TL;DR: Waste isn’t just about trash. Managing waste is about making the most of what you have and being intentional with what you bring into your home.
When you hear the word waste, a few things come to mind; expired food or a half-eaten plate of dinner no one else wants to eat. Now, while these may count as waste, the concept of waste covers more than just food.
At its core, waste is anything in your home that isn’t being used to its full potential. It could be tangible (like groceries or clothes) or intangible (like time or skills). This means that if something isn’t serving a purpose or its purpose isn’t maximized, it is considered as waste.
Think about it: time, money, skills, groceries, clothes, household routines, they can all go to waste if they’re not intentionally put to good use.
How to Identify Waste.
The tricky thing about waste? If you’re not actively looking for it, you won’t notice it. It blends into your daily routine because you’re so used to it.
That’s why the best way to find waste is to intentionally seek it out. And to help with that, here are three simple questions I like to ask and would want you to ask yourself:
1. Am I using this at all? (Or will I ever use it?)
2. Am I using it to its full potential? (Or could it be used better?)
3. Do I actually need this much of it to get my desired results?
Now, let’s apply these questions to different areas of your home.
Everyday Examples of Waste.
Electricity
You need light in your home, but except your home is a production house, you may not need super high-voltage bulbs in every room. If your goal is just to brighten up a space, switching to a lower-voltage bulb can save energy and lower your electricity bill.
Used? Yes, you need light.
Used to capacity? No, a lower voltage could do the job just fine.
Right amount? Probably more than necessary, so switching saves money!
Kids’ Shoes
Every parent knows the horror of buying a pair of shoes for your child, only for them to wear them twice before outgrowing them.
Used? Yes, but barely.
Used to capacity? No. Shoes are meant to be worn often, not twice.
Right amount? Maybe a size up or a more flexible option would’ve lasted longer.
Food Waste
You make a delicious vegetable stir-fry, but your child hates vegetables. They pick around the carrots and bell peppers, leaving half their plate uneaten.
Used? The rice, yes. The veggies? Not so much.
Used to capacity? No, a different meal plan or different way of cooking, hiding the veggies could prevent food waste.
Right amount? Maybe smaller portions or adjusting the ingredients would help.
Household Routines
You create a routine but it is not delivering the results you want. So, you find yourself constantly micromanaging it in order to keep things on track.
Used? Maybe, but not effectively.
Used to capacity? If it’s not reducing stress, it’s probably not optimized.
Right amount? Is every step in the routine needed, or could you simplify things?
Skills & Talents
Maybe you’re amazing at organizing, but instead of using that skill to simplify all your household systems, it’s never occurred to you to use it in other areas asides housekeeping.
Used? Yes, but maybe not in the best areas.
Used to capacity? Could your skills be used more effectively?
Right amount? Should you shift focus to where they make the most impact?
Domestic Staff
Do you actually need a full-time nanny or housekeeper, or would a part-time arrangement be more practical?
Used? Maybe, but not to full potential.
Used to capacity? If they have too much idle time, they may be underutilized.
Right amount? Maybe a different setup (like part-time help) makes more sense.
So, How Do You Cut Waste?
Once you’ve spotted areas of waste in your home, the next step is cutting it.
I have discovered that the best way to prevent waste is not to see it as a one-time effort. If it is built into your daily routine it happens naturally. Here are two ways you can do this.
1. Setting up systems that prevent waste from happening in the first place.
Meal Planning System: Plan meals weekly to avoid overbuying groceries. Use a “first in, first out” rule for perishables so nothing expires unnoticed.
Clothing Rotation System: Have a system to rotate clothes in the wardrobe after laundry is done so that every cloth gets worn and is not outgrown.
Time Management System: Block out specific times for tasks to prevent wasted hours scrolling or getting distracted. (Recommend our chore schedule for domestic staff.)
2. Being Intentional about what you bring into your home.
A lot of waste starts before it even enters your home. So, how do you tackle this? Pause and question every purchase or commitment before saying yes.
Groceries: Will we actually eat this, or will it end up in the trash?
Clothes: Will this be worn enough times to make it worth buying?
Toys & Gadgets: Will this add value, or will it just add clutter?
Let’s make this a habit. Before buying anything, run it through the three waste-identifying questions mentioned earlier.
– Do I (or my family) actually need this?
– Will it be used to its full potential?
– Do I need this much of it? (Esspecially if you are testing it for the first time?)
If it doesn’t pass the test, skip it!
Let’s conclude this.
Cutting waste is about getting the most out of what you have so your home runs smoother, and more efficiently. I hope that after reading this, you’d be able to identify areas in your home where there’s wastage and get to cutting immediately.
What’s one area of waste you just realized you have in your home? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear.