Tableware

In the Middle Ages, mothers scooped out a loaf of day old bread and ladled soup or stew into the middle. The bread would soak up the broth and be softened by it. Tableware WAS the meal. You can't get more frugal than that.

But unless you plan on eating out of breadbowls all the time, you need plates, bowls, cups and glasses, serving pieces and flatware.

Choosing the Right Tableware

What is the "right" tableware? It is simply that tableware that is right for your household and your unique situation.

Frugal means different things at different times. Maybe your budget is strained to the max and you have barely enough money for food. If you are young and getting your first apartment, if you are newly divorced, or hit by a disaster such as a tornado or housefire, you can go from plenty to zip in the blink of an eye. As things slowly get back to normal, those cracked Freecycle dishes or the plastic fork you have washed 100 times will need to be replaced.

Choose a simple pattern in neutral colors. While brightly printed tableware can attract our eye, it is better to follow the Decorator's Rule and purchase your major, or central pieces, in a neutral color, and use accessories such as tableclothes, napkins, and napkin rings, place mats and centerpieces to add color and bring the seasons to your table.

A classic, neutral design will help avoid fad fatigue, so you will like your dishes as much in ten years as you do today. When you are ready to invest in good tableware, you want it to be strong, and temperature, chip, and scratch resistant.

Free

When it comes to free, there's no place better than family and friends. Grandma may be thrilled you are interested in her antique tableware, friends may be eager to host a housewarming or divorce party for you to fill your cabinets, and a sign up at work or your church may bring offerings of entire sets, or odd pieces that will allow you to put together a fabulous mix and match tablescape. MORE

Reusable disposables

Those familiar plastic pieces sold in supermarkets and big box stores will stand up to repeated cleaning before you finally toss them out. If you only have $20 to spend on 'tableware' this will get you through a few months. MORE

Inexpensive but durable

Tableware that will stand up to a lot of use but won't break the bank. We're going to tell you what to look for when purchasing tableware, and which materials and brands have stood the test of time. MORE

Heirloom

Tough as nails tableware that is worth the investment. While the intitial cost may be a bit higher, the quality, durability, and functionality of well made tableware often makes it the most economical buy. MORE