Here are the top 5 shifts for easy savings:
1. THE SHIFT: use a faucet or pitcher filter and refillable water bottle
instead of buying disposable plastic bottles. SAVE up to $500 a year if you
spend an average of $10 a week on bottled water.
2. THE SHIFT: run full loads in cold water. SAVE up to $150 a year, 90% of
energy goes to heating the water when you do laundry. + when you run only
full loads you can eliminate up to 52 loads a year.
3. THE SHIFT: pack a waste-free lunch for your kids. Eliminate the brown
bags, baggies, paper napkins, juice boxes...etc..replace with reusable
containers, cloth napkin, refillable bottle - you can buy bigger sized items
at the market and eliminate single serving items this way too = more
savings. SAVE $250 per kid per school year, if you carry year round $350 +
90 lbs of waste.
4. THE SHIFT: turn off your computer at home at night. SAVE $55 a year.
5. THE SHIFT: trade in your paper towels for reusable cleaning cloth in the
kitchen. SAVE up to $150 a year, assuming you use two rolls per week. + 30
lbs of paper waste.
Playing the Kitchen Chemist: ways to save and clean up with homemade
remedies
All-Purpose Cleaner
8 cups of water
1/2 cup of white vinegar
1/4 cup of baking soda
Glass Cleaner
1 1/2-2 cups water
1/2 cup white or apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70%)
1-2 drops lavender, cinnamon, clove or orange essential oil
(25 cents to make)
Buyer Beware
Ammonia - skin contact may cause burns. Repeated exposure may harm the
liver, kidneys, and respiratory.
Chlorine bleach - a skin, eye and respiratory irritant. Repeat exposure may
impact the immune, blood, heart or respiratory systems.
Power Plants
Get live plants for your house instead of artificial plants made from silk
or plastic. Live plants improve indoor air quality by filtering out
airborne toxins and hazardous gases. Two of the plants that are
great: Bamboo palm, English ivy.
Extend the Life or Bring Back to Life
Extend the Life:
Fruits and veggies - soak in a bowl of water w/ 1 TBS of vinegar and a dash
of salt (all products in your home)
Spinach, lettuce and leafy greens:
1. Store in an airtight bowl of water in the fridge
2. Wrap in a cheesecloth or paper towel after you rinse
Back to Life:
Stale cereal - bake them in a 300 degree oven for 3 to 5 mins. Place in
airtight container
Slightly sour milk: use it to make scones, corn bread or any recipe that
calls for milk (it won't make you sick)
Half-used jars or pasta sauce: freeze it in ice cube trays and use it in
the future
Beauty Products: huge savings when you make it yourself
Body Scrub Demo:
1 cup kosher salt
cold press sweet almond oil
20 drops of rosemary essential oil to scent
store in a mason jar
savings: $160/year
1. THE SHIFT: use a faucet or pitcher filter and refillable water bottle
instead of buying disposable plastic bottles. SAVE up to $500 a year if you
spend an average of $10 a week on bottled water.
2. THE SHIFT: run full loads in cold water. SAVE up to $150 a year, 90% of
energy goes to heating the water when you do laundry. + when you run only
full loads you can eliminate up to 52 loads a year.
3. THE SHIFT: pack a waste-free lunch for your kids. Eliminate the brown
bags, baggies, paper napkins, juice boxes...etc..replace with reusable
containers, cloth napkin, refillable bottle - you can buy bigger sized items
at the market and eliminate single serving items this way too = more
savings. SAVE $250 per kid per school year, if you carry year round $350 +
90 lbs of waste.
4. THE SHIFT: turn off your computer at home at night. SAVE $55 a year.
5. THE SHIFT: trade in your paper towels for reusable cleaning cloth in the
kitchen. SAVE up to $150 a year, assuming you use two rolls per week. + 30
lbs of paper waste.
Playing the Kitchen Chemist: ways to save and clean up with homemade
remedies
All-Purpose Cleaner
8 cups of water
1/2 cup of white vinegar
1/4 cup of baking soda
Glass Cleaner
1 1/2-2 cups water
1/2 cup white or apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70%)
1-2 drops lavender, cinnamon, clove or orange essential oil
(25 cents to make)
Buyer Beware
Ammonia - skin contact may cause burns. Repeated exposure may harm the
liver, kidneys, and respiratory.
Chlorine bleach - a skin, eye and respiratory irritant. Repeat exposure may
impact the immune, blood, heart or respiratory systems.
Power Plants
Get live plants for your house instead of artificial plants made from silk
or plastic. Live plants improve indoor air quality by filtering out
airborne toxins and hazardous gases. Two of the plants that are
great: Bamboo palm, English ivy.
Extend the Life or Bring Back to Life
Extend the Life:
Fruits and veggies - soak in a bowl of water w/ 1 TBS of vinegar and a dash
of salt (all products in your home)
Spinach, lettuce and leafy greens:
1. Store in an airtight bowl of water in the fridge
2. Wrap in a cheesecloth or paper towel after you rinse
Back to Life:
Stale cereal - bake them in a 300 degree oven for 3 to 5 mins. Place in
airtight container
Slightly sour milk: use it to make scones, corn bread or any recipe that
calls for milk (it won't make you sick)
Half-used jars or pasta sauce: freeze it in ice cube trays and use it in
the future
Beauty Products: huge savings when you make it yourself
Body Scrub Demo:
1 cup kosher salt
cold press sweet almond oil
20 drops of rosemary essential oil to scent
store in a mason jar
savings: $160/year
