Retail pays the bills, but not much more.  So we find ways to scrimp and save. When there is a time of more, we ease up a bit. Right now, after spending almost 5 thousand dollars moving – there is a time of less.

Garbage. Its a big issue in every house.  We discovered a couple of years ago, that dump runs cost alot less than the quarterly fee of $60.00. We have an extra truck, so we recycle (In Bend they only charge $3.50/mth for a large tote), compost and throw the rest in huge black bags into the back of the truck.

I didn’t not realize how lazy our recycling efforts had become.  Til we moved here.  We have already done one truck load, charged $12.00 for what the attendant estimated as the quantity of 4 garbage bags.

We were told of a recycling transfer station not far from our home. Nearly on our street.  You drive through, place quite a variety of items in the bins, and drive out.  Down to batteries and cooking oil.

So I went home yesterday, sorted 6 bags of waiting garbage, downsized our non-recyclables to a half of a bag, and got one 13 gallon bag each for paper, plastic, metal, and glass. If the first 2 bags had been separated of compost materials, I could have salvaged more, but good gravy. That was yucky.  Bleh. 

Six bags of garbage, maybe could have been squished into 2 cans, not sure. The Lincoln County Transfer charges $3.00 a can, it adds up.  2 bags a week – $6.00.  Young son just came in and asked if he could turn back on his Club Penguin account.  $5.95 per month. Little Red Hen asks, “Where were you when I was washing mildew off of cans?” Ya. Thought so. It’s my six bucks.

So this homeschooling organic composting vegetable loving family isn’t trying to save the environment or reverse global warming (rolls eyes), I’m just trying to save up for some date night money. 🙂