A few weeks ago I put a couple of posts out on my Facebook page. I was looking for, first, a one-gallon canning or pickle jar with a lid. The price of these size glass jars on Amazon was about $30, and I did not want to pay that much. I wanted it to use as a pitcher. Not long after I posted, the bestest messaged me letting me know that she was helping her mother clean out the garage and they came across some old gallon size pickle jars. She asked me how many I wanted. I said I could only take one. There are definite space limitations when you rent a room in a house. I took one pickle jar, and actually rehomed the other ones for them.
Then I decided I want to use canning jars and the like to organize my food shelves. They are open and looked quite messy, even when “organized”, with all the different size boxes and bags of things. I had a few different size canning jars, but not enough for the project. A dozen quart size canning jars used to be $12.99, but apparently have gone up a few dollars. I want to source as many as I can for less before having to pay full price for any. I really don’t want to have to pay more than $1.00 per jar, regardless of the size.
So I put out on Facebook that I was looking for some, with or without lids. Mom got back to me that she had some I could have. So the next time my daughter Skye and I visited she gave me almost a dozen of varying sizes. They did not come with lids and rings, but I found those affordably enough on Amazon. My mother also had a bunch of glass honey jars with lids. She uses a particular brand of honey for her tea and coffee, and the jars are like canning jars, sturdy. She gave me those as well.
With all those jars and what I already had on hand, I was able to organize one of the food shelves, and have four jars left for bulk smoothie storing in the fridge. I still need more jars, though.
I have another food shelf to organize, and I am going to be drying foods for my storage shelf and need jars for that. My limited budget means I can’t really go out and pay full price for the jars, so I put out on Facebook that I am looking for more. My daughter says she might have some she isn’t using and, if she does, I can have them.
I have visited Goodwill a couple of times and found some. During my first visit for jars, I found 5, maybe half-quart size, with screw on lids for $1.00 plus tax each. I paid $5.28. This fit with my $1.00 before tax price I am okay paying per jar.
Yesterday I visited Goodwill again, and I found more canning jars. I picked up 4 quart-size canning jars with lids and rings for $1.00 each, and 2 half-quart size jars with screw on lids marked at $1.00 each but when I got to the counter the cashier told me the smaller ones were . 50 each. I paid $5.28 for the 6 jars and was happy with my purchase.
If I hadn’t been walking and could have carried them all, there were more quart size jars. No lids and rings but I know I can get those affordably enough. I contacted my daughter and if she has any free time this weekend she will stop in and pick them up for me. I told her not to worry about it if doesn’t have time. She’s super busy.
I’ve paid $10.56 for 11 jars with lids over the past week. I’d say I’ve scored some decent deals.
If you live in the Bangor/Orono Maine area and are looking to get rid of some canning jars, with or without lids and rings, quart-size or smaller, and can drop them off to me, leave a comment below. I would be happy to take them off your hands.
~ Shannon
