Common sense and thrift are personal traits that most folks my age learned from our parents who lived through unspeakable hardship. Dad was born during World War I; Mom just as the Roaring ’20s began. They survived the Great Depression, marrying during World War II. Making a living dairy farming tested their mettle during recessions and periods of raging inflation that threatened their livelihood again and again.
Through it all, they raised eight children by working hard and living by the principle of waste not, want not. There was a lot of that going around back then. As members of the Greatest Generation, they aced the ultimate test of conscience — the willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of appreciation they would never hear. Their sacrifices enabled my generation to live through the best of times.
When the new administration began slashing government spending last January, Americans were warned we would be going through some “hardships.” Typically, people thought the sacrifices would be borne by others. They ignored experts who predicted inflation and a tight job market within a few months. Now, with economic storm clouds on the horizon, this great-grandma boldly offers some unsolicited advice: It’s time to take stock of discretionary spending. One strategy comes straight from my cardiologist — watch what you put into your mouth.
After quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol, do yourself and the planet a favor: Nix beverages bottled in plastic. Scientists have identified the presence of an alarming amount of plastic microparticles in human tissue, including newborn babies. Ensuing studies determined these toxins can have serious life-altering effects, especially for children. Recently, a world-renowned dairy science expert in my family told me that microplastics have been detected in cow’s milk. Knowing that, is the convenience of plastic worth you and your loved ones becoming part of a science experiment?
What to do? Get stainless-steel water bottles and refill them. Filter your tap water for an added measure of safety if you can. Make your own cold drinks and serve them in glass instead of plastic. If you like hot beverages and don’t have a coffee maker, get one and make your own. You’ll have exclusive control over the finished product while saving a lot of money.
True story: A friend likes good quality coffee and was paying $6 for her morning cup at Starbucks. A year ago, she invested in a coffeemaker, grinder, big bag of Starbucks beans and Yeti travel mug. She kept a record and found she recouped the start-up cost in about a month.
“I saved almost a thousand bucks last year by learning how to make myself a wicked cup of Joe,” she told me with a big smile.
Of course, the savings will evaporate if you substitute your own brew with gas station caffeinated drinks.
What about food? Changing eating habits is not easy, but it can be done. I lost 30 pounds in 1975 and have kept it off for 50 years. How? I cut out junk food and kicked carbs to the curb. The money I saved bypassing the Big Bad Cs (chips, cookies and candy) paid for actual food. Eating protein instead of carbs means you aren’t hungry an hour after a meal. What to eat? Low-fat cottage cheese, eggs, lean meat, fruit and veggies instead of Doritos, Oreos and Snickers. After two months, I found sugary and salty junk food lost their appeal. Really.
Here are a few menu ideas. For breakfast, forget the greasy donuts, packaged coffee cake, muffins, coronary counter loaded croissants and sugar-laden dry cereals. A bowl of homemade oatmeal, peanut butter smeared on apple slices or an avocado and cheese sandwich on wholegrain toast is fast and filling. How about getting up 10 minutes early and fixing yourself an omelet? Not only will you make it to lunch without needing a carb/fat-laden snack, you’ll see a gradual decrease in your waistline and corresponding increase in your bottom line.
Lunch? Dinner? For less than the price of a super-sized fast-food combo, you can make a big salad or two quarter-pounders with home fries. Patting out a burger, not to mention peeling and cutting potatoes, is not rocket science. Neither is cooking them in less time than you might spend sitting in a drive-through. Big bonus: You can make it an enjoyable legacy experience by teaching family members how to cook.
Are you up for the challenge? Try it for two months. Weigh yourself before and after and keep track of how much money you save. You might be surprised at the payoff — and most likely you’ll be healthier and happier. Hey, as long as you’ll be making sacrifices anyway, why not spend a little time to save money for the rainy days ahead?
Kathleen Marsh is a lifelong educator, writer and community advocate. She has published eight books, four on the history of Townsend, where she and husband Jon are happily retired on the beautiful Townsend Flowage.