Waste not. Want not: second chances.

Waste not. Want not.

This poem is being written in stages to highlight the things I do toward frugal living.

Growing up; my daily life was filled with the saying, “waste not, want not.”

When you’re young, what clue do you have in lives dot?

As we grow; we learn, “money doesn’t grow on trees.”

I save the salt from chocolate squeeze.

To my stew you are added.

Flavor has been padded.

Aw sheet!

Blasted hole. This is not a treat.

I’m gonna fix you. I guarantee.

From my needle you need to flee.

More time will be added to your life. Around you I shall mend.

So more dream filled nights, you can tend.

Coffee. Nectar of God. You help me through another day.

Upright and functional, you help me stay.

What about your grounds?

A use for you, I have found.

Nutrients to the soil you will add.

Helping my veggies grow big and strong. Which will make me very glad.

Leftovers are my jam.

From me, they do not scram.

I freeze you to eat you for lunch.

Which helps my overall finances a bunch.

Someday I’d like to retire.

I’m sick of this mire.

Toothpaste: squeeze, squeeze you. But never tease me.

I will cut you open before I let you be.

Give me all your power.

Your contents, I will devour.

Inside I find more paste.

Enough for at lease 5 more brushings. No waste.

Mustard, ketchup, butter, pepper, or salt.

I don’t eat out a lot. Put that spending to a halt.

When I do, those condiment packets will be saved.

Eaten later or added to a recipe, usefulness will be made.

Some restaurants now days are making us pay for those.

Concerning our budgets, we must be on our toes.

I’m doing dishes anyway. No electric dishwasher near.

I pack my lunch almost every day. These sandwich bags here;

I haven’t bought new ones in years.

I wash them out until cracks appear.

Organized in old tissue boxes. Painted and labeled neat.

Baby steps toward my financial goals, meet.

Sincerely, I’m addicted to chap stick.

My lips, I do not lick.

I have it everywhere; on my desk, in my pocket, in the car, on the coffee table, by the night stand.

Use a tube to the nub. Throw it away? No way man.

Use a cosmetic spatula to get every last soothing ounce.

Apply to dry lips, give them bounce.

I got the yummy delicious benefit of the meat.

To my taste buds, it did greet.

Save the left over grease for my dog.

Add it to his kibble. Then share it on my blog.

Cheekie gets more than just grease from the table.

Added treats to his kibble, whenever I’m able.

Being single allows me some latitude.

Some of the things I do, your partner might give you attitude.

With the exception of my kitchen, my trash cans are small.

Even it has been retro fitted so; grocery store bags, I reuse them all.

I even have a cute storage sleeve.

I only buy trash bags if I need them for a specific project. Price too high, peeved.

Homemade things are the best?

I put that theory to the test.

I made all my people birthday signs.

They didn’t seem to mind.

Happy Birthday!

That’s what the signs say.

From old t-shirts as rags.

To making a drop cloth out of a trash bag.

If it can be used til it screams,

I’m gonna make it dream.

Recycle, reduce, reuse –

I’m going to make it produce.