Fighting the “Too Little” Blues

When we get together with neighbors these days, talk turns to those twin interlopers, the “Littles.” You know, Too Little Time and Too Little Money.  It’s a particular challenge when they show up together, which seems to be their modus operandi. And while we haven’t cracked the code on banishing them from our doorsteps, we have a couple of ideas to make their presence less of a nuisance. It takes a little cooperation amongst friends, but the results can be both budget conscious and delicious. Here’s the deal. Most of us use similar money-saving grocery tools. You know, buying in bulk, buying what’s on sale, reaching for the chicken instead of the porterhouse. With that in mind, we suggest a neighborhood food swap cooperative. Here are some ideas.

Share a shopping trip. Want the benefit of buying in bulk, but don’t have the storage room or the budget? Pick a compatible neighbor and share some shopping chores. Put together a list of “shared basics” like olive oil, canned tomatoes and paper towels. By sharing the purchasing power on these staples, you can buy in bulk, splitting the costs.  And, since you are operating from a pre-approved list, you can also take turns shopping, thus capturing  some extra “me time.”

Share a menu. Find a neighbor with a similar palate and family size, and agree that one day a week, each of you will double a recipe. For example, one of you cooks Tuesdays and one of you cooks Thursdays. That way each of you gets a day off from cooking—not to mention a way to enjoy someone else’s variation of chicken ‘n’ rice or hamburger casserole. Just be sure to agree in advance on foods that are favorites—as well as those that are off limits.

Change the scenery. Instead of rushing to the dinner table, arrange to meet in a park for a neighborly picnic or after Little League for a tailgate. Share a laugh and a meal and we bet the time will feel more expansive.

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