My mom always says “Just because everyone does it doesn’t mean you have to!“ 🍱

You have heard it too, right? The classic line: “And if everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?” Well, I guess we have the same mom.
But honestly, from a certain point of view, she was not completely wrong. Yes, just because most people in Reims shop like crazy in big stores does not mean you have to do the same.

You are probably thinking, “Here we go again, another cheap little lecture.”
But look at you, you are still here. And that is no coincidence. So sit down and keep reading, because these tips will not only help you shop better, they will also help you save money. And that feels pretty great.

Remember when Gab and Océ talked about buying seasonal products so you do not end up with vegetables coming from Papua New Guinea and arriving in France as fresh as you are after a night out.
Alright, let us really drive the message home and get you into buying local.

No long distance transport means super fresh and cheaper.
And honestly, it feels good to know you are supporting Grandma Edith’s neighbor, the one who lives in Chigny les Roses. Because let us be real, it is a bit of a shame to bring in so much food from so far away, especially when half of it ends up in the trash because of the slightest little flaw. I know, you know, we all know.

Speaking of waste, do you check the anti waste bin at the supermarket when you go shopping?
You can get your gnocchi for half the price and it is also a way to discover things you would not usually buy.
Or even a way to treat yourself to things you cannot normally afford, like that burrata that costs six euros for one hundred grams. Yes, I cry too when I want burrata.

Do you also get those sudden pregnancy like cravings even though you are not pregnant?
Do you also come home on a random Tuesday night and tell your boyfriend or girlfriend that you want sushi even though they did not ask for anything?
Just so you know, your sudden cravings do not have to cost you thirty euros per person. Yes, I am talking about the all you can eat buffet that you do not even make worth the money because you are full after one plate. But hey, at least you got your sushi.

And while we are at it, have you thought about downloading TooGoodToGo?
On this app, you can pick up surprise baskets to reduce waste in restaurants, for a very small price. You know the Italian place downstairs, the one that sells the Venetian salad for seventeen euros even though it is still just a salad?
Well, you can pick it up after service for six. Honestly, no reason to miss out. And you do not even have to do the dishes. Just like a real restaurant.

You are starting to enjoy the idea of avoiding food waste, right?
But have you thought about avoiding waste with clothes or furniture too?

Imagine there are people who do not know about Reimsponsable and buy things non stop.
Those people are just like us. Their closets do not lead anyone to Narnia. Yes, sorry to tell you, but that place does not exist.

Anyway, they also have to sort their things and make space. Some throw things away, which is not cool at all, but others give or sell brand new items for far less than what they paid for them. And that is not our problem, we take the good deals.

So next time you are looking for a vintage tea set like the one your grandmother had, go to Emmaus or explore the flea markets around you instead of giving up a kidney for the one you saw at Maisons du Monde™.
Same thing for that oversized aviator jacket you saw at Z. Want to know something? Fashion always comes back and your dad had the exact same jacket with his friends during his Top Gun era.
So check out thrift shops and second hand sites. You might even find one that is better quality, maybe even a collector piece.

See? In the end, eating sushi on a Tuesday night, or a six euro burrata, drinking your herbal tea from a vintage cup, and wearing the same jacket your dad wore when he thought he was Maverick can actually cost you less. Yes, it is possible.
Visiting Narnia, though, still is not. Sorry.

Last updated on november 23, 2025