When spring de-cluttering and purging, give some thought to reusing what you already have in a new way. Perhaps you can use old ice cube trays, tiny cardboard boxes, or empty egg cartons for storing jewelry or other small items. Or, instead of putting a used plastic flower pot into the recycle bin, clean it up and use it as a pen and pencil holder. Checkbook boxes can be used as drawer dividers. And, if you have items you can’t reuse but are serviceable, giving them to a charity of your choice helps support the market for re-used items.

Look around your home or apartment – what can you use in a different way?