Originally Posted by
BamaVol
Grandma BamaVol, my mother, is 89 and really old school. She grew up during the great depression and takes anything home that isn't nailed down. I have seen this among others of her generation. I don't have to watch the sugar bowl or anything, but whatever's left in a bread basket is certainly fair game. She would never condone leaving food. If I don't ask for a box for my leftovers, she'll ask for one and take mine home. Doesn't matter where we are. Wasting food isn't classy.
My grandmother was just like that. If there was one piece of bread left in the bread basket, she'd wrap it in her napkin and take it with her!
Originally Posted by
darthbimmer
My grandmother, whom I mentioned above as the woman who'd scoop up butter and jelly packets at the diner, would not just save 10 cents of food. She'd save the container it came in. She never bought a piece of Tupperware in her life. Instead, she'd wash and reuse the tubs that margarine and Cool-Whip came in. She never bought Ziplock bags, either. She'd save the bag her Wonder Bread came in, along with the twist-tie wrap, and use it at least one more time.
Whether or not it's respected for being frugal in the US depends on how far you take it. It seems that most people here agree with me in being mildly scornful at my grandma for scooping up butter and jelly packets at restaurants and dropping them into her purse. Ultimately it is a class issue. Among the working class my grandma's habits may be acceptable. Among the well heeled asking for a take-home box for the last 3 bites of a good steak would seem déclassé.
LOL, that was my grandmother too. She'd save and wash every container, reusing them. She'd wash and reuse all Ziploc bags and bread bags.
