Saving green
My son put my car out of its misery years ago and we decided not to replace it. We walk, cycle and bus as much as we can. Instead of spending the money we would have poured into that car on fuel, repairs and insurance, we have been investing the calculated equivalent each month. Boy, has it grown!
Tell us how your green actions are saving you money, improving your health (eg less car rides = more physical activity) and generally making your life better. We might use your story in the next issue of David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge newsletter.
/Gail
Tags: car, cycle, green, Human Health, ideas, money, saving, transit, transportation, walk
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:07 am
Our family of four have parked the big truck and walk pretty much everywhere.
In our backpack:
water bottle
extra snacks/ treats for longer distances
head light for darker days
loads of stories, songs, walking games
= family bonding, sustainable, healthy lifestyle, extra $$ for activities
go out and play, Allie
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I sent this into the Ottawa Citizen last week - here are my tips for cutting back at Christmas!
Tired of feeling overwhelmed, in debt, and annoyed at Christmas time? Here are some ways that my family has learned to simply enjoy each other’s company and not worry about buying tons of unnecessary gifts to show our love for each other.
- TAKE A TRIP! Rather than getting more toys that clutter the house and are only played with for a short time, make memories by planning a family trip this winter somewhere. It could be as simple as staying at a hotel not far from home that has an indoor pool – what fun for kids that are tired of winter! Explain that you are taking a trip rather than buying toys, and you would be surprised how willing kids are! (Even my four year liked the idea!)
- IDEAS FOR KIDS YOU DON’T KNOW WELL: Instead of buying gifts on a whim for children such as nieces, nephews, cousins, and friend’s children that you don’t know or see often, do some homework and call/email to find out what they would like before buying – this will make your job easier and the children will actually like and use what you get them. (Not to mention that you get a chance to talk to friends and relatives at the same time!) Another option for older children is to send cash in a card, or a gift card for their favourite store– it sounds like a cop-out but I know that kids love to receive money to save for something they really want to buy! If you do on-line shopping, another idea is to get the children to pick out what they would like on a website such as Toys ‘R Us and then you can buy their gift that way.
- LIMIT THE GIFTS! Set a limit of one gift per person! I used to give my children gifts from each other, myself, my husband, the dog, the cats – it got way too much and our children were simply overwhelmed. One gift from everyone keeps things reasonable and saves a lot of unnecessary spending.
- CONSIDER GIFT DONATIONS! For those people on your list who really don’t need anything, find out what sort of cause they are involved in, and make a donation to their favourite charity. Ideas for the nature lover include donating to the David Suzuki Foundation or the World Wildlife Fund of Canada, who have special fundraising drives going on all the time.
- GIVE CHILDREN THE GIFT OF GIVING! Teach your children to give of themselves, and you will be giving them the gift of feeling good about themselves! Have your children go with you to help out at a local food bank. Have them use their own money to buy gifts or give to charity. Have a used gift exchange amongst family members such as cousins, and have the children wrap up a toy they don’t play with anymore that is in good condition and give it to another child rather than buy new toys! Consider adopting a child through an organization such as World Vision so that your child will learn about the needs of children in other places in the world, and be able to write letters to them throughout the year and for years to come.
- GIVE CHILDREN THE GIFT OF LITERACY! Rather than buying toys, consider books and magazine subscriptions as another option. I would recommend researching to find out what sort of books the child likes and what level of reading he/she is at before buying.
- BE CREATIVE! I especially appreciate homemade gifts, such as cookies and treats, as well as crafts, because I know that a lot of effort went into the gift. If you have time and energy this season, consider making your own gifts and have your children help out!
- BE EARTH FRIENDLY! Try and find gifts that are produced, used, and discarded in environmentally friendly ways! Buy gifts that are recyclable when they need to be discarded, use reusable gift bags or newspaper to wrap gifts, buy battery-free toys for children, and purchase from companies that use recycled materials or environmentally friendly materials (just to name a few ideas!). Protect children’s rights and human rights by buying products that are produced by companies that guarantee protection of rights – visit the Me to We website or the Free the Children website for more ideas.
- ENJOY SHOPPING TIME! Rather than getting stressed about shopping, plan a fun shop with friends and take time to go out for dinner or lunch, or make a weekend of it!
HOPE YOUR HOLIDAY IS GREAT!
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I have the privilege of walking to work every day. When I have to go into town I make a day of it and do all of my errands for the week. I bring all of my items home in reusable cloth bags. My goal is to reduce the clutter in my house and eliminate plastic by 2009. I also grow most of my produce for my family of 5. Gardening is my idea of a great time; to be outdoors and absorb some much needed vitamin D, and great physical activity as well.
This year our family decided to give to our favorite charity as we all have more than we need.
For my friends and neighbors I am assembling ready to cook bean soup in jars that they can cook up at home.
My nieces and nephews are receiving gift certificates that they can redeem for sleepovers at my house during Christmas break or Spring break.
Merry Christmas!!
December 4th, 2008 at 5:38 am
I wrote this for my tribal newspaper on the US-side of the twin Saults:
Green gifts that keep giving
Last year, when my sister adopted a wolf family in my name for Christmas, I thought that was a great gift. Plus, I received a little wolf plush toy that I placed atop my home computer. So I adopted a pod of sea turtles in her name. Even nicer, these costs were reasonable. I love Christmas, but the glut of of gifts, the frantic spending and shopping and buying and wrapping “stuff” is something I don’t feel good about. Here are few ideas that can make everyone feel good about a gift, and might even be the solution for those notoriously-difficult-to-shop-for loved ones on your list.
For the animal lover: Through Defenders of Wildlife you can adopt a wolf, a wolf family or a whole pack. The funds help underwrite Defenders’ wolf-saving work and the recipient gets a wolf plush toy, kids wildlife activities book, personalized certificate, photo and fact sheet. You can also adopt polar bears, sea turtles, penguins, snow leopards and sea otters. Go to http://www.defenders.org to see your options.
For the nature lover: The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass admits the pass holders and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder plus three adults, not to exceed four adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 free). The pass is good across the U.S., a deal at $80, and can be obtained by calling 1-888-ASK USGS, Ext. 1, or via the Internet at http://store.usgs.gov/pass. Senior passes for those 62 and older, or disabled, are available for only $10.
For the tree lover: Give-A-Tree cards from the Arbor Day Foundation help replant national forests that have been devastated by wildfire, insects and disease. Every card plants a tree in honor of the recipient. These and other tree lover gifts can be had at http://www.arborday.org.
For the music lover: For iPod owners, purchase a prepaid iTunes Gift Card from the Apple Online Store or thousands of retailers. You music lover can use it to download music — no CDs, tapes, plastic or vinyl involved! If you are a music lover, too, you can obtain a gift certificate from iTunes and e-mail your gift certificate immediately with a nice Christmas eCard! To get really green, buy your music lovers an iPod solar recharger for their birthday.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Two ideas for you, one for Christmas and one for winter.
For Christmas, shop in second hand stores like the Salvation Army or your local hospital shop. Not only does it help to recycle gifts and clothes which reduces waste, it supports charities in your local community. I’ve found some great stuff there, sometimes with the tags still on!
For winter, instead of taking a fuel guzzling flight down south, save some money by turning up the thermostat, bringing out the blender to make a few of those fancy cocktails with little umbrellas in them and go on a cyber journey via the internet to anywhere in the world (or out of it, for that matter). Find out about local culture and scenery by hitting the high spots on the internet. It’s not quite the same but it’s good value!
December 6th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Green gift wrapping
My “can’t pass it by in the store” item is fabric. So 12 years ago, I bought metres and metres of holiday fabric and have been using the same stuff ever since for wrapping. No boxes, no papery ribbon
Just be sure you start with a big enough piece of fabric. Especially if you’re wrapping up a book.
Clothes can be rolled up, with fabric ribbons tied around the ends or the middle.
Also makes me think about how I’m going to wrap something in fabric before I even buy it.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
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