- image via design inspiration
Sometimes I’ll do something and then I’ll think, “Crap, I’ve totally gone off the deep end, again.” They’re usually things that fall into the Shamelessly Frugal/”did I REALLY just do that to save money?” category.
Extreme cheapskate confession:
Most recently, when my husband and I make dinner I realized that I haven’t been scraping the food that’s left on on our plates at the end of the meal into the trash but back into the main storage for the not-yet-touched food from that nights meal.
It feels so wasteful to throw that perfectly good food into the trash when it could be eaten tomorrow… so what if it’s got a few bites out of it already, right? I can see how this would be a lot grosser if there were kids involved or if there were any more than 2 people.
Help me out here, what’s the grossest thing you’ve done to save money or reduce your costs? Tell me I’m not crazy.
23 Comments
I get a lot of crap from my friends about it, and I've been called a crunchy granola hippie, but there are more reasons besides saving money that I do this- but I made my own pads for when that special friend is in town. They are 100% cotton, reusable, environmentally friendly, and just plain comfy. What most people don't know is that the FDA doesn't regulate the chemicals companies use to treat things of that nature, and some people, like myself, have allergies to those chemicals. It's not a huge savings at first, but it pays off in the long run!
Hi Sara, how is it done? totally curious now…
I have a sewing machine, but this website also has a no-sew option as well.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm
I love that website, not sure if you've ever heard of it! It comes in handy for sure!
I know you can buy already made ones, but those get pretty expensive too. I was really suprised, I thought it would be gross or a hassle, but really it's not. Some of them are quite pretty!
I have a jar that I put a little bit of water in and keep it in the bathroom (I covered it with newspaper so the husband can't see the contents), and went I'm finished with one I throw it in there. If I'm out and have to change, I keep a small cosmetics case & ziplock baggie with me. I put the old one in the baggie and hide it in the cosmetics case. No biggie :)
In the beginning I only made a few so I had to wash them a lot, but now that I've been doing it a while I had a nice stash so I only wash them when I'm finished. Wash with detergent (homemade in my case), hang or lay flat to dry.
You are not crazy; you kiss eachother, right? So long as it's just the two of you, it makes no sense to toss the leftovers. Keep on saving…and kissing.
Thanks Gail!;)
Gonna have to check out that site Sara. Love the name of it too:)
I have a worse one!
In an effort to make less pollution / waste, as well as save money on toilet paper, I've started using a spray bottle filled with water as a kind of "hand-held bidet" – only when doing the #1 (the #2 requires TP). It's actually quite refreshing, and is saving a heck of a lot of toilet paper!
Green AND cheap! You're not alone. ;)
I can see this for people who do not bleed heavy or as a back up when using Diva Cup http://persephonemagazine.com/2012/02/02/q-and-a-with-ms-vagina-science-heavy-bleeding-with-menstrual-cups-treating-bv-and-using-emmenagogues-to-induce-your-period/
That’s if you can tolerate it!
I do that too Anna, I also take any leftovers home from restaurants, half-eaten or not…(no kids here either) FYI here's a great frugal vegetarian tip: Happy Hour at Watercourse Restaurant, (3-6 I think) I love the buffalo seitan wings, and they bring you a HUGE basket of them for $5, enough to enjoy some there, and bring the rest home (including any half-eaten ones ;-) and make a few sandwich wraps from the next day. They will happily give you extra dressing to take home, too ;-) Also, the $5 nachos are big and delicious, plenty for 2 people.
Love it Beth!
Ohhh, good to know about Marie! Love watercourse!
Anna, not gross at all! I did it the other night with my husband's chicken parm…he had about 4 bites left and I kept it. Next night I had a huge salad and the rest of his chicken as a side (it was yummy, too)!
So glad I'm not the only one!
Well now I don't feel frugal at all……
Must try harder!!
Sarah
http://acatlikecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk
That's not gross at all – it's sad that we live in a society that might think so. If you're the one who's going to eat it for lunch tomorrow, what difference does it make? Food takes a hell of a lot of water, energy and transportation to get to our tables – to then send it to landfill would be doing the environment a huge diservice.
Yesterday I found a Macdonalds bag on the wall outside a local office. Lifted it to put in a trash can and it felt heavy. Inside was an empty mcflurry carton and spoon but a full untouched veggy burger, fries, ketchup and sweet and sour sauce portions. So i took it home and ate it for dinner.
i dont know if taking a mcd's bag off the street was a good idea.
Found this on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olWArpqK3F0
This one is a little over the top for me…maybe if you're in a bind and can't get to the store, but I don't think I can do this on a daily basis for the whole family, maybe just me, but not everyone else!
Amy I'm still here. Freegans the world over are alive and kicking..
I drink a lot of wine :)…and sometimes my boyfriend and I fall asleep with half or full glasses of wine left out.
Usually I throw these out and cringe, but I’m going to start a jar in the fridge for leftover wine, because it’s excellent for adding to soups and sauces.
Leftover stew. Any veggies, meat, beans or pasta leftover from the week go into the pot.
Nice! I like that idea!
It’s not crazy, and with kids it can be done too! I have a 2.5 yr old and whatever he doesn’t touch goes back in the fridge. There’s too much waste otherwise. (if he mushed it all up, then it’s a judgement call on that specific meal).