Wasteful We

I boiled a whole chicken a couple days ago and as I was tempted to toss the bones in the trash, I was convicted about how wasteful I had become. My Grandmother-a survivor of the great depression, is known by all her family members as someone who wastes NOTHING!  Here I am a busy wife and mother, trying to save money where I can and I am throwing out the bones of the chicken. So, pondering those thoughts, I cleaned all the bits of meat off the bones, and boiled what was left of the bird all afternoon--making absolutely divine tasting broth. I froze about 8 cups of broth, that I can now use for soup, gravy, or future cooking. Now here I will clip a coupon for 50 cents and get all happy when I save a penny, yet figuring a can of good Swansons broth is about $1.25 and holds about 15oz-close to 2 cups. I was about to toss $5 into the trash! Trust me, Swansons broth doesn't hold a candle to home-made broth anyway. 

Looking at my motives, I considered why it is so easy being so horribly wasteful? 
1)Lazy-I don't want to do the extra work
2)Time-I don't have the time to mess with one more thing
3)Ignorance-I never really stopped to consider all the ways I am wasteful


So, going back to my grandmother's frugal ways, I tried to remember some things she did-to use every bit and waste nothing. 

1. Clean container's and there lids with a spatula to get every bit out before washing the can or plastic container. It is surprising how much sour cream sticks to the top of that plastic.

2. Rinse out soap bottles and cleaning fluids to get every last usable drop. Sometimes you can wash a whole load of clothes with what is left in the detergent bottle

3. Save plastic containers with lids and use them to store leftovers, instead of buying Rubbermaid or Tupperware containers or Ziploc bags. 

4. Don't throw away Ziploc bags-often they can be washed and reused multiple times. I make a personal exception and do not reuse bags that contained meat products-simply for food safety.

5. Use exactly or less than manufactures suggested amounts for cleaning products. I have the bad habit of dumping laundry soap in the wash or Pine-Sole in the water without measuring how much I am using--probably a lot more than I need to use!

6. Eat leftovers. Not that I have anything against serving leftovers, but I never have had to yet. I make exactly what we will eat for a meal. Or I make more than we will need and freeze half for another time. Or I re-purpose the leftovers in another meal later that week (see my article on menu planning). In any case-if the food is good-don't throw it away!

7. Clean it up and keep using it. For instance-due to my laziness, I have gotten in the bad habit of simply replacing my shower curtain when the soap scum builds up on it too much-instead of taking the time to take it off the hooks and give it a good scrubbing--I know I am terrible. Kitchen brushes and sponges are another example--bleach will whiten them like new and disinfect them--and we can continue scrubbing!

8. Know where you keep your things. Often we loose something we need and go out and buy another instead of taking the time to look for it. Basically--organization saves time and money.

9. Use every bit of food. I have been know to throw away poultry bones, broccoli stalks, and the center part of iceberg lettuce because I was too lazy or had no use for it. Actually, good broth can be made of animal bones. The stalks of vegetables are still good in dip or can be chopped up into small pieces and frozen to be added to casserole or soups in the future.

10. Just because one part is bad doesn't mean it is all bad. See Grandma, I was paying attention! I watched my grandmother cut out the bruised part of a piece of fruit--and use the rest--even small fruits like strawberries. Or pick out the good grapes from a branch of moldy ones. As tedious as it seems--I doubt we would think it was silly if we were truly grateful for our food.

11. Don't trash Reynolds. As much as possible, reuse wax paper, aluminum foil, and saran wrap. Better yet-use lids-I have often taken food to a church function and covered it with saran wrap, which I promptly tossed instead of saving to re-use on the trip home with the leftovers. 

12. Think about a second use. This makes me smile to this day, but one spring day about a year ago, I got a package in the mail from my grandmother. When I opened it, I found all it contained was a bag full of onion skins. She had sent them to me so I could boil them in water and color eggs for Easter. 

That package brings a smile to my face even today, yet it is also a reminder to me how I have become disgustingly lazy, busy, and thoughtless. I have realized that I can gloat about every penny I save by using coupons and being a thrifty shopper, but I have not begun to save money, until I have learned to be a thrifty consumer which means not taking anything I have been given for granted... that includes the bruised strawberries in the refrigerator.