Thursday, December 31, 2009

Go Green to Save Green!

The experts at SavvySugar share their ideas about how to Resolve to Go Green to Save in 2010.


My favorite tip? Quit your paper habit! In the past three months, I have refused to buy paper towels or napkins. I'm using cloth napkins and washable, resuable cloth towels for cleaning and wiping up spills. I've definitely noticed the difference in my wallet...paper towels were expensive!


The least you can do is recycle....that's so 1990's anyway!

Check back tomorrow when I share my green achievements of 2009 and goals for waste reduction in 2010!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

My Thermostat Emailed Me...




I don't usually communicate with my appliances, but my thermostat emailed me the other day and asked me to turn him down. I'd turned him down to 70 degree a few months ago, but it's been colder than usual, and I can't function when I'm freezing....either I'm wrapped up in my blanket or I turn the thermostat up so I can get some things done. But since he asked, I turned him down to 68 degrees this weekend. We'll see if I can handle it!

Here are some other winter heating tips to keep in mind, courtesy of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E):

  1. In the winter, reverse your ceiling fan motor so that the blades drive the warm air back down around the edges of the room.
  2. Close drapes, blinds and shades at night to help retain heat.
  3. Keep your thermostat set at 68º F during the daytime and 55º F at night to stay comfortable and save gas or turn it off if you’re away for more than four hours.
  4. In the winter, open your window coverings on sunny days to help warm the rooms.

 Visit PG&E's website for more winter gas saving tips!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Alternative Christmas Trees

No...I don't mean Christmas trees that smell like teen spirit...

CasaSugar recently shared a list to 10 Stylish Reusable Christmas Trees that are alternatives to the traditional tree, especially for those of you who can't decide between getting a real or fake tree. Some of them are also eco-friendly! :)

My favorite?



Unlike most of the other alternative trees, this one sits on the floor, comes in three standard Christmas tree size - 4 ft., 6 ft, and 8 ft -and has room for tons of ornaments. It's made from recyclable acrylic and is made in Orange County, CA. It has a hefty price tag - $678 - but man, what a cool looking tree!

Read more about Aaron R. Thomas and the company's acrylic recycling program.

Which alternative tree was your favorite?

Real or Fake? The Christmas Tree Debate

I'm sure many of you went back and forth about what type of Christmas tree to get this season - real or fake? While there are pros and cons to both, the most eco-friendly choice to get a real Christmas tree from a tree farm.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association - a group that provides a great comparison chart on their website - real Christmas trees are the best option because they are:

  • Grown in the US
  • 100% biodegradable
  • Carbon Neutral
  • Lead and Plastic Free
I've been trying really hard to be eco-friendly, but this year I committed Christmas tree-son (treason) and bought a fake Christmas tree. In my defense, "a one-time purchase of an artificial tree can save gas otherwise used for annual trips to the local tree farm." (Robert Lilienfeld, co-author of Use Less Stuff: Environmental Solutions for Who We Really Are) The tree is also reusable and the lights are LED lights.




I also believe I made the most sustainable choice, given my situation. Sustainability isn't only about being eco-friendly or green. It also takes people, culture, and economics into consideration. As a single mom with limited financial resources, the $35 pre-lit 6 ft. tree I bought at Walmart totally fit my budget. A real tree of the same size would have cost more than that! I also saved time and money by not having to rent a truck and ropes to transport the tree (or having to schedule time with friends to help me). I also avoided the frustration of having to string lights on the tree. My tree is easy to transport, store and assemble, which is more important to me. And just look at the smile on my son's face...that's all the justification I need! :)


 Which type of Christmas tree did you get this year? Is it eco-friendly and/or sustainable?

Monday, December 7, 2009

Learn Energy Efficiency from the Japanese

Japan: A Model of Energy Efficiency?: The California Report | The California Report
Posted using ShareThis

I just heard this story on the way home from work. The Japanese are a great model to follow when it comes to ways people can become more energy efficient.


The Sakakis, the family features in the radio story, show us that it's very possible and easy to have a more energy efficient home - even if it means sharing bath water with your family!  (Not sure if I'd be willing to do that though...)

You can find out more about the Sakaki family here.

What do you do in your household to save energy?

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Lush Life

 ***UPDATE 12/07/09***
I'd like to officially state that I LOVE this antiperspirant/deodorant. It actually works better than any other product I've ever used. Every time I put it on, I think I smell a bit like nature, but after a few minutes, it's hardly noticeable. I would definitely recommend this PLASTIC FREE product to all. (And hey, if the scent bothers you, you can always cover it up with perfume!)

During my Seattle trip, I went shopping at Lush - one of my new favorite stores. Lush sells fresh, handmade cosmetics that are mostly in bar form and plastic free! The products seem a little pricey at first, but when you consider the fact that they last for a long time, the cost per use ratio works out really well.

Before making my final purchase, I asked tons of questions, and I found the staff at Lush to be very knowledgeable about their products. They are even willing to give you samples and do in store demonstrations!
 
So what did I buy? The Aromaco Deodorant. Out of the whole Lush deoderant line, this is the only one that is an antiperspirant as well. It features witch hazel, which helps absorb sweat and eliminate bacteria associated with bodily odor.

I'd heard stories about other similar types of deodorant where the product either didn't work or only worked for a couple of hours before the person was sweaty and stinky. But this one actually works...even better than my regular deodorant! I'm a believer and I can't wait to buy more Lush products in the future! :)

Do you live the Lush life? If so, what are your favorite products?

My Trip to the Greenest City in America

I recently traveled to Seattle, Washington for business and pleasure and was pleasantly surprised to see how green it had become since I was last there in 2002. Although we were served individual plastic bottles of water and juice at my meeting (tsk, tsk), it was very cool that they offered three different trash receptacles - one for recyclables, one for composting, and one for trash.

Other green highlights include great public transportation options,excellent air quality, renewable energy sources, and a general citizen consciousness around environmental issues and healthy living.


I've always loved Seattle, so I am proud to give it my "Greenest City in America" award.

Know any cities that qualify as runner ups? Tell me about your favorite green city!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Luna Pads: Would You Wear These?

It's just about that time of the month again, and I need to buy some new feminine products.

I was poking around the Fake Plastic Fish website, and I came across Luna Pads, a company that sells sustainable menstrual alternatives like Lunapads washable cloth pads and The DivaCup menstrual cup (made of silicone).


Luna Pads


The DivaCup

I plan to go plastic-free this month, but I was just thinking of getting Tampax with the biodegradable applicator. I'm not sure if I'm willling to go this far...

Tell me...would you wear these?

Five Steps Towards the Plastic-Free Life

A few months ago, I was inspired to live plastic free after hearing a radio show featuring Beth Terry, author of the blog Fake Plastic Fish. I'm not in the mood to get into why plastics are so bad, but I will tell you all the plastic-free changes I have made to date:

  1. Bye Bye Paper Towels. I haven't bought paper towels for a month, even though they would have come in handy on a few occasions. I've been using old rags and towels, but I plan to buy Skoy cloths - absorbent, natural, 100% biodegradable multi-use cloths...each cloths is equivalent to 15 rolls of paper towels! Eco-friendly and economical
  2. No Paper Napkins. Instead of using napkins or paper towels at meals, we've been using old washcloths for napkins. Eventually I'll buy (or make) some real cloth napkins.
  3. This Way to the Bar. We use bar soap instead of body wash now. I was disappointed to see that some bar soaps come wrapped in plastic, but it's less than the amount of plastic used to make a bottle of body wash. Once my facial cleanser runs out, I plan to purchase the it's bar version. I'm also looking into using solid bars for deodorant, lotion, and shampoo as well. Lush offers great varieties in all of these areas, but they can be pricey.
  4. Pass the Bottle. My son and I have multiple water bottles and travel mugs that we fill with juice or water instead of buying bottled versions. Look stainless steel bottles that keep your drinks hot or cold.
  5. Just Throw It In the (Reusable) Bag. Like many people, I've been bringing resuable bags to the grocery store for a while (though I am guilty of getting plastic bags to use for garbage bags at home). For a cute, collapsable version that can fit in your purse, try Chico Bags. They come in a variety of colors and styles (sling, messenger, backpack, etc.).



I hope I've inspired you to jump on the plastic-free bandwagon...the more the merrier! It's actually not as difficult as you might think! I'll keep you updated on what other changes I've made as I make them...

Don't know where to begin? Be sure to check out Fake Plastic Fish to see the list of plastic free changes to get more ideas about how you can live the plastic-free life.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Note to Bank - You're Fired!

I'm really good about keeping track of my spending. I use my transaction register religiously and record every purchase I make, bill I pay, or money deposited into my account. I always know how much money I have. So you can imagine my surprise when I found my account in the red last week, with three overdraft fees added into my transaction history at $35 a pop!
FYI - Banks earn as much as $25 billion to $38 billion annually from overdraft fees.
Each year, I lose about $200 to the bank in overdraft fees. And they all usually hit at the same time due to some unexpected transaction. Last week, I forgot about one of my automatic checks, so I expected at least one overdraft fee. I immediately deposited borrowed money so I could cover the funds and avoid any additional fees. When I looked at my account online on Thursday, it looked fine...exactly what I expected. But on Friday, my account looked different. The bank took the liberty to rearrange my transactions so that the largest amounts were deducted first - to their benefit, of course. So instead of the $35 I expected, I now owe $105 in overdraft fees. (And one of my transactions was for only about $5! Why does the bank make me pay $35 for a $5 transaction????)

I called and complained and got nowhere. So that's when I decided I'd had enough. I decided to fire my bank! I immediately withdrew my money from the bank and deposited it into a credit union account. (Suze is always talking about how great credit unions are, so I finally decided to give one a try.) Within minutes I had a debit card and sample checks. Then I went back to work and signed up for direct deposit right away!

The benefits to signing up with a credit union are endless. First and most importantly of all, the credit union deducts money based upon transaction date and NOT the amount of the purchase. I can almost guarantee my overdraft fee days are over. Other benefits include:
  • Early paycheck with direct deposit (Thursday instead of Friday)
  • Savings Accounts with no minimum balances
  • High-yielding savings accounts and IRAs
  • Low-rate loans and credit cards
  • Financial Assistance Programs to restore credit and increase credit scores
Basically, unlike the bank, credit unions care about the consumer and want to help people reach financial freedom. They help us save our money instead of finding sneaky ways to steal it from us!

For you banks out there, here's an idea: instead of charging people $35 for each overdraft item, how about don't allow transactions to be made if the money isn't there? I'd rather be embarassed at the store and put items back than have to pay the bank lots of money (money I don't have, by the way) just because they allowed me to purchase something with insufficient funds.

Another idea might be charging one overdraft fee per day - sometimes people do all of their grocery / pet / pharmacy / etc. shopping all in one day, and it hurts to pay an overdraft fee for every single purchase if they happen to unexpectantly spend too much.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

My Favorite Inexpensive / Free Home Makeover Ideas

It's Saturday morning, and I'm stuck home with a cold, which means I didn't make it to San Francisco to see Suze Orman after all. :(

Normally, I'd get cozy on the couch and watch countless hours of HGTV, but since I don't have cable, I'm doing the next best thing...internet research on the DIY home makeovers! Not only are the inexpensive or free, they also take advantage of stuff you may already have around the house, so you're saving the earth as well! Here are five of my favorite ideas so far:


1. Revamped Boxes for Office Storage - Use your excess wrapping paper and gift tags to turn old shoe boxes into office storage solutions.


2. From Tableware to Toiletries - Take mismatched tableware, like sugar bowls and creamers, and use them to hold your toiletries instead.

Courtesy of Real Simple - No-Money Home Makeover Ideas


3.  DIY Headboard - Make your own headboard using sheet installation, fabric, and buttons - no sewing required!

Courtesy of HGTV Canada - She's Crafty - Episode: I'm Loving It


4. Spice It Up! - Here's a cute way to store your herbs and spices in bottles with a vintage apothecary look.

Courtesy of Eat Drink Chic - DIY Authentic Vintage Paper Labels!


5. Mosaic Wall - Using scrapbook paper and glue dots, create an apartment-friendly mosaic wall and brighten up any room. (I want to try this, but with more muted colors and some patterns thrown in!)

Courtesy of The Swell Life - Colorful Mosaic Wall on the cheap!!!

Of course, there are tons more easy and cheap DIY ideas there. Check my out my links and blogroll to connect to other sites with similar ideas!

I can't wait to try one of these out...hopefully today, if I'm up to it. I need to get my place ready for the holiday party I'm hosting!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Suze Sighting - San Francisco


My financial goddess and heroine Suze Orman will be in San Francisco on Saturday at The Learning Annex's Make Money Expo. She'll be talking about how to navigate the current economic climate, when things will get better, and how to create a financial plan for 2010.

I know I am supposed to be saving money, but with the discount I received on my ticket to the Expo (thank you, Suze!), and the fact that I'll be learning how to make and save more money, it's an investment I won't regret!

Anyone want to carpool?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Making a List, Checking the Price...

Call me crazy, but I started Christmas shopping weeks ago...or at least planning my gifts. I already know what I'm getting my co-workers and friends, and I've bought my son some classic children's literature that was on sale at Border's two weeks ago.


Today, I received an email from Target announcing their Christmas list. I looked through the list and realized how easy boys are when it comes to gifts. My list will contain gifts from the following categories:
  • Blocks/Legos
  • Pretend Play (tool kit, doctor's kit, cash register, etc.)
  • Action Figures and/or Cars
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Classic Board Games
  • Learning Toys (Leap Frog reader)
  • Books
  • Clothing
These are pretty much the same categories I used last year and will use for years to come. I suppose only the details will change. (For instance, he likes superheros this year, but maybe next year he'll be into dinosaurs.) My problem is that I want to get him everything! I really need to set a budget, but I want to hear from you first...

Do you set a budget for your holiday shopping? How much do you usually spend on Christmas gifts for your child/children?

Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Invisible Woman - Halloween Costume Success!


Thanks to Old Navy, I was able to make my own awesome, true to character Invisible Woman costume. What do you think?

I don't know if I inherited some super strength or something through my costume, but I totally felt kick-ass and confident yesterday. Or maybe it was the remarkable response I received from a few people, like how good I looked in the costume and how I should wear form fitting clothing more often. One guy at the Halloween party I was at last night even said I was SEXY...and here I was thinking I was going to look fat! Watch out, Jessica Alba....there's a new Susan Storm in town...and she's as Fantastic as ever!


The only sad thing is that most people at work didn't know who I was. Some saw the 4 on my chest and knew I was from the Fantastic Four, but didn't know which character (which is sad because there is only one female character in the group). Others thought I was a Dr. Seuss character, but if they know their Dr. Seuss literature at all, they'd know that there is no Thing 4 from The Cat in the Hat, only Thing 1 and Thing 2, not to mention that they wear red outfits (only their hair is electric blue).

I didn't win one of the Top 3 spots in the costume contest at work, but that's okay with me. It's been a SUPER FANTASTIC Halloween this year, and that's all I could have asked for.

By the way, since this is a savings blog, here are the details on my costume, by the numbers:
  1. Electric Blue Top and Pants - Old Navy, $27.19
  2. Black Gloves - Spirit Halloween Store, $8.69
  3. Black Belt - my closet, FREE
  4. Black Boots - my closet, FREE
  5. #4 Patch - my crafts box, FREE
So, my costume came to a grand total of $35.88....not bad given the fact that this wasn't the only time I'd be wearing this outfit. Look for the Fantastic Four's Susan Storm a.k.a. The Invisible Woman coming to a superhero play date near you!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Debt Consolidation Card

Last night,  I watched an old episode of The Suze Orman Show on iTunes (she has free podcasts every week!). It was the "Bank Bullies" episode where she talked about how credit card companies were raising the minimum amounts due on card balances and other things they do to screw people over.

One piece of advice she gave was to do a debt consolidation and transfer all of your credit card debt onto one card. That way, you only have one payment each month with hopefully a lower interest rate. It's just like consolidating student loans, but instead it's credit card debt. Suze said the best way to do this was to go through a credit union because they offer lower interest rates.

So...I called one of the local credit unions today, and the credit union today, and to make a long story short, they couldn't help me. I have about $12,000 in credit card debt on three different cards that I'd like to consolidate. But in order to do so, I have to apply and qualify for a credit card at that amount or higher. QUALIFY? There's no way I'd qualify for that amount, so I stopped the application process and went back to the drawing board.

To me, the whole thing doesn't make sense. All I want to do is take the current debt I have and dump it onto a new card so that I can reduce the number of payment I have each month. Sounds simple right? I kind of understand where the credit union is coming from (they can't guarantee I'll use the credit card to pay off my debt, which is why qualifying is important), but still!

I just want to consolidate my debt, and NOT with one of those debt consolidation services! If anyone out there knows of any good accounts, programs or credit cards I can start to consolidate my credit card debt, please let me know!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

3...2...1....BLASTOFF!

I'm on a mission...a mission to earn extra cash, and I think I just found the perfect rocketship. A co-worker  recently told me about Blastoff, a new online cash-saving opportunity (or shopportunity, if you will) that just launched on the Web.


Blastoff is a Web site that allows you to save money by shopping online.  Sure, there are other sites out there just like this, but they typically offer a poor selection of retailers to choose from. With Blastoff, hundreds of the nation's most popular retailers, such as Zappos.com, Kohl's, Target, Best Buy, iTunes, Starbucks, and even Southwest Airlines, have signed on to reward its customers for shopping online by giving them anywhere up to 20% cash back. (Click here for a complete list of stores.)

To take advantage of this awesome shopportunity, all you have to do is sign up for a free Blastoff site and start shopping! Also, when you invite friends to sign up for the site, you'll receive cash back on their purchases as well. How can you beat that?

I signed up recently and can't wait to start reaping the benefits! Check out my website for more information about Blastoff and sign up for your very own free Blastoff site.


Wish me luck! I hope one of these days I'll be debt free and be able to say "Mission Completion!" (Sorry, I couldn't resist the references to Disney's Little Einsteins.)
 

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Keep the Change?

Every time I go to the bank, the teller asks me to join their "Keep the Change" program. The deal is that every time you purchase something with your debit card, the bank will round your purchase to the nearest dollar amount and transfer the difference from your checking account to your savings account.. For instance, if you made a purchase for $7.59, the bank will put the extra $0.41 into your savings account and then match it, leaving you with savings of $0.82. The deal only works if you make LOTS of debit card purchases, because the more purchases you make, the faster the money will add up. Oh, and FYI - the bank only matched the money 100% for the first three month, then only 5% thereafter with a $250 per year maximum.



I joined once before a few years back, but I found that I lost more money than I saved because the bank required me to keep a certain amount of money in the savings account (money that I did not have, by the way...) Because I couldn't meet their limits, I incurred additional fees. Since then, I believe the bank has lowered the account limits, and the teller told me that as long as I put $25 a month into the account, I wouldn't be charged any additional fees.

I'm still a little skeptical about the whole thing, and I'm not sure if I can actually commit to this right now. Although $25 doesn't seem like a lot of money, for me it could mean choosing gas over groceries for the week. However, it would be a great way for me to jumpstart my savings plan.

What do you think? Should I keep the change or keep walking?

Friday, October 23, 2009

Halloween Costumes Savings: Make or Cheat?

When it comes to Halloween costumes, many moms are faced with the same dilemma every year - should we make our children's costumes or buy them? Although it's always fun to gather different materials and accessories and get creative with the sewing machine, sometimes it's more cost effective to just buy the costume from the store. My advice? Shop early so you can get exactly what you want in the right size.


My son is going to be Spiderman this year (surprise, surprise). Because of the popularity of the costume, I bought his Spidey outfit back in September, as soon as Target started hanging them up because I knew it would be gone if I waited until the last minute to buy it. So even though I spend more more than I would have liked to on his costume, it saved me lots of time and aggrevation in the end. (Also, I don't know where I would have begun if I tried to make a Spiderman costume myself!

There are only 8 days left until Halloween, and if you're anything like me, you still don't have a costume yet. I've gone over several options in my head, but it's really hard to find one costume that fits several occasions. This year on October 30, I'm volunteering at the Halloween Carnival at my son's preschool, followed by a few hours at work, and then an adult party that night.

At my son's delight, I've already committed to being a superhero, The Invisible Woman from the Fantastic Four. It's a pretty simple costume, but I'm not sure whether I should make it or just buy it. At this stage of the game, making a costume seems like the better option because the costume I want may be unavailable in stores and ordering online will result in enormous shipping costs. But then again, will I be able to pull it off? That electric blue color is going to be hard to find, especially in pants! Check out the storebought Invisible Woman costume vs. the homemade versions below:



What are you doing this year - making your costume or cheating and buying it from the store? Which method has saved you the most money?

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Green All Around - Go Green and Save Money!

I've been thinking about starting this blog for a while, as taking care of my finances has been one of my top priorities lately. I've also been inspired by work and the media to be more "green" by saving water and energy, which will also reap benefits in my wallet as well.

Well, lo and behold, on the day I start my blog, one of my favorite sites, SavvySugar, posts a story that perfectly resonates with my goals. Check out their 10 Simple Ways to Go Green and Save Green. It's steps like these that will create a more sustainable environmental for all!