Do you make frequent trips to the store to replenish household items or groceries? Do you even realize how much gets wasted on a daily basis? Most of us don’t. We live in a wasteful society. Food is thrown away every day while people lie starving in parts of the world. We spend money on items we don’t even need. We waste instead of trying to conserve. Maybe we can’t change the world but we can start by trying to eliminate waste in our own lives and save a little money in the process.
Do you cook every day then end up with leftovers that never get used and eventually get thrown away? Do you find yourself purchasing a multitude of cleaning products that cost more than you intended to spend? There are a few simple ways to cut down on grocery and household expenses. If you make one large purchase of groceries when you go grocery shopping keep track of the items you use most frequently and run out of most often. When you go to the store buy only those items on your list. If leftovers rarely get eaten in your household try to make smaller portions when cooking a meal.
By eliminating unnecessary waste you also save money not to mention the obvious benefits for our planet and the environment. If you’re like most people, you probably buy one cleaner for glass, another for the bathroom, another for the floors, etc. Although we feel these items are necessary such multiple purchases can become costly. There are several products that can do the work of costly cleaners for a fraction of the price.
For instance, vinegar can perform the duties of many expensive household cleaners. Most of us are familiar with the many benefits of vinegar. It is truly a versatile product. Vinegar is great for cleaning windows and glass appliances. Use it on floors and carpet to clean pet stains or milk and other spills. It is good for flushing out drains, cleaning and deodorizing garbage cans, hampers, litter boxes and other areas around the house. It is also quite effective for removing odors caused by pets, cooking, smoking and more.
Vinegar is good for removing stains such as coffee and tea. Many people soak the glass pots of their coffee makers in a solution of vinegar and water to remove the unsightly brown film that is left by brewing coffee. A solution of vinegar and water can also be brewed through the coffee maker, just as if you were brewing a pot of coffee, to clean and deodorize it. There’s no need to worry about the strong odor of vinegar since it dissipates quickly. There are other inexpensive items such as lemon and baking soda that work effectively for multiple purposes. There are several resources online or at your local library that can provide you with information on making your own natural cleaning supplies.
Cutting down on unnecessary consumption by cooking smaller meals or purchasing fewer items can help to reduce waste and save you money in the process. We live in a society of waste that is driven by consumerism. If everyone would just take a few minutes to re-think their spending and purchasing habits, plan meals more effectively, donate used items and recycle the amount of waste could be reduced substantially. So stop wasting and start saving. Our combined efforts can make a world of difference.