Goals

We all know the drill. Making goals, particularly writing them down, has proven to help us reach desired milestones. Most of we frugal folk are great at making financial goals. Get out of debt, save $20,000, fully fund retirement accounts, etc.

To make reaching those goals easier, we're advised to plot a path. Want to get out of debt? Use the payment push method. Want to build savings? Once debt is paid, move the money that was going towards debt into savings. Start small, use baby steps, yada yada yada.

But have you thought of making goals to create a more connected, genuine life? Or lessening your carbon foot print? And if so, have you noticed that often, reaching those goals will actually save you money?

For instance, I have the goal of using my car less. To achieve that goal, I'm taking baby steps. I've started carpooling a few days a month. Next, I plan on braving public transportation. I'm also focusing on exceeding my goals at work so that my value isn't in question when I ultimately ask to telecommute.

Using my car less is just one part of a larger goal: Break Free From Petroleum. That means changing what I clean with, not using plastics, driving less, etc. Each of the pieces to this larger goal result in spending less money.

What are some of your goals? And what path have you plotted to reach them?

Happy Earth Day!

I am borrowing an article from a fabulous friend of mine, Pastor Ed Linberg, to celebrate Earth Day. I worked with Ed during my tenure with Habitat for Humanity. He continues to support Habitat's work, building homes, raising funds and changing lives. Not surprisingly, his faith and activism extends to our blessed Mama Earth.

Ed's column was first published in the April 20th edition of The Caller, the weekly newsletter of First Christian Church, Fullerton, California. You'll find plenty of good tips, resources and soul-warming affirmation in his article. Most importantly, you'll see a face of Christianity rarely displayed in mainstream media--one of respect, compassion, and joy all wrapped in the sacred quest for social justice. Enjoy!

Linberg's Line

More years ago than I remember, the persons who saw the need for what today is described as "going green," made enough noise that April 22 was declared to be Earth Day. For this year, Earth Day is this coming Tuesday. There's an awful lot to think about, and as always, more to do than has been done, as we come to another Earth Day. But there are some signs of hope even as there are signs that some people could care less about the environment.

As a Christian, caring for environment has always been a "no-brainer" in my book. After all, if the words of Genesis 1 describing God's incredible gift of creation don't stir one's soul, there is always Psalm 8 with its haunting question about the importance and the role of human beings generated by looking at the moon and stars. Beyond this are the words from Deuteronomy 8 about God making the land a gift to the people of Israel with the understanding that they were to remember, and not forget, God when they had homes to live in, abundant flocks and plenty of food to eat. Then there's Psalm 24 which begins with these words: "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it." How any Christian can assume that he or she has the right to abuse the earth, in any way, knowing it is a gift from God to us, and not only to us but to those who've gone before us and those who will come after us, is beyond my understanding.

So here are some things to consider and, perhaps, to do to mark Earth Day, 2008. Of course Earth Day can serve as a beginning of our exercising the stewardship of the earth and its resources that is required of us by God each and every day.

1. Change our low energy efficient light bulbs to ones that use less energy. The same with appliances and other consumer items that use energy. If this is too costly now, then plan to phase in more energy efficient items over time.

2. When next you change automobiles, get one that gives you more miles to the gallon. While you're driving your present vehicle, do all of the things you can to improve its gas mileage. And, don't forget that using public transportation, walking, or riding a bike, or carpooling is a good option to consider, at least on some occasions.

3. Congress has been considering/debating/ignoring--choose your own word--the raising of the minimum mileage requirements for new cars. So far, to my knowledge, they haven't taken any definitive action. Why should the auto manufacturers not meet higher mileage standards? The current ones were set years ago and environmental concerns are greater now than then. Let your representatives in Congress know how you feel about this issue.

4. Consider joining and getting active in one of the many environmental organizations. I've been a member of the Natural Resources Defense Council for a number of years. I don't know if they are the best group, but I know they keep environmental issues before me with frequent e-mails and their monthly newsletters, including one just established to focus on environmental issues in California, a state which has often led the way in environmental matters.

5. Make the candidates who want your vote this fall aware that you have an interest in how they will handle environmental issues, if elected.

6. An organization I've just learned about, Appalachian Voices, is seeking to make people across the country aware of the devastating impact mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia is having on both the environment and the economy of communities in southern Appalachia. Go to their website, AppalachianVoices.org, to learn more and, if you share their concern, act.

One of the most heartening things to me about the environment is the fact that former Vice-President, Al Gore, is bringing together some very unusual partnerships to work together on environmental issues. Who would have thought that Pat Robertson and Al Sharpton would join forces to benefit the environment? Who would have thought that Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi would join forces to benefit the environment? There is hope that we will address the environmental issues that threaten the future of our planet, not to overlook the future of our grandchildren's children and grandchildren. Still, above all else, the most important thing for us, as Christians, to remember on Earth Day, 2008 is this: "The earth is the Lord's... !" Amen.

Green Hype

Someone give me a Valium (for you anti-pharm hippies out there, feel free to make me a cup of chamomile tea). I just saw a commercial for bottled water, touting its green-ness. Seriously. Bottled water is now being touted as environmentally friendly, because they are using less plastic in their bottles. Yanno, those bottles you toss with abandon, because they're manufactured as a disposable product. One brand is actually calling their bottle "eco-shaped." Who knew that the earth was shaped like a big pile of trash?

The green movement of the '90s has fully resurfaced, but this time marketing executives can see dollar signs, so it's larger than ever. Detergents are sporting new "green" labels, as if a petroleum based product isn't toxic anymore if you throw a little lavender in the mix.

Unfortunately, the poorly informed (read: most Americans) are going to buy this crap--literally. What people don't realize is that no matter how much parsley you sprinkle on feces, you still don't want to eat a pile of shit. And the vast majority of products being labeled "green" are nothing more than stinky crap, covered in new labels. And most shockingly, many of these pseudo-green products are being sold at a higher price.

So, don't believe the hype! Just because Tide has a new label and the scent of flowers doesn't mean that it is no longer made from petroleum. Bottled water, no matter how little plastic it's housed in, is an environmental hazard. If you want to go green, be careful. Our good intentions are being manipulated for the sake of a greasy buck. And that buck can do far more good if it stays in your pocket.

Most importantly, if you're not sure what constitutes a green product (I didn't know for years that most detergents and other household cleaners consisted of toxic dumps), ask. You can even ask here at consciouslyfrugal_at_yahoo(dot)com! But the safest bet is to follow the Ancient Frugal Law: When in Doubt, Don't Buy It.

SF Gate Does Frugal Foodie

Check out this interesting article in the SFGATE, How to be a foodie without breaking the bank, by Novella Carpenter. I'd suggest ignoring the comments, as it seems readers have quite a few issues. (Therapy folks, seriously.)

Ms. Carpenter also has a very interesting blog, Your City Farmer. She's milking goats in the city, people! That alone is worth the read.

Getting Uncomfortable

My first suggestion to folks who are trying to get a better grip on their finances is to track expenses. Write down every dime you spend or receive. That single act can do so much to wake us up from mindless spending.

The second suggestion is to pay cash whenever you can. I like to use an accordion coupon holder to separate my budget categories, which I call "the divvy system." Some folks I've worked with find this to be too cumbersome. It is a pain, particularly at first. But let me explain exactly why I think it's such a powerful tool.

We're used to putting virtually every variable expense (heck, even some fixed expenses) on plastic, be it credit or debit. We swipe the card, sometimes remember to write the expense down, and then go on our merry way. It's mindless.

Paying cash forces us to pay attention, particularly if we go to pay for something and there's no money left. Hello, wake up call! With plastic, we only receive that shock if the bank chooses to decline the transaction. Most banks will happily charge overdraft and over-the-limit fees while approving your purchase. Isn't that sweet? *gag*

Using the divvy system requires us to be even more conscious of spending. If we put $200 in our wallet and spend as we go, without any thought to our needs throughout the week, the cash will often disappear too soon. But if we separate out budgeted amounts, we can see exactly where we tend to overspend. Yes, this can be achieved by tracking spending alone, but the divvy system is tangible. The green bills stare at you from their special slots. It's real, live money, not some number on a piece of paper that you may or may not tally at the end of the month.

Change can be uncomfortable, but sometimes we have to get uncomfortable before we can break through unhealthy habits. I liken tracking spending and using the divvy system to meditation. At first, it is nothing but a pain--literally. It's uncomfortable, seems ridiculous, and doesn't provide any concrete benefit. But if you stick with it, you'll find yourself transformed. A new level of awareness and connection to the self (yes, how you spend is deeply intertwined with who you are) emerges. It's as if you've awakened from a life of numb mindlessness into a world of possibility and color. (Not to mention respect for the things you own and a heftier savings.) But to get there, you have to get uncomfortable first. Thankfully, it's only temporary and the rewards can last a lifetime.

Co-Op America

Welcome to my new favorite site, Co-Op America. It's so full of fabulous information that you might be a little overwhelmed at first. But don't worry, you can browse through the site while at work!

All (truthful) kidding aside, Co-Op America does have some excellent resources. You can search national green pages, learn about any and everything social justice and environmentally friendly-related, get investing tips, or peruse great lists like The Ten Things You Should Never Buy Again.

Since we don't want to play negatron, I thought I'll add a list of the ten things you should buy! Lawd knows we love to buy crap, right?

1. Emergency savings.
2. Retirement savings.
3. Goodies savings (hello, travel!).
4. Food from your local farmer's market.
5. Programming from your local PBS station (AKA "make a donation").
6. Baking soda, lemon, salt and hydrogen peroxide to clean your house.
7. Reusable bags for groceries and other shopping excursions.
8. A reusable (is this a trend?) bottle and/or mug for water and coffee.
9. Handmade items for gifts from people you know or groovy sites like Etsy instead of big box stores. (Or you could get brave and make something yourself!)
10. Anything you please from your local thrift shop, particularly if it supports a worthy cause.

Breaking Free from Living to Shop

In the last post (written about 400 years ago--apologies!), we looked at the reality of the re-emerging green market. (Short version--green is great, as long as it's not an excuse to buy more useless crap. Don't let marketing executives fool you into thinking that buying stuff is good for Mama Earth.)

But deeper than the surface green lies the fact that too many of us orient our lives around accumulating money not to protect ourselves (no bad debt, solid savings) and heal our communities (donating to charity), but to accumulate more stuff and/or derive our experiences through products. So, how do we break free from that cycle and reclaim our lives? I can't answer that for everyone, but I can share the steps I took to Becoming Human Again. Please feel free to share your experiences as well, 'cuz Lawd knows one size does not fit all.

Consciously Frugal's Guide to Breaking Free from Living to Shop

1. Shop differently. Sure, some people may be able to quit cold turkey, but those people are freaks. So, instead of abandoning your Saturday routine of dining out and then shopping for three hours, keep the routine. Just change the venue--shop at local thrift stores. You're keeping stuff out of landfills and not contributing to the destruction and pollution that comes from creating virgin products. To find a thrift store near you, click Here.

2. Try something new. Using our Saturday shopping adventure example, take one Saturday a month and do something you've never done before. Check out a new park. Visit a museum. Go through your clothes and donate good, clean, stain-free items to a local homeless shelter. In short, shake up the routine.

3. Build a new habit. After you've tried several new things, you might find something you love--like going to that new park, for instance--and make it your new routine to replace the weekly mindless spending. Never underestimate the power of habit. It's frequently what puts us into debt and unhealthy patterns in the first place.

My Saturday shopping ritual cost me thousands of dollars over the years for... nothing. I could have saved so much money, gone on so many fabulous trips, but instead I accumulated a bunch of crap I never use that I eventually donated. Hello, POINTLESS. Alas, that's water under the bridge.

Now, my Saturdays are spent hanging laundry out on the line 14 stories above the city (totally rad for this country girl. Who would have thought that hanging laundry could bring joy?), watching cooking shows and swigging wine with friends. I turned Sunday into a shopping day. (Wait for it!) Instead of clothing stores, I hit the farmer's market.

I started with one pound of produce a week from the market to eating 99.9% of my fruits and veggies from locally-owned vendors. My weekends used to provide a momentary thrill from an idiotic, useless purchase followed by the pain of increased debt. Now, I have quality time with friends, unbelievably gorgeous food, and a fattening bank account. Ahhhhh, it feels so good to be human again!