Week Two: Money Matters

A Look at My Week

It was pretty much the same process as last week, but this time I was a bit more aware. Let me elaborate. I planned ahead and meal planned for only one person instead of a family. I decided on making salmon and roasted potatoes. On top of that, I was going to pick up a few snacks for my lunch cause I was tired of eating grapes every day. So I headed to PCC with all my reusable bags and Tupperware. 

The process was exactly the same, I just got snacks from the bulk section and I wrote down their item numbers, so it was easier to check them out later. I got mixed nuts, some off-brand M&Ms, fig bars, and blueberry granola and just put them in my Tupperware. 

The next thing I had to do was go to the deli section to get the salmon which was a new experience. It was really difficult as much as it was awkward. I just handed the butcher a huge Tupperware and was like "salmon please". It was more difficult later on when I was checking out, I didn't have the price for the fish and usually, the butcher will give you a sticker with the price and all that, but I think he was thrown off by the Tupperware and forgot. It was no big deal though cause I just asked. 

I discovered that PCC actually has a lot of cool stuff that can help you become zero waste. For example, if you forget to bring any reusable containers with you, they have a bunch that you can take, fill up, and reuse for next time. They had a machine that made peanut butter for you right there. No packaging needed! I ended up getting some syrup just because I thought it was so cool. 

I'll be honest, I feel a little guilty because my mom bought me Chipotle and the wrapping of my burrito wasn't recyclable or compostable so I had to throw it in the garbage. I didn't feel super bad just cause I'd been doing really well with the whole zero waste thing and this was only one time. Since then, I've been asking restaurants if their stuff can be recycled or composted. 

I am pretty happy about the shopping aspect of going zero waste because I feel like I'm saving a lot of money. I spent about $20 the first time and more recently I spent less than $30, so nothing has been super expensive! Plus I have some extras like chili and potatoes, so I don't have to keep going back to the store every day. Anyway, that got me thinking, how much am I actually saving by going zero waste? 

Well, I've stopped using plastic bags and have been using reusable ones instead when I go shopping.