There are all kinds of bags out there, grocery bags, sandwich bags, bread bags, fertilizer bags and the list goes on. It just seems a shame to toss them into the trash without getting another use out of them - since we'll all be dead before they decompose.

Send me your ideas and I'll add them. Here are a few to start things off:

::Store homemade soup. Fill up bags, then lay them flat in the freezer. When the bags of soup freeze flat, you’ll be able to pile them up like stacked books for easy, space-saving storage.

::Protect precious cargo. No bubble wrap? Slip a straw into the top of a nearly closed Ziploc bag and inflate. Remove the straw and seal to make a cushion.

::Store panty hose. Tear off the corner of the package listing the brand, size, and color, then slip it into a bag. Store each pair in its own bag to keep hose organized and prevent snags

 flickr/cc - Blues Belle

-Other Uses-
::For overnight trips, fill bags with single portions of shampoo and conditioner - then cut a corner for use in the shower
::Keep moisture away from Q-tips and cotton balls.
::Stash powder compacts in bags to prevent spills in your purse.
::Collect stamps, paper, and pens in one place for writing notes or paying bills.
::Stow markers to prevent ink stains.

::Keep paintbrushes moist during do-it-yourself projects
::Reduce food-preparation time by storing prechopped ingredients. (Tip: Pat freshly washed fruits and vegetables completely dry before bagging them for storage. Damp items spoil more quickly)
::Refrigerate marinating meats.
::Fill with frosting, snip a corner, and decorate cupcakes
::Retire the old coin jar — a bag takes up less space.

::Organize camera batteries and memory cards.
::Separate nuts, bolts, and drill bits.
::Keep receipts handy and wrinkle-free.
::Corral keys, your phone, and loose change before hitting airport security.
::Store your car's insurance card and registration in the glove compartment.

::Snack-size bags are perfect for packing a weekend's worth of jewelry.
::Store silver jewelry to reduce tarnishing.
::Dedicate a bag to extra earring backs.
::Protect appliances from dust and grease.
::After the holidays, seal decorations before retiring them to the basement.

::Put instructions in bags and tape them to the backs of appliances.
::Bag coupons for quick reference.
::Place over feet to keep socks dry if you don’t have galoshes to throw on

 flickr/cc - thedaisychick

 
Cook an omelet? You add 2 eggs per bag plus whatever other ingredients you want (mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, grated cheese, etc.). Close the bag, removing all the air and drop into a pot of boiling water. Let boil exactly 13 minutes. Open the bag and the omelette rolls out cleanly.

A friend of mine emailed me to go over her student loan payments, she had been paying without fail and one of the loans hadn't been going down very fast. The second loan was going down, but she wanted to get rid of it as quick as possible, thus the reason we were going over her loans.

Flickr/CC - YuvalH

 One loan was around 5 grand and the other was just under 2 grand. Sadly, these loans couldn't be consolidated. She was also frustrated with the fact that she would be paying a higher interest and she wasn't sure how that affected her.

On the 5k loan, she was paying just over 60 dollars, of that, we found that about 2/3 was for the principle. At this rate her loan was going to take 11 1/2 years to pay this back. Even if she paid every two weeks, that would only save her 18 months. She wanted to do better.

After figuring what she could afford she decided to go with 90 dollars, which will cut down her time in payments to just under 7 years. Not great, but better.

As for the other loan that is just under 2k, she was paying about 55 dollars - this was going to take about 3 1/2 years to pay off. For this little loan, she figured she could up the amount to 75 and that would cut back on the time to 2 1/2 years.

In the end she added 48 dollars to her monthly loan payments, shaved off 5 1/2 years of payments and interest. She also plans on putting any extra money from taxes or bonuses towards the smaller loan and when that is paid off, roll the payment over to pay off the larger one.

Now she isn't as depressed and can see the light at the top of the debt pit. This is the Loan Repayment calculator that was used, nice and simple.

Even though I live an apartment complex and all the repairs are handled by the maintenance crew, I still like to know that I can handle small issues that may come up.

For instance, the garbage disposal. Even though it has been around for over 70 years, and it's a pretty cool invention for apartments when you can't actively compost organics. And even though it was invented before my parents were born, only about 50% of homes have them and it would seem even fewer people really know how to take care of it besides dumping baking soda, vinegar and hot water down the hole to clean it or make it smell nicer.

Understandably, garbage disposals aren't the coolest accessory to have around the house. They were once banned in different location because they were believed to caused sewer troubles and if movies are to be believed you will can get all kinds of body-parts trapped in them.

Since they are pretty sturdy devices when they do go down it is usually with the biggest meal of the year trapped inside and clogging up the sink drain.

Trouble #1 - Flip the switch and nothing happens
Solutions - When the disposal is clogged there is a switch on the unit that is tripped. Open up your cabinet doors under the sink and press that switch in to reset it and if it trips again, make sure any large items or bones are out of the disposal before you push the reset again.

If there is no switch, try unplugging the unit and replugging it in. And if the garbage disposal still won't react, check the breaker for the disposal. When it is running again, make sure you are running water down the drain while it is running.


Trouble #2 - The disposal isn't draining as fast as it used to
Solutions - Detach the piping that has a bend in it for any kind of obstruction. Over time grease and other organics will accumulate over time if not enough water was flushed down the drain while it was in use.

Trouble #3 - The garbage disposal noise level is waking the dead
Solutions - If your unit used to be quieter and has become louder, grab a flashlight, turn the disposal off and check down the drain for anything that might be causing the trouble - plastic and silverware are most common. Just grab some tongs, snatch it out and frame it for the beautiful piece of chewed up artwork it has become.

If it vibrates while it is running, check for loose screws or the flywheel inside could have been damaged. And if that happens... a new disposal is probably cheaper than fixing the existing one.

Unfortunately, there is not a way to make them quieter. If you an unfortunate soul, like myself, and have one that sounds like a jet engine taking off, then consider the times of the day that you use it.

Flickr/CC - iluvrhinestones

Cleaning a disposal is really simple and you probably already know at least one way. Remember to always run water when the disposal is running.

Cleaning Tip #1 - Regularly grinding up ice cubes and fruit rinds in the unit helps to remove particles before they have the chance to form mold.

Cleaning Tip #2 -  A tablespoon of bleach mixed into a gallon of water, slowly poured into the drain and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then run the water while the disposal is going.

Cleaning Tip #3 -  The most common suggestion is to pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, let it sit for a few minutes and then pour a cup of vinegar down the drain. Put the plug in. Expect to hear a faint fizzing noise as the soda and vinegar react on contact. Leave for a few more minutes and pour a large bowl or pan of hot water down the drain while running the disposal.