On Monday, I introduced the Depression era slogan, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without." It's a favorite of mine since it supports a simpler and more frugal way of living. So, for the next week or so, I'm going to blog about each element of the slogan.

First up: Use it up!

If you're anything like me, you have partially used things all over your house. My problems are food, beauty products, candles, stationery, and books. I collect things and I don't use them.

So, using my issues as an example, let's look at how to get better about using things up.

Using up food is really an exercise in meal planning. Tonight's leftovers become tomorrow's lunch or get repurposed into dinner later in the week. For example, leftover veggies or the chicken left from the rotisserie chicken you grabbed on the way home can become the starting point of a nice chicken pot pie or chicken soup. (You can even use the chicken carcass to  make the broth.) Every meal plan should think about what to do with leftovers.

Similarly, good planning can help you address the problem of unusual ingredients. You know – the ingredient you buy for one recipe that becomes a permanent resident in the back of the fridge. I try to avoid recipes that use ingredients so unusual that I can't think of another use. But if you have an unusual ingredient on hand, I can think of two ways to use it up: Cooking Light magazine has an excellent feature about ways to use up some ingredients. You might find some help there. Alternatively, Google the ingredient's name and recipes. Maybe you'll get lucky!

I love buying beauty products. Unfortunately, I put them in a closet or drawer and forget they are there. Using those things up is simply a matter of keeping them in sight. Put the special conditioner in the shower. Put the moisturizer at the sink or at the mirror where you do your makeup. Put the bubble bath and bath bombs on the edge of the tub. And remember, you deserve to treat yourself well.

There's only one thing to do with candles — burn them. So put one candle on a table or mantel and light it– right now is fine, I'll wait. Make lighting the candle part of your ritual for transitioning from work to home. (If you have way too many, candles make a lovely hostess gift.)

We collect stationery and note cards because we promise ourselves that we are going to get better about writing to people on real paper — not email. Keeping stationery well-organized will help you use it. Keep the stationery, an address list, a list of birthdays or other observances, and a book of stamps all in one place. You are more likely to do something if you make it easy to do. While you're basking in the candle's glow before taking a bubble bath, write a letter or two.

Books may be my favorite thing in the world. I will probably be killed by a stack of books falling on me. I mean to read them all, but then a new book comes out and captures my attention or I crave the security and comfort of an old favorite. (Seriously, it's a good thing I'm not like this with people.) I've taken to keeping a stack on a table next to my bed. I'm not allowed to buy new books until the stack is gone.

What do you need to use up? What's your plan?