My Forks Runneth Over

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

17 Apr 2007 05:04 AM

Have a bunch of mismatched old forks, spoons and knives lying around or just want an excuse to upgrade your current set? Here is how you can put that silverware to good use, to avoid waste and be very frugal.

For some reason, we wound up with various mismatched sets of forks, knives and spoons. I am not sure how this happened, but it probably went something like this: Boy moves out on his own and is gifted with silverware from friends and relatives: a fork here, a knife there, until he has enough pieces for everyday life. Meanwhile, girl buys two forks, two knives and two spoons, just enough to get by in life. People feel sorry for girl and give her a whole complete set of silverware that girl must store on the porch due to lack of available storage in her first small house.

Boy meets girl, sparks fly and silverware merges. Soon after, boy and girl find themselves adding to their family: little boy, little girl and another little boy. Relatives think, "Oh my! They must need silverware!" And soon more pieces are dug out from the closets, attics, drawers and basements of aunts, uncles, parents, and the guy who lives down the street.

You get the picture.

If that wasn't enough, the previous owners of our new home left behind their own mismatched collection of forks, knives and spoons.

So what can be done with all of it? Here are some of my ideas. Please add your own.

1. Donate them to a thrift store, where they can have new life for other young collectors.
2. Hang then from some wooden or metal dowels and make some funky wind chimes or mobiles. I could also use old metal hangers to hang the silverware--another thing the old owners left here in abundance.
3. Use them out on picnics as I would plastic ware. Ah but I don't know about this one, as I would still have a hard time throwing them out after use.
4. Bring a bunch to the office in case anyone forgets to bring silverware for their bagged lunches.
5. Take up playing the spoons and start my own band (anyone out there know how to play the forks or the knives?)

Related Articles:

You Know You're Really Frugal When...

The Frugal Light Revolt

The Frugal Blog Reuse Articles

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Katie Parker (85) 17 Apr 2007 05:12 AM

Put labels on them and use them in your vegetable garden to mark your vegetables.

Valorie Delp (49340) 17 Apr 2007 05:45 PM

Stick your spoons and two decks of cards in a clear plastic folder or shoebox for a ready made game of 'spoons'.

Mary Ann Romans (26791) 18 Apr 2007 06:32 AM

what great ideas!