Saturday, August 31, 2013

Zero Waste Week

This week is Zero Waste Week. Head on over here to sign up!

I am taking this week to re-examine all my waste. It is very easy to become complacent with the amount of waste we consume and giving in to convenience. I know I am guilty of this.

We are all headed back to school next week, so letting go of convenience for less waste options becomes more common when my husband and I aren't home like we are in the summer.

I will be setting up our compost bin this week and keeping track of all the plastic waste I consume. I will share the results end of next week!

Katie

Friday, August 30, 2013

Low Waste Baby- What I have so far

It seems every where you go you hear about how expensive it is to have babies. That's why for me it is always refreshing to see articles like this one :What do babies really need?
We got a lot of unneeded stuff with our first child, and we had an over abundance even though we were financially challenged.
So, this time around I plan on have a "low waste/minimalist" baby. This is what I have acquired so far:

1.) Clothing
I lucked out- my sister had a baby boy in January and has bagged up his clothes as he out grows them and given them to me. If this wasn't the case, I would scout out friends, free cycle, craigslist, and yard sales for baby clothes before I bought anything. People seem to be happy to give you their baby clothes they no longer need anymore.
Cost: Free

2.) Food
I plan on nursing so I haven't actually bought any food. But, I am preparing myself in the event nursing is difficult (as it was for me with my first). A friend gave me a box of glass baby bottles she no longer needed anymore which made me super excited! I wanted to use plastic-free bottles. Once again, if I had not gotten these from a friend, I would have scouted the Internet for second hand glass bottles.
Cost: Free
Nursing pillow- this is one thing I bought and I don't know why. I bought it when I was first pregnant on impulse- (no one's perfect right?) We'll see how this works out.
Cost: $12.00

3.) Shelter/Bed
We currently live in a 900 square foot carriage house and have no plans on moving, so no additional cost there. My older son's crib has since been recalled, so we are debating the sleeping situation. My first son never slept in his crib (he slept in his pack and play or our bed), so we are looking at pack and play and mini crib options. My older son really wants a bunk bed for him and his brother- we'll see about that down the road!!
Cost: estimated between $60-$100

4.) Diapers
I plan on cloth diapering. So far the least expensive yet not total pain in the butt option I've seen is the pre folds with covers. I am purchasing this econobums sample pack and possibly a couple of pocket diapers, just because they get a lot of good reviews. I am flexible to find something that works for me.
Cost: $100-$300

5.) Car Seat
We will get a car seat- but I am still driving my 2002 Passat and my husband has a 1998 Camry. The Camry just keeps on truckin'. Word to Toyota. Anyway, you do not all the sudden need a 7 passenger SUV when you have 2 kids. With 3 kids, sometimes a mini van is necessary because 3 car seats don't always fit in a sedan.
I still scouting out family and friends for a car seat, but if not we will buy one.
Cost: around $100

6.) Baby Seat- Leftover from first son. I am not buying any swings or seats unless I know this baby really wants to sit in them. A blanket spread out on the floor with some toys is usually just as fun for baby. My older son hated the swing!
Cost: Free

So that's it so far. I know I might need to adjust once he arrives and I adjust, but there isn't much you really need for baby.

What do you think?

Katie

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Better for the Environment and Your Wallet

I tend to put saving the environment above saving money. Not because I love to spend money or anything, (spending actually tends to make me nervous) but you know, good planets are hard to find.

I attribute this also to my strong INFJ Meyers Briggs, ( This postwhere Jacob from ERE describes "NF" personalities and their "save the planet/save the animals stop consuming " describes me to a T.)

But I know you're like okay, get to the point. I have been experimenting to lower my energy usage while simultaneously lowering my outrageously high electric bill of $134.00.  So last month (July) I took it upon myself to push it to the limit of how far we could go temperature wise. My family was not totally cool (pun intended) with letting go of our window box air conditioner (for reference, I live in Southeastern Pennsylvania, temperatures around here in July are usually between 85*F-95*F and loads of humidity). But, our air conditioners do have thermostats, which have been set at 80. I bumped them up to 82*F for the month of July.

It wasn't very comfortable at first, but surprisingly the new normal becomes comfortable quite fast (especially coming inside on a day it is 90 out with 100% humidity.) My already wild curly hair rivals a crazy rodent's nest.

But, my electric bill was $35.00 less this month (and I was still using the clothes dryer in July in case you were wondering, I stopped using it August 1.) I consider this a definite win.

Plus I consumed less, so it wasn't just a win for me, but a win for the environment. Score!

P.S. What's your Meyers Briggs?

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Do you live in the moment?

I'll confess, I have a really hard time living in the moment. I am a forward thinker, and a natural worrier. I am always thinking about the next meal, the next day, heck, the next 5 years.

This isn't always a bad thing. I attribute this type of thinking the reason why we have a healthy savings account (we can't buy that! we need to save that money!) and in turn curbing any wasteful spending (well, do I need this? will I used this tomorrow, next week, next decade?) and my concern for the environment (this plastic's gonna be here longer than me!)

But, I will admit it does take away from say, savoring moments with my child when I am constantly thinking of what's next. And they grow fast! So I want to savor those moments.

I have found yoga and meditation to be helpful with training myself to live in the moment. The constant focus on your body, your breathing, really allows me to slow down.

My husband is the opposite. He is a "live in the now" person. He frequently gets lost in what he is doing, unaware of the time passing by. When I ask him what he wants to do at a later date, I don't get much of an answer- "how am I supposed to know where will be in 5 years?" I think of the John Lennon quote, "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." -He's living, I'm planning. Maybe this has something do to with being a musician? They ability to live in the moment, savor the music.

I think we compliment each other- each grounding the other to a happy medium somewhere on the life spectrum.

What kind of person are you ?

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Project 333 Update

I thought I would give you an update of how my "Project 333" is going.

It is going great! At first I thought it might be hard, I might run out of clothes, but really it has made my life so much easier. Here are some of the benefits:

1.) I have no problem finding something to wear in the morning.

This may seem counter intuitive because I have less clothes to wear. But, all of the clothes are things I want to wear, and for the most part are mix and match. I open my closet, pick a top and bottom in less than a few seconds and bam! I'm dressed.

2.) I actually do LESS laundry.

 Also may see counter intuitive - but all my clothes only equal about 1 load- I do about 1 load of laundry (for my clothes) a week. Sweet!

3.) I look nicer than I used to, because I don't default to sweats.

I probably wear less than my 33, as I am now in full on maternity clothes ( I had a few non-maternity stragglers I was still squeezing into). When I have time I will trade these clothes out and add new ones in.

Are you interested in trying Project 333? Check it out:
Project 333



Sunday, August 11, 2013

Weekend Reading

It's Sunday, which means the weekend is mostly over. But, I thought I'd share what I've been reading this weekend.

How being frugal means going green

You don't have to buy anything to start being more environmental friendly.

Share your money saving tips

Tips from one of my favorite blogs, "The Non-Consumer Advocate".

If you really want a lot of things to read, check out Friday Faves at "Living Simply Free".

Have a great weekend!

Katie

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Inspiration from a Bumper Sticker?

While on vacation I spotted a bumper sticker that said, "The best things in life aren't things". This got me thinking. Which isn't normal, (ha) because bumper stickers usually make me think "ah, look at that dumb bumper sticker. bumper stickers are dumb." (Profound thoughts.)

But, I got to thinking how that is true, the best things in life aren't things. I've noticed I've gone through kind of a developmental process when it comes to "things".

See, I grew up middle class so I never knew a life with true needs. My parents didn't indulge me silly, but I was quite privileged (not trying to brag, just stating as is.) I don't think I thought much about material possessions, they were there, I had them, I enjoyed them.

When we got out own our own, my husband and I had a baby real young, (i. e. no money) and we are both in fields of the not high earning type (arts and education). So, in the beginning (and still currently), we don't have a lot of money. This has meant we have had to forgo things.

In the beginning, I can remember thinking about all the baby stuff and adult stuff I would like to buy if we had money. I didn't buy it because I didn't have the money to (at one point we didn't even have the internet, as we could not afford it). My parents instilled a very "anti-debt" sentiment in me, so I wasn't going to go into debt for these things I wanted, but I still wanted them. I wanted to drive a more appropriate "mom" car, not my old Volkswagen Jetta. I wanted fancy jeans, not thrift store jeans. I wanted to "fit in" . Somehow I thought I wanted to define my personality through these things.

Then, as time wore on, and I developed more as a person, (and had my journey to minimalism) I came to a revelation: even if I had the money, I wouldn't want to buy these things. Who I am isn't defined by a collection of things I own(or don't own). My stuff isn't my personality, it is just tools I need for survival. My pants keep me decent. My car gets me from point A to point B.  I mean, of course I want good food and decent shelter, but beyond that, happiness doesn't come from a better car, a bigger house, or snazzy clothes. My happiness comes from the time spent with my family, the evening walks, the board games, the wading in the creek. The discussions in bed late morning with my husband and son about what we dreamed the night before. The things that are not things.

I don't have a ton of money now. I have traded money right now for time - time to be a mom (my most favorite job). But, even if I had a million bucks, you'd still see me in thrift store jeans.

Because really, the best things in life aren't things. All that from a bumper sticker.

Katie

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

No Clothes Dryer August

One of my guilty pleasures is the dryer. I hesitate to even call it a pleasure, because it's not like I love using it. It's just what I have always done. I know it's bad, and it's been sheer laziness (and the awful humidity, I tell myself) I haven't sought out other options.

But, getting my electric bill last month ($134!!!) (combined with this article) was the kick in the pants I needed.

My husband actually got us this drying rack for Christmas (we're romantic like that) and the time has come for us to use it.

I am rigging some rope up outside (from our camping stuff) and borrowing a bag of clothespins from my mom (total cost of outdoor laundry line: free). If my neighbors are offended by my unmentionables, I will pull out the trusty by laws of our association, which ALLOWS laundry lines. Luckily I don't live in a snooty neighborhood, so I don't anticipate complaints (but have heard stories of people receiving them elsewhere!!)

My hope is that this will have some impact on our outrageous electric bill by the end of this month. That, and thankfully the temperatures here are no longer in the mid 90's (Fahrenheit) with 80% humidity and I no longer need to run my window box air conditioners. (They were clicking on constantly even set at 81*F last month. Really enjoying the more mild weather now.)

I anticipate clothes drying to be like my other habits I've developed, maybe slightly annoying to do the extra step first, but soon to be ingrained into my normal repertoire. (Just like reaching for a rag instead of a paper towel :)

I will report the electric bill next month and let you know my savings.

Katie

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Vacation and a Break from Thought

My family has been on a lovely vacation this week at a lake house with my parents, sisters and their families in the beautiful state of Vermont. I have enjoyed the week and being "away from it all", the slow summer days, watching my son play and swim in the lake with his cousins, having bonfires and making smores at night.

I really needed this time away, lately my thoughts have been bringing me down. I have been in the midst of reading "Garbagology" by Edward Humes, and while very informative, this book has really been bringing me down. I feel that even if I make an effort to reduce my waste, everywhere I look around me it is astounding to see the amount of waste going on. It really is astronomical. I found myself being irritated by every giant SUV I see, every plastic water bottle. " Don't these people care at all?" I think in despair to myself. But, this kind of thinking does not bring me anywhere but down.

I am trying to live and find ways to make positive impact in and outside myself, but it was very nice to be away and not think about the waste in the world for a week.