I Can't Afford Leftovers!!

These past two weeks I have tried my hardest to fit into this German community. I've filled out paperwork, become insured, applied for my Visa, tried to use the German I have learned, and sorted all of my trash into recycling categories. There is still so much more to get used to. For instance, all of the shops in town are closed from 12:30pm till 2:30pm most days and closed after 12:30pm on Wednesdays. Water and electricity are very expensive. Every citizen must pay a television tax, monthly. Yet, the hardest difference of all is that throwing away trash is expensive!
I got a trash can when I registered in Kandern and committed to paying a set fee for 6 trash pickups in a year. Every other trash pickup costs me extra euro.
So, some BFA staff members are trying to keep their trash for two months. Did I mention that all of your trash has to fit in a trash can half of the size of an American trash can? Imagine what it would mean for your family to throw away trash every other week instead of once a week. Now consider taking out the trash every other month! So," what is the solution?" you may ask. Here it is...... Stop wasting.

Luckily many things can be recycled here that most Americans aren't used to. However, I have to think carefully every time I want to use a paper towel and prepare a meal. Whatever I don't eat may have to live in my kitchen for a month or so!

Just last night I remembered some veggies I had cooked in the microwave the night before. I left them because I was too full to eat them. I knew they would be soggy, but what could I do? I had to eat them! They tasted sour and I'm hoping that I do not become sick later. What else could do?
Leftovers are expensive!