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Most people think that recycling means sorting out trash into paper, plastic, cans and bottles. But, there are other ways of recycling that can save you money on things you never thought possible. Check out some of the great things that can easily be recycled and save you money in the process:

A) Clothing - We all have clothing in closets and drawers that we hardly ever wear. Perhaps we've gained a few extra pounds (or lost a few), our children have outgrown last years coats, or whatever the reason. Your first thought might be that you should toss the clothing and purchase new garments. However, you can do two things with this clothing (1) you can sell it on EBay to earn a few extra dollars to save; or (2) you can donate it to a local charity such as Goodwill or other organization that collects clothing for a tax refund. But, how do you save money on getting new clothing? That is actually easier than you think - check out your local

Freecycle list and put out a "Wanted" notice to your neighbors. In fact, you can even get rid of old clothing this way.

B) Furniture - From time to time we get tired of looking at the same old chair or sofa. It's expensive to purchase new furniture. There are some interesting recycling methods that can provide you a new look. For instance, if you have an old blanket, quilt or even a set of sheets, you can create an entirely new look for your sofa's or chairs by simply making new covers for them out of these recycled items. This is a fun way to save money by recycling.

C) Bottles and cans - Of course, no recycling effort would be complete without taking an honest look at your bottles and cans. Most of us purchase beverages that might have bottle deposits. If you are looking to save a little extra money, you could by-pass these purchases entirely, or you can simply save them in a well sealed container in your basement or garage until you return them and collect the deposit.

D) Coupons - Most of us have access to coupons for groceries, pet foods, paper goods and more. In spite of the number of them that appear in our weekly newspaper or come in the mail, we don't use all of them. Consider setting up a coupon exchange in your local community center and you can exchange coupons you don't want for coupons that you do want. Using coupons is a great money saving opportunity for all of us, and recycling coupons is a great way to take advantage of those coupons you will never use.

E) Miscellaneous - There are hundreds of ways to recycle items around your home. Fruit peels can be dried to make potpourri, pantyhose make great scrubbers, old bath soap pieces can be combined to create a fresh smell in your dresser drawers, flowers can be dried to make an interesting centerpiece. Items like t-shirts that have holes in them make great soft cloths for dusting or cleaning delicate surfaces.

Summary

With a little bit of imagination, there is no limit to the ways you can save money by recycling. Take a hard look around your home today and see how many ways you can save money by recycling.

Learn more about this author, Tony Balthazar.
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