Why I recycle.

Do you recycle? Why or why not?

Yes, I recycle everything I can, from water bottles right down to the cardboard rolls in my toilet paper. I do it because I think it is important for each of us to take personal responsibility for what we consume and how we dispose of it, and I love my country and don't want to see her landfills take up more and more of this beautiful land.

Do you teach your kids about recycling and reducing their footprint on the earth?

I don't have kids but I am trying to teach my husband and the children in our family.

What kind of stuff do you reuse? How do you reuse it?

I reuse containers (plastic ones like butter and sour cream) to hold leftovers, then I wash and recycle them. I re-use paper from work that is to be thrown out - usually has but a speck of ink on one side, so I bring it home and use it to print out assignments and such for an online class. I reuse cardboard and cardboard boxes for shipping and art projects. Oh and a no brainer, I use canvas bags when I shop.

What kind of stuff do you buy that you feel reduces the amount of overall waste from your household?

I buy the concentrated soaps and laundry detergent, I buy water by the gallon or use my Brita pitcher instead of small bottles, I try to buy the product with the least amount of excessive packaging when faced with a cost-effective choice. I hope someone has more ideas because I would like to reduce further.

Why do you feel it is important or not important to reduce, reuse and recycle?

Personal responsibility is big for me. I think I need to be responsible for the trash that comes out of my house, and it is not someone elses responsiblity to sort it for me. I am responsible for the footprint I leave on the earth and whether or not I leave it better or worse (even if just a little) for the children in my family and yours.

Have you made the switch?

....to re-usable grocery bags that is.I switched and I love it.Here's why:

1. It is important to me to reduce, reuse and recycle. I don't take our resources for granted and I respect our land enough not to want to fill it with trash if I can avoid it.

2.They hold so much more, what used to take 10-12 plastic bags now takes 3-4 "green bags"

3.They are multi-purpose, I can use them just about anytime I need a good canvas bag, the beach, road trips, you name it!

4. They are cheap, I get mine at the commissary for 70 cents, most places have them for a dollar or less. For me it was too easy a switch not to make and it is so good not to have to mess with those flimsy plastic bags anymore.

Every once in awhile I will buy more than I can fit in my green bags, those times I will usually grab one or two plastic bags as well and reuse them in the bathroom wastebaskets.

Here we go!

Welcome to my new blog! I love couponing, finding deals, recycling and inspiring others (or at least trying to) to live a simple, fulfilling life like I try to do every day. It is very rewarding! Serving others is a passion of mine, living green is another passion and not to mention living cheap! We all like to save money right? Well lets try to do it together. I hope my blog will one day prove worthy of your bookmark =)