Tag Archives: shopping

How Much Food Are You Wasting?

Most of us waste food. That’s the USDA said in 1995 that 27% of the food supply in the United States was wasted. That’s 96 billion pounds of wasted food. This isn’t something they check very often, so I can’t find more recent data than that.

But it’s pretty horrible.

A lot of it is restaurant waste, of course. If you’ve ever worked in one or even just paid attention to what people leave on their plates, you know. Excessive portions are a big problem.

You can help with that, of course, by taking your leftovers home. If you want to be really green about it, take it home in a reusable container you’ve brought from home.

But food waste at home is a big problem too. People buy more than their families can eat. They cook too much then don’t eat the leftovers.

It’s quite a waste of money as well as food.

So what do you do about it?

The first thing you can do is look at your shopping habits. Are you buying more than your family will eat before it spoils? Do you plan your shopping around a menu to control what you buy?

You also need to pay attention to your leftovers. I try to remember leftovers when I prepare my lunch. One of my sisters makes frozen meals out of them to take to work. Other people make casseroles or other recipes by combining leftovers. Figure out what works for you.

Of course, when food does spoil, think about how you’re disposing of it. If you can compost it for your garden, do so. It’s not as good as eating the food you bought for that purpose, but it’s better than throwing it in the trash.

Greener Hair Care

I have long hair. Really long, as in I can sit on the tips if I’m not careful. I’m also very aware of how much it can take to care for this kind of hair, and how damaging certain products can be, not just to my hair, but to the environment.

These are some tips I know work for me. They may not be for everyone, as different hair types will react differently. But the only way to find out is to experiment.

1. Wash hair less often.

I do not wash my hair every time I shower. I absolutely know that I can get away with washing it about twice a week. Possibly less, but my current routine allows me to wash my hair on mornings that I do not need to be rushing out the door to anything. That has pretty much kept me from trying to stretch it further.

With long hair, washing less often offers two advantages. The most obvious is that I use less water, as washing long hair takes time.

It’s also better for long hair, or at least mine, as the natural oils get stripped out less often.

2. Limit which parts of the hair get shampoo and conditioner.

I read about this a couple of years ago, and it really works for me. Shampoo is for the hair closest to the scalp, not the length of the hair. The length of the hair will be sufficiently cleaned as the shampoo rinses off the hair closer to the scalp.

On the other hand, the hair closer to the scalp has less need of conditioner. That is primarily for the length of the hair, which gets fewer of the natural oils produced in the scalp.

3. Use a boar bristle brush.

You may have read about how women used to brush their hair 100 strokes every day. Know what?

It works wonders if you do that with a boar bristle brush. I do have rather mixed feelings about them, as I’m not sure how the bristles are collected, but I must say they do a marvelous job.

I untangle my hair with a regular brush first. I’ve never had any luck detangling with boar bristle brushes. But once that’s done I go at it with the boar bristle. 100 strokes, all from scalp to the tips of the strands. I can feel the difference when I’m done.

The natural boar bristles collect the oils from near the scalp and spread it along the entire length of the hair. It’s amazingly good for it.

If you buy one, go for quality. No point to buying something you’d have to replace more often than necessary.

4. Jojoba oil or coconut oil for deep conditioning.

If I get too busy to use the boar bristle brush with any regularity, either jojoba oil or coconut oil can work wonders. They’re very light oils, so they won’t weigh hair down to heavily, at least for me.

Depending on my needs, I can apply it as soon as my hair is dry, or put in extra the night before or even just shortly before washing my hair to act as a deep conditioner.

It takes literally drops of jojoba oil. Coconut oil is often a solid, but it takes a very small amount. In either case, you warm it by rubbing it between your hands, then stroking your hands down the length of your hair. I do several strokes, the first ones just of the last few inches, then covering more of the length as I go.

5. Rare use of styling products.

I hardly ever use any hair styling products. Not even hair spray. I use the length of my hair, elastic bands and hair sticks to create a nice variety of hair styles, and for the most part I really don’t need to spray or smear  any chemicals in to keep it in place. This is no doubt a part of why I can get away with washing it less. Nothing added to make it sticky.

Except maybe sticky-fingered hugs from my kids, that is. But we won’t go there right now.

Things I’d like to try

I’m on a tight budget, so I haven’t tried all the green hair care solutions I’d like to. Some are cheap enough, but remembering to do them with 3 kids underfoot, one a young baby, isn’t easy. But in the near future I intend to try:

1. Baking soda and vinegar rinse.

I’ve heard a lot about this, and I really want to give it a try. Hair is washed with baking soda, then rinsed with vinegar. I see a lot of people specify apple cider vinegar, but I don’t know if that matters or if plain white vinegar is good enough. It’s something I just need to research a bit more.

2. Greener shampoos and conditioners.

Most of the ones I’ve seen cost a bit more than I’m willing to budget on shampoo and conditioner just now. I don’t buy the exceedingly cheap stuff now, but what I use is still rather typical stuff you can get at any Target that has been available for years and years. I’m not that loyal to a particular brand or anything either.

But I really want to start working through some of the brands I see listed as better on Skin Deep. Much better all the way around, potentially, for me and the environment. I like that.

What about you? Any products you particularly like? Anything you do with your routine to keep things greener.

Teens Gone Green?

My kids are quite a bit too young for this one, but there’s a book about to come out that might be a welcome gift to any green teen you know. It’s called The Green Teen: The Eco-Friendly Teen’s Guide to Saving the Planet.

Obviously, I can’t review the book; it’s not out yet. But it looks promising. The description says it will give tips on making eco-friendly decisions on a tight budget and schedule and how to get concerns recognized by decision makers.

Given that kids these days are very aware of the need to help the environment, I’m glad to see a book like this coming out.

Parents, what other titles do you recommend for teens? What about younger children?

Is the Cost of Going Green Worth It?

A lot of green purchases cost more upfront than their non-green counterparts. Organic food, compact fluorescent bulbs, cloth diapers… it can be hard to see why you would bother paying extra. All these steps seem like such small things.

However, each of these has the potential to save you some significant money.

The hardest to track is probably the organic food. How do you know if a health issue is caused by the buildup from the food you’ve been eating or if you would have had it no matter your diet? You can’t.

But other differences may be noted. You might find that you are more satisfied when you eat healthier foods. Some people find that their urge to snack goes down when they cut the junk food. Combine that with going organic and you might not be spending as much extra as you think.

Compact fluorescent bulb savings are also hard to track. You don’t know what fixture adds a particular amount to your electricity bill. Their estimated average savings per bulb for the life of the bulb is about $30… not a bad deal.

The need to recycle them can be a bit of a challenge, but you can learn how to handle that in your area at http://www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling

Cloth diapering is something I’ve recently gotten into, as readers of this blog already know. The upfront cost is significant, a few hundred dollars, but through the time my daughter is in diapers I will have saved a lot of money. I would have saved a lot more if I had used cloth diapers starting with my oldest child.

Depending on the brand of diapers you buy, payback can be a few months under a year to a few months over a year. That’s not a bad deal. It’s some extra work, but with modern cloth diapers it really is not all that complex. No pins required.

Not every green purchase has such obvious financial advantages. Organic and fair trade clothing for example, cost more, but you aren’t going to get that money back. They’re about making a choice based on your conscience.

The big changes such as solar power have extremely long payback times and can be unattainable for people who rent. It’s a great choice for those who can afford to wait to earn their money back and have a living situation that allows it, but it’s not a green choice that everyone can do right now.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that not every green choice comes with a price tag.

Choosing to buy less, for example. Making do with less is a green choice and doesn’t cost you anything. It is perhaps one of the most neglected green options out there, as people love to shop. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter, just that it’s one of the least glamorous choices you can make.

But it can feel really good. It’s an adjustment, but not so uncomfortable as some might think. And the impact on your pocketbook is a positive one.

What Don’t You Need for a New Baby?

There’s a lot of stuff that stores will tell you that you need when you’re going to have a new baby. Some of it is very, very necessary. Other things, not so much.

When you look at suggested baby registries, such as this one from Babies R Us, the big thing you will notice is the amount of repetition. So many different kinds of strollers recommended. They list all the car seat sizes you’re going to go through. And accessories, accessories, accessories! Not to mention toys specialized for so many different areas of baby’s life.

It get ridiculous fast.

The decision for what you do and don’t need is pretty personal. However, I think most of us can get by with far less than the stores recommend.

Things I Have Never Needed for Baby

1. Changing table.

I’ve always found a changing pad and a nearby bed, couch or floor to be good enough. Not like you can take the changing table with you wherever you go.

Perhaps the one disadvantage is that none of my kids have ever been comfortable on those changing tables you find in stores and restaurants. I’ve always struggled with diaper changes on those.

2. Crib bedding sets.

Most especially the quilts or comforters, which you can’t use until baby gets older anyhow, and are more likely to end up as a decoration. They’re too heavy for newborns.

That said, I’m also biased because my grandmother makes quilts for my kids, which remain stored until each child is old enough for it. They are well treasured.

I also really don’t do themes or particularly special nursery decorations. Baby won’t notice for quite a while what his or her room looks like in terms of specific decor or if it all matches.

They can look nice if you want the whole room to match a theme, but otherwise I find it makes more sense to just buy the individual parts you’re going to need. So often there will be a mobile or lamp shade or wall decoration that you just aren’t going to use.

3. Nursing covers.

I do cover up if I’m nursing in public, or at least try to, but whatever baby blanket I have on hand is quite sufficient to the job. So far that has worked well enough, although neither of my kids really liked being covered while nursing.

4. Stroller after stroller after stroller…

A stroller is a big help, in my opinion, although a good sling could take its place, I have no doubt. But so many varieties are recommended!

I have two. The basic umbrella stroller and the one that goes with my car seat. That’s plenty.

The umbrella stroller is nice once baby can sit up and space is a consideration. The other is nice if I need to carry more things than just baby, since it has the basket in the bottom. It’s also better for more difficult terrain.

5. Walkers.

Walkers are loads of fun for baby, but they also carry risks. I’ve always stuck with the stationary entertainers. Baby can still bounce for leg exercise, but she’s not getting a false sense of how moving around the house works. Ours has gone through about 5 babies so far, between my sisters and myself.

On the other hand a push toy that encourages walking once baby can actually walk isn’t so bad a thing.

6. A splat mat.

Babies are messy eaters when they start on solids, but a specialized splat mat probably doesn’t need to be bought. Grab a beach towel or a table cloth to slip under the high chair and you’ll get much the same effect with something you already own.

7. Other supplies you may not need.

There are a bunch of things you may not need for baby. Some of it will be because they’re too specialized. Toys for the crib are just as good for the daytime. Car seat toys may work for the stroller. And do you really need a bouncer, door jumper, stationary entertainer, swing and walker? That’s a lot of things that perform similarly enough that you can think about what really goes with the space you have and your needs.

Still more things may be replaced by things you already own. King size pillowcases fit cradle mattresses beautifully, in my experience.

You might decide that you only need a play yard rather than play yard, crib and cradle/bassinet. Or you may prefer to have these separately.

Then there are the things that go by choices you have made. If you’re breastfeeding exclusively, you aren’t going to need so many bottles, but you will certainly want some and a good breast pump if you ever want a break!

While I won’t need much new this time, since most everything is available through family handmedowns,  there are a few things I’ll want. But new or used, the best idea is to keep things simple. Cuts down on the clutter and wondering about why you got something in the first place.