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Home > In case you need more proof that I am, indeed, insane

In case you need more proof that I am, indeed, insane

August 29th, 2006 at 07:11 am

I'm tired. I'm bored. I'm gonna blog. Smile

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. Smile

9 Responses to “In case you need more proof that I am, indeed, insane”

  1. homein2007 Says:
    1156847088

    I don't like to buy lunch out either, but I worry about getting an ulcer or something from sitting with an empty stomach for too long. I haven't yet made a consistent habit out of packing my lunch so I usually give in and try and find a cheap meal out. At least by packing my own water bottle I'm not tempted to buy a soda.

    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."

  2. princessperky Says:
    1156857494

    Fasting on occasion is no big deal, doing it all the time is hazardous to your metabolism if nothing else!

    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.....

  3. amberfocus Says:
    1156858624

    homein2007: The cheapest meal out is $4, and I fear that eating those regularly will only trade an ulcer for a heart attack. We have free water here, so that's not a concern.

    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

  4. StressLess Says:
    1156864201

    I just recycled a can from breath mints to hold rubber bands. I think I'm starting to catch the bug myself!

    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. Wink

  5. contrary1 Says:
    1156864487

    Isn't it nice to have a place to share our oddities??? Where no one thinks the list is too odd??? And, actually find others that are doing many of the same things???

    You don't seem insane to me!!! Smile

  6. koppur Says:
    1156883506

    LOL I don't flush every time I pee, either. The rule is Flush if the TP is piling up or if you go #2.

  7. Thrifty Ray Says:
    1156902455

    Thank goodness most of us here live slightly off the consumerism path....and what is wrong with finding a second life for (anything), using something til it dies and then using it for something else, and conserving water?? IMO not a single thing! Good for you!

  8. baselle Says:
    1156910473

    10 years ago Seattle had a serious drought. One of the tips was not flushing each time. The only downside is don't be absent-minded if you're leaving the house for a few days. (Trust me on this one.)
    Promise me you'll buy socks for the winter!

  9. amberfocus Says:
    1156920693

    StressLess: I love those little containers, like the ones from Altoids! Great for stashing little odds 'n ends like rubber bands, paper clips, thumb tacks, ticket stubs, stickers, and the like.

    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! Big Grin
    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? Frown
    baselle: Aww, it's sweet of you to tell me to buy socks. Smile 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

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