Samples and Small Economies

Did you ever come home from an event with many samples? It is a great thing, but often I will not use what was stuffed in my bag by someone at a demonstration table. Sometimes the people with samples just put it in my bag without my knowing what I was given.

The Customer Appreciation Day was no exception. I was given Tide pods. They will go into a donation bag, maybe to J. I have to keep these samples in a quart bag in the laundry room. They just fall off the shelf after a while. I think I have about a dozen right now. I will only use these if I have something I do not wear but needs to go to the laundromat. They do serve a purpose. However, I cannot bear the smell of Tide on anything. And, it makes me itch.

One really useful item is a sample of a new Crest toothpaste--Crest 3D White, Whitening Therapy, fluoride anticavity, enamel care. All that was on the front of the box. If I did not drink cola drinks, tea, eat meat that is browned, or use dark spices, I would have shiny white teeth. Yes, wouldn't we all? I will use this toothpaste sample to try out the new variety of toothpaste. What kind of whitening toothpaste do you use, if any?

The biggest surprise at the table for breast cancer was a whole PG coupon insert that was also in the newspaper this past Sunday. There were four big-dollar coupons I have already used. So, now I have more. The rest of my coupon inserts I cannot use go to my friend who is in charge of a food bank. This was especially helpful to her when another friend gave me dozens of inserts each week.

Several people who ate sack lunches did not want their tiny bags of Fritos, Doritos, and other chips. I bought those home for exbf. He eats them during ball games, I think. At least, he will not have to buy snacks for a while.  I will eat the regular chips people did not want.

These same people did not want to throw out the little packets of mustard, catsup, and mayo in the sack lunch. Sooo, these are kept for giving away to someone, maybe J. She never wanted them when she was living in someone else's house, but now she might since she has no job and is losing her fully equipped kitchen and well-appointed home with a well-stocked pantry/refrigerator.

I received a clever little cardboard dial thing (ten-inch diameter) that shows how much electricity various appliances and electronics use and the yearly and weekly cost at various rates charged for services. This is fun to see how much my dryer and other appliances cost to use per year.

TVA had a booth where I filled out an energy survey. For this effort I will receive in the mail LED bulbs and lots of the foam things to insulate outlets and switch covers. Plus, they gave me a water bottle that was made in the USA. Most giveaway bottles are not made in USA. I really want to use this, but it has the sport top where you squirt the water into your mouth. This might come in handy when I am really hot and dribble the water all over me while squirting it toward my mouth. I can just drink from the bottle after removing the top.

Okay, so all of these were not samples, like the chips, but they come here to be given away in various places, exbf and J, people who will use them. The toothpaste and water bottle are what I want and like. The rest goes away. I did get the 10 oz bottle of Downy fabric softener last week that was a generous sample of something I do not use!

When people go to the Southern Women's Show in Birmingham, they carry a tote with them for the various samples that are not edible...lol. Of course, a few booths do give out tiny tote bags for samples. Also, people carry a tote when going to our Senior Christmas Party since we all get fruit and different stuff.  A tote bag is always handy!

I do know the argument against taking samples--it is wasteful to package these small amounts, an increase in carbon use by producing more packaging.

Some samples make good Christmas gifts/stocking stuffers.

Your turn
Do you receive good samples and ones you intend to give away? What are the best samples/giveaways you have gotten? Do you ever put them in with a Christmas gift?

Confession: I am a sample whore

I never pass up a sample, even if I cannot use it. Usually, I know someone who can. After all, there are my three children, dil, a grandteen, and three grandchildren in my immediate sight who probably can. Then, there are other people, friends and acquaintances with whom I share small favors.

Wait, I lied. I was offered a small sample of hot coffee last Saturday. Since it was meant to be drunk right there out of minuscule cup, and I will not, do not, drink coffee of any sort, there was no sense in taking it. Coffee spilled on me was the last thing I needed that day. Sample of free, edible food must be wrapped or capped (unless I am not going to eat it immediately) to lure me.

Oops, I was mistaken. All the Avon products are full-sized. Only the Colgate and White Rain soap are sample sizes. So, I am a freebie whore, too.

Since I try to do the right thing, I always wonder why I get tripped up by samples. They are using too much plastic and other wrappings, just more fodder for the landfills. Samples to me are like shiny, glittery things are to raccoons. I am easily lured and trapped. 

Okay, so Tuesday I went to the farmer's market, the one only local farmers and their locally grown  food can use. Since I was at the tail end of market day, tomatoes were the only things that I saw that I wanted. I would have bought rhubarb if I had come earlier. Strawberries were already waiting for me at home.

I had parked across the street from the market and noticed as I went to the market that behind me in a parking lot were several huge tents, all pretty, well-attended, and customers milling around. A guy who is a friend at the market told me to go there and get samples. I did. It was Avon. Now, I never buy Avon, but I might. SkinSoSoft is lovely, but I am afraid I might slip in the tub if I use it. Really, the scent is so heavenly, I could use it as cologne.

Most of the Avon items are not samples. Only Colgate and White Rain soap are samples. Remember? They all came in a really heavy plastic bag that I can reuse. Here is what I got, what ex bf (he gave me his bag) and I got:

2 men's roll-on deodorant--gave to him
2 bug spray...will use
1 black cherry and nutmeg shower gel in a candy cane---cute!
1 vanilla moisturizing shower gel in a candy cane...cute, too...for daughter
7 strawberry lip balms...nice on the lips. I recommend this.
3 sample sizes of Colgate toothpaste...wonder if this was in my other free bag?
2 hotel size, White Rain, French milled facial bar, not Avon, either?

Anyway, ex bf took the deodorant. The rest is mine. Daughter and granddaughter will get two of the lip balms. If they rave over it, later I will send more.  I got a little bag of samples as I hurried out of WM the other day, so maybe the Colgate and White Rain soap were in that bag. I wonder where that WM bag is. My recipients listed in the first paragraph will get the toothpaste. Maybe I will try my hand at making laundry soap with the French milled soap.

See, I can use all these samples/freebies  or pass them on.

Oooh, there is a Disney Princess on the lip balm. Will I turn young, and blond, and beautiful if I use this? Okay, young would work!

My willpower did not fail me. I never took a vow or spoke an oath or made a resolution to avoid samples. I should have. But, I did not and won't. Yes, this is another small economy, albeit one that is leading us down a strawberry lip balm highway to landfill doom.

I suppose I am a sample whore and a freebie whore. Burn me at the stake. Make me wear a purple "S." Or, "F." No, let's make it an "S." And, I bet you will take my freebies and samples as I singe.

Your turn 
Do you avoid small sizes and samples in order to keep packaging out of landfills? I applaud you. Now, go sit down. No lectures. Just a sanctimonious "yes" will do. I really do appreciate you. How about the rest of you? Does the siren call of samples or freebies speak to you in a way you cannot, will not avoid? Any sample/freebie whores out there?