My New Year’s Resolution for 2020 is to become more intentional. I want my life to reflect my priorities which means that I need to make conscious decisions about the things that matter most. One of the aspects our family is focusing on this year is sustainability. Waste is not only detrimental for the environment but also financially. Here are some of the ways we plan to reduce wastefulness in 2020.
Reduce
Here are some examples:
Using a reusable cup instead of a plastic water bottle for outings and work.
Using a cloth to wipe up spills rather than a paper towel.
Using newspaper comics to wrap gifts rather than wrapping paper.
Using a cotton cloth to remove makeup instead of a single use makeup removing wipes.
Using wool dyer balls in place of dryer sheets (or simply omitting these altogether).
Reducing food waste by meal planning before going to the store.
Using reusable shopping bags instead of plastic grocery bags
I want to note that we are not eliminating these things completely, instead we are focusing on reducing our use of them when possible.
2. Reuse
We have always shopped for secondhand items and donated to our local thrift store. Here are places to shop second hand and what we find at them.
Consignment Sales: Almost all of Noah’s clothes come from consignment sales as well as his toys. We also consign his old clothes and toys each season.
Platos Closet: I usually find clothes for myself and occasionally David will find clothes too.
The thrift store: We don’t shop here much anymore but we donate frequently. However, over the years we have bought clothes, furniture, and décor.
Facebook Marketplace: Facebook is helpful for finding specific items like a stroller or baby carrier.
Yard Sales: I always see holiday décor and other decorative items at yard sales.
Antique stores: We have bought a few pieces of furniture including our church pew and china cabinet at antique stores.
3. Recycle
Lastly, we were not taking full advantage of our ability to recycle each week. We printed the list of things recycled at our center and realized that many items we had been putting in the trash were accepted.
I know that there are so many other sustainable practices that I didn’t mention. We are simply doing the best we can for our family in the season of life we are in. I really love the quote “sustainability isn’t someone doing everything, it’s about everyone doing something.”
Courtney
