Because we are naturally thrifty (maybe even cheap), we have always been on the lookout for opportunities to use a material in more than one way. We save soda/water bottles, paper towel rolls, mismatched socks, clothes and shoes, empty food boxes, and so much more. Take the food boxes for example: We tape up the food boxes to make props for our little grocery store. We also use them for building blocks. We have used them for parts to a car, shoes, ramps, and robots. We repurpose and reuse everything we can. The kids love it. They love to be given free reign to use the boxes in their own ways.