The Telecommunications Research & Action Center (TRAC) has just published their guide to slimming down your phone bills, which can save you up to half on your phone service.
Often times the easiest way to lessen the impact on our Earth and our wallets is simply to use LESS. The third part to our series on being green when budgets are tight.
Use the correct amount of product. For laundry soap, this is usually 2 ounces or about HALF the cap. Many of us naturally fill the cap, isn’t that what it’s for? Shampoo and conditioner usually require only a teaspoon or two. Better yet, if you can, switch to a shampoo bar. Store your soap out of the water spray, otherwise it will be shrinking while not in use. Ration your children’s shampoo and body wash supply by giving them small portions (use a shot glass size container) of products at bath time. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve been trying to support Blog Action Day 2008 on the blogs on which I write. This year’s topic is “Poverty” and this video I think is a sobering reminder that we parents can contribute to the fight by simply watching what we buy!
If you have a blog, please spread the word by participating in Blog Action Day!
The first thing that comes to my mind when trying to go green is reducing the level of consumption of new goods.Money doesn’t seem to go as far as it did even a few years ago, and raising a family while being green can be expensive if we believe all of the hype about buying more green stuff.
Over the last ten years, our family has learned to reduce our consumption, choose good green products, and live on a budget so that we can avoid unnecessary debt. It was definitely a challenge at first, as it requires a shift in thinking, a lifestyle change, but now it’s become second nature.
Go green and use less fuel:
1. Plan all of your errands and make one trip in the car instead of multiple trips throughout the week. This also helps to cut your spending, because it’s easy to get just one more thing every time you go to the store.
2. Break out the bikes. Anytime we can go somewhere on our bikes or on foot, we do. A bike seat or tag-a-long or trailer makes it easy to go by bike with kids, and a baby backpack or carrier and stroller will help with the pedestrian conversion.
3. Cut back on your car insurance. If you can get by with mostly bike/walking/public transport, you may be able to just get “recreational” insurance for your vehicle. Usually there is a mileage restriction per month/year, but if you live close to work/shopping, it may work for you. The savings are quite a bit. Ask your agent.
I know, this is a green parenting blog. And my post is about politics. But the two are interconnected in so many ways that I could not resist writing about this.
I am proud that a woman is finally a vice presidential candidate in the Republican Party, as the Democrats had their first vice presidential candidate in 1987. Woman are making great strides in our country, and Gov. Palin and Sen. Clinton’s candidacy are evidence of that.
It is wonderful that she is a working mother of 5 children. But ask yourself, what will she do for families in poverty, and the middle class?
Read the rest of this entry »
There are seven deadly sins. I can’t rattle them off to you but I’ll apologize in advance, because I’m fairly certain I’m guilty of some many most of them. With that being said I have two children and an obligation to turn them into stewards of the Earth. My children (like yours) are kind little people, but they have a propensity towards gluttony.
The common thread with families who conserve is that they’re part of a community and their children have a sense of obligation. Children are born narcissists and can evolve into selfish beings or amazing, giving and inspired members of our society.
How do we grow them up green?
Adding a third child into our family presents a number of physical and emotional challenges — at least that will be the case unless I can grow an extra set of arms over the next few months. But along another round of sleepless nights, having child #3 definitely puts a strain on the wallet. We’re not so much worried about the baby gear, since at this point in our parenting lives, we know exactly what we need and what we don’t. And with plenty of consignment shops, thrift stores, and generous friends, we’ve already got more clothes and toys than we’ll probably need.
But nothing puts a hurting on a budget than a new car and an eco-friendly one at that.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying we need to buy a brand new car. I’m just saying that we’re going to need to invest in something big enough to fit two car seats and a booster. Well, legally anyway, because no matter how much my daughter begs me to ride on the roof, I just don’t foresee that in her future.
And we’re trying as hard as we can not to have kiss our freedom from car payments good-bye. It certainly helps when we’re paying $4/gallon for gas.
Kids outgrow toys and clothes faster than the weeds in my garden (well, maybe not that fast). Beyond hosting your own kiddie swap, there are several sites now that make exchanging kids’ gear easier for families, who may not have local connections for such trades. Reusing and reducing the amount of your children’s paraphernalia will not only lessen your carbon footprint, but it will de-clutter your home!
In response to the 5,000-message-a-day onslaught of advertising from all sides; online, onscreen and even on the school bus, financial consultant Nathan Dungan prescribes the “Share Save Spend” program to prevent materialism from taking hold of your kids.
The program is designed to help kids get resist advertising and understand the value of money and how to use it wisely. It works like this: children are given an allowance at age five and are required to save one quarter of the funds, share one quarter, and spend only half of the funds. The approach is based on research that shows people who understand how to save and share are generally happier and healthier. (More on the program and links after the jump.) Read the rest of this entry »
A couple of weeks ago, Beth wrote about alternatives to birthday gift giving, and I allowed my daughter to select our Kiva loan recipient. Recently, I discovered another option for low impact birthday giving: markmakers.org. These charitable gift cards allow children to choose goods and services in need around the world.
There are over 40 choices for children on markmakers.org. Once a child receives a gift card from markmakers.org, they enter the number to begin “shopping” for ways they want to give. Children may allocate the money in small increments to as many projects as they want. The presentation is kid-friendly on markmakers.org, and parents are raving about the service. One mother wrote, “My 8-year-old loves the idea that she can help feed homeless dogs!” With their gift card, children can “shop” in six shops:
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