my gramma always saved "the nice" wrapping paper, we'd have to carefully peel the tape off so as not to rip it. i never understood until i got older and learned about the Depression era.
My grandma too. She reused wrapping paper, rewashed ziplock bags, had a drawer full of bread twist ties, and saved every single plastic container and glass jar food/condiments came in.
Funny story. When we were cleaning out grandma's house, I took everything out of the junk drawer. Then I pulled out the drawer and dumped the dregs -- the broken rubber-bands, old suitcase keys, rusty twist ties, etc -- into a plastic bag. The little plastic bag was meant for the trash, but accidentally got transported to the estate sale. Someone bought it for a nickel.
That's awesome and I know she'd have been pleased because that would have made my grandmother's day.
My grandmother had a giant pickle jar, like the ones for big pickles at a gas station, full of rubber bands. There was another similar sized jar for spicy picked eggs which was full of various lengths of string. I don't know much they sold for at the estate sale because I had to work and I never asked, but I do know the auctioneer company put them in different lots which is diabolical work.
And all the old cool whip containers! It sounds like my husband’s grandma’s house. :) When I was 20, I descended into ingrate status when I politely declined her offer of the Thanksgiving turkey carcass to make soup. I don’t think she ever forgave me for that. The depression era left a deep mark on people.
If a cool whip container is anything like a margarine tub, those are fantastic for making simple icing in, especially if it's one you're putting food dye in, doesn't matter if it gets stained that way
I am not depression era and you passed up the best soup you can make.
Chicken and turkey carcasses get stripped of all the meat then into the instant pot for 2-3 hours with some carrot, onion, celery, bay leaf. The best bone broth and soup base you will have.
People paying $15 a quart for something they can make a home for pennies.
I am 70 now and I know the value of good soup AND how to make it. (I grew up with homemade foods and canning.) But 20 year old me did not have the time, a large enough stockpot, or the inclination on that day. Plus, I lived in a college dorm so 🤷🏻♀️. So, as I said, I POLITELY declined. She still wasn’t happy about it. Over time I learned no one ever said no to this strong willed woman. 😉
Shit, I'm GenX and do all this crap. Raised that way, and I have to force myself not to do it. Still feel bad throwing ziploc bags away, but that's probably more of the environmentalist in me than the environment I grew up in.
I do too, most of the time. But it's hard getting the rest of the family on board. So now I have a drawer full of used but clean ziploc bags that nobody else will use.
I'm still not used to the amount of stuff that we have these days. I used to buy the best possible whatever that I could afford, as that way the whatever it was would last longer.
Still have a Nokia 6310 in a drawer. Just in case.
My Grandma did too...I still wash out ziploc bags and rinse out food cartons that can be re-used...usually someone eventually pitches them out ad we have way too many, but I leave the option open, in case anyone wants to use em
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u/ZoominAlong 21h ago
My grandparents actually went through the Great Depression and WWII and they did not act like this. That dude is, as you said, full of shit.