Making Money by Saving Money

[gadder]

I second (and third!) Selah's proposal above RE Scavenging. Most of my apartment is furnished with 'finds', the exception being upholstered un-sterilisable stuff. Why buy when someone's discards are perfectly adequate? It's even trendy: read The Scavenger's Manifesto.

Also, sharing wireless internet with your (compatible) apartment neighbour, saves 35$mo.

[catherine]

Well, I have a new one that will last as long as DS/DDIL live here--DH and I are dumpster diving--in our own kitchen garbage! DS and DDIL are probably fairly typical thirty-somethings who haven't quite gotten the idea of "no-waste" yet. So they buy really expensive food and throw it out if it's uneaten--sometimes the next day! DDIL won't eat anything over a day old. Today DH saw a plastic bag in the garbage that they had brought in just last night. In the bag was a take-out container of Veal Marsala and pasta from one of the best Italian deli/restaurants in the area. It had barely been touched!

So DH snuck it out of the garbage and went to his office and ate it! I admit that this sounds like bizarre behavior, but we just don't see the point of wasting it--and we don't want to admit to our kids that we're eating their "garbage."

[sweetana3]

We have friends that dont like leftovers. My husband and I love them both because of saved time and money. We even plan for leftovers.

[iris lilies]

Well, I have a new one that will last as long as DS/DDIL live here--DH and I are dumpster diving--in our own kitchen garbage! DS and DDIL are probably fairly typical thirty-somethings who haven't quite gotten the idea of "no-waste" yet. So they buy really expensive food and throw it out if it's uneaten--sometimes the next day! DDIL won't eat anything over a day old. Today DH saw a plastic bag in the garbage that they had brought in just last night. In the bag was a take-out container of Veal Marsala and pasta from one of the best Italian deli/restaurants in the area. It had barely been touched!

So DH snuck it out of the garbage and went to his office and ate it! I admit that this sounds like bizarre behavior, but we just don't see the point of wasting it--and we don't want to admit to our kids that we're eating their "garbage."

This is hilarious! I would totally do that! DH, not so much. But this is yet another reason why I missed the boat by not having children using grown children's leftover food.

Stella used to talk about how her small children liked to clean the floors and do housework.

Clearly, I made a mistake in not reproducing.

[Teacher Terry]

Catherine, that is too funny! My adult kids & stepson who lived with us were the exact opposite. They would eat other people's leftovers from restaurants that I actually thought was disgusting. It got to be such a big problem-everyone getting mad for their leftovers being gone that I came up with a solution. If you wanted it for yourself you had to put your name on it so everyone knew not to touch it. I was raised that you eat leftovers for 3 days & then throw away. My hubby will eat them a week later and never gets sick. I guess he has stronger constitution then me. I love leftovers because then I do not have to cook. Also none of my 3 boys ever cleaned anything-not even when little so I don't think you missed out Iris Lily

[awakenedsoul]

I second (and third!) Selah's proposal above RE Scavenging. Most of my apartment is furnished with 'finds', the exception being upholstered un-sterilisable stuff. Why buy when someone's discards are perfectly adequate? It's even trendy: read The Scavenger's Manifesto.

Also, sharing wireless internet with your (compatible) apartment neighbour, saves 35$mo.

I've thought about that. I used to share my garbage can with a couple down the street. I only have one small bag per week. But, I guess I'm too adicted to the Internet to do that right now. I've also thought of biking to the library to use their computers. But, I don't have a t.v., so I don't want to be too cut off.
I agree with you and Selah about curbside finds. I got my couch that way. It was new: they just didn't have the space for it. I bought most of my furniture at the Salvation Army. I found really nice antiques. They are so well made. I also love my hand me down bed and dresser/night stand from my parents. My dad used the same drawers in the 30's when he was a little boy.

Catherine, I cracked up at your story. Most of what I eat is leftovers. I make a casserole and eat it all week. It's less work, it's healthy, and inexpensive.

[gadder]

I wish I had friends/neighbours/relatives that refuse to eat gourmet left-overs. I would be dining the high-life every week. I am mystified as to why someone would not eat leftovers - unless they are not the ones cooking/cleaning/shopping.

Sharing internet requires managing times and activities. I cannot stream anything weekday afternoons because it resets the router as I am too far away. I cannot bit-stream anything except late at night. No problem - I adjust, schedule activities after midnight etc.