Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Resisting the "value" temptation

Sometimes “value” is a hard thing to resist. A jar of sour cream is $1.99, BUT for just $.20 more you can have twice as much. There is no guarantee I will use the sour cream, but it’s only 20 cents…so for the sake of the “deal” I have to do it, right?
A hard lesson to learn for me was putting the blinders on to marketers’ deals, steals and “irresistible offers” and focusing on the quantities that my family will actually use. With some items like toilet paper, there’s really no downsize to maximizing the bang for your buck, but it gets tricky for perishable items, or items that you only need so many of. The good deal I scored on sour cream becomes $.20 wasted when I throw out half a leftover, expired container.
One of the most significant lessons I learned in my course on environmentalism is the focus and effort poured by marketers into driving the consumerist forces of our society. My wasted $.20 also translates into wastes added packaging material that will wind up in the landfill by consuming more than our family needed. The costs to over-consuming reach farther than what appears on the surface.

It’s hard posting a consumerism driven post so close to Christmas (because I really love Christmas), but it was on my mind. I treasure this season for times together with family, baking, and my Saviour who is the Reason for the Season.
Merry Christmas to all!

5 comments:

Ashleigh said...

I sometime get caught by the parishable bargain, but have been more aware of it. The "non- parishable" bargains are beginning to be replenished in my new home now though! LOL

. said...

I don't throw anything out. I'll buy the bulk deal - then plan my meal schedule accordingly so I don't have to waste :) Sour cream has infinite uses.

Jamie R said...

Oopsie, "." is me :P

Anonymous said...

Yup, it's true! I try to stick to a list at the store for this reason.

Since you got me hooked on Epicure I DO find myself using a lot more sour cream though....

Ally D said...

It's true-Epicure does mean I don't waste sour cream like I used to-but it's the first example I came up with.

James, super proud of you for meal planning-I find my day is smoother when I don't need to think up meals on the spot!