The frugal environmentalist
There is a myth out there in the big bright world, that being an
environmentalist is costly. It doesn’t need to be, actually I have found
being more environmentally aware has actually saved me money! Making the
“3 R’s and a P” work for you can help your budget and the environment
too!
I was introduced to a “new to me” concept this past winter. The
naturalist at our Nature Center called it “Pre- cycling”. (The “P” in
the “3 R’s and a P”) Whereas recycling keeps items out of the waste
stream by turning them into another usable item, PRE cycling is actively
doing things to prevent trash from ever “being” produced.
Take for example all those boxes of rice with seasonings one tends to
buy. How expensive is that? Lets add it up… each prepackaged meal adds
tons of extra cardboard and plastics to our ever growing landfills. Many
times, the portions are not large enough for all we are serving, so we
use two or three. A serving of rice with seasonings from a box cost
about 3 times as much than if you had measured out the ingredients
yourself, and it adds all that extra packaging to the landfills. A
terrific solution would be to learn how to create those mixes yourself.
Buy rice and spices in bulk. A cup of rice, a sprinkling of spices and
Viola! You have your own homemade version. It costs less, and it really
takes no more time to prepare than if you had purchased the boxed kind.
Another way to be environmentally aware and frugal is to bring your own
containers with you to bring home leftovers when you go out to eat.
(Yes, even being frugal I still go out to eat.) When it comes time to
reheat, just pop your container into the microwave reheat and serve! How
much easier can it be? You save money because you now have another meal
– or two- from leftovers. You save the environment because you have kept
take out containers out of the “waste stream.” It is a win-win situation
for all concerned!
Other examples include:
-Trade out paper towels for cloth ones.
- Use canvas bags instead of paper or plastic bags when you go shopping.
- Use rechargeable batteries instead of regular one time use ones.
-View items on your computer instead of purchasing books or printing the
items. (This works well with recipes. You can always go back to the
website if you need more information. Certainly with all the terrific
recipe sites available now, you can have your pick of specialty, diet or
ethnic related foods. The web holds a greater variety than anybody’s
kitchen bookshelf could possibly hope to!)
Have you ever wondered what all those plastic bottles we recycle
actually are turned into? Well, I am happy to say I have many objects
that began life as a plastic bottle. One is a terrific “canvas” bag,
another is a pair of shoelaces, and a third is a t-shirt. And, I can
tell you that t-shirt wears like iron! It is just amazing what our
recycling technology has brought forth.
As a child, I looked forward to recycling day at our house each month.
We would load up our station wagon with all the pop bottles and aluminum
cans we had collected and proceed off to the recycling plant. It was a
huge scary place with big crushing machines, loud crunching noises, and
frightening junkyard dogs guarding the back lots. But, still, I looked
forward to it. I knew after all, I would be getting a cash reward at the
end of the day. Money that I could spend on a special treat like
bubblegum or yes, even more soda pop. As an adult, the recycling
centers are much nicer! There are many conveniently located throughout
my city. Small, clean little sheds and not a junk yard dog to be found!
Now, I have the option of collecting my funds or donating them to a
local charity with the push of a button. I still look forward to
recycling day, as do my children.
Reduce, that is one 3 R that many struggle with. But, fitting reducing
into a frugalities life is easy. It just takes a bit of practice.
Reduce- to use less.
- Turn down your thermostat during the winter. Save money and save our
natural resources. Simple, fast, and really your house doesn’t need to
be heated when no one is home.
- Reduce the amount of time you spend driving place to place. Plan out
your day so multiple trips will not be necessary. Shop on one side of
town one day, and get all your errands done at that time. Next trip you
can hit the stores you need to visit on the other side of town. Avoid
criss-crossing all over the city to get a good deal. Make plans, save
gas and save time.
- Scale down those birthday party plans. Somewhere along the way,
children have been conditioned that food comes with prizes, birthday
parties come with goodie bags, and parents will spend a month’s salary
celebrating a day their one year old will never remember. Save the
expenditures until the child is old enough to remember the festivities.
Many of my friends were shocked to hear we were hosting a special party
for my daughters 6th birthday. We splurged and invited 5 of her friends
to a Build a Bear workshop. Each child went home with a new plush animal
and an outfit for it. Splurged, yes. But, it was also the first party we
had ever held for her. We had celebrated the first five with family
only. Forgoing the bounce house, puppet theatres, goodie bags and pony
rides so many others in our neighborhood had been compelled to celebrate
with. We splurged, but that is what being frugal is all about for my
family. Having the means to splurge on occasion, and appreciating it all
the more.
Reuse- that is the easy “R” for my family. Think trash to treasure and
you have the meaning and purpose of “reuse.”
- We’ve been the recipient of many terrific wardrobes over the years.
Even before my first daughter was born I had people giving me baby
clothes. How much money is wasted on clothes that only fit a newborn for
a month? I am happy to report that except for special occasion clothes,
my children reused many outfits from friends and family members. And, we
in turn passed them on as well.
-We’ve passed on loads of books we’ve outgrown; and, happily accepted
terrific books as well. As a homeschooler, one of the most important
things we have learned is that one size does not fit all when it comes
to a curriculum. What one of my daughters found a terrific resource, the
other can’t bear to use. I am lucky to belong to a wonderful group of
people that trade resources freely. Everything from books, to posters,
to compact discs have generously been given and received. Money rarely
changes hands, as in our community we all believe that you reap what you
sow. Generosity breeds generosity.
-We’ve remodeled our kitchen with seats that a local eatery had taken
out and had been throwing away. Now, instead of a mix matched set of
chairs and a wobbly table, we have a wonderful retro kitchen set! By
reusing someone else’s trash, have found a treasure. And, it was free!
Saving money and saving our planets precious resources all go hand in
hand. It is never too late to start saving the planet, and certainly
never to late to start reducing your expenses. It just takes a bit of
planning, a clear idea of how to do it, and taking the steps to set the
plan in motion.
Dana Eppele is a homeschooling mom and member of the Frugal-Families
team! She and her family live in California. Dana loves
homeschooling, her family, living a "greener" lifestyle and being a
member of the Frugal-Families forums.
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