The Sneaky Way Packaging Costs You Money
Pump bottles with a pump that doesn't reach all the way to the bottom. Lipstick that leaves almost a quarter of it in the tube. Toothpaste that doesn't squeeze everything out. Peanut butter jars that don't scrape completely clean. And the list goes on and on.
Packaging is costing you money. And lots of it. The prettier and more complicated it is, the more it's costing you, and not just in plastic.
When you pay for 1 litre of sorbolene you expect to be able to use 1 litre of sorbolene. Except the tube on the pump doesn't reach right to the bottom so there's always some left in the bottle.
I tip it upside down so it all slides to the pump, then very carefully unscrew the pump over a clean jar and let it drip into the jar. From every 1 litre bottle I can usually get at least a quarter of a cup of sorbolene and the bottle really is empty when it goes into the recycle bin.
When you pay for 110 grams of toothpaste you expect to be able to use 110 grams of toothpaste, except the shape of the tube and the cap won't allow you to get it all out.
We only use a pea sized blob of toothpaste on our toothbrushes (you know how in the ads the toothpaste runs down the brush? And yet your dentist will tell you to run it across? More sneakiness, subliminally encouraging you to use more toothpaste than you need.
Anyway the toothpaste in our bathroom was at an end. It had been squeezed and scraped and rolled until I was sure there wasn't anything else left in it. Or so the manufacturer would like us to believe. That particular tube of toothpaste cost $1.89 for a 140g tube (cheap by toothpaste standards, but it's great) or 1.35 cents per gram (a confusing calculation I know, but necessary).
Out came my trusty kitchen shears and that toothpaste tube was slashed (much the way I tackle the bills) from end to end and the top snipped off
Packaging is costing you money. And lots of it. The prettier and more complicated it is, the more it's costing you, and not just in plastic.
When you pay for 1 litre of sorbolene you expect to be able to use 1 litre of sorbolene. Except the tube on the pump doesn't reach right to the bottom so there's always some left in the bottle.
I tip it upside down so it all slides to the pump, then very carefully unscrew the pump over a clean jar and let it drip into the jar. From every 1 litre bottle I can usually get at least a quarter of a cup of sorbolene and the bottle really is empty when it goes into the recycle bin.
When you pay for 110 grams of toothpaste you expect to be able to use 110 grams of toothpaste, except the shape of the tube and the cap won't allow you to get it all out.
We only use a pea sized blob of toothpaste on our toothbrushes (you know how in the ads the toothpaste runs down the brush? And yet your dentist will tell you to run it across? More sneakiness, subliminally encouraging you to use more toothpaste than you need.
Anyway the toothpaste in our bathroom was at an end. It had been squeezed and scraped and rolled until I was sure there wasn't anything else left in it. Or so the manufacturer would like us to believe. That particular tube of toothpaste cost $1.89 for a 140g tube (cheap by toothpaste standards, but it's great) or 1.35 cents per gram (a confusing calculation I know, but necessary).
Out came my trusty kitchen shears and that toothpaste tube was slashed (much the way I tackle the bills) from end to end and the top snipped off
The onto the kitchen scales went a clean lip balm jar.
I used my favourite small spatula to scrape as much of the toothpaste left in the tube into the tub. I finished up with 7 grams in the jar and about twice as much over my hands, the back of the camera and my pants but I won't count the mess I made. That’s 10 cents of toothpaste I managed to scrape out of the tube after even I thought there wasn't anything left to get out of it. In the grand scheme of things 10 cents isn't a lot of money. But we have five people in our family and we all like different toothpastes. That's around 20 tubes of toothpaste a year or at a very modest estimate $2 that goes into the bin.
I used my favourite small spatula to scrape as much of the toothpaste left in the tube into the tub. I finished up with 7 grams in the jar and about twice as much over my hands, the back of the camera and my pants but I won't count the mess I made. That’s 10 cents of toothpaste I managed to scrape out of the tube after even I thought there wasn't anything left to get out of it. In the grand scheme of things 10 cents isn't a lot of money. But we have five people in our family and we all like different toothpastes. That's around 20 tubes of toothpaste a year or at a very modest estimate $2 that goes into the bin.
Not any more! The toothpaste warden is on patrol. From now on all the toothpaste in every tube will be used. And yes, my kids think I've really flipped my lid. I don't care, I pay for this product, I want to get it all.
And that lipstick you love so much you wear it everyday - when you get to the "end" of the tube there's still a good 10% of the product you paid for in it, you just can't swipe it over your lips. That's 10% wasted, 10% of the money you paid for it in the bin.
This is my favourite lipstick. It's not expensive, or at least not as expensive as some. But it still costs $16.95 for 4.2 grams or $4.03 a gram. But now I've used it right down to the top of the tube, I certainly can't sweep it across my lips any more. There's still a lot of lipstick left in it that I can't easily get to, too much to just throw away - that's just putting money in the bin.
And that lipstick you love so much you wear it everyday - when you get to the "end" of the tube there's still a good 10% of the product you paid for in it, you just can't swipe it over your lips. That's 10% wasted, 10% of the money you paid for it in the bin.
This is my favourite lipstick. It's not expensive, or at least not as expensive as some. But it still costs $16.95 for 4.2 grams or $4.03 a gram. But now I've used it right down to the top of the tube, I certainly can't sweep it across my lips any more. There's still a lot of lipstick left in it that I can't easily get to, too much to just throw away - that's just putting money in the bin.
Out of curiosity I decided to scrape out the lipstick left in the tube and see just how much it weighed.
0.05 ounces or 1.4 grams (the scales switched on me in between photos). That's $5.64 of product I paid for that the manufacturer doesn't want me to use and is in fact hoping I'm not smart enough to figure out how to use it so I'll go and spend another $16.95 and make another $5.64 donation to their profits.
0.05 ounces or 1.4 grams (the scales switched on me in between photos). That's $5.64 of product I paid for that the manufacturer doesn't want me to use and is in fact hoping I'm not smart enough to figure out how to use it so I'll go and spend another $16.95 and make another $5.64 donation to their profits.
Well not this little black duck. I have a very nice lip brush that will ensure I get every last smidge, or should that be smudge, of colour from that lip stick. And I won't be throwing $5.64 in the bin.
It's not just make-up that uses sneaky packaging. How much do you think is left in that peanut butter jar when you think it's empty? Grab a spatula and scrape it out - you'll have enough for at least two, perhaps more sandwiches. Do the same with the Vegemite jar, then swish it with hot water to make gravy. Scrape out the Nutella jar, and be sure to use your spatula (or finger) to get right under that ridge at the neck of the jar - it hides about 30 grams of very expensive chocolate hazelnut spread.
Squeeze bottles seem like such a good idea, and they are too. But they also cost you money in wasted product. If you were to look in my fridge right now you'd see squeeze bottles in a basket in the door, every one of them upside down. Not only are they easier to squeeze when all their contents are already at the top, but every last drop of honey or mayo or mustard or barbecue sauce drips down, ready to be used and not wasted. If you use squeeze bottles, store them upside down and get what you pay for.
My kids are sure I've gone completely mad and am taking Cheapskating to extremes. Maybe I am. Until now no one other than the family knew just how crazy I am.
What I'm really saying is when you make your purchases look at the packaging. Consider just how much product the packaging, rather than you, is going to consume. Then decide whether you're prepared to just throw that money away. If you're not, start thinking of ways you can use every last drop of the product you purchased and really get your money's worth.
Perhaps your family will think you've flipped your lid too and I won't be alone in my crazy Cheapskating ways.
It's not just make-up that uses sneaky packaging. How much do you think is left in that peanut butter jar when you think it's empty? Grab a spatula and scrape it out - you'll have enough for at least two, perhaps more sandwiches. Do the same with the Vegemite jar, then swish it with hot water to make gravy. Scrape out the Nutella jar, and be sure to use your spatula (or finger) to get right under that ridge at the neck of the jar - it hides about 30 grams of very expensive chocolate hazelnut spread.
Squeeze bottles seem like such a good idea, and they are too. But they also cost you money in wasted product. If you were to look in my fridge right now you'd see squeeze bottles in a basket in the door, every one of them upside down. Not only are they easier to squeeze when all their contents are already at the top, but every last drop of honey or mayo or mustard or barbecue sauce drips down, ready to be used and not wasted. If you use squeeze bottles, store them upside down and get what you pay for.
My kids are sure I've gone completely mad and am taking Cheapskating to extremes. Maybe I am. Until now no one other than the family knew just how crazy I am.
What I'm really saying is when you make your purchases look at the packaging. Consider just how much product the packaging, rather than you, is going to consume. Then decide whether you're prepared to just throw that money away. If you're not, start thinking of ways you can use every last drop of the product you purchased and really get your money's worth.
Perhaps your family will think you've flipped your lid too and I won't be alone in my crazy Cheapskating ways.
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