What did you thrift today?
Can you believe it’s Thursday already? We’re 10 days into the new year, how are all of you doing on your New Year Resolutions?
In these parts, we skipped the traditional naming of resolutions. Like a lot of holiday traditions this year, it went by the wayside. I’m sure we’ll pick it up again next year, but this year, we were just relieved to see the calendar numbers flip, content to let 2007’s resolutions ride.
Last year’s resolutions included getting skinnier. Both in how much we consume and physically. (We also banned house-guests for the whole year. Oh, that was controversial. I lost a few friends who saw their free Bed and Breakfast close down. Personally, I’d like to be closed for business indefinitely!) I’m in no mood to chat about the weight loss stuff… as terms like BMI and the diabetes get me in a whole passel of trouble. Besides, you just have to know I have a REAL rant coming down the pike on that eventually. And without naming names, I’m won’t be pulling any punches either. Which might be the only New Year’s resolution I made, if you count the aftermath of December’s Debacle— no more mealy mouthed Wende. Some truths need to be said—malevolent lurkers be damned.
But that’s another day. Further afield, perspective in hand. Today, I can speak clearly about our reducing on the consumption side, specifically packaging. That’s been fun! Retail produces so much packaging, it’s shameful. There is only so much you can recycle—so a thrifting I have gone. Less retail, less in the landfill. It’s included so much Thrifting that somehow I started a small, not for profit (evidently, Oh!!Oh!!Oh!!), business that keeps me more distracted than I like. And again, another post.
The upside of all my thrifting is that it benefits my family in small ways. We are a family of three. Odd numbers are the Kabbalah of thrift stores; it’s why a lot of things get donated. Sets are missing members, fours become threes and in the process useless to bigger families. Their toss is my gain. I snatch up sets of three constantly—napkins, napkin rings, plates, cups. . . Holy Trinities of reusable goods.
We’ve used fabric napkins for ages. Down with paper, I say. I do have a stash of paper napkins—take-out refugees that I keep on hand for when masses of small children lay siege and demand sticky treats. But for family dinners, we use cloth. And to keep germs at bay, we keep our napkins marked with napkin rings. I picked up this little set of hand-carved wood rings for just 25 cents. A fish. A whale. A pig. We’ll argue about who has to be the pig later. When we’re done, we just tuck our napkins back into their markers and leave them in the yellow bowl. No fuss, no muss.
In the long term, it’s not a big deal, a small effort really. But as Mother Teresa once said, “We can do no great thing, but only small things with great love.”
That’s a great idea. The amount of packaging always horrifies me, as does the amount of PAPER sent home from schools (2 plus daycare) – so consider yourself a conserver in that arena too.
Seriously, the paper these schools waste make me want to puke.
Also, I meant to come back and comment on your last post. I need the sunlight too. We get dark at 5 and I’m totally useless once the sun goes down. I can have theeeee best intentions for evening work, but it never gets done.
_____________________________________________
Oh, I hear you about the paper. I remember what G used to bring home. We use considerably less. In fact, we’re STILL using the same packages of paper we bought for him to use in 3rd grade! And I hear you about intentions. I look back at my days and wonder where the time went. I’m seeing this a lot all over the blogosphere—it’s a symptom of Daylight Savings so I can comfortably say, “I blame BUSH.” ~W
yeah, lately i have been really awestruck by the amount of packaging in simple food goods….such a waste!! 🙁 i guess i could sort of remedy that by only buying FRESH things, vs. the Kraft Deluxe and the Taco Bell Taco kits and what not.
_______________________________________
I totally hear you–and it’s NO better in bulk. I recently bought a 3 pack box of serial… thinking it would have 3 bags inside…NOPE. It was three boxes within another box. I was none-too pleased. Because other than recycle I’m not sure what to do with all the packaging. ~W
Inspiring as usual . . . I failed to appreciate the “threeness” of our family. I usually look for things in fours, because that’s what I thought you were supposed to do. A few months ago I went thrifting with my cousin and I found three monogrammed stemmed glasses – with our initial! That was a real find. I usually opt for paper napkins at the discount places. I could just as easily use the cloth, I suppose. It would be a small part to cut down on waste. I am making headway on my resolutions – I’m spring cleaning my kitchen cupboards only to find that I already had ramekins and didn’t need to purchase them last week!. Ugh.
_________________________________________
Yeah, I buy party napkins at discount places too… I’m a sucker for those prints. I think being a 3 is great… there really are lots of finds to be had… and if company comes, well, I just put out co-ordinating “3” to make 6 or 9 or 12. 😀 Three is a PRIME number after all… we LOVE it. 😀 ~W
I need to waste less; you are inspiring! I don’t make resolutions as you well know. I am always trying to be a better person though; does that count?
_______________________________________
I think that’s all resolutions are, really; an attempt to codify being a better person. So, yeah, I think it does count. Especially in the long run, when resolutions are long forgotten. Like in October. 😀 ~W
I love the idea of no house guests…I hardly have any, so it’s not that big of a deal…but, when they’re here…it tends to get crammed. And, not always in a good way. I am looking forward to your “rants’ they are always so thoughtful!!
_______________________________________
You know, if we never have another house guest, I’d be PERFECTLY O.K. The older I get, the more of a private, reclusive type I become. I’m great for dinner or tea, but then I’d like my space. 😀 ~W
I have a stack of cloth napkins but I can’t get my family to use them. They’d rather have a roll of paper towels on the table and tear off their napkins then use the cloth. I don’t get it. At least they’ll last my lifetime and then some.
_______________________________________
You know, we’ve had cloth napkins since very early in our marriage. My mom made some a gift out of feedsack cottons. Basic, with just serged edges—and that fueled my obsession, because I was raised with paper napkins. I’ve found that dinner guests HATE cloth napkins, so your family is not alone. But BW has had them in his life forever, so he just thinks it’s normal. ~W