If you know anything about me you know that I’m a pretty frugal girl. Even though I am quite low-maintenance I do splurge on a nice facial moisturizer. It costs $18 for a little itty bitty tube from The Body Shop. I like it because it has a nice spf moisturizer in it and it doesn’t feel greasy. I was unlucky enough to have had skin cancer a few years ago so now I am fanatical about sunscreen. I am fair so I have to be extra careful.
A few weeks ago I went to apply lotion in the morning and noticed that it was all gone. I didn’t have any money budgeted for moisturizer so I decided to buy it on Amazon with my Swagbucks. I would have to wait for it to come because it was being sold by another seller and wouldn’t be here in the usual 2 days.
As I waited I decided to do a little experiment to see how long the remaining lotion would last if I tried to squeeze it out of the tube. Keep in mind that if I had another tube I would have thrown out the old stuff then and there. Can you believe that the original tube lasted 23 days past the date that I would have thrown it out ? I was amazed. The positive end to the story is that I got my new tube today and can now throw out the old for good.
The Point~ What is the point to all of my silly rambling ?? The next time you are getting ready to throw out an “empty” shampoo bottle, moisturizer or anything else challenge yourself to see how many more days you can use it. Saving money in little ways helps you pay off big debt in the long run 
I love it I was thinking you would surely tell us you cut open the bottle and scraped it with your finger. I’ll think twice before throwing out what I think is empty:)
I know, I probably should have huh ? I must admit I was tempted. Maybe next time he he!
I love it! I feel so validated! I do this with shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, face lotions, etc., and my husband gets annoyed at me and thinks I’m crazy. Now I’m going to tell him I’m not the only one who thinks this way!
Oh, and by the way – I DO cut open bottles and scrape remnants with my finger – works like a charm!
23 extra days of lotion is quite a savings! I find no shame in saving money by doing things like this!
Everytime I read something on your site I find ways that our story is so much the same. Because of this you really inspire me and we are slowly getting out of debt as well. BTW I had skin cancer a few years back as well. I encourage anyone with any moles have a yearly check up. I had a mole that didn’t look bad at all but inched a lot. It was just irritating to me so the doctor sent me to a dermatoligist. He looked at it said well we can biopsy it but I don’t think it’s anything really. It turned out to be mellanoma. It measured .4mm and at .6mm I would have needed chemo. Very close call. So please please everyone use sun screen and have regular check ups. It will save money in the long run!
That is exactly what happened to me. I had a mole on my leg for years and one day I noticed that it had raised ever so slightly (no irregular borders, about the size of an eraser head). I went to the dermatologist and they said it’s nothing I’m not going to biopsy it. I said PLEASE do. They did and it was melanoma. I also just missed needing chemo. They sampled my lymph glands which was so painful. I had to wait a week to find out that I didn’t need chemo. It was the worst week of my life. I always urge people to get checked out. I actually am do for my yearly check so thanks for the reminder. I’m going to set up my appt. right now…
love this post. I cut open my bottles of facial cleanser, lotions and toothpaste as well. There is just no way to get it all out by squeezing and it drives me nuts knowing it could last longer. I had been using a pump lotion, but it mad me crazy that I could not get in it any other way to see if there was any left.