Here we are at January 23. Almost one whole month into 2018. Is it bad that all my Christmas decorations are still piled on my dining room table? Maybe I should tackle that today. Humph. While I do that, here is a list of little ways to go more green in 2018. I'm such a poet…
1. Limit fridge door opening. It's now a habit for me to take out everything I want to use for a meal when I open the refrigerator. I really try to open the door only once instead of half a dozen times in the span of 15 min. Same goes for putting food back. Pile it all to the side of the fridge, open the door once and put everything back. Easy.
2. Ditch the trash liners. The only garbage cans that have liners in my house are in the kitchen. And, we use them over and over until they are falling apart. You don't need little plastic bags in all the tiny trash cans in your house. You don't need them. I promise.
3. Don't use plastic produce bags. This is SO easy, it's stupid. I've talked about fabric produce bags several times here + here(!). The ones I use are less than $1 each!!!! Done and done.
4. Use metal straws or none at all. We still use these in my house every day. We refuse straws when eating out.
5. Buy used. Join a neighborhood Facebook page, eBay, or Craigslist to get what you need. I picked up an amazing butcher block cutting board this morning for $2 (!) off my neighborhood Facebook page. I can't tell you how much I love that. And, yesterday, I gave away for free 4 pairs of socks that were too big for me. The recipients were thrilled.
6. Buy organic when you can. Produce, clothes, bedding, towels, etc. I buy as much organic produce as I can. And, you know I'm fanatic about organic bedding. This year, I'm committing to buying organic clothes if I need any. I just ordered a couple pair of organic cotton pajama pants for only $23/each from one of my fav companies!
7. Use reusables instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. I'm committing to this and this. Excited!
8. Get a refillable fountain pen. I've known friends in the past who only use fountain pens. I think I need to ask for one for my birthday!
9. Join a book subscription. I love to read. Just finished this book for my book club. But, I hate having piles of books around my house that clutter, take up space and that I doubt anyone else wants to read. I get several from my neighborhood Facebook page but it is still a physical object. Another thing I'm asking for my birthday this year is an electronic reader and a subscription so I can read as many books as I want (would LOVE opinions and suggestions for both!).
10. Learn to mend. Yes, I know that sounds silly but you can save so many of your favorite items by simply mending them. As you know, I do SO much of this for people and I love it. It's really my favorite kind of sewing and it's so easy to learn (tons of YouTube videos). Really. You don't even need many supplies. I can't tell you how many times I simply iron on patches. Easy peasy.
That's all. Note that I didn't mention using reusable shopping bags as I'm going to trust that I'm preaching to the choir on that one! Thanks for reading. XOXO--Teresa
10 comments:
Grow a garden--or a few plants in a pot. Herbs like parsley, cilantro, thyme and sage are very easy to grow and can be grown in the window. Lettuce is seasonal but easy as well. Tomatoes do very well in pots or in the ground! Trade produce with your neighbors!
Grow flowers--it helps the bees!
I'm sure you'd like a kindle, but I wouldn't necessarily get the subscription. There are a lot of books not available in the subscription. Find the next 10 books you want to read, wishlist them and then make sure they are part of the subscription package at Amazon before you buy a sub.
(I'm a bit worried that Nook and/or B&N will go out of business so I can't recommend that e-reader.)
Those are great suggestions too Maria! Love them. :)
Thanks for the suggestions. Do you think it's good to have another reading divide or just read them on my iPhone 7plus? I have been reading them on my phone and seem ok with it. I've just been buying them on iBooks. Just wondering if there is something more economical.
Teresa
I'm not a BIG reader, however I like my kindle paperwhite, it is just for reading, no surfing the internet and you can read in bright sunlight and with all the lights out at night! The battery lasts much longer than your iPhone I bet! and easier to read.
I have friends that are in a book club and they never buy books, the request them at the library and go pick up the copy and read and return.
I am just going to order those produce baggies now. I don't know if I can give up my kitchen trash bag, we use one a week, but the other trash cans I can give those baggies up. If I forget to take my reusable bags into the store!!!! I either go back out and get them before checking out or if only picking up a few things, just tell the cashier - I don't want a bag and either carry the items or put them in my cart, but only for a few items.
I love my Kindle paperwhite. It was a gift from my kids for Christmas. You can get tons of free books everyday from Amazon. I have well over 3,000 books in my kindle cloud and 99% were free. I hate to admit it but I have a book addiction. I have bought a few books from favorite authors but they were all on sale at the time.
Thanks Melissa and Carol for your input. I'll look into the Kindle Paperwhite. I think I did see that that one was less than $50 in my original search.
CarolV, so glad you ordered the produce bags. I hope you love them as much as I do! :)
Yes! The choir is definitely singing your tune! I completely concur with the time to ditch the single use straws! Time to make those old relics of a by gone era!
I read on my laptop or my Kindle. If the phone suits you, you at least always have it with you! Kindle is a dedicated device and I love having it to take with me on trips. There are good sales on Amazon, but those are usually matched by Apple since the publishers are the ones who set prices. There are more indie writers like myself on Amazon because of Amazon's ease of publishing and their subscription service. The problem is that the subscription service doesn't include some publishers (they opted out). If you read on the kindle you have to buy from Amazon. I am pretty sure with your iphone you can download a kindle app--and then you can get all the bargains on Amazon and read on your existing phone. It's just a different app. (I think this is the link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amazon-kindle/id302584613?mt=8) So when my mom had an ipad, she could use the apple app for itunes/ibooks and the kindle app for Amazon/kindle books. That way if some book was only on Amazon, she could still read it. You might try the Kindle app on the phone first before buying the paperwhite just to see if you think the book selection or prices are better.
Thanks for the info Maria. I know. I'm thinking it's just as easy on my phone since I have it with me all the time. Hmmmm. Lots to think about. :)
I could not agree more Harmony!
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