Did you see Oprah today! FREEGANISM! I had heard of it, but now that I'm on a campaign against acquisition and also that my family and I are all doing the Food Stamp Challenge ($1 per meal per person until Easter), it really spoke to me. And I never watch Oprah, so it must have been divine intervention for me to be home in the room with the TV, with the kids momentarily occupied elsewhere and a basket of laundry to fold.
Go here to read the story on Oprah.
The first guest quit her six-figure job when she realized that most of her money went for stuff - stuff that didn't make her happy, anyway. Now she and her husband spend only $10-$20 per week on food - the rest they get free in trash piles outside grocery stores in New York. No wait - it's not even rotting food! She said she got a dozen (well 11, actually) eggs that were not expired because one of them was broken. Fresh fruit and produce, boxes of dried cereal, POUNDS of gourmet coffee beans - all on their way to the landfill. Most of it doesn't even go to the hungry because it's easier for store personnel to throw it out.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Post #9: Birthdays
One reason I haven't posted in a while is because I've been stressing about my son's 9th birthday. It's coming up in a couple of weeks, and I've been spending time (too much time) thinking about it and its details. Finally it's been ironed out - the place, time, theme. Now it's just the doing of it.
Why I'm writing about it is because of one aspect I am most thrilled with: no presents! Well, actually, there will be a few family gifts, because for better or worse we aren't extreme people, but we are asking his friends to not bring gifts. No pile of THINGS to deal with, to store, to return because there were two, to regift and feel guilty about, to be sad about when it breaks prematurely.
Instead, we're asking friends to consider a donation to www.kiva.org - a non profit that facilitates micro-loans to small business people in developing nations. I am fortunate in that most of my son's close friends had already started this trend of donations rather than presents, so it wasn't a hard sell. But he did want to choose the non-profit himself. Through Kiva, people can loan small amounts ($25) of money to people around the world who are trying to make a better life for themselves. They are cafe owners, book sellers, grocers - and they need a little money, like $1000, to make capital improvements, or in one man's case, be able to buy in bulk so he could sell his products for cheaper. They pay it back as they can, and with no interest. My husband has been doing this for a few months, and he gets to see profiles of all the other people who are supporting the same business people that he is supporting. Mom is doing it, too, and she agrees that it's a really fun way of donating. So our 9-year-old will take the money he raises, choose a business or two or three to loan money to, and follow their stories. When they pay it back, he'll reinvest and reinvest, and let the money just keep on helping. Much more fun than a closet full of crap.
Why I'm writing about it is because of one aspect I am most thrilled with: no presents! Well, actually, there will be a few family gifts, because for better or worse we aren't extreme people, but we are asking his friends to not bring gifts. No pile of THINGS to deal with, to store, to return because there were two, to regift and feel guilty about, to be sad about when it breaks prematurely.
Instead, we're asking friends to consider a donation to www.kiva.org - a non profit that facilitates micro-loans to small business people in developing nations. I am fortunate in that most of my son's close friends had already started this trend of donations rather than presents, so it wasn't a hard sell. But he did want to choose the non-profit himself. Through Kiva, people can loan small amounts ($25) of money to people around the world who are trying to make a better life for themselves. They are cafe owners, book sellers, grocers - and they need a little money, like $1000, to make capital improvements, or in one man's case, be able to buy in bulk so he could sell his products for cheaper. They pay it back as they can, and with no interest. My husband has been doing this for a few months, and he gets to see profiles of all the other people who are supporting the same business people that he is supporting. Mom is doing it, too, and she agrees that it's a really fun way of donating. So our 9-year-old will take the money he raises, choose a business or two or three to loan money to, and follow their stories. When they pay it back, he'll reinvest and reinvest, and let the money just keep on helping. Much more fun than a closet full of crap.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Post #8: Catalogs
Daughter here. Mom will readily admit that part of the issue is the obscene amount of catalogs she receives daily that pile up, begging for attention. I typically pause by the recycle container on my way from the mailbox to the house, so that most catalogs never get their sticky feet in the door, and even then I get a build-up. Mom has been at her address for 25 years, and I think every direct mail company in America has her address. A friend sent me this, which I passed on to her. I do not know if she has used it, but I just opted out of the ones I don't like to receive. It's http://www.catalogchoice.org/, and it's non-profit. And EASY. Highly recommended!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
POST #7 ChinaMart
My coworkers and I have recently been having a conversation about "muchness". Now, this is coming from the mother of this blogger and I have reached a "certain age". We reached the conclusion that ChinaMart deals in a lot of junk. Everything there is made in China. We want things "Made in USA". But it would cost a lot more you say. So? You would probably have to pay more but then you would buy less and think more about what you are buying like, say, in the good old days! The next time you go out for some shopping therapy look at the label, box, whatever and if it says "Made in China" ask yourself if you really need this thing. I am often in line with people buying tons of Stuff Made in China. PEOPLE! We do not need ALL this Stuff.
FROM CHINA! We can do with LESS made here.
If and when we get this money from OUR government (read here us) I am going to put it in a ROTH IRA because eventually I or my children will have to pay for it and I want it to still be here , not in China. They seem to be doing great us not so much. I agree with her. Why do we have to be constantly spending? Why can't our economy be resting? All the TV ads, all the newspaper ads pushing us to spend, spend, spend. We really need a rest from this. We need to Save.
Now, to my daughter. She came to help me sort out and get rid of some of my Stuff. (so she won't have to do it when I become incapacitated or die) and she really did get me on my way. Donna wrote that it seems insurmountable at times and sometimes an expert is needed. But my daughter is good at getting rid of Stuff. Of the "muchness" that I have accumulated. Her visit didn't last long enough. I still have too much stuff. And I know in my soul that I would feel better if I didn't. At work, we have at least raised our level of awareness of the "muchness" that we are accumulating and what for? A giant garage sale by our children? Wouldn't they be better off with $ that we have accumulated?
FROM CHINA! We can do with LESS made here.
If and when we get this money from OUR government (read here us) I am going to put it in a ROTH IRA because eventually I or my children will have to pay for it and I want it to still be here , not in China. They seem to be doing great us not so much. I agree with her. Why do we have to be constantly spending? Why can't our economy be resting? All the TV ads, all the newspaper ads pushing us to spend, spend, spend. We really need a rest from this. We need to Save.
Now, to my daughter. She came to help me sort out and get rid of some of my Stuff. (so she won't have to do it when I become incapacitated or die) and she really did get me on my way. Donna wrote that it seems insurmountable at times and sometimes an expert is needed. But my daughter is good at getting rid of Stuff. Of the "muchness" that I have accumulated. Her visit didn't last long enough. I still have too much stuff. And I know in my soul that I would feel better if I didn't. At work, we have at least raised our level of awareness of the "muchness" that we are accumulating and what for? A giant garage sale by our children? Wouldn't they be better off with $ that we have accumulated?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Post #6: Hunting and Gathering
There are two ways that stuff accumulates: actively and passively. Active accumulators are collectors, purchasers, people who like to shop and buy and own and amass. Passive accumulators are worried about getting rid of something they might need one day, so they keep it all - just in case. The problem is that the build-up of stuff is its own problem, a problem that is guaranteed. I'd rather regret getting rid of something than to have to live with a dust collector for my whole life.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Post #5: Consumption
The problem with STUFF is that most of it isn't consumable, so it builds up. However, here's an interesting look at how much people consume in food, around the world: http://www.everybodygoto.com/2007/10/12/what-people-eat-around-the-world/
Notice how as the cost goes down, so does the pre-packaged, processed and fast-food content of the diet. As well as the quantity.
Notice how as the cost goes down, so does the pre-packaged, processed and fast-food content of the diet. As well as the quantity.
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