Waste Not

This week it looks like the forgotten food was 1/2 cooked sweet potato. I meant, I'm sure, to have this for breakfast, cooked with a banana. That didn't happen and so, to the trash it goes. In terms of throwing money away, technically I didn't because the sweet potatoes were free. But if you consider that I ate something else instead of the sweet potato, I did waste a few cents.

Here are my two loss prevention strategies:
1) Making a list. This helps me to remember what is in the fridge, going bad, that needs to be eaten. Keeping stuff in the see-through plastic containers is also a helpful reminder to keep edible things out of the trash or the compost pile.
2) Get up earlier or get ready at night. Any day this week, I could have enjoyed sweet potatoes and bananas for breakfast, I just didn't get out of bed early enough and I didn't plan ahead. Usually getting my breakfast and lunch ready the night before is the best fit for me. That way I don't have to think in the morning, I can just grab it and hit the road.

There were some other "waste not" successes this week. We're getting ready to move at work and Whatever uncovered a bunch of stuff we don't need to move and store. It's good and perfectly usable stuff that would have gone to the trash can. I'm bringing some of it home. I'll either use it here or put it in our next garage sale and hopefully bring in a few cents.

In terms of cash wasting, I'm totally guilty this week.
Exhibit A: I bought coffee at the gas station on Tuesday. My defense: I didn't have time to make it at home and had a 12 hour day of work ahead of me. Verdict: Guilty
Exhibit B: I bought $7 popcorn at the movie theater even though I just ate. Plea: Guilty
Exhibit C: I bought a $1 Reeses from the Honor Snacks on Thursday. It was gross, even. Plea: Stupidity.

And now for a contentious "waste not" failure. Yesterday after the recycling run, the husband decided he needed a fancy coffee drink from McDonald's. This is how he wants all his drinks, fancy and frou-frou. I offered to make him one at home but he said he wanted caramel in it. Note: He ordered a regular mocha--no caramel. It cost $3 and he didn't have any cash on him. So guess who paid. I was resentful but I tried to refrain from pointing out that I've eaten for a whole day for less money. Additionally, I had wasted a little over $9 this week myself. I felt pretty smug when he admitted that it was the worst coffee drink he had in a while. I doubt he's learned his lesson, but I will remind him of this vignette to avoid future $3 coffee drinks.

Sidebar: I think men are more comfortable ordering a pink cocktail with an umbrella or a frothy, foamy, sugary, flavored, milky coffee than they used to be. If I stop at the gas station for a coffee--which is few and far between--, I always have to wait for the man in front of me filling up his cup at the cappuccino machine before I can get the regular swill. The husband's theory is that men have "evolved" over time to the point that they can admit they like to drink things that taste good. He, however, can't understand how I can drink bourbon and enjoy it. I just like it--and I have since I'm a kid. 
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Breakfast: oatmeal and peaches free peaches! 13 cents
Snack: granola bar 21 cents
Lunch: I had to do a talky thing for work so lunch was free and so was the husband's! It's like I'm making money--I don't mean by working, that's a "labor of love."
Dinner: Popcorn. Like 15 cents with butter, maybe?

Total: 49 cents