Use It Before
You Lose It

We love to talk about how to earn more, but what if one of the smartest money moves you can make is… to just finish what you already have?

From half-used lotions to almost-empty ketchup bottles, we’re constantly replacing things before they’re done. Why? Marketing. Impatience. Habit. But those little drips and drops — the waste we don’t even see — are quietly draining your wallet.

💡 Truth Bomb: Every Drop Counts

“Use it before you lose it” isn’t just a catchy phrase — it’s a mindset shift.

By committing to finish what you already have, you’ll:

• Save serious money

• Waste fewer products

• Reduce clutter

• Build better buying habits

• And become more mindful with your stuff
  
  

🧼 Real Life Examples of Where We Overspend by Not Finishing

🪥 Toothpaste

• Watch a toothpaste commercial — they show a giant swirl across the whole brush.

• Reality? You only need a pea-sized amount. Try using ¼ the amount and you’ll still foam up like a rabid raccoon.

• Over a year, you could stretch one tube into two — or more!

🧴 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash

• We tend to over-pump. Use half the amount you think you need.

• Flip bottles upside down or add a splash of water to get the last bits.

• Ever tossed a bottle you thought was empty, only to shake out 3 more washes later?

💄 Makeup & Skincare

• You don’t need 4 open moisturizers at once. Finish the one you started.

• Foundation bottles usually hold way more than they appear to — scrape the bottom, mix in a little lotion to stretch it.

• Expensive serums? Use them up before impulse-buying the next trendy one.
  
  
  

🛒 Pantry Staples

• How many boxes of pasta, half-used spice jars, or “emergency” sauces do you own?

• Challenge yourself: no new groceries until your pantry’s cleared. Use that lentil bag you forgot you had.

• You’re not “out of food” — you just don’t want what you already have.

🧽 Cleaning Products

• Do you really need 8 sprays under the sink? Finish what’s open before buying more.

• Those last few drops diluted with water? Still effective!

• Bonus: less waste, less plastic, less clutter.
  
  

👚 Laundry Detergent

• Check your machine’s manual — most of us use double the detergent needed.

• Try using ¼ cup instead of a full cap. You’ll barely notice a difference in cleanliness, but your bottle will last twice as long.
  
  

💸 Why This Matters Financially

Let’s do some simple math on a few small changes that add up big over time:

🪥 Toothpaste

• Typical use: 1 tube per month

• Smarter use: 1 tube every 2 months

• Savings: ~$24/year
  
  

🧴 Shampoo

• Typical use: 1 bottle per month

• Smarter use: 1 bottle every 1.5 months

• Savings: ~$36/year
  
  

🧺 Laundry Detergent

• Typical use: 1 bottle per month

• Smarter use: 1 bottle every 2 months

• Savings: ~$60/year
  
  

🧽 Cleaning Products

• Typical use: 8 bottles a year

• Smarter use: Use full amounts, no duplicates, only 4 bottles

• Savings: ~$30/year
  
  

🥫 Pantry Cleanout

• Result: Less waste, fewer store trips

• Savings: $200+/year
  
  

📊 Total Savings with Small Adjustments: Over $350/year — without earning a dollar more.

✨ Final Thought:

Spending less doesn’t have to mean sacrifice — sometimes it just means awareness.
Next time you’re tempted to restock, ask yourself:

“Do I already have something that works?”

Use it. Stretch it. Finish it.

Every-time you don’t re-buy something you didn’t need — you just made money.