Minimalist Life: Sustainable

Showing posts with label Sustainable. Show all posts

Thursday, October 28, 2021

How eco-minimalism can save the holidays

Here in the U.S., I keep hearing and reading about supply chain issues and how people had better start their holiday shopping early. But if you celebrate the holidays in an eco-minimalist way, then buying new things is never an issue.

In this article, I'll give you some tips for making this season more eco-minimalist so that shortages don't affect your holidays. Here are the topics in this article:

Why are there supply chain shortages?

Be a conscientious objector to frivolous consumerist practices

Be open-minded about what's available

Break stereotypes

Manage expectations

Gratitude

Why are there supply chain shortages?

In case you haven't heard about this issue, I'm going to give you some bullet points so you have an idea of what I'm talking about.

truck driver shortages
empty shipping containers on trucks with no place to go
freight ships anchored outside of port waiting to offload
average fuel prices are $1 more per gallon than last year
inflation
port restrictions/closures overseas

From what the experts say, this isn't just about the 'Rona. It's been going on for a while, and factors keep adding up to make things worse. Since it's a systemic problem, there aren't any easy fixes, and more issues are coming up that can complicate things further, like the upcoming expiration of the Longshoreman's contract in 2022.

So instead of getting frustrated and letting this disrupt your life, why not find ways around it? The following sections are tips that I use successfully to make my life less stressful while living in a consumerist society like the United States. If you're not in the U.S. but live within a similar culture, these tips can easily be applied where you are as well. And even though this is about holidays, you can also translate it to use the rest of the year.

And don't we all want to have fewer of our purchases sitting on a ship somewhere, with an unknown arrival date?

Be a conscientious objector to frivolous consumerist practices

I've talked about how wasteful I believe a lot of American holidays are in my Unpopular Minimalist Opinions article. One of my least favorite holiday "traditions" in the workplace is Secret Santa, or "White Elephant" party, which is used to make the idea less mainstream Christian. Regardless of what it's called, I still feel it's exclusionary, and the pressure to participate is ridiculous. If you're someone who doesn't participate in traditions that include gift exchanges, then it can be an uncomfortable and alienating experience.

Not to mention how wasteful it is to buy some cheap gift for an unknown person! To me, the whole point of giving a gift is to put thought into what they might want and give them something that they need, or at least will give them pleasure or improve their life. It's pretty much impossible to do that with these blind gift exchanges, so people end up getting gag gifts, which are usually cheaply-made and probably end up getting thrown away.

It's been (thankfully) a few years since I've worked somewhere that foisted one of these parties on its employees. However, if it were to happen to me this year, I would probably discuss with both my coworkers and my boss that participating in these parties goes against my beliefs.

For me, minimalism, and especially eco-minimalism, are part of my belief system and something I plan on incorporating into my lifestyle permanently. Therefore, I feel that this should be honored in the same way as a religion by my employer. Just like I don't think that people who are Jehovah's Witness, Seventh-Day Adventist, Jewish, Pagan/Wicca, etc. should be forced to participate in a "Christmas" gift exchange if they don't want to, I feel I should also be exempt from participating due to my beliefs.

As an alternative, I might suggest we instead do a non-denominational potluck (not a "holiday party"). Because who doesn't love food?? If the goal is to have employees socialize, I think eating is way more fun than getting a singing Justin Bieber toothbrush. Yep, that was actually someone's gift at the last White Elephant I participated in. The guy who received it was not happy.

Be open-minded about what's available

Maybe you have traditions for the holidays where you buy certain foods, wear certain clothes, get a new decoration, etc. If those items aren't available, you may feel like that's going to negatively affect your holiday. But your good memories of past holidays aren't about the objects that were there. They were about the people you were with, the actions you took, and the feelings you felt.

So if things don't turn out exactly the way you anticipated, try to let go of those expectations. Try instead to focus on the important things: people, actions, feelings. The objects are just window dressing.

Break stereotypes

I know some adults (and their children) who would never go along with a second-hand Halloween costume, or wear the same costume as the year before if it still fits. And buying the costume from a thrift store? Forget it, that's for poor people.

This elitist behavior is not just hurtful for socioeconomic reasons. It's hurtful to the planet. It encourages stores and manufacturers to continue to pump out cheaply-made, high-priced costumes that may not even last through a single Halloween. They're usually made of unsustainable fabrics and end up in the garbage. Some people try to donate them, but if they're damaged then the thrift store will probably throw them away as well.

Here's a challenge for you: try to find a way to enjoy Halloween without buying a bunch of individually-wrapped candies. Teach children that this is a tradition that doesn't need to continue due to its lack of eco-friendliness.

This puppy's upcycling a cloth napkin for his Halloween costume.

As for gift-giving, let's start some new traditions where gifts don't have to be shiny and new. They can be re-gifted, homemade, upcycled, and more. A few years ago my predecessor wrote a gift guide for minimalists that you can use for more ideas. There are some timeless gifts there that are still valid options today.

Also, if the holidays seem to be too stressful and complicated for you, we have an article with some unique tips for having a quiet, simple holiday season.

Lastly, if you haven't checked it out yet, take a look at our post about why Black Friday isn't what it appears to be. My personal favorite thing to do on the day after Thanksgiving is going grocery shopping for the week. The store is always so quiet and I get in and out quicker than any other day of the year!

Manage expectations

If you want things to go smoothly, it's best to talk out your feelings and wishes with everyone that you may have plans with during a holiday. In advance. Don't spring it on them at the last minute, or make a dramatic announcement when you show up for an event. Give everyone a chance to adjust to anything different you want to do. For example, if you don't want to be part of holiday gift exchanges, now is a good time to speak up!

However, it's also important to recognize that not everyone you encounter will want to go along with whatever changes you have in mind. I've told people that I don't want to exchange gifts on birthdays and holidays, but some of them still want to give me things. Then I asked if they could make charitable donations instead, but some people thought that was too impersonal.

I'm respecting their wishes and will accept any gifts they give gracefully because it's something they feel like they have to do. It's not my job to convince everyone to be an eco-minimalist, and it's more important to have peace than to argue about my principles. Maybe next year they'll be more open to my way of thinking. However, I won't feel bad if they give me something that I don't need and I secretly give it away to someone who needs/wants it more than I do (a trick I learned here)!

Gratitude

I think one of the easiest ways to not worry about what you can't have/do/spend during the holidays is to be thankful for all the things that can and will happen. I'm so grateful to spend this time with my partner and to be in a relationship with someone who thinks similarly to me so that we can enjoy the time we spend together.

I also feel so lucky and privileged to have the choice to spend (or not spend) money during all the upcoming holidays. I focus on simple treats that feel extravagant, like making my own version of hot apple cider (100% apple juice heated up with a cinnamon stick--so much better than that powdered stuff). I love watching the leaves change and then scooping them up to add to our compost after they've fallen to the ground. And since I'm more of a cool-weather type of person, I've enjoyed switching out to warmer clothes and walking in the nice, crisp air.

Opportunities for gratitude are everywhere, and they're easy to find if you let yourself be open to them.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Eco-minimalist crafting ideas on a budget

I love crafts. My favorites are crochet, painting, and sewing. But sometimes, I worry about buying supplies new and how that affects the environment. This article discusses all the ways I've found to enjoy doing crafts in an eco-minimalist and budget-friendly way.

Resources that offer pre-owned crafting supplies
Ask around
Don't throw anything away
Have patience
My eco-minimalist budget crafting

1. Resources that offer pre-owned crafting supplies

There's going to be some overlap here with the resources in my beginner's eco-minimalist tips article. I'll leave a few here, but I recommend referring back to that list for more options.

thrift stores
garage sales
online peer-to-peer marketplaces
creative reuse centers list: http://www.reuseresources.org/find-a-center.html
https://makeandmendshop.com/
https://www.onlinethrift.net/Crafts-and-Craft-Supplies
http://www.creative-resale.com/site
salvage and upcycling stores (like Habitat for Humanity ReStore)
https://hootofloot.com/ad-category/arts-crafts/miscellaneous-art-supplies/
https://www.preloved.co.uk/classifieds/hobbies/arts-crafts
https://www.seconduse.com/
https://www.texasartasylum.com/
http://artresourcecenter.org/content/materials.html

I'm sure there are many places local to larger metropolitan areas as well. I saw a bunch of them while I was searching, but they didn't ship orders so I didn't include them.

A lot of these places don't just offer partially-used supplies, either. People donate brand-new items that they bought and didn't end up using as well. For example, I've gotten unused skeins of yarn still in their wrapper and unopened bottles of paint. I would rather buy these from places that support the ideals I believe in than get them from a chain store where their money goes to create more waste and profit.

2. Ask around

I bet you that you know at least one person who has some craft supplies that they're not using. From what I've heard, there are also networks of artists or crafters who offer up things they don't want to others.

Sometimes, people have stuff laying around that they forgot about, and they don't think to give it away until someone asks for it. I saw that all the time in my local Buy Nothing group.

I looked it up, and here are a few sites I found:

3. Don't throw anything away

What might be useless to you could be valuable to another maker, and vice-versa. I found so many upcycled products on Etsy from things I never would have thought of myself.

Here's this website with amazing pieces of art made from reclaimed and salvaged material. Here are some of my favorites:

Nelson Mandela in plastic and broken necklaces

Plastic, metal, and wood

From cars, motorcycles, and planes

I also found this great website called causeartist where artists raise awareness about pollution through their artwork. They use trash and found items as their media.

If you don't consider yourself an artist, there are still lots of options using recycled materials. I think Pinterest is kinda famous for this, but there are plenty of other places you can find ideas. Here's one website that has some simple beginner crafts that should be accessible to most people: https://www.naturalbeachliving.com/crafts-made-from-recycled-materials/.

However, if you still end up with items that you don't know what to do with, here are a few more articles with resources you can donate to.

https://www.creativelive.com/blog/where-to-donate-craft-supplies/

4. Have patience

Just like with buying anything else used, you're not likely to have immediate access to whatever you want. But isn't that part of the fun of being creative? I love being innovative with what I have access to, and designing projects based on what I'm able to find.

When I first started doing crafts that involved patterns, I would pick out a pattern and then buy the materials (all new) to create the project. Now, I do one of 3 things.

I only do projects that will work with supplies I already have
I pick the pattern based on the materials I have or am able to find
I don't use a pattern at all, or improvise on a template to make it work with what's on hand

The tricky thing is when you're not sure how much you have of something and if it will be enough to do what you want. That's where extra patience comes in. I have some projects that are partially finished because I didn't have enough. I keep samples of what I'm using anytime I make a trip to a local store that might have craft supplies. That way I can check it against whatever they have and see if it will work.

5. My eco-minimalist budget crafting

I'll talk about crochet first because that's what I do the most. A lot of my crochet hooks used to belong to my grandmother, so I didn't even have an initial investment of tools! As mentioned, I get most of my yarn second-hand. New yarn has gotten SO expensive! I recently needed to replenish my stash and got about $400-500 worth of yarn (retail value) for $60, plus the large basket the previous owner was keeping it in. That yarn will probably last me for the next few years with little to no supplementation.

I sometimes design things myself. Other times, I use free patterns. I get them from yarn manufacturer websites, but my favorite place is called Ravelry. You have to sign up, but it's free and then you have access to an unlimited amount of crafting genius!

Patterns are available for crochet, knitting, machine knitting, and loom knitting. There are paid patterns as well, and you can search and sort using all kinds of parameters.

For sewing, as I mentioned previously, I found a sewing machine at a thrift store for only $25. I looked around for a while, and it was the only one that included a power cord (and the foot pedal). I plugged it in at the store to make sure it worked.

I can't speak for the newer machines, because I've never used one. I learned to sew on my mom's old Singer, and the one I have now is from Sears and was probably made in the 70s or 80s. But that's a good thing, because the machines are entirely mechanical, and their simplicity makes them easy to maintain and fix. When I got it home, it needed some oiling, cleaning, and tuning. But since I did that, it's been working great!

I have worked with brand-new fabric and brand-new patterns before, but that's neither cost-effective nor eco-minimalist. These days, I have a few things I do regularly with sewing.

If I have a pattern that I like, I'll trace it onto scratch paper so that the original can be used over and over without damage. Pattern paper is very fragile.
If I'm trying to build/alter a piece of clothing based on something I already own, I use that clothing as a pattern. No paper is needed.
I alter clothing by pinning it to size while I'm wearing it inside out. I did this recently with a man's shirt I thrifted and converted into a tunic for myself.

If you only get thrifted (or gifted) clothes, then experimenting with altering them to fit your body and style is a lot less expensive. It's also better for the environment.

As clothing wears out for me, I see if I can upcycle it into other garments, bags, or whatever. I have 2 t-shirts that are about to be on their 3rd iteration since I got them--I'm going to weave them into reusable grocery bags. I also have a sleeveless top with a hole in it. I plan on replacing the damaged area with some crochet embellishments.

Also, I've seen some really cool things being made out of thrifted blankets, quilts, and bedsheets. When my area started having a mask mandate, there were no masks to be found anywhere, in local stores (which I couldn't visit anyway) or online. I ended up looking up a mask pattern online and used some elastic hair ties and an old, ripped pillowcase to make a few masks. I have some other old sheets that have been hanging around for years. When I next need some new pajamas, those sheets are in for a transformation.

As for painting, there are some simple options that some people might find controversial. Someone came across some used canvases and gave them to me. Some were partially finished, and 1 was just plain ugly. I plan to paint over them.

You could also do this with thrifted canvases. You can also paint on rocks, scrap wood, used furniture, clothing, ceramic, old glass items, walls...the options are endless.

So far, I haven't found any thrifted paint brushes by themselves. But I've seen painting kits (the ones that come with paints, brushes, and a book or pad) in thrift stores, and definitely paints by themselves. I already have enough brushes, though. When the glue separates from the handle, I just re-glue it.

This could be a much longer article. I love finding inspiration for creativity and finding ways to enjoy my hobbies that aren't wasteful or expensive. I hope you can do the same!

Saturday, September 11, 2021

My unpopular minimalist opinions

I've seen lots of videos and blog posts where people talk about their unpopular opinions, so I thought it would be fun if I gave it a try. So here are my unpopular minimalist opinions that will probably cause some backlash.

Before I get started, though, I want to add in a disclaimer, since cancel culture is such a big thing. I'm not writing this to attack anyone or change anyone's mind. I'm doing it because I'm lucky enough to live in a country that allows freedom of speech, so I'm going to exercise that right.

If you feel attacked by what I say, consider why that might be. I don't know you, so there's no way that I could know your opinions and try to attack them or change them. Therefore, this is likely an internal battle you're having, and you'll have to decide how to work that out within yourself. Also, my opinions are based on some minimalists. Not most or all of them; I did say they are unpopular. So if this opinion doesn't apply to you, then great! And if you don't agree with it, fine! You're entitled to an opinion just as much as I am.

If you have any unpopular minimalist opinions of your own to share, feel free! And now for a sneak peek into what this article holds.

1. It's un-minimalist to promote a minimalist brand on social media

2. Celebrating religious or cultural holidays in a typically commercial way isn't minimalist

3. All eco-minimalists should practice a plant-based diet

4. The average non-minimalist is addicted to consuming

5. Minimalism practiced by low-income people can still be a choice

Are you still there? LOL. If you've made it this far, thank you for your interest. Now, I'll go into more detail.

1. It's un-minimalist to promote a minimalist brand on social media

Shortly before I decided to shut down all my social media accounts (yes, I did that!), I was looking at the accounts of other minimalists that I follow. Social media has become such a competitive place, and from what I understand, the internet algorithms tend to work in conjunction with social media presence. So to keep up with their peers, minimalists resort to frequent, if not daily posts, spending tons of time responding to comments, and even paying for advertising to get their brand noticed.

I'm sure some of them have volunteers or paid social media experts to handle their accounts, so maybe they're not doing participating themselves. But does that really matter, when they're still using a place FILLED with consumerist ads and time-wasting, brain-numbing propaganda to promote their brand?

How can people focus on what's most important when they're spending so much time on social? Maybe minimalists think that they have to be on there to get recognition and promote their lifestyles. But just by using those platforms, they are not leading by example.

You may have also noticed that I didn't put a Pinterest picture at the beginning of this post and ask you to pin it. That's because even though Pinterest claims to *not* be a social media platform, they are starting to behave like one more and more. I decided that using them is no longer in line with my minimalist lifestyle, and takes up time that I'd rather spend enjoying my life.

Buh-bye, Pinterest.

If someone's non-minimalist work or personal life makes social media easier or more enjoyable, then I don't take issue with that. I just don't think it's a minimalist endeavor, regardless of whatever ~~reasons~~ excuses people give.

2. Celebrating religious or cultural holidays in a typically commercial way isn't minimalist

So much spending and waste are created by many of the American holidays. There are flimsy decorations, buying presents, special dishes, uneaten food, and special clothing, and going into debt. I'm not trying to knock religious tradition here, but from what I can see, many of the previously designated religious holidays have turned into opportunities for marketing agencies and retail companies to rake in the cash from the average person.

A few examples come to mind of the trash generated and money spent in large amounts when Americans celebrate common holidays:

fireworks on New Year's Eve and Independence Day/Fourth of July
throw-away decorations specific to a holiday that have to be re-purchased every year
new "Easter baskets" and plastic eggs filled with candy for Easter egg hunts, some of which never get found and are left to litter the environment
buying special decorative dishes, napkins, paper plates, etc. for a single use or for an event that only happens once or a few times per year
buying too much food and letting it sit out too long during a party, then having to throw it away
tossing out leftovers because people are sick of eating the same turkey/ham/whatever dish for days in a row
carving pumpkins or keeping them whole and/or buying hay bales for Thanksgiving/fall and then throwing them away
Halloween costumes that are only worn once as well as other holiday outfits that are only worn once per year
going into debt to buy presents that people don't necessarily need or want
skyrocketing electricity bills from lights and other plug-in decorations
Christmas trees--grown on land that could be used to grow food, cut down to use for decoration, and then thrown away after the season is over

I'm sure there are still many people who honor these holidays in traditional ways, like prayer/going to their places of worship or gathering for a simple meal. But a lot of people don't anymore, or they do that plus add on a bunch of extravagance. It seems like everyone wants to do things in bigger, flashier, and more expensive ways. There are even articles about how to deal with holiday stress. Do you know how you can experience less stress during the holidays? Change how you celebrate them. I wonder if people from 100 or 200 years ago felt stressed out by holidays?

3. All eco-minimalists should practice a plant-based diet

There is overwhelming evidence that the way that we eat affects the environment. I've been reading The Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall, which was first published in 2009 (I'm reading the 2012 version), and back then he was talking about the environmental effects of eating animal products.

I also found this article in The Guardian from back in 2018 that reviews a study published in a journal called Science. At the time, it was the largest study to date and stated that "More than 80% of farmland is used for livestock but it produces just 18% of food calories and 37% of protein." It also results in more than half of the global water and air pollution.

Simply shifting toward a more plant-based diet by switching out beef for beans could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 46-74%, according to a quote from this article. Since eating animal products accounts for so much of the environmental issues we're facing, I don't see how people can truly be eco-minimalist without cutting back on them and focusing on plant foods instead.

Eating beef also creates more pollution than driving a car. So if owning a car is someone's only option for transportation, they can still help the environment by making this switch to their diet.

Lastly, beans cost way less than beef and are more easily attainable for many people than beef is, which means less pollution caused by transportation. So there are 2 more ways that changing one's diet can up their eco-minimalist game.

4. The average non-minimalist is addicted to consuming

Shopping causes a dopamine rush, which is why so many people are addicted to it. Plus, did you know that grocery stores are designed like casinos? Speaking of gambling...

Have you ever heard stories about what people do with lottery winnings? According to this article, most people waste the money, and some end up worse than before. A lot of people seem to say they wish they'd never won the money in the first place!

The issues caused by shopping, gambling, and food addictions cause just as many problems in people's lives as addictions to drugs or alcohol. It's just that Westernized society encourages this type of splurging and even falsely state that any spending of money is good for the economy. The truth is that most of our shopping dollars go to enormous corporations, and they already have enough money. They're also less likely to put that money back into the communities they serve through donations, community service, or even increasing wages or other benefits for the average employee. Instead, we hear over and over again about how the CEOs and board members of these groups give themselves raises, stock options, and bonuses, while the majority of the workforce struggles to get by. Shopping locally is helpful to the economy, but going to your local Walmart to buy what you need is not likely to change your community's well-being very much.

In the U.S. (and I'm assuming many other countries with similar socio-economic structures), we're encouraged to spend. Don't have the money? Get a credit card, a payday loan, or a personal loan with astronomical interest rates.

And it isn't just about buying too many clothes, vehicles, vacays, or electronics we can't afford. We also consume food, drinks, pills, and supplements that cause harm. It may feel good in the moment, but we'll likely pay for it later.

The marketing we are constantly faced with definitely has some responsibility for this behavior, but individual consumers must also be held accountable for their actions. In the end, we all do have a choice on how and when we spend our money. Especially if money is in short supply, people need to find ways to be more realistic about what they buy and not fall into the consumer addiction traps being thrown at us.

5. Minimalism practiced by low-income people can still be a choice

I've heard a lot lately about how minimalism is the glamorization of poverty and that people don't see minimalism as a good option because of this stigma they've put on it.

I just looked it up, and I'm considered "poor" for my area. My income is less than 50% of the median income for where I live. If I applied, I could probably be granted some social services, like food benefits or housing subsidies.

My family didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up, either. Or I should say, there should have been enough money, but it was spent in the wrong places. So I grew up in a house that was falling apart with half-finished repair projects and broken-down cars. I had clothes to wear (sometimes they were my sibling's) and food to eat, but I thought we were poor.

Nevertheless, my life was not minimalist. My parents were both hoarders. My own room was filled with things I didn't use or need. It was only as I got older that I started to purge these items from my life during my teen years because it felt better to not have them. Then as an adult on my own, I was always conscious of my budget and not wanting to exceed it. But thanks to a complete lack of debt of any sort, I still had some discretionary funds that I chose not to "invest" into pieces that I would see as clutter.

I loved an article from the Black Minimalists website on this subject. Here's what one of the writers, Yolanda, said on the topic:

Personally, I find it a bit perplexing to say poor people lack choice and thus agency. Can you choose to be a minimalist and lack certain resources, i.e. be poor? From what I’ve read on the subject, it would seem not, but here I am, living proof.
I grew up poor and by current U.S. societal standards, I’m still poor. I’ve lived in some type of low-income housing, including a trailer park, for most of my life and have received government assistance in various forms. I also have a college degree which ironically has both elevated and further impoverished me at the same damn time.
I flirted with a middle class lifestyle while working my last full-time job five years ago. I chose to return to poverty and pursue a minimalist lifestyle after becoming disillusioned with the emotional, spiritual, and mental labor required to ascend to and maintain an average middle class life. Part of that labor also stemmed from an inability to reconcile a poverty mindset with a newly (physically) abundant one.
Additionally, I know many people in the larger minimalist movement and within the black minimalist community who have chose [sic] minimalism as a way to skirt poverty or at least maintain what they have while living the most healthy, sustainable lifestyle they can manage.

I think she mirrored my feelings on the topic very well. 😀

One last thought I have about minimalism in general is its relationship to debt. Are you truly minimalist if regularly generate debt for items you can't afford? What about someone who can pay all their debts, but have more than they need? I'd love to know your thoughts on the subject.

Thursday, August 12, 2021

5 easy frugal minimalist life hacks

I want to put more money into savings every month, so I needed to trim my expenses. I already don't spend a lot, but I still found a few ways to live more frugally without feeling like I'm sacrificing. Here are the 5 frugal life hacks I've adopted recently to save some money. As a bonus, these hacks are also eco-minimalist. 😁 I'll explain why for each item.

Changing phone plans without upgrading phones
Ditching expensive cleaning items
Changing where I live
Meal prepping
Quitting workouts

You can pin this for later.

1. Changing phone plans without upgrading phones

For a long time, I paid for a Verizon plan at $70 per month (plus tax and fees) for 2 GB of data, the smallest amount of data I could get. I wouldn't even use 2 GB each month, because I was usually connected to WiFi. I was out of contract, my phone paid off long ago. Yet even in a sizeable metro area with the "largest" network, I would still hit dead spots. Verizon hinted that my phone was old and an upgrade would help (it's a 4G phone), and with 5G available, wouldn't I want a 5G-capable phone anyway?

But I'd just paid $99 for a phone repair a year ago, and I couldn't justify buying a new phone (even on a payment plan at $0 interest per month) when I'm trying to cut back on expenses. Besides, I really like my phone and didn't want a new one.

The big wireless phone companies are some of the worst offenders when it comes to child labor, dirty mining practices, and polluting manufacturing. Not to mention how they encourage upgrades far sooner than necessary by purposely slowing down their technology and shaming customers into getting something newer and fancier with sneaky marketing tactics. Meanwhile, according to the EPA's 2018 data, in the U.S. generated 2.7 million tons in new consumer electronics, but only 1.04 million tons were collected for recycling. That's a 38.5% recovery rate, with the rest of the old electronics presumably going to landfills. As those products degrade (which takes thousands of years!!), they pollute the soil, water, air, and ocean.

Not to mention that non-renewable resources, such as precious metals and petroleum products, get buried forever under tons of trash when they could be re-used, allowing us to stretch out their life cycle. Not only is e-waste recycling better for the environment, but it's also better for the consumer's wallet. The more we can re-use limited resources, the more cost-effective products will be.

Given all of these issues, I searched for a cheaper phone plan that would let me keep my phone. I found Mint Mobile, a pre-paid company that uses the T-Mobile network (yes, the one Ryan Reynolds owns). I now pay $15 per month (for 1 year in advance), and I get 4 GB of data and better network coverage for my area. First I tried them out for 3 months, which was $45. I decided I liked the network enough to go ahead and pay for a year.

I still don't use up all my data, but 4 GB is the smallest plan. Since I'm saving about $65 per month, I don't really mind.

2. Ditching expensive cleaning items

I'm unhappy to say that for a long time, I thought my floor-cleaning choices were: a mop and a pail, a rag and my foot/hands, one of those old sponge mops, or a Swiffer. I went with a Swiffer because it seemed like the most sanitary option. But damn, was it expensive.

Then someone mentioned to me that there are these mops that look like Swiffers, but they have washable pads instead of the ones you throw away. The brand I found was Libman, but there are probably others as well. It still has the little bottle that sprays onto the floor as well, but you don't have to buy an expensive, chemical-laden solution to put into it. I have vinyl floors, which you can put just about any type of cleaner on. So I just use diluted vinegar.

The mop even comes with 2 pads, so if one gets too dirty in the middle of cleaning, you can switch it out for the other one.

Yes, it's still a plastic mop with a metal stick. But just like with a Swiffer, you can have it forever because they're relatively sturdy. I don't imagine the pads will fall apart that easily, either. I've heard of people attaching rags to their Swiffers, but I tried it and it didn't work too well, so I gave my Swiffer away. I like the pads because there's one that's abrasive for a good scrubbing and the other one is softer, thicker, and more absorbent.

I don't think I need to explain why those throw-away Swiffer pads are bad for the environment. But in case you need convincing, the Washington Post reported back in 2005 that 83,000 tons of disposable wipes ended up in landfills in North America the previous year. 30% of those were from home cleaning. These cloths are made primarily of plastic products and harsh synthetic chemicals, which like electronics, are polluting to create and polluting after they're thrown out. Lastly, Swiffer is owned by Proctor & Gamble, a huge corporation that talks a good greenwashing talk but is not doing nearly enough to turn around all the damage they've done.

I spent about $20 on the mop, but I'm saving at least $10 per month by not having to buy disposable Swiffer pads. A huge bottle of white vinegar is less than $3 and will probably last me at least a year.

I've also decided to cut up an old towel to use as cleaning rags. I haven't bought any paper towels in at least a month--that's about $8 in savings. I thrifted some cloth napkins for $2, which is less than the cost of 6 months' worth of paper napkins. According to Statista, Americans use an average of 8 rolls of paper towels per month. The EPA said total paper and cardboard waste in 2018 was 67.39 million tons. In reference, it takes 17 trees and more than 20,000 gallons of water to make 1 ton of paper towels.

I was already using cloth dish rags for washing dishes, so no change there. But I did stop buying Mrs. Meyer's Toilet Bowl Cleaner (about $6 per bottle) and Surface Scrub (about $5 per container). I discovered baking soda and diluted vinegar work just as well. I can get baking soda in bulk locally at about $.50/lb, but even if that wasn't an option, it's still way cheaper than a commercially-made cleaner. I've been doing this for a while now, and I'm completely satisfied with how it works.

By the way, I thought I was doing well with Mrs. Meyer's products. But a lot of eco experts say that their products are greenwashed and could be a lot better. Additionally, the Environmental Working Group gives 80 out of 111 of their products a "D" grade. I don't want to support a brand that's putting out such toxic products.

3. Changing where I live

This was an interesting decision for me, and I know it isn't necessarily an option for everyone. As I've discussed before, I was living in an apartment alone after moving out from living with a roommate. Naturally, my rent went up, as did utilities, even though I moved to a cheaper area.

As my lease was coming to an end, my landlord informed me there would be a rent increase. From what I've heard, this has been happening to a lot of people lately. My rent was already about 50% of my net income, so naturally, I wasn't interested in paying more than that.

It really would be easier for both of us if I were to move in with my partner, who owns their home. So I did. I'm paying a flat amount to my partner to help with bills, which is about $300/month less than I was paying for rent and utilities at my old place, and cuts their lodging expenses in half.

This is also a more sustainable way to live because 2 people in the same house use fewer resources than 2 people in separate homes (it doesn't use twice the amount of energy to heat or cool a house with 2 people in it instead of 1). Also, we're both mostly homebodies, so we'll be spending less fuel driving to see each other and will probably never go out. 😆

4. Meal prepping

I used to meal prep more when I worked in an office because I had access to a microwave at work. But I didn't have one at my apartment, and some things don't reheat well in an oven or on a stovetop. It started getting exhausting cooking every meal from scratch, which is part of why I started getting so much takeout.

But my partner has a micro, so I'm back to cooking larger quantities at once and eating more leftovers. I'm actually planning on doing a takeout boycott for an indefinite period of time for health reasons as well as money. My takeout usage varied, but I'd say I went from about $150-$200/month for food down to $75-100/month when I cut out restaurant food.

I do meal prep a little differently than I've seen other people do it, where they prep 2-5 different things at the same time, with separate meals for breakfast/lunch/dinner. I will meal prep one type of food (for example, pasta) and then eat it 2-3 times per day until it's gone. I don't mind the repetition and it's more cost-effective.

Meal prep is eco-minimalist because takeout results in a bunch of trash that you can't necessarily control. You can tell them "no utensils or napkins" but they will probably still give you some, and it's not like they won't get thrown away if you try to give them back. Plus, good luck during COVID with asking a restaurant to put your meal into a container you bring to them. Despite the evidence that surfaces carry a low risk of transferring infection, businesses are still understandably cautious. So you're going to end up with disposable containers.

Also, doing the bulk of cooking at once saves energy compared to creating a single serving at each meal. Even when you have to reheat, appliances run for less time than if you had to fully cook it.

Lastly, I don't believe in preheating. I put food into the oven at the same time I turn it on, and I drop the pasta into the water when I turn on the burner. My food comes out cooked just the same as when I previously preheated it, with only a few extra minutes of cooking. With minimal exceptions (baked goods, which I rarely make), I think the need for preheating is a myth!

5. Quitting workouts

I haven't been to the gym since before lockdown. They closed due to mandates, and then when they re-opened, I didn't feel safe going back, but they still wanted to charge me the monthly fee. They even charged me the annual renewal fee while they were shut down!

I understand it must be hard on their business to have to be closed through no fault of their own. But when you mistreat your customers, they leave you, and then their business will be even worse.

When I moved, there wasn't a branch of my gym within 30 minutes of my house, so it really didn't make sense to keep the membership. I'm saving $10/month plus gas.

Even before I moved, it still took 22 minutes to get to the closest gym. So exercising at home is much better for the environment! I'll admit sometimes it's a bummer to not have the expensive machines available to use. But I'm still working on my minimalist exercise routine, and when I'm happy with it, I'll share it with you.

If you add up all the changes from my frugal minimalist life hacks, I'm saving about $500 per month. This is a HUGE chunk of my income that I can now put toward savings/retirement.

I also made a point of showing how each life hack was better for the environment because I think there are still a lot of people who believe that being more eco-friendly means spending more money. I'm in a lower income bracket, so the sustainable choices I make are going to reflect my personal budget, which means I have to focus on saving money instead of spending more!

Friday, July 30, 2021

5 eco-minimalist tips for beginners

I've recently been binge-watching videos and reading articles about becoming more eco-friendly, and I've learned so much! I want to share some of my favorite eco-minimalist tips and tricks that are easy to incorporate into your life. I'll also share why each decision is important, and resources to help you be more eco-minimalist.

If you haven't read our previous post about the definition of an eco-minimalist, you can check it out here as well as some more good ideas for eco-minimalist changes you can make. Please note that I'm relatively new to this topic, so this will be a very beginner's set of tips. And I'm trying not to go for the super-obvious stuff, like reusable shopping bags, water containers, coffee mugs, etc.

I chose to split this up into 3 articles: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I'm basing how I categorize these tips based on how affordable they are and also how much life disruption they might cause. I think going from 0 to 100 in one step is both stressful and not likely to be permanent.

I consider myself to be a beginner because I realized after all this research how little I actually understand about living sustainably. I thought I knew quite a bit, but I really didn't. I also misunderstood some things, and I'm betting I'm not the only one.

Also, note that I've been writing this post for months in the background while I published others. I want to be as accurate as possible, and that takes a lot more time than my usual articles. For that reason, I won't be publishing all 3 of these posts (beginner, intermediate, advanced eco-minimalist tips) in a row. There will also be more articles specific eco-minimalist topics that need space all to themselves.

Here's what to expect from this article:

Don't buy anything
Use up what you already have
Buy second-hand
Offset your carbon footprint
Encourage companies to be more eco-friendly

I consider these tips eco-minimalist (and not just eco-friendly) because the focus is on taking just small steps to make an impact while consuming as little as possible.

Being good stewards to our planet is so, so important! According to an article from the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council), we have to cut emissions globally by 40% by 2030, and 2040 is the point of no return.

I don't know about you, but I fully plan on being around through 2040. That means I need to do my part to keep this planet alive. We are all in this together. I'd really appreciate it if you could share this article with others if you think they might be interested or learn something from it. If you already know all this information, rest assured that more "advanced" information is coming soon. Thanks for reading, and I'd love your feedback in the comments section if you have any more resources you want everyone to know about.

As usual, you can also save this post to Pinterest for later if you don't have time to read it now.