Growing up in the Baltics, there was very little unnecessary waste. Whether I was at my grandparents’ house or even at my mother’s home today, almost everything had a second life. My grandmother always found a way to reuse things that many people would simply throw away.
There is even a joke that every Baltic household has ‘a bag of bags’ tucked away somewhere in the kitchen. And honestly—it’s true. I grew up believing that almost everything could be reused somehow. Looking back, I realise these habits weren’t only good for the environment. They also saved money and taught us to appreciate what we already had. Here are seven lessons I learned from my grandparents that I still follow today.
When people talk about food waste today, it often feels like a modern problem. For my grandparents, wasting food simply wasn’t an option. They grew up in the difficult years after the Second World War, when food was scarce. My grandmother often told me she didn’t taste her first sweet until she was nineteen years old.
Food
Those experiences shaped the way they treated food for the rest of their lives. If vegetables or meat were approaching their use-by date, they would turn them into soup, stews or another meal instead of throwing them away. Nothing useful was wasted.
Freezing food is another habit I still follow today. You can freeze bread, leftovers and even complete meals. It saves time on busy evenings, reduces waste and often stops you from ordering takeaway.
If you’re looking for simple recipes that make the most of everyday ingredients, don’t forget to visit my Recipes section inspired by my grandmother’s cookbook.
Clothes
My grandparents believed that looking after your clothes was just common sense. They repaired, altered and cared for what they already owned instead of replacing it.
Here are a few habits that stayed with me:
• Keep the spare buttons that come with new clothes in a small tin.
• Learn basic sewing, or keep a sewing kit at home for simple repairs.
• Buy second-hand whenever possible. I personally love shopping on Vinted because I can afford much better quality for less money.
If you’d like more ideas, read my article ‘How to Look Elegant Without Spending a Fortune.’
Store Glass Jars and Kitchen Supplies
Every Baltic kitchen seems to have a cupboard full of glass jars. We wash them after finishing coffee, pickles or jam and use them again for homemade preserves or food storage. I even have an entire drawer dedicated to jars now—and I finally understand why my grandmother did too.
Time
My grandparents also taught me that time should never be wasted. They worked incredibly hard, but they always made time to rest and enjoy simple moments.
Their favourite ways to recharge included reading in the garden, taking long walks, enjoying homemade face masks, singing, dancing and keeping their home welcoming with flowers and candles.
Gardening, Herbs & Vegetables
You don’t need a large garden to grow something. Herbs such as basil, parsley and dill grow beautifully on a windowsill. If you have a balcony or garden, tomatoes and other vegetables are incredibly rewarding. Growing your own food reduces waste, saves money and makes everyday meals taste even better.
Money
My grandparents never taught me not to spend money. They taught me to spend it intentionally. Growing up in a family with a modest income meant budgeting carefully and always saving a small percentage each month for future goals.
Ordinary Days
My grandmother also taught me not to wait for special occasions to enjoy life. Make yourself a cup of tea. Light a candle. Sit in the garden. Appreciate what you already have. The older I get, the more I realise that happiness isn’t found in constantly wanting more, but in noticing what is already around us.
The older I get, the more I realise my grandparents weren’t simply saving money—they were protecting something much more valuable: gratitude. They appreciated food because they remembered hunger. They repaired clothes because they respected hard work. They reused jars because throwing away something useful simply didn’t make sense.
Perhaps the greatest lesson they left me wasn’t how to spend less. It was how to appreciate more. And maybe that’s exactly what many of us are searching for today.
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