I’m sure no organized and always prepared mother has this problem, but I do.
I’d hate to know how many almost-full water bottles I’ve thrown away since I first reproduced.
And every single time I do, it hurts. It’s the big internal battle between the cheapskate-me and the germaphobe-me.
But I’ve finally found a solution. Instead of lugging 4 water bottles to the park, I take one (maybe two) and keep a box of dixie cups in the car. So instead of gathering up 4 bottles (which you would think are completely full until you look to see that the seal has been broken) and carrying them to the car where they’re destined to remain for weeks, I throw away the one empty bottle and the four cups that we used.
I know there are probably better solutions. I could carry a sharpie marker in my purse. I have done that and it doesn’t make enough of a difference in how much water is consumed or my memory of how long ago the person with that initial used it, and I usually lose the marker before the third time I need it. I could make sure that each child removes their bottle from the car, places it in the fridge and then drinks it later. Except that that’s too many details for my scattered brain to handle. We end up with, well, MORE THAN FOUR bottles in the fridge and I can’t remember how old any of them are.
And of course, the most obvious “I could” is that I could get cute little reusable water bottles. To me, things like that are the stuff of dreams. I’d love to someday be the with-it person who removes things from her vehicle (even the third row) every single time she gets out of it and then immediately takes the aforementioned things to the proper place within the house and consistently remembers to wash them so that they’re ready for the next day.
But I’m not that person yet. I’m working hard to get there, but for now, I have to accept where I am and enjoy the fact that I’ve figured out a way to not waste 90% of the water in 70% of the water bottles we use, AND be able to throw away everything in that smelly bee-ridden park trashcan before we leave, so that we don’t add to the disaster area that is our family vehicle.
Oh, and I’m sure there are those families who all drink from the same water bottle. I am physically (or is it mentally?) incapable of doing that. Have you ever looked at a water bottle after a 3yo drinks from it?
What a great idea! Not only is it less waste, it's also less weight to carry to the park!
Hahaha we share, but anyone who still produces floaties gets their drink from the lid. Yes I pour miniscule amounts of water in those teeny lids and let them drink from there.
Great solution btw! Anything that makes life easier and saves $$!
I've run across your blog on 2 frugal fridays now, and they always make me smile. You remind me a lot of my best friend.
I did the lid thing too, and the sharpie thing. Now I keep the case of bottled water in my trunk and only drink those when out, we use the brita filter pitcher at home. Then I'm only dumping full cups of water!
I have 4 kids all with the same initials, found that the Container Store sells "belt clips" in different colors to attach to the plastic water bottles. Then we moved to different color reusuable water bottles found at Wal-Mart, cheaper. Works for me.
not sure how old your kids are, but we've bought reusable water bottles. My kids are 6, 4 and 2. The older two kids are responsible for their own – it's their job to bring them in the car and carry them out again.
I handle it for the youngest with a regular ole sippy.
I sometimes have to nag.. er remind them, but at least they know it's up to them.
Just a tip from one slob to another 🙂
oooo, that is a good idea. i think we'll be employing this little gem pronto.
Love your blog! Just a quick reminder that if you throw away water bottles with water in them, make sure to empty them first – even if it’s just onto the ground. Otherwise, the water within them is locked out of the water cycle for years to come, as it cannot escape from the plastic bottle.
When grandkids come over & leave half filled water bottles I collect them near my indoor plants & use them to water. Our tap water is full of minerals which leave crusty white junk on the bottom saucers that the plants are sitting in. The other thing I do, is empty them in the dogs water bowl.
This is brilliant! What an amazing works for your family solution! I bet you had a huge grin when you thought of this one.
Luckily most of the parks in our area have drinking fountains. I have been telling myself that the half empty water bottles rattling around my floor boards are for emergencies.
I’m not the only one who has that happen! Your solution is genius. My only unsolved problem is would they pour/drink while the vehicle’s moving? So many times they’re thirsty on the freeway. Hmmm…
In theory, we use a Sharpie and write our initials and the date. In practice, I can’t seem to get my kids (I suspect it’s mostly one particular kid) to do this. Thus our house is usually full of partially drunk water bottles.
Love the idea! We use our extra to clean out the travel potty for the toddlers. It is used frequently so having extra clean – but not really drinkable – water never goes to waste. We’ll have to figure a new use later, but with two more still in diapers our travel potty is looking forward to many more years of use.