Fall always makes me want to reset everything.
I want to clean the house, clear the clutter, pull out the cozy décor, organize my closet, and somehow get my life together before the holiday season gets here.
But before I start buying all the fall things, I like to take a look at what I already have.
Because if I am being honest, I probably already have essential oils I forgot about, half-used cleaning products under the sink, beauty products hiding in drawers, frozen food that needs to be used, and enough random supplies to last me for a while.
That is where a fall “use it up” list comes in.
This is not about never buying anything new or making life complicated. It is simply about being more intentional with what you bring into your home, using the things you already spent money on, and clearing out a little space before the cozy fall shopping and holiday spending begin.
If your home feels cluttered, you are trying to save money, or you are tired of throwing away things that were barely used, this is such an easy place to start.
What Is a Fall “Use It Up” List?
A use-it-up list is exactly what it sounds like.
You take a quick look around your home and make a list of the items you already own that you want to use before buying more.
Maybe it is food in the pantry, frozen meals, candles, shampoo, cleaning supplies, craft materials, notebooks, or beauty products.
The goal is not to use every single thing you own before purchasing anything else. The goal is to notice what is taking up space, make a simple plan for the things you want to finish, and avoid buying duplicates you do not really need.
A use-it-up challenge typically starts with an inventory, grouping similar items together, making a plan to use them, and then following through. It can reduce clutter while helping you avoid throwing away usable products.[miadanielle]
Why I Love Doing This Before Fall
Fall and the holidays can be expensive. There are seasonal decorations, gifts, gatherings, cozy home items, clothing, entertaining supplies, and all the little purchases that add up without us even realizing it.
Doing a fall use-it-up list helps me pause before I start adding more things to my cart.
It also helps me:
• Save money on groceries and everyday household items.
• Reduce food waste.
• Clear clutter from cabinets, drawers, and closets.
• Find products I completely forgot I had.
• Use up things before they expire or go bad.
• Make more thoughtful purchases.
• Create space for the items I truly need or love.
Sometimes the best way to get organized is not buying another bin. Sometimes it is simply using what you already have.
Start Small So You Do Not Get Overwhelmed
You do not have to inventory your entire house in one day.
Pick one area, set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes, and start there. You may be surprised by how much you already have once you take a look.
Where to begin?
Some easy places to begin are:
• Refrigerator and freezer
• Pantry
• Bathroom drawers
• Shower and linen closet
• Cleaning-supply cabinet
• Candle stash
• Makeup bag or vanity
• Hair-product drawer
• Craft supplies
• Office supplies
• Car supplies
• Closet and accessories
The best place to start is usually where you keep buying duplicates or where things tend to disappear into the back.
Start in the Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the easiest places to save money with a fall use-it-up list.
Before you fill your cart with soup ingredients, pumpkin treats, holiday snacks, and all the cozy seasonal food, check what you already have.
Look through your fridge, freezer, and pantry for:
• Frozen vegetables
• Leftover meat or cooked chicken
• Fruit for smoothies or baking
• Pasta, rice, beans, and canned goods
• Broth, sauces, and spices
• Half-used bags of snacks
• Baking supplies
• Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or drink mixes
• Condiments and salad dressings
Then make a short list of meals, lunches, snacks, or pantry dinners you can create from what you already own.
A pantry and freezer challenge encourages you to shop from those areas first, which can help reduce food waste and cut back on grocery spending.[home-storage-solutions-101 +1]
You do not have to use every single thing before you grocery shop. Even planning a couple of “use what we have” meals each week can make a difference.
Use Up Your Beauty and Hair Products
Beauty products are another category where things can pile up quickly.
You buy a new shampoo because it smells good. You try a new face serum. You get a cute lip gloss at the checkout counter. Then suddenly you have five lotions open, three dry shampoos, and skincare products you forgot you even owned.
Before purchasing something new, take a look at what you already have.
Pull together your:
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hair masks and styling products
• Body wash and scrubs
• Lotions and hand creams
• Makeup products
• Skincare
• Perfume or body sprays
• Nail products
• Travel-size beauty items
Then choose a few things to focus on using first.
This can be as simple as telling yourself, “I am going to use this lotion every night until it is gone,” or “I am not buying another dry shampoo until I finish the two bottles I already have.”
The “Project Pan” beauty challenge follows a similar idea: choose products already in use, track what you finish, and pause before replacing an item with something similar. I have been trying my best to do Project Pan this year, and it has been tough! If I’m honest, I have not done a very good job of not buying more of things.
A quick beauty safety reminder
Do not try to force yourself to use a product that smells off, has changed color or texture, irritates, or is past a manufacturer’s expiration date. Cosmetics do not always have legally required expiration dates in the United States, but their shelf life can be affected by storage conditions, and it can be helpful to mark the date you opened a product.
Use the Candles, Wax Melts, and Cozy Smell Goods
If you are anything like me, you may have an essential oil collection that is starting to look a little excessive.
Before buying more fall oils or candles, take a look at what you have already. You may find almost-empty candles, wax melts, room sprays, essential oils, and seasonal scents that got put away and forgotten.
Make it fun by choosing one scent to use each week.
You could create a little “use first” tray with:
• Nearly finished candles
• Half-used wax melts
• Room sprays
• Essential-oil blends
• Hand soaps
• Seasonal hand lotions
This is an easy way to enjoy the things you already own while making room for the fall scents you truly love.
Check Your Cleaning and Household Supplies
Cleaning-supply cabinets can become a black hole.
There may be duplicate bottles of all-purpose cleaner, half-used paper products, random sponges, laundry items, hand soap refills, batteries, lightbulbs, or products you bought with good intentions and never used again.
Take a quick inventory before your fall cleaning reset.
You may find enough supplies to get through several weeks without buying anything new.
Add items like these to your list:
• All-purpose cleaner
• Disinfecting wipes
• Laundry detergent
• Dryer sheets
• Dish soap
• Sponges and scrub brushes
• Trash bags
• Paper towels
• Hand soap
• Batteries
• Lightbulbs
• Air filters
The point is not to use products that you dislike or that do not work for your home. It is simply to avoid purchasing three more bottles of something you already have tucked away.
Do a “Use It Up Before You Buy It” Challenge
If you need a simple rule, try this:
Before buying a new product, ask yourself if you already have something similar at home.
That does not mean you can never buy something new. Sometimes you need a replacement, something better, or a product that solves a different problem.
But pausing before you purchase can help you become more intentional.
Ask yourself:
• Do I already own something that does the same job?
• Do I have an open product I should use first?
• Is this something I truly need, or is it an impulse purchase?
• Will I realistically use it?
• Do I have space for it?
• Can I wait a week before I decide?
Those small questions can help stop clutter before it comes through the front door.
Make Your Own Fall Use-It-Up List
Your list does not need to be fancy. You can write it in a notebook, keep it in the Notes app on your phone, make a printable, or use a dry-erase board in the kitchen.
Here is a simple example:
Food and kitchen
• Use frozen berries for smoothies
• Make two freezer-clean-out dinners
• Use open pasta, rice, and canned goods
• Finish tea and hot chocolate before buying more
• Check baking supplies before holiday shopping
Beauty and self-care
• Finish open body lotion
• Use the hair mask once a week
• Use current face moisturizer before buying a new one
• Finish open dry shampoo
• Use up travel-size toiletries
Home and cleaning
• Burn nearly finished candles
• Use wax melts already in the drawer
• Finish open cleaning products
• Use extra hand soap refills
• Check batteries and lightbulbs before buying more
Crafts and miscellaneous
• Use gift bags, tags, and ribbon from last year
• Use notebooks and pens already on hand
• Check craft supplies before starting a new project
• Use wrapping paper before buying more
• Donate supplies you know you will not use
Or print or download my free checklist
Just click on the picture to get your free checklist.
Be Intentional, Not Perfect
The whole point of a fall use-it-up list is to create a little more space, waste a little less, and make your spending feel more intentional.
You do not need to use every product perfectly. You do not need to keep something you dislike just because you spent money on it. And you definitely do not need to turn this into another overwhelming project.
Start with one shelf, one drawer, or one category.
Use what you can. Donate what someone else could use. Toss what is expired, damaged, or no longer safe. Then enjoy the fact that your home feels a little lighter—and that you can shop for fall with a better idea of what you actually need.
Need some ways to use products you may already have? Check out my other blog posts.
I have so missed your posts!!