apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

well, we're eating out less, buying less "stuff," and eating more beans and less meat, so I guess that's all more green, in general. But we're also buying less organic fruit because it's more expensive, and generally are more likely to buy whatever is cheaper rather than whatever is more green. So I'm not sure which one wins out.

Most "green upgrades" are all marketing. 'Greenwashing' is fooling everyone in to consuming to be green. That is not the way to do it.

My husband and I are buying a LOT less STUFF. Pretty much only food so far this year. We are reusing and wasting tons less. We were so bad. We started with the idea to save money so hubby can go back to school full time, but I believe our financial goals are also helping the environment. When we do spend, we want to be able to buy quality items, not junk that will be tossed in a month. We are doing our best to not bring clutter crap into our little place, so that does double duty (less spending, less trash).

Everyone, check this video thestoryofstuff.com

Neither - I'm about breaking even, though in different ways than before. Definitely cooking at home more, but as I usually shoot for local first, then organic (and hopefully both), that behavior hasn't changed.

I'll be getting back to work on my green remodel now that the tendonitis has healed (if 40 years old, please take care of your hands/arms while working on projects!). I'm just getting to the fun part, including trimming things out, so that's a matter of finding interesting things in interesting places - not much impact there.

Aside from that, I'm with the "less stuff" crowd. Now I look around at things like my wardrobe, and feel a little sick. The strange thing is, most of my consuming has been in the last few years, and I've never felt so uncomfortable in my own home - it's overwhelming. I was making a concerted effort to "build a life" or rebuild anyway - and it feels really superficial, while some of the basics have been neglected. For starters, someone's going to get a really big donation...

Having one of the two of us unemployed means we are being very careful with what money we do have - and I agree that this means not splurging on organic apples when you can get a bag of the pesticide-laden ones for much less. But we're also trying to seek out the lifestyle changes that are good for us, good for the environment, and good for our finances. This means cleaning with baking soda and vinegar, making most all of our food from scratch, less meat, and much less shopping for "stuff". We're also beginning to look at what can be done to bring down our water and electric bills - which are definitely on the side of "green" changes. Nothing that involves buying more stuff, just wiser use of lights, heat, water, the usual...

I just defended and am revising a masters, so i finally can plan meals, mend clothes, and make presents instead of buying. My husband is thrilled I am making bread again. I am hoping that I can balance it all out when i get a decent job. Planing garden now...yay!

"Now I look around at things like my wardrobe, and feel a little sick. The strange thing is, most of my consuming has been in the last few years, and I've never felt so uncomfortable in my own home - it's overwhelming."

Mysoultokeep's comment really resonated with me. I find myself feeling the same way. I'd bet a lot of other people do too. I looked at my Quicken and was shocked/embarrassed by how much I spent on clothes last year, and I looked at my closed and wasn't impressed. Damn it! I should have sent that to student loans before I could waste it. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!!

It is funny that the ad on this page is for the movie "Shopaholic". (I like the books, great beach read)

*closet

sorry, I am a horrible proofreader

I think the recession is making me more green, although i can't say for sure that the greening wouldn't have happened without the recession but it certainly helps. I switched to cloth napkins, got rid of the paper towels and made up some rags to use, and switched my feminine hygiene products to ones that can be washed and re-used. Although it cost more initially i think in the end it will pay itself off since we wont be buying those paper products anymore. Also i am thinking a lot more about what i need vs. what i want and when i do buy things i am searching for things to re-use at places like Goodwill instead of buying new things. Unfortunately though if things get a LOT worse we may have to give up organic food because it costs more which would be NOT green.

Like everyone else, we're not going out as much; we're being even more careful with purchases than in years past, and we recently threw a yard sale with some neighbors to give everyone a little more pocket cash.

That said, in January we actually splurged on some green upgrades that we had been planning for a while. After the household triple hit of recession, underemployment, and the utility company raising prices nearly 20% over 1.5 years, we sold our decade old water hog washer and upgraded to a most water-wise front loader and installed ceiling fans. We switched to a manual reel mower for the tiny, wild, urban backyard. The upgrades are on target to pay for themselves by year's end, but that's going to be it for this year.

More conventional fruit and veg is coming into the house than before, but switching to the farmer's market last year helped us control food costs. (One thing, and perhaps THE one thing, in FL's favor is that most of our meat, fish, and veg is raised within 150 miles.) Last year's green changes included cleaning with vinegar and baking soda, dumping the tiny front lawn for an organic native plant garden, increased insulation beneath the bottom floor, and using sustainable woods and low/no VOC paint for work our small renovated 104 year-old home (aka: Our Lady of Perpetual Maintenance).

I'm unemployed now, so I am cooking all of my own food. I'm also buying less processed food because it is more expensive (I have celiac and gluten-free processed food is a fairly spendy niche), so that reduces packaging waste. I'm already vegetarian, so no meat reduction but I do have more time to soak beans rather than buying canned. I still plan to join the CSA this season that I have joined the past 2 years.

I'm home more, so my lights/tv are on more. I am doing better at keeping lights off in empty rooms though. I have most electronics on a power strip so that they aren't drawing power when not in use. I don't have control over the heat, so there is no change there.

Since I don't leave the house every day, I don't shower every day and don't change clothes nearly as often. I probably don't smell fantastic but my only roommates are 4 legged and don't care. This is probably cutting down on water usage both in shower and laundry.

I'm taking advantage of the time that I have on my hands now to go through my belongings and find what I can to sell, donate, or trash if it is of no use. My hope is to simplify my home and life so that both take less time and money to maintain.

I chose other because in some ways we're more green (driving less, consuming less, etc.), but I also can't afford to buy more expensive "green" products, and I had some plans for green upgrades to my house that I need to postpone.