Too busy to be frugal

No you're not alone. I actually do that quite often, not just when life is hectic. I'll just buy stuff and forget that I got it. I also tend to forget about left overs and other such things. Once a month or so I'll go through the fridge and throw out a lot of things that have gone bad and grown fuzz all over it.

Yes it gets really hard to keep track of everything when life gets busy. I go through my fridg once a week before shopping and make sure I don't buy stuff that I already have. Also if there is fruit that I bought a few days before, such as berries I either have them for breakfast or as dessert. All we can do is trying.

I've had the same thing happen with bagged lettuce. I bu a few of them (.99 cents) with the hopes that we'll have a huge salad with lots of yummy extras and it never happens. One bag got shoved so far back in the crisper drawer that it was completely rotten by time I found it. For me its not a matter of not having enough time, its getting everyone together for dinner at the same time.

I found some carrots like that. At least we can compost them and do something useful with them. I try to be organised but it just doesn't happen that way all the time. I have no method other than eye sight I am afraid.

This happens to me quite often, GreenMoo, and I get really cross with myself. Only this morning I found half a cabbage which I'd bought a few weeks ago, intending to us it in stir fries - then I forgot all about it, and it's not looking too marvellous now. Also, I tend to buy sixpacks of yoghurt, and invariably there are a couple which are still left after the use-by date. Cereal is also a problem in our house - sometimes we eat a lot, and and other times it sits there in the boxes until it eventually gets weevils. Apparently, wasted food in landfills is causing methane gas to build up, and we are being encouraged to try not to waste so much - they've actually calculated around $40 worth of food is thrown away from the average person's grocery shop - which is pretty shocking! I'm going to be more careful in future.

No matter how busy I am - eating well is an important part of my life. I want to set a good example for my 4 year old daughter, so even after a busy day working I'll still make sure we're eating fresh fruit and vegetables. It only takes a few minutes to make a simple meal using what fresh food you have in the fridge and it's healthier for you than sitting in front of the computer...

Personally there are times when it is hard to remember to Eat some of the things you buy. I have done this many times myself, and then want to kick myself for it as well. I have bought lettuce for Salads from time to time, and forget, and other stuff and then want to kick myself for sure. I guess the main thing is making a list of such things I buy and then remember to eat them as well.

I think we have all dealt with this from time to time. I use green bags for my produce to extend thier lives. I know that when I buy fresh fruit and veggies (we buy a lot till the garden starts to produce for us) I tend to forget about them so the green bags help keep them nicer longer. They are called Debbie Meyer's Green bags and they really work. They can be reused too so that helps out alot. I will be using them for our veggies from the garden also, that which we do not freeze or put in jars.

I understand. This happens to me as well. I have found that if keep the fruit visible, then it will get eaten. But I am all for everything in it's place and like to keep it in the drawer, but nobody will eat it unless I am pushing it! Also, when I am really busy, I tend to get food away from home and this is a huge waste!

My family is notorious when it comes to wasting food, whether its spoiled food, expired canned goods or juices. I am also unable to help because all of us are too busy with work and other stuffs. Maybe if we are a little more organized, like making sure that all the first things bought are the first ones to be consumed, or if we plan our groceries before we actually buy them, then we would be able to save more on the budget we spend on food.

that has happened to me too. i am really busy but always try to check my freezer and fridge. if i see something that is still ok but a little bad, i cut out the bad part and still eat it! or i use it for something else like apple sauce or banana bread.

It's particularly hard for me since I live alone. It's not so much my life might be hectic which allows for food to spoil on me, but because I really wish in many cases one could buy/choose amounts of foods, especially certain fruits or vegetables that don't come in prepackaged sizes, sizes that are usually too much for one person to use up right away.

I do it. I think we all do it. I had to actually start checking the fridge for that kind of thing right before I went to the store. Know what caused it? The 4 things of celery.

I think not only you face this problem,with the rapid pace of the life and work,most of the persons have no more extra time to manage their own kitchen,and they pay little attention to their own bite and sup,which lead to always forget some foods or vegetables leave at home.The best way to avoid this situation is that make the regular schedule,not only in your work,but also in your daily life,no matter what you want to do,if you do it according to the schedule which made already,i think you can avoid the same things happened often.Just do it,just try,keep insisting!

When life gets busy and hectic my frugal nature sometimes goes out the door. I try to make a weekly meal plan and fit in leftovers for either another meal or lunch the next day.

Oh, I know exactly how that is. I just pitched some stuff from my veggie tray. I try to not buy them unless I will use them right away. I do find myself doing more impulse shopping, more eating out, and less healthy eating right now. I am very busy with my job, and then I have also been sick. Not a good combination for saving money.

Life has been super crazy and we have been slipping too, but it is showing in the budget and that has been a reminder to get control of things again. I know it is a lot of work but to me it is like a job that I enjoy. I know that when I am working to save money I am essentialy making money for the family as well since we dont have to spend it. It s a ballance to live your life and live frugally too.

I've done that more times than I can count! My answer is to keep my cupboards and fridge as empty as possible. I have emergency supplies in the basement so it's not like I'll ever run out of things and get in trouble and go hungry, but if I can't see what I have it will go to waste. I hate it when good food goes to waste!

I've lost heads of lettuce before where i swore I was going to chop up and store in a container for a quick salad. And of course even if I did that I forgot it in the fridge and found it all soggy mess.....so it happens. Now I try to just make sure I keep a close eye on the fridge, make up containers with lunches for my work or my mom for a quick lunch...things like that that take a few extra minutes during the clean up after dinner helps me save time and money....because I get mad too when I have to throw food out...or give it to the dogs.

I have found myself slipping a lot lately too. Between being busy with the kids' activities and Easter, not to mantion my normal everyday have-to-do's, I have found myself not being as frugal as I like to be. I get very frustrated with myself when I end up buying something that I know I can make a lot cheaper just because I am in a rush.