Think about the last time you took out the trash. How much did it weigh? Think about the last time you cleaned out the refrigerator. How much did you end up dumping? Wasting is not only bad for the environment and morale, it is bad for the pocketbook. Also under the heading of waste is using more than you need of any given resource. One of the negative aspects of living in a culture and age that is so blessed is that we tend to take advantage of all we have. We use to excess, and it is costing us. Today, be mindful of everything you use and consider if you are using more than is needed. Below are some tips for wasting less.
- Wash rugged clothes every other time used or when they are soiled. Jeans and sweaters often hold up well after a few uses.
- Be mindful of time spent in the shower or running the water faucet.
- Plan your errands so that you use the least amount of gasoline.
- Do you really need that much shampoo? Consider washing your hair every other day, or if your hair is not as oily even less often.
- Use your leftovers in creative ways. Make a habit of freezing leftovers so that you have a meal handy when you don't want to cook.
- Reuse and recycle. We often use empty and cleaned salsa jars for food storage.
- Move to non-disposable items. A vintage handkerchief feels so much fancier than a regular tissue. Purchase cloth napkins that are a dark color and will not show stains as readily. Pick up a few micro-fiber cloths for cleaning purposes. Stained t-shirts can find new life as a dust rag.
- Open your windows on cool days rather than running the air conditioner full blast.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat when there are coupons available for places like Lowe's or Home Depot.
I'd love any additional ideas or tips you have about wasting less in the comments section. Thanks!
Hi! These were all things you shared, but these are the ones that work well for us. We recently stopped buying paper napkins and we haven't missed them at all. That's $4-$5 a month we can use for something else. And we just started recycling a little bit. I also like to use glass containers-we feel better about storing and heating our food in them instead of plastic! We're also growing some food. I got my nerve up after 2 years of drought. And lastly I have leftover day. Typically my kids haven't liked leftovers, but it's the one day they get to choose what they want so they are happy about that. And on leftover day I might try to serve some dessert to round it out and make it more fun.
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