Little Things that Make a Difference (Page 1 of 2)

The list is geared towards ways to save money I take it.   Along a related line are the following suggestions, which are aimed at making dent / difference, to chip away at problematic modern day behaviors.  This ties into the idea of sustainability that Neomatrix brought up briefly in today's post over on the David Icke thread.    Our way of life not only drains our money, but it's just not sustainable, period.   So with that in mind:

- Recycle.   In Charlottesville, you're allowed one trash can per week of trash.  You get a trash decal so they can verify who's trash is who's, which means they basically force you to find a way to recycle as much of your trash as you can, because they won't pick it up if it exceeds more than your allocated 1 trash can.   Newspapers, brown bags, plastic bags, cardboard, glass, plastic containers, aluminum, all of it gets recycled here.  You can either put it in your recycling bin or bring it in your car to the one of several community recycling centers around town.  We do both.  The first time we took a trip to the recycling center I was amazed at all the huge bin dumpsters lined up in a row to take pretty much everything except for organic/food trash.  I had no idea that you could recycle plastic like that.   They even have a place to take your old phone books, junk mail / envelopes / fliers, and used printer paper!!!!!!!!   They do everything here, I love it.   Additionally, our community recycling center has a walk in area for free books.  If you have books you want to get rid of, then people sometimes bring them there.  They're lined up on shelves, and you just take whatever you want for free if you see something you like.

So yes, definitely recycle.  If your community doesn't do curbside recycling bins, then see if you have a community recycling center.

- Stop being a consumer.   This can't be emphasized enough.  We're all guilty of it, myself included, so here's a kick ass link that was once passed along by former NR poster Alushe, which I'll highlight again here since it's relevant: 

http://www.verdant.net
Their overcoming consumerism section:  http://www.verdant.net/index.html
Their article on an alternate economy:    http://www.verdant.net/alternate_economy.htm

There's a plethora of information to be found at this site.  Take what works for you, based on what you'd like to achieve, and toss the rest if it's not applicable or if you don't agree.

Stop supporting the big name corporations.  Shop Mom n Pop.  Again, we're all guilty of this, myself included.  But we can all at least try to make an effort to cut back on shopping at big name corporation chains and instead, seek out independently owned, local Mom n Pop businesses.  Encourage small businesses, don't give your money to the corporations.

Start paying attention when you're driving around town to the Mom n Pop small business alternatives.  When you're tempted to run off to Wal Mart for something, take the extra 5 minutes to pull out your phone book and see if you can find the Mom n Pop alternative.   

And regarding this:

If you have a cell phone then cancel your home phone service

I actually think it should be the opposite.

Cancel your cell phone and stick with your land line.

We all got along just fine before cell phones were commonplace.   I personally detest cell phones.  People walking around talking into their cell phone or ear pieces out in public being obnoxious and rude, talking into their phones while being rung up by a cashier, driving with a phone stuck to their ear causing accidents.   Etc.   Etc.

Just say no to cell phones, they suck.   Don't be a part of the cell phone problem.   They're bad for your health and contribute to people walking around in life oblivious to their surroundings because they're absorbed in some silly superficial conversation that could have waited 10 minutes until the person got home.

Yes.  But I was thinking more in terms of the more you save the less you have to work.  More time for yourself.

Absolutely!

I briefly visited this sites and they have some good ideas.  Although some of the ideas I'll have to quit my job to be able to implement them. 

Yes.  Big name corporations are slowly but surely destroying small business accross the planet not just the USA.

Either way works for me as long as you keep one of the two services.  I personally will have to choose the cell phone.  Maybe when I quit my business and can get rid of it.

I wholeheartedly agree with lyra concerning cell phones.
Much like smoking, why PAY outrageous amounts to give yourself a tumor?

Another big one would be car/ home repair, if you normally pay someone to be handyman, teach yourself- this can save THOUSANDS.......

All the info is right here on the net- for free.

Very true!   I've just had to do this myself over the past week actually, the EXACT same thing.  I was going to write out the list but in the end went through it in my mind instead.   

Basically, I'm at a temp job right now that I loathe, and I mean, loathe.  But I have no choice but to stay, because I'm in the financial hole right now.   No money, basically!

But it's all my own doing!!!!  I've been eating out more than making my own food.   Spending money here, spending money there....and it's all because of having that little plastic ATM debit card that I can use whereever I go to pay for anything from gas to food to household items to books, to anything, you name it.

Convenience leads to overindulgence.   And I knew this YEARS ago which is why I avoided bank accounts for years!!   Plastic cards mean trouble, period, whether it's credit or debit.  It becomes SO easy to spend when you have a card.

So, over the past two days I've had to make a decision.

STOP EATING OUT.   STICK TO MAKING MY OWN FOOD.

Stop buying trivial little things.

And leave the debit card at home.

Yes, leave it at home.  If I'm out and about I won't be able to spend money if I have none with me to spend.

Then I will get myself out of this financial hole.  It won't take long, maybe but a month to get caught up again, but in the meantime I will have to suffer at this job I hate, just suck it up and collect the paychecks until I'm back on two feet.   

But yes, you're so right.....everybody, make that list.  See what you can cut back on, or what can be completely eliminated!

Just my personal observation for my situation, which may not necessarily be true for yours: I found the C's advice to be consistently applicable, that "when you spend to progress, you prosper."

When I have overspent on things that were detrimental to my progress, that has always put me into a tight bind. But when I would seemingly overspend on things that I know are beneficial to progress, things would work out in synchronistic ways. By detrimental I mean that which destroys health, takes away productivity, overfeeds the baser impulses, is a result of self-destructive or distractice programming commands, etc...  By beneficial I mean things that either directly or indirectly support your physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being, things that you know and feel are good and necessary.

So my point is, I found that things went better when I rearranged rather than reduced my spending, shifting it from a mostly destructive to mostly beneficial. I don't believe it has to be completely one way or the other, because some things are only destructive if carried on for too much too long, so in moderation they are neutral and okay.

Because having more money is not only about plugging the leaks, but also opening the flow from the tap, I guess the trick might be in cutting back on things you need to cut back anyway, and continue spending on things you and your loved ones need to spend on. That way you become a more focused, disciplined, and healthy force in this world, rather than a miserable miser.

Montalk,

What you just described completely fits what I have experienced.  In the past, the more money I got the more I wanted and the more I spent on trivial things.  It was a vicious circle that made me think I never had enough.  Nowadays, I try to keep my mind free of worries, I am more connected (spiritually), serene and honestly at peace with who I am.  In absolute terms I make less money but I have more than I ever had if that makes any sense.  I still spend most of it doing the things I enjoy such as eating, books, stuff for my experiments and others.   But that's ok, when I die I cannot take it with me.  Thanks for your comments.

Regards