My vacuum sealer is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. I seal fruit to extend its freshness by at least two weeks, often much longer. I seal meat before I freeze it to stave off freezer burn, which keeps it perfect for six months to a year. I could go on and on about how my FoodSaver saves our food expenses, but today I want to tell you about all the ways I use the thing that have nothing to do with food!

But first, two general vacuum-sealing tips:

CONVENIENCE. I've learned through trial and error that I have to keep my FoodSaver handy to get the most use out of it. It can't be stuck in a cupboard or on a pantry shelf. If I have to put the smallest effort in to get it out and plug it in, I either stop using it because I forget about it or because it's such a hassle that I decided to skip it "just this one time." It has to sit on the counter, plugged in and ready to go. And the bags have to be just as handy. I keep them in the drawer directly below.

REUSING BAGS. If you are going store items repeatedly, make sure to use a pouch size larger than you need the first time. Take hamburger buns, for example: I seal a dozen of them, then I open the bag to take some out and then reseal it. This way, you can open the bag by cutting off the seal, and then you can reseal it for another time or two. You don't have to trash the bags after one use. If you're storing dry goods and the bag becomes too small for your original intended use, simply reuse a bag for another item. Or you can wash and dry them to use again.

Now for the nonfood FoodSaver uses.

SILVER. I vacuum-seal anything that tarnishes that I do not use on a daily basis, such as sterling silver flatware, silver trays and bowls. By removing the air, the enemy (oxygen) is locked out, so the items don't tarnish. This way, both my silver and my time are protected. (I hate to polish silver.)

COINS. All of my commemorative coins are safely vacuum-sealed. This protects their integrity and collectable value. And because the bags are clear and I seal them in a single layer, their beauty is still visible.

JEWELRY. Vacuum-seal jewelry you do not wear regularly. It will keep those precious possessions clean and sparkling and at their peak of beauty. And when you're ready to wear a piece there's no polishing or cleaning required. It's ready to go.

PHOTOGRAPHS. I keep precious old photos sealed for protection. Note: I do not vacuum the air out so the vacuuming process doesn't transfer the photo to the plastic. Instead, I use the "seal only" feature.

DOCUMENTS. Oxygen is the enemy of old paper. By sealing family documents or heirloom documents — and sealing only — I protect their longevity.

WATERPROOF. I use my FoodSaver to create waterproof pouches for money, maps and more for camping or emergencies.

PASSPORTS. I vacuum-seal our passports before putting them into the safe. This keep them dry and mold-free, for lots of moisture can show up inside a safe, which is why just about everything in mine is vacuum-sealed.

AMMO. Ammunition needs to be kept dry. There is no better way to do that than with a FoodSaver. Vacuum-sealing removes oxygen and keeps moisture out. A simple way to do this is to take a FoodSaver bag, fill it with loose ammo, and then vacuum-seal it. Store it in your bug-out bag or ammo cans. You can also seal a pre-filled gun magazine.

If you have a FoodSaver, what ways do you use it to save food and other things? We're dying to know!

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2016 CREATORS.COM