Real Utensils Instead of Plastic

I have previously shared how my family made the move to cloth napkins for everyday use. My husband was skeptical when I first implemented this idea, but over a year later, it is still working well for us.

Then, late last year, I made the move to using dishes for parties and gatherings, instead of paper plates. This has been working out really well for us. Now that we are in picnic season, I have been pulling out the plastic plates from our cupboards for the kids to use - I just feel that they are even more drop proof.

Plastic ware had some challenges for me. We always seemed to use the plastic ware at different rates. I generally would purchase the bulk packs at the warehouse club to get the best value on plastic utensils, but with the uneven use, I found myself having to pay more to get a box with a single type of utensil. As a result, it seemed that before every party, there was always the question of do we need to run out and pick some up - will we run out part way through the weekend, or do we have enough. I was always worried (just because I am me) when I had to pick up something new and the plastic ware didn't match.

(my party silverware in my organizer basket for party use)
Well, a few months ago, I finally made the move to real utensils for parties and gatherings. I was able to get 36 place settings of forks, spoons and knives at Sam's Club for under $30. To help keep it together for storage, I picked up a stacked organizer at Target for under $10 (I don't remember exactly how much).

I can't calculate (well, I actually probably could - but won't) how much we have/will save by not purchasing plastic for all of our events, but I know that in the long run, it will be a net cost savings and it certainly has simplified life around parties and gatherings.

That Works for Me.

This post shared at Frugal Friday.