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She shifted her spending
& saved $10,000! | |
No, this is not a tale from Ripley's Believe it or Not! This woman from New York State made several small decisions and a couple of big ones that saved her around $10,000. Here's how she did it. |
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Make Your Own Bubble Water
 I love the fizzing freshness of seltzer. But I hate buying water, especially if it's in a plastic bottle but even if it's bottled in glass.
Hence my delight at using the Soda Stream, a counter-top sized carbonator whose handy CO2 cartridge infuses my water with all the fizziness I want - but none of the throwaway mess.
The fizzer I have comes with a CO2 cartridge and two refillable liter-sized plastic water bottles (other models come with glass carafes). It couldn't be easier to use, and it takes up very little room in my kitchen.
A family of four could slash its home soft-drink-related packaging usage by over 90% by using a soda maker. The company says its plastic carbonating bottles are reusable for up to three years, and the Penguin glass carbonating carafes will last even longer than that with proper care. A typical American will toss away over 1500 aluminum cans (and/or hundreds of plastic 2-liter bottles) over three years - while a Soda Stream owner will use just one or two reusable carbonating bottles or carafes.
Full disclosure: I was put off by the Soda Stream's $99 price tag and probably would not have bought it had the company not sent me a model to try. I'm a complete convert now. I love having soda water whenever I want it, and given how much water my family drinks, I figured the system paid for itself in about two months.
One suggestion: I find the fruity flavorings that you can order with the bottles way too sweet and artificial-tasting. Save your money on those, and simply sweeten with fresh lemon, lime or orange juice you squeeze into your drink yourself. |
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What to Look for When Buying Jewelry
 I'm a big fan of "natural" jewelry - necklaces, bracelets and rings made from polished seeds and stones, or from sea glass found on the beach. But jewelry doesn't have to be this rustic to meet my "green" criteria. Generally, for reasons I list here, I look for jewelry that is:
* fashioned from recycled or reclaimed materials (gold and silver may be reclaimed from other jewelry settings, but "gems" may be repurposed from items like the recycled wine bottle made into the necklaces shown above, typewriter keys, heirloom pottery, and a variety of fabrics )
* made either by artisans in the U.S. or Fair Trade jewelers abroad (as opposed to mass produced in China or elsewhere)
* certified to be "conflict free" in the case of new diamonds or other precious rocks.
When shopping for jewelry, browse the artisan stalls at local craft fairs. Or, think "new to you" as opposed to "brand new." You can find real gems (no pun intended) at antique shops, vintage stores and estate sales.
These online jewelers also offer beautiful designs made from recycled and repurposed metals, stones, and fabrics. |
Surprising Ingredient in this Dessert? Vinegar.
I was served this delicious dessert at the Mom 2.0 Summit earlier this year by an Italian chef who swore that everyone in Tuscany eats gelato with balsamic vinegar drizzled on top. It sounded sour to me - until I tried it in a bowlful of strawberries.
Boy, was I surprised! The tangy-ness of the balsamic was a perfect foil to the sweet gelato, and brought out the flavor of the strawberries in totally unexected ways.
Give it a try, in any proportions you like.
I put a couple of scoops of gelato in the bowl first, followed by several spoonfuls of trimmed and halved strawberries. I drizzled a little balsamic on top, but put the bottle of vinegar on the table for anyone who wanted to add more. (We all did!)
BTW, it might be hard to find organic gelato, but organic vinegar is available in many grocery stores, and organic strawberries are plentiful now, especially at farmers markets. |
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Have you taken our One in a Million pledge yet? If not, I hope you'll sign up. It's a great way you can share what you're doing to make a difference for your family and the planet. Plus, it lets us cheer you on as you keep track of the changes you're making. Start by completing this free tally sheet. It couldn't be easier.
Thanks!
Diane MacEachern
Big Green Purse
email: diane@biggreenpurse.com
web: http://www.biggreenpurse.com twitter @dianemaceachern facebook - dianemaceachern1 |
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