Maybe I'm Just Cheap
Tuesday was the last meeting of the year of an organization that Kellen (9) is involved in. The last meeting is a party of sorts. This year it was at a local recreation center that had swimming, a water slide, boats, and several other activities. The organization paid for our family and we brought along two cousins. We had a great day playing in the water!
The group also fed everyone pizza, chips, and pop. A perfect crowd pleasure when a bunch of kids are on hand, and there was plenty. In fact, there was too much. When feeding a group it is always better to have too much than to run out. I don't fault anyone for having extra after a party.
This is a good group of people and I hate to be critical, but I am shocked by how they waste food. We were one of the last to leave and we helped clean up. There were three whole pizzas left. The other ladies just wanted to throw them away. You know I couldn't stand by for that. The pizzas went in my vehicle. They also were going to throw away all the 2 liters of pop and chips that had been opened. We took those home too. That night we had an easy and free dinner.
This is not the first time that this type of thing has happened with this group. I'm always the one taking what is left. They always give me what Tim and I call the head tilt. You know they look at you funny like that don't quite understand you. Maybe I'm just cheap, but I can't stand to see perfectly good food thrown out. (Actually I'm so well trained to compost and feed the chickens the scraps that I even get a small twitch when scraps are thrown in the trash.)
Yes, I bargain shop. I hunt for the best buy. I gladly take hand me downs, and I can't stand to throw away food. Maybe that makes me different, or perhaps it does go over the line to cheap, but I'm alright with that.
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frugal thoughts
15 comments:
I, too, was one of those mothers who got the head tilt. Guess what?! I was not one of those mothers who had credit card debt, anxiety attacks when the phone rang (creditors calling), or only could afford to decorate the 'public' spaces in my house.
Now that my kids are all grown and on their own I've talked to them about it. My 2 oldest, in their 30s, have discussed what we did to save money, did it embarrass them and what do they do now. They have no regrets but one does admit it was hard teaching his wife that every penny was NOT supposed to be spent when you got paid.
My youngest, mid 20s, has gone thru a lot of stuff in the past year(lost job, illness with no insurance, wrecked car) but is on the road to recovering financially. He also knows how to cut corners, takes hand-me downs and 'yes I'll take that home'. He also has no regrets and has even said he was glad he had been taught how to do it.
So - no, you are not cheap, just frugal. Your children will thank you in the end. We are in the midst of really tough times, but those of us who are prepared will be able to get thru them. Bellen
Um...wow...throwing away three perfectly good pizzas as well as chips and pop is just BIZARRE.
Never mind about the head tilt. Let 'em tilt! You got a fantastic free dinner. =)
Frugal is definitely seen as weird.
We have nearly stopped being friends with one particular couple who constantly suggest dinners out or trips to the coast or other (i consider) expensive things. When I would try to suggest alternatives that were more budget-friendly she'd say "You can't take it with you. Live a little".
I'm living just fine, thank you.
Of course, they did declare bankruptcy last month. And sadder still... this has only exacerbated the spending, not stopped it.
I suggest you tilt back at them and ask if they have $40 they'd like to throw in the trash. When they react in the negative, remind them it's the same thing.
I am always the one taking home the left over vege trays, little parm packets, the condiments from the subs and so on and so on. Yes I get the head tilt all the time. One co-worker has said oh she uses up everything and it wasn't said in the kindest way!
God wants us to be good stewards. By wasting food and resources we are not doing that.
Just stand tall and remember you are right!!!!
You're not cheap... just smart.
I would have done the same thing, and often have.
We have fellowship meals once a month at church. We often bring home leftover food that no one wanted to take back home with them. I'm talking hot ham sandwiches, chips, hot dogs (and buns) and more.
You're not cheap... just smart.
I would have done the same thing, and often have.
We have fellowship meals once a month at church. We often bring home leftover food that no one wanted to take back home with them. I'm talking hot ham sandwiches, chips, hot dogs (and buns) and more.
"Leftovers" is an accepted practice here, so I can't imagine why the head-tilt.
throw them away... I'd be looking at them like they were nuts!
I do the same. You are not alone! I will never understand how people can complain about how expensive things are, but never take the time to bargain hunt, are super wasteful, and manage to look down on those of us who don't.
If being smart is being different, count me in. Why do people waste so much and yet complain they don't have any money? Boggles the brain!
Coleen
I knew I was in good company here! :)
It makes me sick when people are wasteful like that. I would have packed up the pizzas too :)
It's the head-tilters who have it wrong. Sad to see people being so wasteful. I've overheard someone in my office saying she bought tops a few months ago and she just found them again stashed in the bag in her closet. She doesn't like it anymore! What a waste =(
I can't believe that when you say you are going to take the pizzas it doesn't give someone else the courage to say they will take the chips. Some folks just need someone like you to lead the way and show that it's OK to split up the leftovers. It's crazy to me that no one else will take anything.
It is a real shame that people don't realize how lucky we are to even be able to contemplate throwing food away. And from a treehugging perspective, that would be a disgusting waste of resources involved in producing and transporting the food to then only throw it away! On the other hand, lucky for you that nobody else wanted it I guess :)
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