Why I shop at Wal=Mart

Most "frugal" types will tell you they never shop at Wal-Mart. They prefer to compare prices and sales elsewhere and use coupons. Well, I'm just not that organized! Here is a quick response I posted on another blog about why I DO shop at Wal-mart. Check it out!

I actually do most of our shopping at Walmart and the local farmers market. It is convient for us, and try as I may, I'm not much of a coupon clipper! They also are much more environmentally friendly than many people think. If you happen to be there again, take a look at some of their packaging (only concentrated laundry detergent for example), their "Locally grown" produce signs, their brand clothing made from "transitional" fields (to encourage farmers to transition to organic) and the sheer number of "made in USA" products that they have. They are also the first large company to start requiring their suppliers to show a "chain" of production so consumers know what really went into that "organic" product. I think its fabulous and should be applauded that a retail giant has realized the importance of sustainability. They have to potential to reach a vast number of people who otherwise may not have ever been concerned about being "green". I only wish that they would stop with the plastic bags all together...no matter how much everyone would whine and complain about having to pay for them :)

Being green by being frugal.

So you may have noticed that although this blog is about being frugal and green, I don't really push a whole "green is the new black", "everything solar powered" agenda.

This is because I feel that too many people think "Hey, I'd love to be 'green', but there is no way I can afford a Prius, or solar panels on my home, or to raise my own food". My point is that if you look at the bigger picture, being environmentally friendly is about more that being trendy and "green". It's living the way your great-grandparents did during the depression when you couldn't afford to throw anything away or spend your money on something that wouldn't last.

Examples in my own life include:

1) No paper towels or napkins in our home. We use rags to clean up spills and cloth napkins to eat. Is it really THAT much harder to throw them in the laundry with a load of towels? Nope. Do we have to spend $ on that stuff at the store? Nope.

2) I use my homemade cleaner for just about everything in our house. 1/4 part white vinegar with 3/4 part water and some orange oil for scent in a spray bottle. No nasty chemicals in our house and it costs about $0.50 to make a full bottle. We also use dusters and a vacuum for most of our cleaning...cleaning chemicals give me a migraine...and you would be amazed at how much you an clean with all those attachments on your vacuum!!

3) We reuse the containers that food comes in as "Tupperware". I have found that using a piece of masking tape on top with the date/food on it helps us to not forget that there is really steak in the cottage cheese container.

4) We also reuse tin-foil and ziploc bags as many times as we can. I HATE the thought of throwing away a ziploc bag just because it was used. I even wash them in the dishwasher on the top shelf with some heavy duty rubberbands holding them down!

5) We NEVER NEVER NEVER buy bottled water! Tap is where it's at! You're already paying for your water, so buy a filter (if needed) and drink it! Reusable bottles come in every shape, color and design now. I love my old Nalgene bottle, and it's practically indestructible!

6)I don't eat meat. Now this is based more on my issues with the meat processing industry and the lack of regulations as shown through various recalls among other research. But, it is also cheaper to not eat meat, and it reduces your carbon impact on the environment. I will occasionally buy sustainable, responsibly raised local meat...but thats another post!

7) Use EVERYTHING up! We don't buy a new toothpaste, shampoo, clothes etc until the old one is totally gone. (EXCEPT if there is a too good to be true deal on something, then we stock up!) I also have not bought any new clothes in MONTHS. I want to see how long I can go with what I have...which is a TON of clothes!

8) Lastly, stay organized and clean at your home? How much have you wasted because you bought milk when you went to the store without a list and there was already a gallon at home? Or you couldn't find that one little thing that you needed right then so you bought another. I can tell you we have about 1000 nail files, 6 tweezers, tons of (old) cleaning supplies, and countless other duplicates that were bought simply because we were not organized.

Buying more than you honestly need is wasteful to both your wallet and the environment. You can always find a "greener" solution that the one that is portrayed to you by the mass media and consumerism in stores. So think about how your Great-Grandparents would have done something before you take the easy way out.

Happy Monday everyone!

food waste friday

So I am joining The Frugal Girl in "Food Waste Friday". While trying to cut back on grocery spending and eating out, I need to be better about using things up before they go bad. Too often I get lazy and go for the frozen stuff or Ramen while delicious fruits and veggies go bad in the fridge.

So for today I add... 1/3 head of lettuce and some pasta salad :( The pasta salad makes me upset because I make some kick ass pasta salad! But all in all, not too bad for my first week.

So my next step is to start compositing whatever leftovers we have so that when we start our garden in the spring we'll have lots of great compost for our garden! I found a cool link for making a compost bin out of recycled pallets (the ones that stores always have in the back). If you need a weekend project, check it out here.

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be back Monday and hopefully have a format worked out better by next week as far as what topics to cover each day.

A different kind of "green" paint.

So when we moved into our house in mid December 09, it was livable (thank god) and in fabulous structural condition (thank god again) but there were a few minor changes we needed to feel really at home. After the closing costs, moving costs, food while we had none costs etc. there was little left to work with.

Solution? PAINT!!

Seriously, paint can fix most minor issues...and some of the major ones too! I was that person who used to paint all of our rentals and then just not worry about getting a deposit back, it was worth it to feel at home.

I know that there are a ton of green paint choices out there. Our main problem was financial. Now paint is definately one of the cheapest ways to change a room, and if you hate it just repaint! But even $30 a gallon x 6 or so rooms that need to be painted = a lot to us.

I'd like to introduce everyone to my favorite decorating secret of all time.

"Oops" paint. This is that large collection of mistinted paint located in the paint department at your local home improvement store. I know I have bought a TON of it at Lowes and recently discovered quite a stash at Wal-Mart. A gallon of oops paint usually runs about $5 and you can get high quality paint for a super discount. The secret is to only paint rooms/walls that you can finish with one gallon (practically impossible to get the right tint again if you need more) and to go in with an idea of the colors you want, but be flexible!

This is also a little known way to be green. What's going to happen to that paint if nobody buys it? Thrown out baby. So save your wallet and some landfill space and go for the Oops Palate in your home!

Master Before Master After "Oops" Paint

Bathroom Before Bathroom After "Oops" Paint

We even painted the terrible yellow/brown sink/vanity with white latex...seems to be working fine until we can find a replacement for free!

Now go forth and empty out your local "Oops" Paint Department, before I get there 1st!

In the beginning...

Introductions are in order. I am a 27 year old full-time bartender/mixologist at a shmancy hotel in Southern Louisiana. My SO (signifigant other) is a 23 year old construction worker/musician who has managed to put up with me for 3 years now! We just bought our 1st house together and we are excited to begin our life together.

We share our home (and our bed) with our 2 dogs Major (dachshund) and Rufus (pound-puppy/Muppet) and one fat-formerly-stray cat, Carol.

So why this blog? Well, honestly it's mostly to keep me accountable. I also hope that some of yall out there in Internet world can learn from us/our mistakes. This is our "Little Green Home" for several reasons:

1) It's little. Only 1100 sqft. Now keep in mind this is not little by our standards. In fact we find it perfect. However we do realize (mostly through other's comments that we have already heard) that this is small for the standard 1st purchased home. But it has 3 bedrooms and a GREAT yard, is in a convenient location and is not new (new homes don't ever feel "homey" to me)

2) We are trying to be as "green" as possible in everyday life in regards to environmental responsibility. Using natural cleaners, growing our own veggies...I want chickens but the SO objects currently. We know that we don't have the money to go totally green, so we will be a "little green" by doing all we can.

and 3) We are trying to spend as "little green" as we can and save as much "green" as possible. Both everyday and with renovations to our new home. Luckily, being environmentally friendly and frugal usually go hand in hand.

So welcome! And thanks for being here!