I'm not perfect yet (probably never will be) but I'm continually improving. This holiday season has been the best yet in years! I've been working hard to cut back on my old buying habits and make use of purposeful gifts etc.
This year I spent less, made use of items I already had for wrapping and took advantage of thrift shops, gift certificates, mail order and making of consumable items for gifts.
I worked hard to make each gift meaningful and efficient not only in purpose but in presentation. My goal this year is to buy less and do more. Waste less in every aspect. Including my time. Pilfer through the processes of my life and get rid of those pointless activities and make room for the things that really matter to me. Streamline, efficiency and less 'stuff'. I want to create calm and contentment in my home and I want to fully enjoy the things life has to offer.
Zero waste. Can you imagine? My goal. It must remain in the forefront of my mind. It will be my focus. From my hobbies to my 'have to's'.
I believe we are to be "good stewards of our time, money and talents" and this concept encompasses many things.
This year I will work on:
1. Reducing unwanted junk mail
2. Reliance on paper towels and napkins and other paper products
3. Start a compost
4. Begin focusing on food and food items that have zero or next to no packaging.
5. Buying local products
6. Buying bulk items and using reusable containers (i.e. glass seal-able jars, stainless steel bottles, glass bottles)
7. Making my own cleaning products and personal hygiene items
8. Reducing at least 50% of my clothing items
9. Reducing at least 50% of the household items in my home
10. Regaining the real estate in my garage and storage shed
11. Grow my own food
12. Complete the organization of family heirlooms, memorabilia et al
13. Complete the organization and storage of all media (photos, music, movies)
This year my "after holiday shopping" was done in my little home town in Coquille, Oregon where I wanted to contribute to their struggling economy and I bought items in local thrift stores - each thing slated for a particular purpose (quilting, gifts, storage, etc) I got some absolutely neat relics and treasures that will be enjoyed by myself and others. I didn't spend a dime in one commercial 'box store' or chain business. I feel great about that!
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So how am I doing? Well, so far this month I've:
1. Signed up to remove my name from several catalog and credit card offer companies
2. Reduced both my husband and my clothing items-me by 25% and his by 15% - he has more clothes than I do so...
3. Regained enough "real estate" in my garage that we can successfully put a vehicle in it!
4. Switched to using alternative for lint rollers; paper coffee filters were replaced with reusable filter
5. I've transferred 12 LP's to CD
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