Reusing what you have is usually a sure bet to save money. Some things have obvious reuses, such as paper bags from the grocery store, while others may be a bit obscure, such as what to do with a bunch of leftover allen wrenches.
One item that keeps coming up in reuse questions is the old window. This may be the year that we replace our old drafty single pane windows with insulating double pane ones. Just throwing the windows away could cost us two times. The first is the cost to dispose of the windows, either through the window replacement company or the cost of a dumpster or bulk trash, and the second is the cost of no reusing the windows for something else.
An old window seems so infinitely useful, doesn’t it? After all, it is made of glass, which we usually think of as an expensive commodity. But when you think about that window, does any reuse ideas actually come to mind? Here are a few to get you started.
Turn the windows into cold frames. Cold frames are open boxes that can be placed over plants during the cold seasons. The glass lets in sunlight and the whole frame acts as a greenhouse to keep the plants from getting too cold or dry.
Turn the windows into artwork. At a quaint little shop in New England, I spotted some old windows that had been turned into home decor. The glass panes were painted with scenic images, and they were selling quite nicely. You could also just paint the frames or not and replace the glass with a mirror for use on a hall or living room wall.
My frugal friend took a long glass-paned door and turned it into a kitchen table by placing a pretty quilt under the glass.
Fasten a few of the windows together with s-hooks and create a room divider. You could paint the panes for a stained glass effect or just add photos.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don’t miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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