Frugal Living Today

I am frugal to a fault at times, and those around me never seem to let me live that fact down.  Case in point – when my partner took me out to dinner recently, I order steak (which was delicious, if not even remotely frugal).  Knowing what I know about bloated portion sizes in restaurants these days, I immediately cut that steak in half.

Given that I had already been provided with baskets full of yeast rolls and a decently appointed salad, six ounces of steak were really more than I needed to feel full and eating any more than that would have been wasteful.

As J looked on, I wrapped the steak in a napkin and declined the standard “to go box”, as it was made of Styrofoam (BIG FRUGAL & ENVIRONMENTAL NO-NO!).  J laughed as I walked out with my napkin-encased steak, completely unaware that it was that very steak that would the next night become part of an amazing stir-fry dish that we devoured.

There’s a lesson in there, somewhere.  Okay, to be honest there are two:

Lesson #1:  Always be on the lookout for ways to stretch what you buy.  Leftover grilled chicken can be turned into gourmet chicken salad with nothing more than a bit of mayo (or ranch dressing), some chopped onion, bacon bits, nuts and/or grapes.  Even if it is not enough for a family-sized meal, it may just be enough for a quick sandwich while you’re up at 3:00 a.m. working on a deadline.

Lesson #2:  Your frugality can often be used to teach a valuable lesson to those around you.  My partner laughed at me, likening my behavior to a blue-haired granny at the all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet, but the meal prepared with that take-home food was his favorite of the week.  Be prepared to be laughed at for your frugal ways, but never miss the opportunity to prove the value of it when you can.  You may just create a convert without being preachy.