5 Things to be Greener for the Holidays

In the spirit of giving, we're going to give you a short list - I know, we're too kind.  It's the kind of B.A.B.Es we are!  No need for an intro, this is simple stuff:

1. If you don't recycle, start this season.  You have way too many bottles, cans, jars, etc. coming through to just toss them in the trash.  Bonus stat: Each person in the U.S. produces about 4.6 lbs. of trash per day.  Wow.  Apparently we only recycle about 35% of that trash.  
2. Consider using 100% recycled paper wrapping paper this season.  If you already have wrapping paper - please use that up first.  You've already purchased it, no need to waste it.
3. Throwing a dinner party?  You may think it a waste, but consider buying (or go all Martha S and sew your own!) cloth napkins.  Seriously, buy (or sew) 6-12 one time and you are golden for quite some time!  If every household in the United States replaced just one package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 percent recycled ones, we could save 1 million trees. 
4. Consider buying a local gift this season.  What do we mean by that?  Drive downtown, pick a store - preferably from a small business owner, a single location store - and buy something from them.  You're helping out your local economy and your fellow real human being.  
5. Buy domestic shrimp, not imported.  That's your best health and eco-friendly bet.  Check out Monterey bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch guide.  It's an awesome app, or downloadable guide for your shopping pleasure. Very handy, indeed.
   
   

When You're Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Ever heard that phrase?  I got it from my fav money guy, Dave Ramsey.  Sick and tired of not having money to pay your bills, let alone get ahead or panic when someone mentions "Christmas".  I won't act like I haven't ever had money problems.  I can remember the time right after I had just gotten a divorce, I had just sold my once-successful business and the economy had tanked.  My funds were - shall we say - tight.  I went to Wal-Mart for groceries and looked nowhere but straight ahead.  No end caps.  No nothin'.  I actually am not easily tempted to part with my money, but intending on spending or not, it's no fun to look around and know that you can't - or shouldn't - buy anything but what you absolutely need.

Once I was enlightened to how to really fix the problem of having money control my life instead of me controlling my money - and keep in mind, I have a always been a "saver" - my life has changed.  The stress about the "what-ifs" are gone!  How can you accomplish this?  Sister, I tell you, it takes a written plan and sticking to it.  I am a very goal oriented person and I love to win - and I am here to tell you that if you want success out of any goal, you better write that thing down and POST it where you can see it every day!

There are many financial folks who can help you out.  I'll make it easy & give ya four:  Dave Ramsey,
David Bach, Suze Orman and Jean Chatzky.  Each one of these wonderful and talented people will tell you the same thing: plan, get out of debt, control your spending and save for a rainy day - cause it rains all the time!

I could go on and on because this is so central to what Being A Better Earthling is all about. We want to control our money so we don't waste it and waste precious resources.   We want to respect and control our money so we can be free!  And there is no better time than NOW>>

• Write down who you are buying for
• Write down what you have to spend
• Stick to it!

And lest you allow your bad elf brain to deceive you:

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.  ~Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur

 You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.  ~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

 It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it.  ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994