As times get tighter and tighter here in the Brown household we seem to let some of our green ways go by the wayside. Does this happen in your household too?
Buying organic and/or locally grown food has just gotten too expensive. We still eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, but I buy the non-organic kind at Sunflower Market for dirt cheap. Rather than buying food as we need it, we stock up on things when they're on sale. Of course these aren't always the most healthy things. For example, I bought turkey dogs for the kids the other day because they were on sale for $.99 and I had a coupon for $1.00 off of 2 packages. So $.99 for what could be 2 weeks worth of lunches.
I really need to refocus in the food department. I saw a news clip a few weeks ago where a woman said "Why would spend so much on healthy food when I can get 2 hamburgers for a dollar?" I'm understanding this perspective a lot more these days. Don't get me wrong, times are not that tight. The Browns will continue to eat fruits and veggies and all the healthy food that we love, but I can see why -- especially when times are this tight -- people would make, say, a box of mac and cheese for $.29 instead of making it from scratch with organic ingredients for $3.00 - $5.00.
Another area where I've slacked off is in personal products. Rather than buying Tom's toothpaste, I've been buying what's on sale. A few weeks ago I found Colgate toothpaste on sale for $1 and I had a $1 off coupon. Can't beat free! So I stocked up since I had 3 coupons.
Instead of organic shampoo and conditioner for $8.00 or more per bottle, I bought an all-in-one (Pantene I think?) on sale at the drugstore for 2/$7 plus a $2 off coupon when you buy two. That's a LOT cheaper.
While I'm certainly proud of the money I've been saving by scouting out sales and coupons, I can't help but feel bad about backsliding.
Judging by a recent post by the Conscious Shopper on the Green Phone Booth blog, it seems that I'm not the only one wrestling with these issues. Erin's solution was to cut back in other areas so that she could continue to spend a little more on local and organic food.
How are you fairing in this sad economy? What sacrifices have you had to make? Where have you cut back?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Less green in the wallet = less green at home?
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2 comments:
One of the ways I save a lot is by stockpiling, especially on health & beauty products. When I saw Tom's toothpaste at a Surplus Outlet, I bought 8 tubes. I haven't had to buy new toothpaste in a long time!
We're faring all right. I've had to give products that contain either gluten or corn, so as much as I would like to stock up on Chef Boyardee, it's out of the question. That takes some of the sting out of buying organic produce anyway -- it's not like I have many other options!
I've compensated for other products by making my own, like deodorant, shampoo/conditioner and laundry soap. It takes a little time, but not a lot of dough.
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