I have a new calendar book. It covers May 2018 through June 2019. My previous one, of course, ended in June of 2018, last month.
I am not sure if it is due to my thrifty upbringing or because I took ecology class in high school (which I took only because I thought it was a ‘cool’ thing to do, not because I cared about the earth. Sorry Earth. I do care, now.)
I have a hard time throwing away perfectly good paper, even though I, of course, recycle. It may be the writer in me. It hurts my heart to dispose of blank paper that could be filled with words.
So when it came time to dispose of my old appointment book, I went through and pulled out all the blank pages. I then cut them up neatly into smaller sheets, perfect for a grocery list or a reminder note.
I often keep little notes in my kitchen drawer that state consistent reminders, things like “clothes in dryer”. I will put this note on the counter so when I awaken in the morning I will remember to warm up the clothes and fold them before I leave the house for the day.
Another note is “fruits and veggies”. Again, will leave this note on the counter before I go to bed to remind myself to grab a banana and the bag of carrots and cauliflower that I cut up the night before.
Often I will put a person’s name on a piece of paper when they come to mind late in the evening or during the night and I must remember to call or email that person.
I could buy a thick stack of yellow sticky notes or those cute cubes of square paper at any store. But why should I toss away perfectly good paper when I can create my own notes, save a few bucks, and maybe even a tree or two.
On occasion I have seen my husband or one of my sons toss a spiral type notebook into the trash, when they no longer have a use for it. I fish it out and ask why they have thrown away perfectly good paper!?!!
I know, at these times, I sound and act like my mother. I know I may get an occasional eye-roll when I step onto the soap box about being frugal.
Perhaps we all spend freely in some areas and are parsimonious in others. I am certainly aware of that quality in myself. Do I really need eight black tee shirts? Though in my defense, not one of them is identical. They each have their own little differences which make them unique and just right for the outfit.
The ability to show restraint is an extremely important quality. I may choose saving blank paper and you may choose owning only one black tee shirt.
Prudence needs to be evidenced in some part of every life.