Grocery shopping at the office potluck

Back when I had a day job, the holiday potlucks were huge, varied and impossible to finish. Even some of the desserts were left over -- and this was a sweets-loving crowd.

Those of us who stuck around to help clean up would urge the leftovers on co-workers. Stuffed to the gills, they usually declined. We'd flag down folks from other departments -- "Come on, take some cookies home to your kids" -- and put whatever remained out by the coffeepot for the night shift. Generally some of it was still by the coffeepot the next morning, fit only for the garbage can.

Here's a way to prevent food waste and boost your budget: Do a little grocery shopping at the potluck.

Seriously. If the food is going to be thrown out, why not put it to good use? Here are a few tips to get you started.

Offer to help clean up. This positions you perfectly and will also help salve your conscience if necessary.

Bring containers. Suggestions: A kitchen-trashcan-siz​ed garbage bag (for a turkey carcass), Ziploc bags (for ham bones, leftover bread or cut-up vegetables), glass or plastic containers (for salads, side dishes and fruit), maybe a roll of aluminum foil and at least one sturdy reusable shopping bag to carry it all home.

• Bing:The history of the potluck

Announce your intentions. State matter-of-factly that you can't stand to see perfectly good food being thrown away, so you intend to take some of the leftovers home with you. Emphasize "some," i.e., make it clear that others can do the same. Post continues below.

Cooks get dibs. If a co-worker wants to take home what's left of his famous Cajun battered deep-fried bacon, step aside. (Note: A co-worker of mine really did make this dish for a potluck. It was the saltiest food I have ever had in my mouth.)

Don't bogart the best stuff. If you take the turkey carcass, pass on what's left of the ham (and the ham bone -- see below). Don't take all the cut-up pineapple or the best of the desserts. Begin with a few spoons of each side dish; you can always add more if it looks as though no one else is interested in a particular casserole.

Share your stuff. If a cleanup buddy wishes she'd thought of leftovers, loan her a container or some foil.

Observe food safety rules. Hours left in the workday still? Refrigerate the cooked stuff to avoid the chance of food poisoning. If you live in a cold climate, just put the stuff in your car.

Use your finds wisely. Cut meat off the turkey for a second-day dinner. Chop up odd bits for turkey salad, turkey tetrazzini, turkey a la king or any other dish that stretches small pieces of meat. Boil the carcass for soup stock. Ditto with a ham bone that still has some meat on it --  and the bone itself makes a great pot of bean soup. Freeze leftover rolls. Load up on fruits and veggies if no one else wants them, since both are getting pricier by the minute.

In fact, food prices are rising overall. Do your grocery budget a favor by preventing post-potluck waste. 

More on MSN Money:

• 3 meals plus snacks for $4 a day
• The price of PB&J is going up
• Stock your pantry with holiday deals
• Can you afford to be a locavore?
• 5 ways to trim your grocery bills
• How to eat when you're really broke