It's not just a bunch of old newspaper!

Newspapers serve a variety of purposes other than providing the news. Thus before you decide to add them to your recycling basket, review this article and consider if any of the uses apply to you. You might find yourself sitting a gold mine as newspapers can actually help you save money. Here are 10 ways to deal with old newspaper.

1. Use newspapers to stuff things. For example, use it as umbrella when caught in rain, put into loose shoes to tighten, or stuff hats to keep their shape.

To do this, just open up a section of newspaper, and take one sheet and scrunch it up into a ball. Then gently stuff it into the shoes, hats, or other item to fill.

2. Use newspapers to cover tables and floors when painting a picture, or when kids do crafts or art projects.

Take advantage of layers, as using several layers will increase the protection of the surface in case of spills. It also allows you to remove stained layers and reveal fresh layers beneath.

3. Wash windows with newspaper. Just tear into strips of about 3 inches (7.5cm) in width and ball these up. Use as you would normally use a paper towel. The advantage of a newspaper is that it will not leave lint on your window or mirror.

4. Make origami out of newspaper. Or use smaller sheets of newspaper to make paper airplanes

5. Use newspaper for scrapbooking. Just be aware that the ink may rub off onto the next page, so a protective page cover is probably a good idea.

This is a neat way of saving clippings with a lot of personal meaning, such as photos or stories about family achievements in sport, college and professional life.

6. Make a hat. Paper hats can be useful for party wear, costumes and just for cheering up a bored child.

 

7. Make a boat. A paper boat easily stays afloat.

8. Make a small cup to start seeds for your garden. You can place the cup with the seedling directly in the ground and newspaper will degrade by itself.

9. Paste the newspapers on the window pane for protection from the sunlight. This should only be a temporary measure as it doesn't look very nice, but it can be helpful while someone is convalescing or to protect a pet or a plant from getting too much sunlight; at least until you can get around to buying a proper window dressing.

10. Use newspaper in packing as a cushion for delicate items. Newspaper is very versatile when it comes to packing because it can be laid out flat in layers for shock absorption, scrunched up to fill spaces and stop items from moving or hitting one another, or wrapped directly around fragile items to protect them as they're moved.Newspaper can also be used to protect surfaces that you're using to pack things on.