Contact solution, toothpaste, and shampoo, Oh my!

This morning I went to put in my contacts only to grab the bottle of contact solution and realize it was empty.  Shit.  There's not really much you can do once it's gone.  You can't squeeze the bottle like a tube of toothpaste or add water (God forbid!) to get the last of what's clinging to the inside of the bottle as though it were shampoo.  It's just gone.  Period.  Damn properties of liquids. 

Did you ever notice the difference between how you treat the end of a product like shampoo, liquid soap, or toothpaste if you have a replacement ready?  If I know that there's another tube of Crest waiting to be popped open, I'm very liberal with the end of the old tube, squeezing out ridiculous amounts of toothpaste on my brush, causing me to foam at the mouth.  I WILL use every last bit in there, but really, I just want to finish it up and move on.

But on the other hand, if I know that this has got to last me through another week, until I can make it to Walgreens, I'm like Scrooge with that dentifrice.  "Pea-sized amount!" I shout out to my boyfriend, observing him lavishly cover all the bristles of his brush.  (Don't even get me started on how he squeezes the tube!)

Or worse yet, is when you overestimate how much longer a product like that is going to last.  I've run out to buy new shampoo and conditioner only to have the bottles I already had continue to last into the next month.  What the hell?  Do shampoo cells reproduce asexually in there?  Are you telling me I could have waited another TWO weeks before buying more and I wouldn't have overdrawn my checking account by buying toiletries?!

Side note: I know there are devices for extending the life of your tube of toothpaste but I refuse to spend $5 on a plastic utensil to help me use up all my Crest.  And really, I think that even this is going too far.  Don't you know how to slide the tube against the edge of the counter?! ------------------------>