Too many old receipts and "sold" stickers

We probably can't go a week without buying something. Some of us try to reduce consumption, reduce the use of plastic bags, use BYO containers, go to the nearest shops whenever we can, etc; but the issuing of receipts seems to be a mandatory for all the major shops and malls. No matter how hard I try to squeeze as many items into one purchase, I still end up with way too many receipts. What's worse is: you get 2 sets of receipts when you use a credit card, and the thermal receipts are apparently not recyclable!

Being a stubborn cow that I am, I refuse to throw any away as long as they still have a blank side on them - thermal receipt or not. I've been using them as note pads, to take phone messages (not that we had a lot), and write my shopping lists on, before I put them into the recycling bag for paper.

Along with the compulsory receipts, these supermarkets and department stores also make sure that they paste a "Sold" sticker onto every bag (or every item if you choose not to have a bag). I reckon this is just another way to help them advertise now that they have to coincide with the no plastic bag propaganda. I sometimes wonder if this is more wasteful than having a plastic bag.

So whenever I come back from a shopping trip, I will remove the stickers and place them on the fridge door for future use. This is what my fridge door looks like:

All of my friends have laughed at my outrageously looking fridge, but you'd be surprised how useful these are, if you want them to be.

As for the thermal receipts, I've found a way to utilise them at least once before they make their way to the bin: as food storage labels. I will label anything to go into the fridge or freezer in a jar or tub, on a piece of thermal receipt (half, if it's a short name). By using the used "sold" stickers, I can stick the label onto the containers. This is extremely useful when you have a lot to store, especially things that are not easily recognised when frozen. (Hint: if you have a husband who can't tell beef from chicken, labelling is essential :-P )



If they are not ruined when defrost, these labels can be reused again and again. I just stick them on the fridge door again until they are needed next. This saves me repeating the writing process unnecessarily.


Yes anyone visiting my place is still laughing at the fridge, but I'm just happy about making something useless, useful, even if it's only for a brief period of time.

Note: I use all sorts of packaging bags that come with food or clothing as garbage bag. Sometimes there are holes on the bags so I'll use these stickers to patch up the holes.