To think I'm not mean?

[EatsBrainsAndLeaves]

My parents came over to visit yesterday and basically said I was mean because:

1. I was mending some clothing - sewing up holes.
2. In the fridge I have bits of leftover food that I use to make meals

They had a bit of a laugh about my "make do and mend" approach.

Just some background information. My parents actually have much less money than our family. They live in a rented council house and just have a state pension, but would never dream of mending clothing and always chuck away leftover food.

I live in a bought house in a nice area and with my DP we have a decent income - bit above the national average.

So am I mean or are my parents just strange?

Of course you're not mean but you know that already.

Your parents are strange. DH and I are fairly well off but I hate throwing things away and will serve leftovers and mend clothes.

I don't think you're mean. I sew stuff like frayed cuffs on dh's shirts, use up leftovers not because I'm skint (but certainly have been in the past), but because I don't like wasting things.

I don't think you're mean, just thrifty, nothing wrong with that! Especially these days!

Your parents are strange. Why would anyone throw away food if there is nothing wrong with it?

You're not mean, and your parents are strange. Then again, everyone's parents are strange
I freeze leftovers to reheat for lunch at work, and regularly mend things. It just makes sense, why chuck away stuff that still has usefulness?

overmydeadbody - Yes I do kind of. But sometimes when your regularly hear this kind of stuff, you just need someone to confirm it again for you. Otherwise I do actually end up doubting myself a bit

I think you are v sensible! I hate waste, love leftovers as means I dont have to cook
I actually often make extra so I can have it the next day for lunch!

Idon't just mean leftovers say of stew, but if I have cooked too many potatoes, then I will keep them and reuse. Not actually off people's plates though!

No, you're not mean.

We often keep leftover food. There's a number of my work colleagues who often come in with leftovers of last night's dinner to have for lunch, so that's not unusual at all.

Your parents are doing what the consumer society tells them. You are being smarter.

Same in my wider family, with the poorer members being more likely to throw things away. I think some of it is pride: we can afford to throw it away.

We buy quality then expect the get good value from something.

Your attiude is a bit off tbh....you know you're not mean....and you seem to be gloating over your own parents!

My DH will try to scrape the DC's left over stew from their plates and back into the pot for later. YACK! I don't let him.

Do I? Oh! Don't mean to. Just they go on about stuff like this so much I do actually end up questioning myself

Obviously you're not mean.

I'm not skint but I hate waste so I do the same. There's no such thing as left over food in our house with greedy people plus a dog and cats.

No, you are normal. My mother and stepfather are like this too and make continual cutting comments. We just play a game with them now and tease them back.

You're thrifty.

Thriftiness is a virtue

yes you are really mean

how DARE you!

Hully from you I would have expected you to say I was incredibly mean and should be chucking out whole cooked chickens

No no.

Thriftiness is GOOD.

My DHs aunt and uncle made a considerable amount of money. His family always derided her for buying clothes from Oxfam etc. I think the attitude was that with all their money, she didn't need to be thrifty. But, as the uncle said to my DH, "I am wealthy because I made a lot of money and my wife didn't spend it!"

We are skint and I do use leftovers for lunch or to add to other stuff.
I don't mend, beyond sewing buttons on and turning DHs trousers up when the wonderweb failed though.
Nothing we have seems to get holes or frayed

Your parents are wasteful. You are normal. Pils waste money, on a small scale, hand over fist and have done all their lives. And then are surprised that they don't have a pot to piss in.

A roast chicken can be eeked out over 3 dinners in this household :)
Nothing wrong with leftovers, and I think they can make meals which were more tasty than the original.

Left over boiled potatoes = sliced fried potatoes and spring onions
Reheated spagbol/chilli etc is always tastier, the flavours seem to come out more
Left over roast dinner veg= rissoles, one of my favourite things!

I

I am probably older than you and I am really mean thrifty as it was how I was brought up.
When I ate meat I would buy a big chicken and feed 2 adults and 2 children their main meals for 3 days with it, just as my mother did.

It's not quite the same killing the fattened Quorn roast and boasting about it.

You need to get online and look at some of the thrifty/frugal living blogs sites, you will be addicted though!

I like Make It and Mend It.

You are definately NBU!!