Small Steps for Big Changes

When you think about all the waste and useless expenditure that we become accustomed to, it's no wonder we are searching for spare change under the cushions. 

As people are becoming more hip to being cost efficient and energy efficient, I am HUGELY aware of how to do more for less when I stage or redesign someone's home.  And it gets me thinking about how I can save money for me, and for my family as I perform everyday chores in my own life.

LAUNDRY:

I was always taught to wash my whites in hot, mediums in warm and darks in cold.  But honestly, if the whites are not soiled, cold is fine.  And how often do you use the "short" cycle?  When I wash my sheets and towels, it is usually for freshening them up.  A short cycle will do that.  Save the regular cycle for the kids' mud caked jeans and the dogbed cover.

Dryers can  be set on lower settings and do a good job.  And there is less wear and tear on your clothing if things are subjected to less heat.  I also have purchased a clothesline to hang in my laundry room.  I airdry all my delicates so nothing shrinks and the elastic will last longer.  I airdry most of my pants as well.  A quick tumble dry at the end and some ironing and they look great. 

EXTRA FREEZER:

I have one in my basement.  It's full of stuff that is too old to ever use again.  And I shop frequently for mostly fresh food, so the frig/freezer is fine for my needs.  I am going to clean out the extra freezer and turn it off. I can't imagine how much energy it is costing me, needlessly! (anyone want to buy a freezer??)

APPLIANCE MAINTENANCE:

Make sure you keep up to date with manufacturer guidelines in upkeep of your appliances.  Remember to clean out the lint filter in your dryer.  And clean out under your refrigerator.  Take off the plate in the front of the frig and vacuum out all the dust and dirt.  It will run much more efficiently.

CLEANING PRODUCTS:

Boy, we are made to feel that we need to buy different products for every cleaning need!  Honestly, the things you need to keep on hand are white vinegar and bleach for the most part.  I also have a gentle cleaner for wood furniture. My biggest pet peeve is disposable cleaning wipes.  You know, the kind that pop up from the container?  They are extremely expensive and wasteful.  Even paper towels, while they have their purpose, can for the most part be replaced by reusable cleaning cloths.  Old fashion Comet, which is about 88 cents the last time I checked, has replaced my SoftScrub (about $4) for cleaning sinks, toilets and tub.  Use fewer, cheaper products (the ones we grew up with) and reusable cloths.  You save money and save the planet.  Keep it simple.

SNACK FOODS/SNACK SIZES:

With kids' lunches, it is always tempting to buy items that are packed for individual servings.  But take a look at the price difference between a large bag of junk and a container of small bags of that same junk.  You are better off to portion it out on your own. And speaking of junk, try not to buy it at all.  We end up spending more money at some point for weight loss, dental issues and general health problems because of processed food.  There is long term cost for short term pleasure. Think about how much processed food is in your house and try to replace some of it with fresh items.  Buy water bottles for your kids.  They can fill them up from the tap and they will get the flouride they need.

BUY IN BULK.......BUT NOT ALWAYS:

Sometimes bulk items are more expensive per unit than smaller sizes of the same thing.  I don't get it, but just be aware of it.  Get in the habit of looking at "unit cost" which most of the stores have on their shelves beneath the item.  And don't buy in bulk if it's an item you have never tried before (in case you don't like it) or one that may spoil before you get to finish it.  But if it makes sense and you have the room, buy in bigger sizes for items you always use.

RECYCLE:

Ok, if you don't already do this to some degree, shame on you.  All our towns are making it increasingly easier for us to recycle. And town trash bags are expensive, so let that be an incentive to do even a better job of recycling.  It's easy to toss today's paper in the bin. But do you take the time to rinse out your cottage cheese and yogurt containers or do they just go in the trash?  Habits can be made or broken in 3 days or after 3 events of the activity. Anything that can be recycled should be.  And if you're not set up to make it easier, take the time to prepare a system.

In my house, the town-issued recycle bin is way too small.  I bought a large garbage can on wheels, labeled it "Recycling" and keep it right inside the garage, next to the trash.  I wheel them out on trash day.  I have small bins in my home office and by the kids' computer.  And it's great to see the impact this has had on my kids.  If they ever catch me being lazy and putting a piece of paper in the trash, they come down hard on me!  To them it's second nature, as it should be for us all.

Make the changes slowly, set up systems that will make you more apt to implement the changes, and praise yourself for doing so!  If you have anymore ideas, write in to me and I will add them with your name to my blog!!  Write to: info@katelowrydesigns.com and put "Blog suggestion" in the subject line. 

All my best,
Katie

Be sure to visit my website at  http://www.katelowrydesigns.com/

YOUR WRITE-IN SUGGESTIONS: 

Brian L: "Just use HALF the amount of recommended laundry soap!! "

Lisa M:  "Alternative to Soft Scrub that is not only cheap but environmentally sound as well. Mix 1 cup baking soda with ½ cup castille soap (you can buy this in any health food store in bulk). Mix this into a paste and then add a few drops of essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus etc). This is great for tubs, tile, toilets and sinks. Anything you’d use Softscrub for. It cleans beautifully and smells wonderful. Leaves no residue and it’s like an aromatherapy treat. I make this in big batches and put it into glass jars (recycled salsa jars, jelly jars are great) and it keeps for months. Sometimes you need to give it a stir if the oil rises to the top but other than that it lasts for months.

Cindy K:  "In addition to recycling you should compost. Anything that is not meat or fat can go in a compost pile. Even if you don’t use it for your garden it greatly reduces the amount of trash."