I don’t know about all of you, but I’m definitely looking forward to what 2009 is going to bring. We’re living in a tumultuous time for sure, but also an incredibly exciting one. We’ve got a president-elect coming in who actually cares about the environment, frugality is becoming trendy, and the green movement is catching on fast.
I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen this year. I think it’s going to be great, which is why I’m actually taking the time to write down some New Year’s Resolutions for myself.
The practice of setting goals for the new year is actually going downhill, at least according to Welch Media. They report that the practice of writing down New Year’s Resolutions have dropped from 88% a few years ago to 45%. Why?
Well, their study found that only 8% of Americans actually achieve their goals. For the other 92% that set them, this means disappointment.
As far as New Year’s Resolutions are concerned, I don’t usually make them. But this year I think I’m going to give it a whirl and see how it goes. I was thinking about it last night, and there are just a few things I’d really like to do. Some are green, some have to do with saving money, and some are more personal.
Here’s my list for 2009:
1. Learn How To Play Piano- Obviously this is my goal for personal enrichment. I love the sound of the piano, and have always envied those people who can sit down and spin out a beautiful melody as if they were doing nothing more than writing out their grocery list.
Well, no more. I’m going to teach myself how to play. Claire de Lune, here I come…
2. Completely Stop Using Paper towels- I don’t think this goal is going to be that hard to do. I’ve already started amassing a basket of cut up t-shirts and rags to use in the kitchen, which is a good start. I’m storing them close to where I normally keep the paper towels, and am going to train myself to reach for them first.
I think the key to doing this successfully is to be prepared. For months I tried to cut down on paper towels, but never succeeded because I wasn’t prepared. I’d have to clean up a spill, and have nothing on-hand to use instead. I think that my basket of rags will make all the difference.
3. Stop Using Plastic In the Kitchen- The more I learn about plastic, and how often the chemicals from plastic leach into the food they’re holding, the less I like.
So, one of my goals for 2009 is to recycle of all the plastic containers (like GladWare and Ziplock) in my kitchen and completely switch to glass or stainless steel.
4. Pay Off My Mortgage- Business experts and personal coaches would call this my “Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal”, or, BHAG. I think it’s important that everyone have their own BHAG; something so big, so daring, that you almost want to laugh out loud every time you talk about it. BHAGs are what keep you dreaming and hoping and pursuing things that seem as far away as the stars themselves.
Paying off my mortgage by the end of this year is a huge goal, definitely the biggest one I’ve ever set in my life. I mean, just writing it down is scary. But I think I can do it. By going green and practicing frugality and working my butt off, it can be done. It’s definitely a BHAG.
What Are YOUR New Year’s Resolutions?
From what I’ve heard from my own circle of friends and family members, it seems as if making green New Year’s Resolutions is a big thing this year. This makes me so happy!
What have all of you resolved to do this year?
If you need some ideas for going green in 2009, here are a few to consider:
1. Stop using plastic bags- It’s amazing to me how many grocery stores now sell cheap, reusable canvas bags, many for only $1 or $2.
Using canvas bags instead of plastic ones is a wonderful way to go green. Plastic bags take over 1,000 years to decompose, and only 1% of the billions used around the world are ever recycled. Yikes. So, let’s go reusable!
The biggest problem most people have with reusable bags is remembering to take them to the store in the first place.
courtesy of ReusableBags.com
I have a few techniques I use in my own life. First of all, I made taking the bags a habit. Just like I grab my purse and my keys before heading to the market, I grab my bags now as well.
To help me remember, I keep them in my kitchen on a hook, where I see them every single day. If I shoved them in the pantry, they’d be “out of sight, out of mind”, and I’d never remember them.
The reason why I don’t mind looking at my bags on the wall is because my biggest one looks like a piece of art. The design is a collage of old postage stamps and advertisements from the ’40s, and I never get tired of looking at it. I hang that one on the wall, and store the more “generic” looking ones inside.
The photo on the right is just one example of the fun, colorful bags that are now available. You can find nice and funky reusable bags at Reusablebags.com.
2. Switch to CFL Bulbs- Switching to CFL bulbs is a fantastic way to go green, and save money. If you’re looking to do both in 2009, this is a great first step.
3. Buy less stuff- Buying less not only allows you to save money, but it also allows you to go green.
If you do need to buy something, then look at used places first. This gives second life to older things, and cuts down on the use of resources. Places like consignment stores, Craigslist, Goodwill and the Salvation Army are my most favorite places to shop anyway.
The reason why I love going to these places is because it’s like hunting for treasure. Think about it: when you go to the mall, or a specific store like the Gap or Old Navy, you pretty much know what you’re going to find there. You know the style, and the price range. Boring.
But Salvation Army (or Sally Ann’s, as we call it in Michigan), is like an adventure. You don’t know what’s going to be there, or how much it’s going to be. Definitely funner than going to the mall. At least for me.
4. Start Using At Least One Eco-Friendly Home Product- This can make a big difference for the environment, especially if you switch to eco-friendly laundry detergent or dish soap.
5. Stop Drinking Bottled Water- This may sound like it’s hard to do, but it’s not so bad. Once it really hit me how bad all those plastic water bottles are on the environment, and that I was essentially paying a premium for water that, most of the time, is straight out of the tap, I was able to quit cold turkey.
I bought a Sigg water bottle to use instead. Sigg is kind of expensive; mine was $23. But, here’s why it’s worth it: Sigg water bottles are made from one piece of aluminum. Germs and bacteria can’t grow in the bottle (which is good for me because I always forgot to wash mine out).
Another great thing about Sigg is that you don’t have to worry about chemicals leaking into your beverage like you do with plastics. Again, the more I learn about plastic, the less I like.
So, do you have any green New Year’s Resolutions for 2009? Any plans to live more frugally? If so, I’d love to hear them! Other readers might get inspiration as well, so please send them in!
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Well, I’m pretty new to the whole green thing, but after hearing about it for months (years?) I’m going to give it a try. I’m going to try to cut down on the plastics in my house and try to remember to take my canvas bags to the store (I do have some, yay). It’s just hard to remember to bring them along. I’m going to try to join a local CSA and get more organic veggies into our diet (decent price, too!) And I’m going to try to recycle. I am terrible about recycling. I have a stash of bottles and stuff under my kitchen counter that I need to drop off. Anyways. Those are a few of the things I’m going to try to do this year (we’ll call them goals).