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Smart Mom

Simplify for good How can you help save Mother Earth while saving cash? Go green by staying out of the red. by Maria Bailey and Jennifer ArnoldPublished: February, 2009

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Even before the economy started to crumble, many of us were putting tiny cracks in the foundation. The traditional tenets that used to define our quality of life, such as comfort and security, were being replaced by a “more is better” mentality. We’ve gotten used to abundance, and when we want something, we simply reach out and grab it. The problem has affected our environment by creating unnecessary waste and impacted our bank accounts by putting us deeper into debt. So, if you’re really interested in going green, one way to start is by reducing your family’s consumption.     While going green has always been cool, we can use our economic predicament to look at “reduce, reuse, recycle” from a whole new perspective – and discover that cheap is the new chic. Reigning in your life just a little will have a huge impact on the Earth without buying a single thing. And, as an added bonus, you’ll show your kids how to live a meaningful life, not a wasteful one. Here are a few ideas to start giving your life a bit of a “make-under”: > Stop the competition. As card-carrying members of the “more is better” club, Americans have been engaged in a very strange game based on material possessions. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others. When we see that someone has a brand new SUV, suddenly we want one. When our neighbors add on a screened-in porch, we want a bigger house. There’s no way to keep up, so we end up frustrated and unhappy. Ultimately we end up more financially distressed in a race to conformity. No one wins, and we all start to look the same. Instead, establish your own definition of “rich.” Work on creating a family of individuals with your own unique set of goals and dreams. > Check out Grandma. Grandma was green long before “eco-conscious” was ever part of our vocabulary. And although no one wants to admit it, the conditions of today are eerily similar to those during the Great Depression: an ongoing war, high unemployment, fledgling banks and limited resources. The only difference is that back then people were naturally resourceful. From planting a garden to canning her own food, from creating handmade gifts to hanging her clothes out to dry, we could all take a cue from Grandma. Not only are these actions good for the environment, they’re good for the family, promoting togetherness and working toward a common goal. > Track your spending. The key to producing less waste is to reduce your consumption and start living within your means. Knowledge is power, so the first step to making this happen is to track where your money is going. Start by creating a simple spreadsheet with each family member’s name in a column, and record all spending for at least two months. Remember, no expense is too small to record. After a while, you will start to see categories forming around your family’s budget, and you can easily recognize and start to prioritize needs versus wants. In addition, tracking your spending will also hamper impulse buying and make us more mindful of every purchase. Armed with intimate knowledge of our finances will ensure that we are managing our money and not vice versa. > Re-purpose what you own. So, you’re ready to head out to the store to buy something, maybe a new storage system for the kids’ playroom. Now, imagine there has been a terrible thunderstorm and you cannot leave the house. What could you use instead? Those old milk crates in the garage will do just the trick!  Breathing new life into what you already have is the best way to recycle. The same goes for gifts as well. If it’s your sister’s birthday, wouldn’t she rather receive a favorite book that you’ve read with a personal inscription rather than another store-bought gift? Antique picture frames with a favorite quote or photo are also great gift ideas. Choose to re-purpose; it’s not only easier on your wallet, it’s easier on the environment. > Be grateful. Now that we’ve put an end to our game with the Joneses, it’s time to focus on what we do have rather than what we don’t. When you focus your attention on something, it tends to grow. Consequently, when you focus on things that you enjoy and things that make you happy, your happiness will flourish. Make a pact with your family not to talk about what material things others have. If envy is still running rampant in your house, start a family gratitude journal, and ask everyone to contribute to it before going to bed each night. With each entry, you might just notice that the things you and your family are grateful for are the simple things in life: sunny days, vegetables from the garden, etc. You’ll all start to value more of what matters – not just more. Now, that’s green! Maria Bailey is founder of smartmom.com and author of “Trillion-dollar Moms.” Jennifer Arnold is a freelance writer and mother of three. Need more Smart Mom solutions? Go to smartmomsolutions.com or listen to Mom Talk Radio: momtalkradio.com. •> Don't trash it! Technology is fleeting, and no matter how hard we try, there’s just no way to catch it. Just when you think you’ve got the latest and greatest, cutting edges and all, your gadget suddenly becomes “so yesterday!”  Rather than stuffing these items in a junk drawer or, worse yet, throwing them away, why not find an environmentally responsible way to discard your gadgets. Check out Gazelle, a company that offers to sell or recycle your old gadgets, including cell phones, digital cameras and MP3 players, among others. The site works with schools, businesses and other organizations, as well as individuals, and even provides packing materials and pays for shipping. •> Solution of the Month: Be Crafty Before your kids come through the door this Valentine’s Day wielding boxes of tiny little paper notes tethered with lollipops and candy from their classmates, two words come to mind: Be prepared!  Here’s an awesome multipurpose craft that will (a) keep all those precious Valentines in check,  (b) provide a fun way to spend some of the necessary downtime post-school, and (c) garner you lots of hugs and kisses!     Using cardboard, poster board, (check your recycling bin), cut out a large heart shape for each child. Place a small hole in the top of each heart. Gather glue and ribbon or string. When your kids arrive home, ask each one to create a collage by gluing their cards to their cardboard heart. Thread ribbon through the top of each heart, hang in the doorway of your child’s room and voila! Valentine Mistletoe!

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