Showing posts with label Save Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Save Money. Show all posts

11.26.2010

DISPOSABLE DISHES


For pizza, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, fries, sandwiches, and a lot of other foods, use paper plates.

At 2-3 cents per plate, paper plates cost less than the energy & water required for washing ceramic or plastic plates.  This also means 0 time spent time rinsing the plates, putting them in the dish washer, then back in the cupboard.
So what about bowls, cups, and plastic utensils​?  Save time? Yes.  Save money? Depends.  Using disposable bowls, cups, & utensils will save you the time spent washing them.  It will also help reduce the piles of dishes near the sink.  And if you don't own a dishwasher, I highly recommend living on disposables.  It takes a very long time for the cost of disposable dinnerware to outweigh the cost of a new (or used) dishwasher and the cost of operating it.

However, there will always be cases when disposable dinnerware just won't do.  Microwaveable throwaways are often 2-3 times as expensive, so the cost is often more than using durables.  Special events like Holiday gatherings might also be deemed a bit tacky if disposable dinnerware is used.  Lastly, most people have a dish washer.  Pots and pans don't have paper substitutes, so unless you are on the sandwich-only diet, you're probably going to be doing some dishes anyway.


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11.24.2010

TIMELESS TURKEY


​No time to baste the bird or clean up afterward?  Here's a few alternatives:
- Eat out.  A number of restaurants offer Thanksgiving spreads, like Maggianos in Bellevue, Barking Frog in Woodinville, and Claim Jumper or Buca di Bepo in Lynnwood.  Yes it's a hunk of money, but zero preparation and zero cleanup just might be worth it.
- Cater in.  If you call in advance (at least 5 days prior), caterers will be happy to make your food for you.  It's not cheap, but it's hard to compete with the homely feel minus the stress of cooking.
- Visit family. Be the one visiting, not the one hosting.  It's probably not required, but the host will be thankful if you offer to bring a side dish, pie, rolls, or cider! 
- Visit friends. A lot like visiting family, but bringing something to share is a requirement, not a courtesy.
- Visit strangers. You'd be surprised just how many people are opening their doors to those who are in need or alone.  Check out craigslist.org and type "Thanksgiving" in the General section.
- Volunteer.  Be the reason someone else is thankful.  Help serve at a local shelter or visit a retirement home.  They won't let you go hungry either.


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