Simplifying for the Environment and Our Savings Account

Posted April 22, 2015 by BonitaBlueEyes -

Environmentalism is something that has tugged at my heart for as long as I can remember. But frankly, lately I’ve gotten lazy and very impulsive. Besides taking tons of work, patience, and thought, it’s emotionally exhausting when your husband and 11-year old son so carelessly waste paper napkins and throw aluminum cans in the REGULAR garbage despite numerous reminders. I have to leave the car running to heat it up in the freezing Wyoming Winter, even though I know it makes my carbon footprint larger. So as a defense mechanism I  eventually decided not to care so much. I think I may have a t-shirt somewhere in my skinny clothes bins in storage with an Earth on it that says, “Unfair to Not Care”…oh the irony.

Anyway, I’ve decided that it’s time to go back to my environmental roots. This year I’ve made the commitment to make an extreme change….

I’m not going to buy anything new in 2015. This bold statement needs some rules and clarification. After all, I have a home preschool, a husband, three children, and tons of amazing people in my life that I need to take care of.

Here is what I came up with.

1). Besides the obvious food, medicine, and other things that cannot be bought used (although I’m going to work diligently at being conservative with these items) I must look for used items extensively before resorting to new. If an item isn’t a necessity, it must be planned for and researched 30 days ahead of time. I will look first local, look for fair trade, and really think and pray if said item is necessary.

2). Gifts can be new, when homemade or repurposed items are not appropriate. But I must first look at the above rules. (I’m also buying cloth diapers, and I can buy them new)

3). Just because it is used does not mean I need it. I’m going to be deliberate and thoughtful about my purchases.

4). I must further simplify my life by getting rid of at least one box of things per month. When I’m organized, I know what I have and what I DON’T need.

5.)Prairie Wife and I have a date for shopping when I get to a health and fitness goal I’ve made for myself. She’s going to dress me. I reserve the right to keep this reward, but I’m giving myself $100 limit and also require a major clothing purge beforehand.

6). One of my hobbies is digital scrapbooking. I’ll write a post soon about the company I love to use. I’m not going to stop buying the books I make for my family.

The truth is, my family and I have an abundance of stuff. I come from a family of avid shoppers, and we do not NEED a thing. It feels good to get back on track, and it’s rewarding to know that all my hard work will eventually go a long way to help the environment! I expect resistance from my family but now that my baby is 6 months old I have the energy to tackle this life change, and need to do this! Plus, my husband and I resolved to save more money this year (thank goodness for all of Prairie Wife’s budget tips).

What do you think? Did I miss anything important in my guidelines?

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Categories: Life As It Happens

Tags: , BonitaBlueEyes, budget, earth day, Enviromentalism, family budget, repurposed items, thoughtful purchasing