Recently I went to see WICKED and one of the thoughts that came to mind is that it's not easy being green. A lot of us have this perception that Galinda/Glinda was the good witch and Elphaba was the evil, green witch, but watching the performance, their roles are actually reversed. Who we think is good is actually more 'evil' than the wicked witch and voilà-our perception of Life in Oz is switched around.
Which then led me to wonder...what are some ways that people can save green while being green? Granted in a lot of university communities the green lifestyle is strongly encouraged and buying green products can be less expensive than buying products conventionally made. I'm fortunate to work and live in a place where being green is very much the lifestyle and there's a myriad of choices! This is especially beneficial to me, since I have a very restricted diet in addition to buying majority of food and skin products that are better for the environment and for my health. Because of this, I have learned that most of my groceries are actually much cheaper (at least 20%) at places like farmer's market, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, etc. than buying at a conventional store. In addition, I stock up whenever non-perishable items are on sale-especially gluten-free products!
So what can you do if you don't live in an eco-conscious place and still save money while doing some good...especially with the winter holidays around the corner? Keep in mind who you are buying for...quality is much better than quantity. Don't purchase or make a gift unless you know the person would use it-most people still put unwanted items in the trash instead of thinking of donating it. Think of long-term value or an experience (annual membership or tickets) that will stay with them for a while versus one-time use.
Buy locally when you can. Extra bonus points if you purchase free-trade or sustainably made products. If you do buy from a big chain, then support those that contribute to their community. If you buy gift cards, look into the company and see if they will still be around in a year or two (or encourage the person to use them right away!).
If you want something tangible to give to someone-think of purchasing them a reusable drinking container ($8-20). This is equal to at least 8 bottles of water purchased at a convenience store or 2-3 cases of water (it takes quite a bit of water just to make a one-time use plastic bottle). If they are a coffee or tea drinker-buy them a machine for their office and give them a mixture of fair-trade coffee or tea and put it in a reusable shopping bag.
But most importantly, think of organizations where you can give a donation in someone's name instead of a gift. Non-profit organizations are receiving a lot less money. Think of donating to Toys for Tots, shelters, your local food bank (cash goes a lot further than you purchasing meals), local cultural organizations, and international aid organizations (i.e. solar stoves, water purification systems. In developing countries, water usage averages a few gallons per person-while in the US we each use about 75 gallons a day).
If you have children, install in them the importance of giving back. Pick out a toy together for a child that needs it more.
While 'wrapping' up these gift ideas, think of ways you can cut back on wrapping paper. Use reusable shopping bags, comics, articles/ads from their favorite magazines, or fabric to wrap up the gifts. Or at the minimum-don't use ribbons or bows and use wrapping paper that can be easily recycled. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Thanks for stopping by.
-Heather
