BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Tea Has the economy changed you?

making more simple snacks at home rather than buying prepacked individual "lunch box" snacks. It also cuts down on landfill waste, tastes better, goes further.

Mary Caliendo

what are your answers to a tough economy what do you do if anything differently or were you to already living simply? If you were what are some things that people can do to start living simply?



Mary Caliendo

I am the same exact frugal way i have always been out of necessity. But for the first time I feel less alone in living this way. So it's not been bad for me, all things told. I am used to living this way.

I have a big family on both sides and got tired of paying quite a bit of money for cards and bags for b-days I now make them.

Have glue-gun or even glue-stick and the wonderful things you can make is endless! I repurpose old things like (card fronts,trims present on other bags & gifts for example) Anytime I recieve a brown paper bag w/or w/out handles I make birthday bags with decorations and stampers for example! It's fun its recycling and they are one of a kind!
If I have no card stock available one can use a light cardboard,poster board ect.
The economy makes me think..I can make something out of that and instead of throwing it away I repurpose when I can!
Mary Caliendo

will you be sending Christmas Cards? Will you make them? Will you make gifts to give?

Mary Caliendo

The economy has me making ornaments for gifts via craft store and found leftovers from crafts all over my house! What are you all doing in the gifts department in these lean times?


Mary Caliendo

The economy has prompted me to "bake" some gifts this year! Tea shortbread or fruited scones~ or perhaps peppermint tea stirs (or sinful chocolate ones)! Cookies for the mailman?

Mary Caliendo

I think the economy has changed some businesses too~ (while some may have completely disappeared)

Jewel-Osco-Supervalu is going to stop putting big handled items into bags~hooray!

Did you ever get home & think why did they bag this like this? I wish there were more fwd thinking places~Stop w/ the plastic
Did you know that many places have them but will not give them out unless you ask! So if you don't want those plastic bags~ask for brown!


Who brings their own recycle bags every shopping trip?
Do you ever get stopped from using them?

Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor

What are the ways your cut-backs or concessions have made you "greener" in your living?

Are you helping the environment as well as your pocketbook?


Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor