Win-Win October 11, 2007

Remember when practically the only catalogue around was Sear’s, and it only came once a year?? Now I feel like I get about a dozen a day. However, thanks to brooklyngal’s fantastic suggestion, I’ve been deleting my name from catalogue mailing lists. It’s quick and easy and has a lot of positive trickle down effects:

1. I’m cutting my personal paper consumption.
2. I’m making my mailperson’s life a little easier!
3. I’m sending a message to retailers—BACK OFF, MAN!!
4. I’m cutting down on consumption of stuff in general because, let’s face it, the bombard ‘em with pretty pictures routine really does get me to buy more.
5. I’m also cutting down on carbon heavy shipping procedures by not using mail order services. (I think, though if you buy from factory direct catalogues I guess this is not really true…)
6. I’m cutting down on the accumulation of junk mail in my living room.

Anyway, thanks for the great suggestion!

Spending Green to Go Green? July 27, 2007

No sooner had I sworn off buying for a month, than I was faced with all sorts of things I wanted to buy! I guess that was bound to happen since I’m pretty much always faced with things I want to buy. Here’s the kicker though—the objects in question were (for the most part) supplies for becoming more environmentally conscientious. Like a Swiffer-esque mop that used washable cloths, a book called It’s Easy Being Green, and a dance DVD. Ok, so the dance DVD doesn’t really help the environment, but it helps me and I live in the environment. As you can see, my logic is quickly unraveling. Did I really say I was not going to buy anything this month? What was I thinking??!!?

I don’t buy that July 20, 2007

Just got a credit card bill in the mail and it seemed like a good enough reason as any to do something good for my checking account as well as the environment. My mission is to only buy necessary items, like food, for the next month. Anybody want to cyber bond about ridding ourselves of the shackles of unnecessary purchasing? Here’s a Yoga Journal article on simplifying our lives to act as inspiration.
P.S. I’ve now actually inserted the url’s from my previous entries as active links, so now you can go directly to them.