Posts tagged Tips

Green Living: a series in which we provide tips to help you implement practices, habits, and products into your life which respect and work towards the redemption of God’s creation.

There’s something nice about getting new things, isn’t there?  That sense of excitement as we open up the box or packaging to find our newest prize.  Or when we get the latest this or that.  That sense of pride of being the master of a new TV, phone, piece of furniture, kitchen thingy, article of clothing, book, toy for our child, and on and on.  Like a pirate amassing great treasure, there is this great feeling of (at least momentary) contentment that our stockpile of stuff has grown.  Not only have we added to our booty, but we have the distinct pleasure of knowing that we are the only one who has ever owned it.

Now with every piece of treasure comes with an additional price than that which we pay at the store.  Every item we pay has an environmental cost.  A great deal of resources went into gathering the materials, forming them into whatever it is you purchased, shipping them, storing them, and transporting them home.  On top of that every new item has the cost of packaging (like all those plastic packages that are impossible to open without nearly cutting off a finger) which usually makes its way to a landfill.

There are alternatives however.  First, we can consume less (more on this coming soon).  Second, we can find ways to reuse what we already have.  So often we simply grow out of our stuff (especially the case with kids’ stuff), they go out of fashion, we no longer use them, they break, or we just grow tired of them.  In these cases our first instinct is often to just throw them in the trash.  This comes at a great price however.  Our landfills grow bigger and that environmental cost we paid is wasted.  Imagine though the costs that can be saved by giving items new life, by reusing them.  The same materials do not need to be dug up again, the energy and labor that went into producing them is saved, the major transportation is not repeated, and no one else has to deal with the packaging (what a blessing that is!).  Our tip for the day then is to find ways reuse or give new life to your booty.

So, how can we do this?  Glad you asked.  Below I have listed several ways that we can give items new life through either giving or getting.

1. MacGyver them. Ahh, MacGyver.  Didn’t you just love this show where the guy could make a bomb out of a stick of gum, toothpaste, and a paperclip?  Before you throw items out consider fixing them first.  We have become such a throwaway society that we often don’t even consider fixing things.  Harness your inner inventor and see if you can fix something before throwing it in the trash.  Not broken?  Consider giving it new life as something else.  For example: reuse that ugly bowl you got as a wedding gift that you are too ashamed to put out in front of people into a water bowl for your dog.

2. Share (loan or give) with family and friends. This is perhaps the most obvious and way that many of us are used to living.  Someone has an extra piece of furniture, an old tool, or kitchen item they no longer need and offer it up to family and friends.  We’ve all done it.  Perhaps you can be more intentional about it, especially when some of us hoard things in our garages or closets just because we like to look at the bounty of junk that we have.  Having kids, my wife (and I, though she deserves the credit) have found this to be especially helpful with clothes and toys for our daughter.  Many have given or loaned us their kids things that they have grown out of.  At the same time we have found ways to pass things back and forth with my sister (my nephew is 6 months younger than my daughter).  It is unbelievable how much money this saves and what a blessing it can be in your life.

3. Give to (or get from) people in your community. If you don’t need things back and if your family and friends didn’t take them off your hands, consider all the ways you can give your possessions new life in your community.  If you are wanting to do this for free then there are many alternatives to putting something on the sidewalk with a “Free, take me” sign.  My personal favorite is Freecycle.  After joining your local group you can offer (or find) items to people in your community.  They email you, arrange a time, pick it up.  Done.  You don’t even have to be there when they pick it up; just leave whatever on the porch.  Also, consider the free portion on Craigslist.

If you need extra cash (or have extra cash), Craigslist is still a good option.  Also, consider good old garage sales.  Many (like my grandma) have made this into an art form.  They are local and cheap.

We have many options available to us.  Next time you are taking something to the trash, reconsider if you or someone else might be able to give it new life.

PS. You might be asking why the frequent use of the word booty when we are a long ways away from the next Talk Like a Pirate Day.  First, it is a good analogy for how we often look at possessions.  Second (and more importantly), it is just a fun word to say and gives me a sense of adventure.  Aaarrr.

Also consider:

Green living: #1 – Turn off those lights

Green adventures: The strange things we do

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