Recycle
Umma would never let you throw away wrapping paper at Christmas. She’d fold it up and use it for birthday gifts. Of course, there are less obvious (read: tacky) ways to recycle: using old TV dinner trays to reheat food in the microwave, reusing fabric softener sheets to keep drawers and suitcases smelling fresh, and making quilts out of old clothes. Protect your wallet and the earth!
Take What’s “Free”
Sure, you used to cower in the booth every time umma would hoard sugar packets and napkins from McDonald’s. (The chili flakes at pizza joints were an extra special treat.) But don’t be afraid to snag a few extras here and there. Why spend money on an expensive car wash when you can squeegee your entire vehicle at the gas station for free?
Find A Roommate
Hey, umma didn’t seem to mind living under the same roof with both sets of grandparents. Free babysitting.
DIY
In her stand-up routine, Margaret Cho jokes about the time her mom refused to buy her glue for a school project. “Just-a use riiice,” Mama Cho advised. Not a bad idea. Follow her lead and be resourceful in concocting homemade household products. Mix together vinegar and baking soda and you’ve got yourself an effective cleaning agent. Blend oatmeal, cornmeal and wheat germ for an exfoliating body scrub.
Cut Your Own Hair
So you still have nightmares about that jjigae bowl inching toward your head. Get over your fears by giving yourself a trim that won’t get you beat up on the playground, er, at the office. Some tips: Wet hair is easier to cut than dry hair, snip only a little at a time and use sharp scissors. And if you’re a guy who doesn’t need a high-maintenance Ryan Seacrest ‘do, the Flowbee isn’t such a bad idea.
Got A Green Thumb?
Save major cash by growing your own fruits and vegetables. Umma loves boasting to all her friends and relatives that the ingredients in her latest culinary creation came straight from her backyard.
Buy In Bulk
Umma did it with kimchi, why not get a Costco card and do it with everything else?
– Michelle Woo
