When Times Are Tight...

I can't tell you how many times people have told me some variation of the idea that although they'd love to live more sustainably, they just don't make enough money to buy all those expensive green products. So here's where my eyes cross.

OK. So let's talk for a second.

There are TONS of really lovely organic, green products out there. Tons. And really, they're beautiful. I, personally, am setting up my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter with a twin bed for Christmas, so am deep into shopping for a mattress and bedding. To be honest, I would love to get her an organic mattress and beautiful sheets and blankets that are hand-loomed by Amish farmers and yadda yadda. Between you and me, yeah, I can't afford that. TJ Maxx for the sheets, JC Penney for the mattress, done. So Molly, I'm lost. What's your argument here?

My argument is this:
In times when money is tight - as it is for so many of us at the moment - it's NOT time to put your good green intentions aside, waiting for better days when you can go out and buy all the lovely green products you want, to make the planet a better place. The truth is, despite clever advertising, buying a recycled bottle of something doesn't save the planet. Buying a canvas bag doesn't save the planet. BUYING LESS saves the planet. A little bit.

A couple ways to be both money-conscious AND environment-conscious:

-Stop shopping to feel better. At the risk of sounding preachy, go to the library. Go for a walk. Cook something. Grow something. Paint something. Many of us admit (me, too) that STUFF makes us feel good. We get a secret little thrill when something breaks or runs out because it's just a little bit exciting to get to buy a new one. See if you can find another way to scratch that itch. Your wallet and the planet will both thank you.

-If something breaks, consider fixing it. In the world of Targets and Walmarts, it's sometimes the case that buying a new TV or bike or vacuum is almost the same price as getting an older one repaired. Plus the time and hassle - I mean, do you even know where you would get a TV repaired in your town? Well, here's the challenge: find out. And if you've bought the cheap version of something, fully expecting it to break within a year or two so you can just buy a new one, here's the next challenge: next time, buy a nicer one and keep it for longer.

-Drive less. I won't say much here because you know all about it - and because really, winter's not the time for me to get aggressive about putting people on train platforms. (I live in Chicago, for pete's sake.)

-Use the library! If you're a book-hound or have book-hound kids, you'd probably be astounded to add up your bookstore costs for a year. But hey, remember the library? No kidding - same books - FREE.

-Hand-me-downs. Yup - when times are swell, maybe you're too good for this - but now's a great time to start passing kids' clothes around with your friends or checking out second-hand stores nearby.



Remember, reduce first. Keep track of what you bring INTO your house and just try to bring less. Less packaging (buy bigger), less paper (go digital!), less stuff...

If you must buy something, plan to re-use it, to use it for as long as possible, to buy it used, and to pass it on when you're finished with it rather than throwing it away.

And if you must buy something that will get emptied, used up, and discarded, make it a top priority to buy only things that are (a) made of recycled materials and (b) fully recyclable. Both, if possible. I'll post more some other time on reading labels on bottles, jars, etc. so you know you're not getting duped - but the very short version of recycling-savvy is that the only items that are easily recycled and recyclable are #1 and #2. Steer clear of #7 - it is not recyclable. #3-#6 depends on where you live.

But now I'm off topic.

The point is: being truly friendly to the environment, if that's what you want, isn't to buy a cute dragonfly notebook with recycled paper and brown cardboard cover, or pottery barn sheets with 10% recycled content. The truly friendly choice is to write on the back of some of the hundreds of sheets of office paper you recycle or discard every day, or to hang onto your current sheets just a little bit longer.

Bottom line: A tight economy really doesn't have to mean you put your green goals on the back burner. Think green the next time you're doing your checkbook/credit card/budget mantra, "reduce, reduce, reduce".