I've been working on changing the way we live in three areas lately: being green, being frugal and being natural.
Green
Doing our bit to reduce our impact on the earth and natural resources. Reducing waste. Recycling. Reusing or repurposing items. Using less energy. Walking instead of driving.
Frugal
Finding cheaper ways of doing things. Saving more money.
Natural
I really feel like we need to reduce the number of chemicals we use. Think about it: we wake up and wash with chemicals, brush our teeth with chemicals, put chemicals on our body, eat chemicals on or in our food, clean with chemicals, and then we marvel at the increase of allergies, asthma, eczema, diseases, cancer, food intolerances, illness. I really want to find natural alternatives to the chemicals we use every day.
Now, sometimes it works out great and whatever change I'm making contributes to each of these values, for instance cleaning with vinegar and water (green, frugal, natural) or growing our own veg (green, frugal, natural).
Sometimes whatever change I'm trying to make contributes to two out of three, for instance buying thrift store clothes (green, frugal) or buying less processed food (natural, green).
Sometimes it only contributes to one, for instance recycling (green) or using butter instead of margarine (natural).
BUT sometimes even though the change contributes to one or two of the values it directly opposes another, for instance buying organic fruit and veg (green, natural, NOT frugal).
I find myself constantly reviewing what we do and how we do it in an effort to make changes that fit in with these values and don't undermine any. It's a juggle, but I do hope the small changes that I am making will make a difference to the planet, our budget and our health.
What do you do because it's green?
What do you do because it's frugal?
What do you because it's natural?
How many of these things overlap?
What can you just not give up, even though it's unnatural, not green or expensive?
It can be a difficult juggling act, can't it! My main problem is getting so bogged down trying to do it all that I end up not achieving very much!
ReplyDeleteI've been working on those things lately myself. I saw a blog post about cloth diapering and started doing that about a year ago (it's seriously not as disgusting or difficult as I thought). I've also started using more cloth in place of paper towels. Our city has a recycling program, so I've been doing better with that. I also started making more of my own cleaning products. It feels good to make a difference, and save money (usually) at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do because it's green?
ReplyDeleteI don't buy many chemicals to clean at all, I also use vinegar as a fabric softener in the washing machine. I buy the environmentally friendly cleaning products. We turn off all lights when a room is not in use. Don't brush teeth with tap running (can't believe some people still do all that). Plan our groceries and errands so I only have to make one trip to town every week or so. On the other hand, we do use the car every day for school drop-offs and pick-ups, no public transport and the distances to get somewhere are huge in Australia.
What do you do because it's frugal?
I love finding new ways to save money. I try to meal plan our meals.
How many of these things overlap?
It is hard to find a balance sometimes, and like someone else said, you do get bogged down every now and then you feel like you haven't achieved much.
What can you just not give up, even though it's unnatural, not green or expensive?
Kleenex tissues, I go through so many a day, I always feel guilty for using so many.