Monday Q&A | Wasting Non-Food Consumables, Indoor Rugs, and Staying Fit
Every Monday, I answer a few of the questions that my readers send me. If you have a question you'd like me to answer in a future Q&A post, just leave me a comment here or email me (thefrugalgirl [at] gmail [dot] com) and put Q&A in the subject line. I look forward to hearing from you!
Actually, first I have a question for you! I changed the font here a few days ago, and I'm wondering what you think of it. I made the overall font size larger a few weeks ago, and while I liked the larger size, I felt that that particular font started to look less readable at the larger size. So, I switched it out for a more plain font. I think this is easier to read, but of course, you guys are the ones who read my blog, not me! So, what do you think? Do you care? Do you like this better, or do you prefer the old font?
My question is: how do you teach your kids not to waste, especially young ones? My daughter is not quite 3 and somehow manages to play with various consumables and therefore wastes them. I feel she's too old to just hide everything from her, and the eyes in the back of my head just aren't always quick enough to catch her before the damage is done. Or to what extent do you just let it go, figuring ¼ bottle of shampoo gone isn't the end of the world when it's aiding development somehow? 🙂
Best,
Anne
Since my urge to avoid wasting money has always been very strong, I've been pretty consistent about not letting my children waste consumable items like toothpaste or shampoo.
At the age of 3 (and really, before then too), I felt that my children were old enough to understand what I meant when I said, "No playing with the shampoo/toilet paper/toothpaste/aluminum foil/whathaveyou."
So at that point, it became a matter of them obeying or not obeying, not a matter of their development*, and if they didn't obey, the appropriate consequences followed (I'm sure you've already got a consequence for disobedience, so just apply that consequence.)
*if there is a developmental benefit to dumping out shampoo, I'd still maintain that learning to obey is a more important skill to develop! 😉
Unless a child is unusually strong-willed or has developmental delays, after a certain number of these consequences have been applied, that child will likely stop playing with whatever it is you don't want them to play with.
I should add that of course, in addition to consequences for disobedience, I've also talked to my children about why we don't waste certain things by playing with them, just like I explain to them why we don't leave the fridge door open or why we turn lights off. Helping them understand the why behind what I'm saying is helpful, and when that alone is not sufficient, a consequence comes in quite handy.
I tried your whole wheat bread this past weekend (after procrastinating for almost a month I'm ashamed to say!) and it was wonderful! Thanks for sharing such a delightfully yummy whole wheat bread. Most of the whole wheat breads I've tried are a bit heavy, but this is so much better I think I even like it better then white homemade bread, especially since it's more healthy.
I also had a question for your Monday question and answer blog. I'm not sure why, but I've always had throw rugs in my kitchen. We've been married 4 years this past June and it seems like every year we have to buy new rugs since they just wear out. This year our bathroom rugs are worn out also! I realize that I didn't buy the best as I shopped at Wal-mart, but I didn't know any better 4 years ago. I'm not sure about replacing my kitchen rugs (although it does seem to cut down on the dirt in the kitchen a little bit), but I do like rugs in the bathroom. So I was wondering if you use rugs at all and what kinds you invest in and how well they last!
-Elisabeth K.
Oh, it's so delightful to hear that you're enjoying my whole wheat bread recipe. It is tasty, isn't it? A slice fresh from the oven, spread with butter, has to be one of the most decadent simple pleasures life has to offer. So good.
I do have two rugs in my kitchen, one by the sink where I often stand, and one right by the sliding glass door (that one serves to catch dirt/debris that comes in from the deck).
I haven't bought especially expensive rugs, and I think I bought them at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They're both black, which maybe helps them to hide wear and tear a little better than other rugs.
I don't keep rugs in the bathroom, mostly because neither of our bathrooms are very big and because when I have tried to keep rugs in there, they seem to get disgustingly dirty in no time flat. So, I've got bare bathroom floors.
I wish I had better advice about where to find durable kitchen and bathroom rugs. I can highly recommend L.L. Bean's Waterhog mats for your more rugged mat needs, though. They're a bit pricy, but they're made from recycle materials, are very durable, and they're made in the USA! All of those factors make them worth the extra money to me.
Also, L.L. Bean does sell bath/kitchen mats, and their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you're not happy with the durability of their mats, you can get your money back.
Just wondering...How do you keep in shape? I have 3 young children (the oldest will be five in a few days), and I struggle with this. I was actually a bit overweight when I got married, and I know that losing the weight is harder than maintaining a healthy weight. But I was wondering how you have stayed in such great shape after having 4 children. Thanks.
-Kayla
I totally thought I'd put this into my FAQ, but I just checked and I guess I haven't! I did answer that question in some detail in a previous Q&A post, though (just scroll down to see my answer).
To add to what I said there, I'd like to say that I don't at all think that everyone ought to be exactly the same size that I am, and I also think that fit and healthy can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. What is of prime importance is living in a way that is kind to your body...staying active, eating real food instead of processed/fast food, drinking water, and including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Those kinds of things will likely help you get to a weight that is healthy for your body, but even more importantly, they'll help you feel well and will give you the energy you need to take care of your kids.
I'd also say that I agree with Julia Child when she said, "Everything in moderation, even moderation." While I try to eat a lot of produce, nuts, yogurt, and unprocessed foods, I do eat some sugar and white flour, and I regularly have a small piece of dark chocolate after lunch and dinner. And every once in a while, I eat way, way, way too many homemade cookies/bars. I really find that having some treats here and there helps me to keep from wanting to regularly gorge myself on food that's bad for me.
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Readers, what are your thoughts on this week's questions?
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Today's 365 post: My shopping partner
Joshua's 365 post: A Monster of a Mile
I'd like to reply to the lady who asked about kitchen rugs -- we came up with a cheap solution about 8 years ago after buying a runner for a workshop. Lowe's sold the runners in any length you wanted (it was on a huge roll) for about $1 a foot. We bought 10 feet of a plastic backed, outdoor carpet runner. It's very heavy and lays very flat, and is very non-skid and durable. We only needed about 6 feet for the workshop, and so I've been using the remaining two 24" lengths as kitchen rugs -- they last forever, and come clean with a quick wipe with a wet dishcloth. There were several colors to choose from, too!
Kristin,
I love your advice on staying fit and healthy. Too many people think that staying healthy costs a ton of money (buying exercise equipment, gym memberships, expensive diets, etc.). Eating real food helps! Your body knows how to use real food, but some of the processed foods we buy have preservatives and other chemicals that our digestive system simply can't recognize and doesn't know what to do with it. It's similar to you pouring orange juice into your car's gas tank; the engine would have no clue what to do with it because it doesn't react the same as gasoline.
I also love running, walking, and doing yoga. A good pair of sneakers is all you need to walk or run. For yoga, I've been able to find a lot of free resources online (like fitsugar.com) that give instructions on different positions.
Doing things around the house also help me stay fit. Rather than paying someone to mow the lawn, my husband and I split the job. We also have a small garden, and tending to that can be quite the workout! Shoveling snow is great for your abs, too.
I have a LL Bean waterhog rug by my back door.....It has been wonderful to help catch the dirt and wet paws (we have a basset hound and 2 kids).
After years of following somewhat rigid eating regimes such as all raw, vegan, food combining etc etc , which are certainly not unhealthy, I have completely let go of following any type of "plan". Some of these plans do certainly work but they do suck the live out of you. God gave us food to enjoy not to become an idol. I know first thing that even healthy food can become an idol. So I have learned, or shall I say I am relearning, to go back to the basics. Figure out what it feels like to be hungry and eat only then. No need to sign up at the gym and slave for hours. Eat real food and eat those til you are satisfied. Don't worry about eating the occasional donut etc. I recommend reading some of Pete Cohen's books like "Slimming with Pete". It will help you to go back to the basics and letting go of all that guilt.
Quick comment on the new font--I prefer the old one! I find Arial harder to read, as it seems thinner than the old one (at least that's how it's showing up for me!) But I'm sure my eyes will adjust.
Great answers, as always. Especially like the answer about the bathroom mats. Ours seem so wear out at an alarming rate and I'm getting a bit tired of replacing them. Yay, for the everything in moderation! Have you read "Why French Women don't get fat"? Changed my way of thinking.
I highly reccomend rag rugs. They hide dirt well, and are nearly indestructable,e ven after multiple washings. I got mine from family for a wedding shower, and wanted another, so found one at a farmer's market. I bought local, usually they are made from jeans or sheets/rags so they are recycled too. They were also fairly cheap- the aren't your $8 wal mart rug though... Win-Win-Win!
My mother used to make kitchen sink rugs from bread wrapper. She crocheted them just like the rag rugs that she made, and they lasted a long time.
I'm thinking of trying to make rag rugs. I hate my ceramic tile floors, and they need to have some kind of covering on them.
I actually had my hubby make me a "loom". I got a small rectangle- it shrinks a ton!, and ended up making it into a rag bag. I just cleaned and found a ton of old sheets so I may start one up again... I
I agree about the rag rugs! I still have one that my mom made me when I was a kid (I'm in my early twenties) and even now it's super soft and durable. They're easy to wash and hide dirt nicely. Plus they're very easy to make!
Thinking I'll be making your wheat bread today, I was planning on making bread anyway. Excited to give it a go.
Re: Bathroom Mats. As the mother of a teenage daughter, I am considering getting one for the bathroom. Teenage girls REALLY like to do their hair which results in lots of hair on the floor that somehow ends up in the hallway.
Here it ends up behind the bathroom door. How it gets there I have no idea and I have rugs!
I have IKEA rugs in my kitchen and bath. They have a loopy top, but low, so they soak up water from wet feet in the bath, but aren't too loopy for the kitchen. They wash and dry well, and were about $10 each.
I can so relate to the lady who has problems with her daughter wasting shampoo. My daughter (who is 7!) can use an alarming amount of shampoo, etc if she isn't supervised - which is getting rather ridiculous at this age. What I ended up doing, to try to teach her to only use a small amount of product, was to get some of those small clear plastic toiletry bottles and just putting enough in them for a single use. I know this isn't a permanent solution, but hopefully it will help teach her how much to use. Love your blog! Keep up the good work!
I like the larger size but the other font. Very appealing to the eye.
First, I liked the old font better! it has personality! I don't know if it's accurate, but this font is showing as Arial on my screen, and it doesn't "sound" like Kristen!
Secondly, I have 2 bath mats in each bathroom: one with nonskid backing and one that is thick all-cotton. The ceramic tile floors are cold in the winter and super slippery when wet, so going without isn't on option. That being said, the nonskid mats are both so old I can't remember exactly when we got them, but figuring back and doing history-math, they are at least 10 years old. The cotton mats are not quite as old, but they are several years old. I know one was bought on clearance from West Elm and the other I think came from Target. They have all been washed many times, and I think I agree that this is something where you get what you pay for. None of these were the cheapest option, but I have definitely gotten my money's worth. With things that are destined for heavy-duty, I usually try to find the item that is the best quality I'm willing/able to pay for. On the other hand, sometimes it doesn't matter for me--case in point, nonstick skillets. They may say "dishwasher safe," but no matter the cost/quality, nonstick skillets just don't last as long when you put them in the dishwasher. As a dishwasher addict, I wear out a lot of nonstick skillets, so I try to pay as little as possible for them. 🙂
I agree about the tile - way too slippery to go without a rug! We have a teeny tiny bathroom - you can literally wash your hands, shut the door, and turn on the tub while sitting on the toilet. A single small rug covers that square of floor by the sink, tub, and toilet.
I hate taking showers at my in-laws' house because they don't have a rug by the shower - only one rug in front of the sink (why in front of the sink?). I'd rather have a rug by the toilet for warming toes and one by the shower to soak up water and avoid slipping.
I love, love, love LLBean's bathroom rugs. They're practically indestructible, they absorb water (so long as you NEVER put fabric softener on them!), they're backed with a nonskid coating, and you can run them through the washing machine and dryer.
"I really find that having some treats here and there helps me to keep from wanting to regularly gorge myself on food that's bad for me."
Oh, boy, can I relate to that! I'm dying for a bag of ruffled potato chips and a tub of that French Onion Dip that's in the dairy case. The only thing holding me back is knowing how sick I would get if I ate it (lactose sensitive). Thinking about how good I feel since I've started identifying (and avoiding) foods that trigger indigestion helps keep me on the straight and narrow.
About the wasted shampoo: I agree with not allowing waste. However, I think there is a developmental need that should be catered for: if they can't waste shampoo, they should be allowed to make a mess with other stuff. Like help kneading yeast dough, or playing with sand etc.
Yes, making a mess, now there is a developmental need if ever there was one!
I was thinking the same thing - explain why wasting shampoo is a bad idea but supplying something else for occasional play instead. Maybe a little really, really cheap shampoo in the bottle, shaken with a lot of water to make bubbles?
I have two autistic sons and a 3 year old daughter. We go through (intentionally) tons of el cheapo shaving cream, shampoo, etc. I buy shaving cream 10 cans at a time just for the kids. We also have huge bins full of cotton balls, rice, beans, and dry elbow macaroni. This type of "messy" sensory play is so good for little ones and you can incorporate so many other activities into it. We bury the letters for a word in a bin and my son has to dig to find them all, then use a visual picture to spell out the word.
I suppose it is "wasteful" in that we are not eating those foods, we could if we were starving. But it is cheaper and more fun than most toys you buy, and when my youngest started regular preschool, guess what, they do the same thing there, too!
I would try giving your daughter "messy time" where she gets to play with a certain amt of something, like shampoo in a somewhat supervised manor. And explain that if she wants to do it another time, she can request "messy play" like any other choice for a play activity. It can be a great distraction and a special thing for her and you could get a few free minutes too.
If they're playing outside a lot, dirt is probably their main "messy" toy!
Dirt and sand are the best messy toys there are! (just as long as they stay where they belong - outside) And they are "renewable resources" too. 😉
We just throw a towel on the floor before showering and hang it up when done. I've been using the same one fromTarget for three years now and it hasn't started to show any wear but there's just two of us. We also put a towel down in front of the toilet on cold nights.
I don't have kitchen rugs because I have to sit to do most food prep so I don't need foot cushioning there.
I like a larger font but I generally read your blog on my iPad so I can enlarge the font when I need to do so. Us older folks learn to adapt. 🙂
Did you quit the gym? I am going to give up my membership this month. I have found I prefer to be outside. I wish I had done it last month cuz it is going to cost me an extra month at $40 but live and learn I guess.
I'm finding this font quite hard to read. It could actually be due to the larger size seemingly squashing all the text together. I'm not sure, but noticed that I started to skip huge chunks of text (eek!) Weird, but thought I'd let you know that whatever the change, this seems cramped to my eyes and they're not wanting to read it all.
And, I actually LOVED your old text. Whilst I subscribe so often read via google reader, I actually loved the look of your blog and the fact that it is so much easier to read than any other. This isn't as distinctive, in my humble opinion.
Elisabeth K., I find that 100% cotton bathroom rugs last the longest, although I haven't done a price-vs-lifespan cacluation. Don't wash them too often and don't use fabric softener.
For the kitchen I use a runner and vacuum once a week, or more if circumstances call for it. A sisal one lasted 5 years of heavy use but couldn't really be cleaned. The current wool pile one is much easier on my back.
Liked the old font much better.
To answer your question about the fonts. I like the font you have and enjoy the bigger size. Easy to read and nice on the eyes. =)
I have one of those anti-fatigue gel mats in my kitchen. Picked it up at Costco a couple years ago, I can't remember what I paid for it...$25-30. It saves me feet and back when I'm doing dishes and it's easy to clean. I have tried all kinds of different rugs but I'm a wee bit OCD when it comes to cleaning and they were constantly in the wash. They don't last too long when they are washed a lot.
I liked the old font too! I thought it was easy to read, but distinctive - so whenever I saw it, I thought "the frugal girl"!
I agree with the commenter above - this font does 'sound' or 'read' like Kristin! But I suppose I will get used to it, if the vote goes the other way.....
RE the kids wasting: my little guy loves to festoon the house with toilet paper. I let him. Then we roll/fold it all back up and use it anyway. It may not be pristine but considering the purpose...'nuf said.
We play with pasta and lentils and such but reuse them. I let him float a few islands of foamy soap in the sink while we brush his teeth. Given the amount of bubble liquid we go through in a summer, this doesn't seem too bad! But I think it's important he learn not to dump out the actual food we have stored, or squirt the shampoo; there's an important lesson in not squandering resources there.
i vote for the old font. it was easier to read because the letterforms are wider. but i love your blog, so you won't lose me as a reader if you keep the new one.
I think I preferred the old font also. It seemed a little warmer and more personal. This one feels very business-like.
Re: Teaching about waste...my older son went through a phase where he'd ask for something to eat (eg a turkey sandwich) and no sooner had I prepared it than he would decide he didn't want it. We would then give him a choice: eat it or pay for it. He was old enough to understand and received an allowance so he had money. We charged him a nominal amount - 25 cents - but felt he needed to understand that there was a cost for food. Sometimes he would pay and sometimes he'd eat.
brilliant
I just want to let you know that we have a "European Week for Waste Reduction" . From 19-27 November 2011. A website as well (ewwr.eu) in French, English, Spanish, Portugese and Dutch.