Must admit, I recycle old wrapping paper – and the ribbon that comes with it – and I also scrape the last bits of yoghurt off the tinfoil lid. Which is probably a habit from my NZ father’s/grandmother’s part of the family, not only for frugality but also a nod to sustainability. Dad’s always kept food scraps for his compost heap – and in the days they had chickens, there was also a chook bin. I still feel a bit bad about throwing food into the general garbage, but living in a small flat now, have little alternative.

Interestingly though, I’ve noticed the modern Malays – mum’s side – are more extravagant, both in what they buy and what they throw away. I think it’s the rich urban kids of village folk syndrome, ostentatiously showing off their hard won wealth.