Today’s Thrifty Tip is to cut open those tubes of toothpaste, creams, shampoos and get out every last drop! You would be surprised to see how much product is still inside when you think it’s empty.
Look at this tube of kid’s toothpaste — from the outside I tried to squeeze every last bit out and couldn’t get anymore out. So I grabbed my kitchen shears and cut it open..look how much was left! At least enough for probably 4-5 more brushings!
Question for my readers: Have you tried this thrifty tip? What do you think…is this just a little TOO Thrifty? 🙂
To see more of my Thrifty Tips click here!
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Katy @ Purposely Frugal says
I’ve done this with toothpaste, lotion and mustard bottles! So much is still in there!
Trina says
I do this for some things in tubes, but not toothpaste. I just cut off the end of the tube, reach what I can, and then keep cutting an inch or two off each day until I get to the biggest glob of product near the business end of the tube. I keep the open tubes in ziploc bags, but sometimes the product still dries out too much to be useful. I keep a few ziploc bags in the bathroom for this purpose, so they get re-used a few times also!
For me, it’s not just about being frugal, it’s also about using resources wisely and not being wasteful of what God has provided.
Yasmin, you’re a treasure of frugal beauty tidbits!
Tiffany says
Ok, so here is my question…what do you do with it after you cut it open…but before you use it all up? That just seems like a mess to try and store before you use it again the next day. Oh and if somebody else is dipping there toothbrush in it there is no way I am too. So i would say this is just a bit too much for me.
Yasmin says
To squeeze out more toothpaste before you cut open the tube you can use a TUBE KEY (less mess). I think the dollar store sells them but if you can’t find it there you can pick one up at Sally’s Beauty Supply in the hair dye section for under $2.
http://www.sallybeauty.com/Color-Tube-Key/SBS-702114,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair05-09
I do the same thing even with my facial scrubs and tubed lotions and anything else tubed. Have a tube key in the kitchen for the kitchen products that come in tubes like garlic and basil.
With facial powder I but a darker shade then make a rice powder and light up the powder which then more than doubles the facial powder. I don’t use baby powder because of the talc. Rice powder is used in Asian makeup, specifically Geisha makeup, so it’s more healthy than talc.
At Sephora you can get three free samples. I stop in and pick up the little spatulas and jars when I try on products. Love doing my make up there – for FREE. Of course I tend to buy something when I’m there since Sephora is my guilty pleasure. lol I use the spatulas to transfer product at home.
When I’m running out of foundation, I pop a cup of water in the microwave and let it boil then place the foundation bottle in that glass for five minutes before pouring out the foundation into a plastic container. I have a heat resistance hair glove that I use to handle the hot jar ($5 at Sally’s).
Let’s see with shampoo and conditioner near the end of the bottle I’ll heat the bottle under hot was while showering to loosen the product up and have it sit on the tub’s edge upside down so the product ends up at the opening and comes out easily.
Mascara… regardless if there’s still product or not I toss it after three months due to the fact that contamination can cause eye problems.
Crayon eyeliners when the pieces break I take those pieces and put them in pill boxes then smoosh it down. When it’s full enough I use an eyeliner brush to apply. Liquid eyeliner, I toss after three months as well.
With lipsticks I scrape out the remaining lipstick from the tube, sometimes pulling the plastic holder out to simply peel the lipstick out then melt the lipstick in a small glass bowl (from the dollar store) and place them in round containers (3 for 99 cents at Target). For colors that are close to each other I use pill boxes.
Other beauty secrets, take Vaseline when melting lipstick and plop a small amount (quarter size) to the melted lipstick in the bowl to make a more sheer lip “gloss”. When the lipstick firms up in the jar the Vaseline will also firm up. You can make your own lipstick shades this way if you’re not entirely happy with a lipstick color you bought because it’s too dark.
Alisa says
I do this to products too. It’s not just about saving money though. It’s about not being wasteful and a wise steward too.
Misty says
I use the toothpaste holder that they show on Tv and you can buy at shopko or anywhere else they sale as seen on TV. It really works and my kids love it and they get the right amount of toothpaste on their toothbrush. It works great.
Karrie says
It’s funny because I was watching some infommerical about those toothpaste holders…and I really wanted it..but resisted. Now I might have to get one too 🙂
karen says
My kids make a HUGE mess with the toothpaste IN the tube . . .can’t imagine giving them this (even with supervision)! Good for all you frugal girls though. 🙂
LaToya says
LOL – I’m with Kaitlyn. This is just waaaaaaaaay too cheap. I already get the stuff for free…why bother?!
Lindsay says
What is free? And why aren’t you telling us this trick on getting all of these products for free instead?
Lisa says
My 16 year old daughter actually showed me this tip about 2 weeks ago! She does if for her foundation. Now I will be doing it a whole lot more with other products too.
Debby says
I do this with make up and lotion. The clinique counter offers samples in cute litle jars. After I use the sample and and my foundation is a the end. I cut open my foundation use a q-tip and clean out the tube and put it in the container. That container goes into our camping trailer. Now, no need for a duplicate full tube of make up or transfering a make up bag back and forth. BTW – it rarely gets used during the season, but as a I women INEED to know that a fresh face is always an option 🙂
Rob says
I agree with others about cutting up the lotion bottles, especially considering my wife insists on body cream from BBW. I also take the tops off body wash and scrape as much as I can within fingers reach. We also get all & more of our toothpaste for free. And while we do not cut open the tube, my wife and I have an unspoken game of not being the one to have to throw it away in surrender.
Becky says
I don’t think I’d do this for toothpaste, but I have done this before with lotions.
LeAnn says
I like the idea! I can’t say I would use it every time but I like knowing about it so if I choose to use it one day I have had the option presented to me. Thumbs up!
kaitlyn says
too cheap! when you can get toothpaste for free all the time why bother with the mess? then you have to get things to clean up all the sticky!
Niki says
The best way for toothepaste is to buy those little “Squeeze-Its” – they sell them at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. You can also use those Pampered Chef Twix-Its.
Michele R. says
Oh good, I’m not the only one that does this. My husband thinks I’m crazy too:-)
anon says
I do this to lotion bottles; my husband thinks I am way to cheap.