Using Less of Everything

Many preparedness sites talk about stockpiling large quantities of everyday needs.   Besides food and water, many preparedness experts recommend storing multiple products such as toilet paper, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, sunscreen and many other personal hygiene products.

I am definitely finding room in my small space for food, water, first aid kit, toilet paper etc., but I am going to have to be more selective of what quantities to store, since we do not have a lot of room.  As I thought more about it, I decided, I can start using less product to make what I have last as long as possible.

I started my experiment with toothpaste.  The toothpaste commercials show about an inch worth of toothpaste covering the entire toothbrush.  Well, you can use much less.  I now use half a pea size worth of toothpaste and found that it will still foam and feel fresh.  I know you can use baking soda instead of toothpaste; I tried that but it did not taste so great.  While I have toothpaste I will use a small amount and make my small stockpile last as long as possible.  I can always use baking soda if the SHTF and there is nothing else.

Now I am trying this experiment with shampoo.  How much less can I use?  I wash my hair daily, since we live in a hot and humid area.  I previously used about a half dollar worth of shampoo.    That makes lots of suds, and a longer time to rinse.  Then I switched to organic shampoo, which does not create a lot of suds, no matter how much you use.  That took a lot of getting used to.  I still like the bubbles of “normal” shampoo, but have learned to get used to less suds.  Now I am down to a nickle worth of shampoo and the hair still comes out clean.  I will use even less tomorrow.

I will keep trying to use less of everyday products and still get the maximum benefit.  This way, I can be used to using less, and I can make my small stores last as long as possible.  Even if nothing happens, I still end up saving money from not having to buy stuff so often.