Some of us want to buy less, some are trying to lower our carbon footprint, and some don’t want to patronize that Website That Shall Not Be Named. And yet, there are those things that we keep buying -- those duplicate, even triplicate, purchases that clog our pantries and bathroom cabinets. We either can’t remember that we bought them or we can’t seem to find them when we need them.

There are spices needed for a single recipe (dill, paprika, cumin) that sit on the shelf for years. Bakers repeatedly buy cream of tartar and vanilla -- those little brown bottles sit side by side on the shelf like The Borrowers’ liquor cabinet. Our refrigerators are filled with freezer packs even though nobody goes on picnics. Nevertheless, we overstock ketchup and mustard, both Dijon and yellow.

And why do

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