I'm tired. I'm bored. I'm gonna blog.
Just for fun, I'll list some of my odder habits that relate to frugality.
- I haven't bothered to buy a trash bin for my room. I'm using an empty bulk Cheerios box. The top flaps hold the plastic bag in place rather nicely!
On a slightly related note, one old pasta sauce jar holds my change, and another holds my sugar. An empty teriyaki sauce bottle has been requisitioned to hold my olive oil (which I bought as a gallon). A hummus container holds an aliquot of salt. At least I'm refilling my bulk soy sauce in an actual soy sauce bottle.
- I only have one pair of socks that do not have holes in them. And I don't mean little holes. I mean GIGANTIC HOLES WHERE MY FOOT ACTUALLY FALLS OUT. I really do need new socks, eh?
- (This one shocks the hell out of my co-workers.) I never buy lunch, even if I don't brown bag it with leftovers. I just fast all day until I can get home and cook. And I'm perfectly fine and functional. I even get hyper and work faster, which I kind of like.
- I fast before free meals so that I can eat more. Especially buffets. I love free buffets.
- When I was a college student, I tightly budgeted my meal points because I saw people running out of points all around me and was worried that I'd do the same and starve. I ended up feeding not only myself, but also my bf, for an entire semester, and we bought whatever we wanted. I probably could have fed even more people if I'd tried.
- I feel a compulsion to budget my expenses as if I were making minimum wage (although I'm counting CT minimum wage, not the federal one--federal minimum wage is too little, even for me). Just so I can tell myself that I will make it even in the worst case scenario. Because I am that paranoid.
- I get free haircuts every two years by donating my hair to Locks of Love. I *do* do this out of caring (and I know my hair is really nice), but the free haircut is definitely a bonus. Does that make me a horrible person?
- Now this one might actually bother people, but when I'm on my own (or with the (ex-?)bf or someone else who does not mind), I don't flush the toilet every single time after I pee. I just don't see the need to flush an ENTIRE TANK of PERFECTLY GOOD DRINKING WATER just to get rid of a little pee. I'll flush every third time or something.
Okay, now that I've thoroughly grossed everyone out, I'll retire for the night.
In case you need more proof that I am, indeed, insane
August 29th, 2006 at 06:11 am
August 29th, 2006 at 10:24 am 1156847088
The toilet thing doesn't seem too unpleasant, it's mostly acid, fairly antiseptic I would think. "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down."
August 29th, 2006 at 01:18 pm 1156857494
a body needs fuel to keep using said fuel, otherwise it will conserve it..meaning you will then start gaining weight, which will result in later health problems..I have a pet peeve about meal skipping, sorry.
try buying a box of ramen noodles to leave in your desk...enough to keep your running, though not a vegetable is sight.....
August 29th, 2006 at 01:37 pm 1156858624
And yes, urine is sterile, unless you haven an UTI.
princessperky: I appreciate your concern. And I've tried packing lunches, but gave up. I was basically cooking two dinners in order to generate enough leftovers, and I didn't have the energy to keep that up. But my body/metabolism is WEIRD. I don't gain weight. I don't lose it either. No matter what I do. I also don't do ramen... That stuff goes straight into your coronary arteries. And I like my coronary arteries.
I really want a breadmaker, so that I can bake bread for lunch sandwiches. I really should make more of an effort.
I also avoid the office at lunchtime because of a certain co-worker who makes me want to stab my eyes out. So I just stay in the lab and don't eat. I have issues, I know.
~mimi
August 29th, 2006 at 03:10 pm 1156864201
As far as the pee, if you want to get really frugal--I've heard of people pouring it into their compost heap. It's full of nitrogen, which is one of the main ingredients in plant food. And as you said, sterile.
August 29th, 2006 at 03:14 pm 1156864487
You don't seem insane to me!!!
August 29th, 2006 at 08:31 pm 1156883506
August 30th, 2006 at 01:47 am 1156902455
August 30th, 2006 at 04:01 am 1156910473
Promise me you'll buy socks for the winter!
August 30th, 2006 at 06:51 am 1156920693
I'm sure urine is great for composting. I live in a city, though, so this might not work too well. The only place to stash a compost would be in some sort of container on a deck or balcony, as opposed to a back yard with lots of space and solid earth beneath it. I can't wait to have a proper garden someday.
contrary1: Haha, that's so true! I originally had "Washed and reused ziploc bags" on the list, but took it off. Although I thought I was being clever when I started doing this (and got plenty of funny looks for it), I realize that it's common practice here! Ah, kindred spirits!
koppur: Or if the bathroom starts to smell, um, funny.
Thrifty Ray: And reusing stuff isn't just about saving money--you save the environment, too. I feel good every single time I rescue plastic from the trash. Why must so much waste be non-biodegradable?
baselle: Aww, it's sweet of you to tell me to buy socks. It's on my to-do list, although it's not terribly high priority at the moment, because I'll need a ride to the store, and I hate asking for favors. And winter's still a whiles away, I'm only outside for about 10 - 20 minutes a day, and worst case scenario, I double up on socks to, um, cover the gaps.
I can also ask my father to buy me socks. He knows I'm bad about these types of chores. What's a good price for socks these days, anyway?
~mimi