The other night a friend stopped by after work because she was going through some personal turmoil and needed someone to talk to. She came over with a bottle of wine and as she went to go put it in the fridge she was astonished that we had so little in there and actually made a couple of comments about how empty our fridge was and how my hubby and I are living a bachelor lifestyle!First, I wanted to say, "Get the eff out of my fridge, biaaatch!" But given the turmoil she was going through, I decided I should be nice. Her comment bothered me though. I didn't feel as though I owed her an explanation, but we have a certain amount budgeted each week for food and we are staying within that budget. Why have a fridge full of food, when we end up throwing 40% of it away most of the time anyway? We are not hungry. We're not longing for more food. We are happy and living within our means.
I guess people just have a picture in their mind as to how things should be - a FULL fridge of food (for just 2 people), a NEW car, a POOL in the backyard, expensive JEWELRY, etc. Well, that picture doesn't work for me. I'm recreating what I think things should look like, for me. If people don't like it, then can kiss off. I'm not here to worry about keeping up with the Joneses.
Preach it, sista!
ReplyDeleteIf it works for you than it's working. Although I was a victim of brainwashing too, new car, new clothes, blah blah. It's nice to know the difference between needs and wants now. I don't need a new car, but now I want to save for the future.
You guys are doing a great job, trust me you will coming up on your debt free day sooner than you think. I remember thinking that it was going to take forever, but now I only have a few months left. Okay now I'm rambling. I'm stopping.
I completely understand. That is why I try to keep our food budget to a minimum. Actually, the amount I spend on the BF preference far outweigh what I would spend for myself.
ReplyDeleteI've actually had the experience of going to friends and family and looking in their fridge and being surprised at how much in in there! We don't have a lot in our fridge either and as it is food sometimes still goes to waste. I agree there is this idea of "what should be" out there. I'm glad to fight against that urge as much as possible!
ReplyDeleteThis is a timely post for me! I've been meal planning for about a month now and just noticed how my fridge has become devoid of all the "extras" I would buy. Now the only thing inside are the ingredients I'll need for my planned breakfasts, lunches, and dinners! I totally agree that most people picture a jam packed fridge as the American norm! But just think how Europeans do it with their tiny space saving fridges! :)
ReplyDeleteI meal plan and buy only what I need which means my fridge is fairly empty most of the time...like you it saves me ever throwing anything out :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think she meant it in a mean way, just more of a shock like "I can't believe you guys don't have very much food".
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a house where our fridge was always STOCKED. like seriously. I think it's because my parents grew up in houses where they would sometimes go hungry and meat was a luxury.
I wouldn't take her comment in a bad way, but just more of an observation. Since Eric and I always like a stocked fridge, I could see myself making a comment to a friend if she had nothing in her friddge, but it definitely wouldn't be malicious, just more of a "wow! we could never have an empty fridge" type thing.
Hear hear!! We are getting used to having less in our fridge too. A day or two before shopping day and it looks pretty darn empty. And I like it that way! No longer is stuff at the back of the fridge being forgotten and thrown out. We can see what we have and it's just exactly what we need. A full fridge = waste!
ReplyDeleteI always have a pretty full fridge, but what I always say is that it's full of good intentions, that is, my intention to cook! Sometimes stuff goes to waste (I almost cried this morning when I had to throw out some strawberries - they were $6!) but I like having a lot of variety and I barely ever eat out.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a "to each his own" situation - but I think your friend was just making an observation, not a judgement. And even if it was a judgement, if she was distraught, I wouldn't worry - probably jut her emotions talking :)
Anything that is neat can only be good. No use stocking your fridge then emptying it in the garbage. Keep doing your thing, nothing is wrong with an empty fridge.
ReplyDeleteI also think Newlyweds on a Budget might be right in that she didn't mean any harm in making the comment, maybe just a joke from shock.
What is it that Dave Ramsey says? When your broke friends make fun of you you're right on track! My fridge has half of what's in most of my friends'/family members' fridges - and I have more people eating out of it. But it's enough. And I think that's the point. We don't need an overabundance .. we just need enough to sustain our health. I'm like Jane, when I see a full fridge I think of all that will surely go to waste!
ReplyDeleteSarah
I'm trying not to overstock my fridge either and have decided my next fridge will be smaller - if I can find one that doesn't stick out as far(depth I guess it's called?!) but doesnt' sacrifice much freezer space and preferably has the ice maker I've grown accustomed to..sigh..I think I'll go for it My kitchen is narrow and the fridge bugs me! but stuff gets pushed to the back and it's never seen again and doesn't do me any good at all.
ReplyDeleteSusanna
When my mother or sisters come it derives them nuts that I have no junk food in the house. I have wheat, carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, staples. I can make cookies, pancakes, cakes, rolls, biscuits, etc. I don;t need a fridge or cupboards full of junk! They buy it and cover my counters with crap. It is not that we are health nuts. If we want a candy bar we buy one and eat it. But I don't keep chips and candy/cookies around.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments. I agree, she probably didn't really mean much by it, I guess I got easily offended for some reason. To each, his own :)
ReplyDeleteI get your point, I do. But this post makes me laugh out loud.
ReplyDeleteI mean, your fridge is totally empty!
I don't think your friend was trying to be a B****, she might have worried you were starving.
But tots agree about not wanting to waste food.
Haha! In my household, we would tell her that we are competitive non-grocery shopping and let her try to figure out that phrase! I agree with buying only what you need and cringing about trowing out so much as some wilted lettuce.
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