7 things you can do to save $731!

How much money can you save in a year?

1.       Cancel one magazine subscription. Read the magazine at the library. A 1 year subscription to People magazine is $116 as stated on amazon.com.

2.       Use paper cloths instead of paper towels. You can buy a set of 4 dish towels for $4. Paper towels cost about $2 for 3 rolls. The average family uses 52 rolls of paper towels a year costing them about $35.

3.       Use a moon cup instead of tampons or pads. A moon cup is $30 and can last for years. You would use 21 tampons at most for each cycle. A pack of 20 is around $5. Tampons cost $60 a year.

4.       Wear glasses instead of contacts. A year supply of contacts cost about $125. Contact solution costs about $50 a year. One pair of glasses cost about $150 with an eye exam. Remember that glasses will probably last longer than a year.

5.       Cancel your cable and watch television online. The most popular Directv cable subscription is $360 a year.

6.       Don’t buy books. Get them from the library. Let’s say you buy 10 books a year at $15 each. You would spend $150 a year.

7.       Take a 5 minute shower instead of a 15 minute shower. You will use 35 gallons for a 5 minute shower and 105 gallons for a 15 minute shower. You will use 6370 gallons of water a year if you take a shower every other day for 5 minutes. You will use 19,110 gallons of water a year if you take a shower every other day for 15 minutes. By saving 12,740 gallons a year you will save about $19 assuming the water rate is $1.50 per 1000 gallons. This does not include heating the water. Remember this is just for one person!

Total Savings: $731!!!

Don’t throw your Christmas tree away!

1.       Instead of throwing your Christmas tree away, consider recycling it. When you are ready to get rid of your tree, contact your local recycling center or division of waste management to see if they are accepting trees. Remove all of your decorations before bringing them in. The trees will be turned into compost. In some cities, the division of waste management will pick up your tree. Often times the tree needs to be cut up or cut in half. Please note that many cities will not accept artificial trees.

2.       If you have property or know someone who does, consider laying the tree outside. Christmas trees can make a great home for mice and birds during the winter.

3.       Rent or share a shredder that will turn the tree into compost. Please note that shredded pine shouldn’t be put directly around plants.

4.       Burn your tree. Use caution because when evergreens dry out they become explosively flammable.

5.       Donate your artificial tree to thrift stores, reuse facilities, churches, schools or community organizations.

6.       If you have a pond, you can place cut-up pieces of your Christmas tree on the bottom to create places for fish to hide.

7.       Start a new compost pile with your tree. The best base for a new compost pile is a layer of thin branches.

Going green with makeup

Many of us want to look good. We use makeup to cover imperfections and enhance our looks. But, we don’t think about what is in our makeup. Many makeup products are toxic and bad for the environment.

●The average woman’s morning routine puts her in contact with a hundred chemicals before breakfast!

●Only 11% of 10,500 ingredients in beauty products have been tested for safety.

 However, there are many makeup products that are less toxic and more environmentally friendly. They may be more expensive but I can tell you it is well worth it!

1.       Organic Wear by Physicians Formula 100% free of harsh chemicals, 100% free of parabens, 100% free of synthetic colors and fragrances, 100% cruelty free. The packaging for compacts has 93% less plastic than conventional compacts. www.organicwearmakeup.com

2.       Sephora

3.       Saffron Rouge This company makes organic and natural cosmetics. They are made from mineral pigments and organic plant extracts. These products do not contain synthetic colors, artificial fragrances, or petrochemicals. http://www.saffronrouge.com/makeup.

4.       Ecco Bella This company provides cruelty free organic cosmetics. There is no animal testing. www.eccobella.com

5.       Stript This is a vegan makeup line. All the products are paraben free. www.striptmakeup.com

*Whole Foods carry many brands of organic and natural makeup.

My transition into living green

●There is always something more you can do to live green.

●It is easier if you make a gradual change into living green.

●Do as much or as little as you want.

●You can even make a change by doing one thing.

Here are the stages I took to living green:

Stage 1:

I made my first changes in college when I learned that I could do more to help this planet.

1.       I stopped getting magazine subscriptions.

2.       I stopped using trays in the cafeteria.

3.       I only washed my clothes when I had a full load. I also started using cold water instead of hot.

4.       I bought reusable bags for groceries.

5.       I started paying bills online.

Stage 2:

These are changes that I made when I lived in Fort Collins.

1.       I started buying used clothes.

2.       We started buying in bulk. We put bulk items in old glass jars and containers instead of throwing them away.

3.       To keep our apartment cool in the summer we shaded our windows. At night we opened the windows. In winter we kept the blinds open so that the sun could come through.

4.       We took our recyclables to the recycling center.

5.       I decided to no longer give material gifts to people. I will now only give food, money, gift cards, concert tickets, etc. to people.

6.       We became vegan! This certainly helps the environment.

7.       We only flush when we poop. We became more conscious of how much toilet paper we were using.

Stage 3:

I made further changes when I moved to Vermont with Kyle.

1.       We stopped buying paper towels and napkins.

2.       I ride the bus to work and walk to town to go to the library, bank, etc.

3.       We stopped using a dishwasher. We have 2 of everything: bowls, plates, utensils, etc. When we finish eating, we clean right away.

4.       We started composting!

5.       I bring a water bottle to work.

6.       We bought seventh generation laundry detergent.

7.       I bought glasses and will eventually wear glasses all the time. I am using contacts right now when I teach skiing. Contacts and saline solution are more things that are added to the dump.

8.       We stopped using bags at the produce section. (I never thought about this for some reason. I guess I just always watched my mom use bags at the produce section.)

Future goals:

1.       Buy reusable bags for bulk.

2.       We are provided lunch at work but they use disposable plates, cups, etc. I want to bring my own Tupperware and utensils.

3.       Use a moon cup instead of tampons/pads. I already bought one onlineJ

4.       Bring our own coffee mugs and Tupperware when we drink and eat out.

5.       I want to use oil lamps and candles instead of using electricity.

6.       I want to start timing my showers and keep them under 5 minutes.

A little farther down the road:

1.       Stop using toilet paper.

2.       Use poop as compost. Think about how much water is used so that we can use the bathroom.

3.       Grow our own fruits and vegetables.

4.       Live off the grid.

Inspired by No Impact Man

I just finished the book, “No Impact Man.” It was fantastic and very inspirational! It is about a man named Colin Beavan who lives with his wife and child in a New York City apartment. He decides to live a year making zero net impact on the environment. That means no trash, no electricity, no elevators, no toilet paper, no toxins in the water, no television, etc.

*There is also a documentary.

No one is perfect. I certainly haven’t been able to become 100% environmentally friendly. I take the bus, watch television, use toilet paper, and turn on lights. However, I am always striving to do what I can. I always have goals and I post them on the refrigerator. All I am saying is for you to be more conscious of what you are doing and how it impacts the world. Reduce your negative impact as much as possible! You can make a differenceJ

How you can be no impact man or woman:

No trash

Don’t buy food with packaging. Use the bulk section and produce section of the grocery store. Don’t use plastic bags at the bulk section, produce section and when checking out. Use reusable bags. You can find reusable food bags here. http://www.etsy.com/shop/kootsac

Don’t use toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, tampons/pads, or disposable diapers. Use cloth diapers.

Alternative to tampons/pads: the moon cup http://www.mooncup.co.uk/

Alternative to disposable diapers: cloth diapers http://fuzzibunz.com/

Compost! Use worms to eat your garbage! http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2011/05/slimy-pets-to-eat-your-garbage-and-entertain-your-kids.html

Use reusable cups when you go to coffee places. Take reusable containers to take-out places.

Cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions.

No mass transportation

Walk, bike, rollerblade, scooter instead of taking the bus, subway, train, or car. Don’t go on an airplane.

No electricity

Use oil lamps and candles. Read instead of watching television.

Do it yourself

Make your own cleaners. Use baking soda for deodorant and shampoo.

Don’t buy new products

Borrow, rent or buy used.

Eating

Eat locally

Don’t eat meat. Think about the trees we cut down for pasture land. Think about animal waste going into our waters. Think about the methane farts and burps from cows.

People may think that this is all very depressing and that we will no longer be happy. However, you will realize that you will have more time to spend with people you love and care about, you will eat better, get more exercise, and learn.

Composting 101

We currently live in the basement of a house in Vermont. The lady who owns the house has a compost pile in the backyard. We add to that pile every day! It’s nice for us because we can reduce our amount of waste. There is no garbage pickup in Stowe so we have to take our trash to the dump. It costs $3.50 for two bags.

Why compost?

-Soils and potting mixes that include compost produce healthier plants! It builds good soil structure, enables soil to retain nutrients, protects against drought and protects plants from many diseases.

-It helps the environment by reducing the amount of organic material that goes to waste in your local landfill!

Pick a place for your compost pile

Select a location for composting. The backyard is a great place! You may want to put it near the garden for convenience. Make sure there is good air circulation. Don’t place it next to your house as the decomposing scraps and resulting compost may cause the wood to rot. Partial shade is a good idea so the compost doesn’t get overheated. Also make sure the spot of land where you place your heap gets good drainage.

Create or buy a compost bin

-Collect old pallets. Use one for the bottom. Pound in metal support poles and then add pallets by slipping them over the support poles to make your bin’s walls.

-You can also skip the bin and just have a compost pile or heap.

Size

The perfect size is about 3’ X 3’ X 3’.

Moisture

The microbes that do the work require water for survival. Too much water means your organic waste won’t decompose and you’ll get a slimy and smelly pile. Too little water and you’ll kill the bacteria and you won’t get your compost. The more green material (leaves, grass, weeds) you put in, the less water you’ll need to add.

Aeration

Oxygen is also required by many of the microorganisms responsible for successful composting. Turn the pile often and well. Use a pitch fork, spade, or compost aerator to mix your pile.

Things you can compost

-All fruit and vegetable trimmings

-Coffee grounds and filters

-teabags

-cut up cardboard

All organic matter is broken down initially by naturally occurring microorganisms. To speed up this process kitchen scraps should be cut into small one-inch pieces. After you have added the waste, throw some leaves or grass clippings on top. This will help keep things balanced, reduce smells, and make your compost bin less attractive to critters who are trying to sniff out a free meal.

When is it finished?

Compost is finished when it is a dark, rich color, crumbles easy, and you can’t pick out any of the original ingredients. It can take 3-12 months to create compost. Once you have achieved finished compost, you can add it to the soil any time of the year. Add compost to your garden a few weeks before you plant. An easy way to apply compost is to mulch with it. Spread the compost in a thick layer on top of exposed soil. You can also use compost when potting indoor plants. Use seven parts soil to three parts compost to two parts sand.

Simplify Your Life By Saying NO!!!

I was that person who said yes to everything. If someone asked me to do something I said yes. I was never able to say no because I wanted to please people. I wanted to be accepted and wanted people to like me. It got to the point where I asked myself, “Am I doing this because I want to do this?” It also got to the point where I didn’t have time for myself.

The simple answer to this is to do what you love. Don’t do something because someone wants you to do it. People will take advantage of you and walk all over you.

Think about what is important to you. Cut out all the rest that distracts you and keeps you from doing what is important. Simplify your life. Our lives are so overloaded. Don’t worry…cutting something out of your life will not leave an empty hole!

Learning to say no:

1.       Examine all of your commitments. Ask yourself if they are really important to you and if they give you value for your time.

2.        Take guilt out of the equation. Don’t agree to do something you would rather decline because of feelings of guilt or obligation. This will likely lead to added stress and resentment.

3.       When saying no, be direct, honest, and brief.  

4.       Realize it is okay to say no.

Things you may cut from your life:

1.       Hours of surfing the web

2.       Television

3.       Gambling

4.       Going to the mall

5.       Negative people and people who are disrespectful to you

6.   A job that doesn't make you happy

7.       Social engagements you don’t want to go to

8.       Volunteer work that doesn’t support your values and goals

9.       Reading an entire book when you’ve already decided you don’t like it by Chapter 3

10.   Birthday parties, afterschool activities, sports or events that you deem unnecessary or are simply too much to handle logistically.

I realize no one is perfect. I know that it is easier said than done. I know I could watch less television and spend less time on facebook. I am going to start asking myself, “Am I doing anything meaningful right now?” “If I were to die tomorrow, would I be proud of what I did today?”