite clients–my youth pastor and his wife–had three toddlers and lived in a tiny, two-bedroom apartment. I always admired the creative ways they saved space and pinched pennies.For example, I distinctly remember how their entire set of drinking glasses was made up of miscellaneous Mason jars. What a neat idea!
Fast-forward about eight years. While making popcorn last week, I finished off a 14-oz jar of organic coconut oil and thought, “This would make a great drinking glass!”
After removing the label and soaking the jar in hot, soapy water overnight, it was still covered in a sticky film. Instead of purchasing Goo Gone, I used nail polish remover to wipe off the stickiness.
These 14-oz jars of organic coconut oil cost only $4.99 at Aldi, and the lids are interchangeable with regular Mason jar lids. Maybe by this time next year, I’ll have an entire set of miscellaneous drinking glasses.
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Hi Lilly,
I was wondering what brand of oil you use?
Hi there,
I buy Beneficial Blends Organic Coconut Oil from Aldi, although I think that product has recently been replaced by SimplyNature Organic Coconut Oil.
Blessings,
Ellie
Oh my goodness, I love recycling jars! Since my husband is a pastor, I take lots of things to people in glass jars and don't need to worry about them getting containers back to me. It is the perfect size for taking some soup to a widow lady. I freeze things in them for future use, too. Right now, I have three jars in my refrigerator full of homemade salsa. Oh, the uses are endless!
Great idea. Another tip: often if you bring in your own mug(or Mason jar) into most coffee shops, you'll get some amount of a discount!
Cute idea!
Thats great!!! My family has been drinking out of mason jars for as long as I can remember. We really like it.
You are quite the thrifty wife. I admire that you are willing to work with what you have. And that you are proud to share it with others. Keep it up!
These will also be good as storage jars. I love your N. W. Blog the best Ellie!
I do that too! It works great; glad we inspire each other and don't even know it. Hey, do you think you'll be on the new show featuring Jill and Jessa; either visiting them or them visiting you? Or would you hate to be on TV?
Hi godly-young-widow,
I don't think I would enjoy being on TV. 🙂 Do you think you would enjoy it, or would you rather stay out of the limelight?
Ellie
I've been on TV before and it was kind of fun. You can look back at what you looked like back then and just laugh.
I think begin on Tv would be fun. I would love to be in the limelight.
It would be fun to watch your self on TV.
When I was little my grandma and mom would save small jelly jars for juice glasses. they were also just the right size for my small hands.
My Mom saved jelly jars too and I still use them for juice. Mine were Winnie the pooh .
Growing up that's what we had for glasses as well. Momma was always canning every year and when she finished with the jars we added to the drinking glasses. That is until next canning season. LOL Plus, mayo and peanut butter and stuff came in glass jars so she saved them all.
You can also remove that sticky stuff with a mixture of baking soda and castile soap (liquid). Makes it much easier…and doesn't kill brain cells in the process! 😉
I believe in being cheap, but sometimes I think you take things just a little bit too far.
The top rim of a canning jars should be perfect and free from any little chips in the glass. The canner has to run their finger around the rim to check it is flawlessly smooth. Should a chipped spot be found that jar is only good for some other purpose, like being a storage jar for dry goods.
Hey how far can free go, maybe that is a scary concept! Do people feel more secure spending money! The options grow when you mention them and what are the limits! Ideas can be almost unlimited, so sticking to certain cultural norms can give the illusion of security. I do believe in the ten commandments but that does not dictate to spending except thou shall not steal so right there I see your wisdom in operating freely off the budget with creativity so that your butget does not get strained to the max by every little thing and idea you want to do or try around your house and in your life. I like the discussions and thinking a?of these lines that you have generated by your blogging of what you are doing and allowing comments on it! Thanks Ellie!
My mom saved all the jars too. She said jelly and jam are OK in some jars things from the store come in and it is not necessary to use mason jars for jelly and jam. She did favor a certain lid in store jars though, I forget the exact features of it.
If for some reason you suffered a devasting loss of property you would not lose too much.
You can do this with glass bottles, too 🙂 just buy a glas cutter (quite cheap)and cut off half of the bottle, un-sharpen the rough end and you got a great glas that looks store-bought or even handmade 🙂 Where I live you can get olive oil or soda in colourful glas-made bottles – it could be a fun hobby/craft to share with your husband as he might help you cutting the glas 🙂