Imelda Bettinger

What I don’t need

Photo by teamjtx.

I was reading my friend Katie’s new blog about cleaner living called The Curly Light Bulb. I didn’t know she had such an interest in living green but its certainly inspired me.

She wrote a post about what she doesn’t need. As many of us are trying to conserve money and resources, I too wanted to put my own list together. Katie mentions Starbucks, eating out less and dumping the home phone. I have already done all these so what else could I do. I also already vanpool to save on fuel and car repair expenses and to save time.

1. I could recycle more. I took out all the firewood and tools my husband keeps in our Waste Management green recycle container and started recycling in our home again. I am still figuring out what they will and will not take but I’m making an effort and encouraging the rest of the family.

2. I am considering dumping Netflix. I have the 2 movie at a time account but barely have time to watch those. I have mostly been getting movies for Mason and Danielle and they still keep them and watch them a few times. If I do get a movie I really want to watch, I usually only get to watch it late late at night when I should be sleeping. I also have a DVR and record enough TV that I can barely keep up with. Netflix has gone already about 5 times from our house without really missing it. I love that my queue is still there when I want to start having movies sent again.

3. I need to start using more coupons!!! I heard a story on Oprah last week where Stephanie Nelson cut her grocery bill by 70% by using coupons, taking advantage of store specials and shopping at stores that double and triple coupons. She gets a lot of stuff for free. I heard another story about coupon use on the rise on NPR this morning. I am embarrassed to say my average food bill for the month, which includes eating out, snacks, school lunches, and groceries is about $1,600. That’s ridiculous! Something must change.

Here are some Coupons sites I have browsed and liked: