Green Living With Ample Green
Green Living
I confess that green living frustrates me. In the store, eco-friendly kitchen products cost more than traditional products, and with my budget I often just cannot afford them. This means that I have to look for deals, things that save me money now and in the future. For me, there is no benefit to saving ‘x’ number of dollars in a year when buying the product is going to cost $25.00 or more in overdraft fees at my bank. Additionally, I want my green living products to fulfill more than one goal just as I expect my traditional products to do.
The first item to catch my interest was the cellulose storage bag. Did you know that cellulose comes from trees? They compost easily and quickly. More importantly, they do not emit gasses that help age produce as traditional bags do. That was the selling point for me. The bags come in boxes of 300 for $18.00 at most places. I consider them worth the expense. Like most people, I throw old produce away. Using a cellulose bag will help my produce last longer and that will save me money at the checkout counter.
The bag-e-wash and dry really fascinated me. I do not enjoy washing storage bags to reuse. I hate the way the bag clings to my hands while I wash it, then having to turn it wrong side out to dry it. The bag-e-wash and dry looks like an open bamboo whisk and takes a lot of the awkwardness out of washing storage bags.
Since they first put rubber tires on cars people have been trying to figure out what to do with the tire when it is no longer useful. After all, you can only make so many tire swings. The thrash can is an answer for that problem. Made from recycled tires it is an eight-gallon trash can with aluminum supports. You can run over it with your car or stomp on it in a fit over the grocery bill and it will return to its original shape.
One thing I found both affordable and interesting is the stainless steel recycling bin. The smallest, two four gallon compartments, cost $95.00, while the largest, two eight gallon compartments cost 150.00. At first glance, it seems a luxury, until I looked in my kitchen and noticed how unkempt it looked with my recycle bags sitting on the floor. Your dog can chase your cat through the kitchen and you will not have to worry about cleaning up the mess. It is neater and will contain odors better, that will save you money on cleaning products.
My absolute favorite eco-friendly kitchen product was the soda maker. If you are like me and do not like a lot of fizz in your soda this is perfect. If you spend up to ten dollars per shopping trip on soda this is perfect. One single carbonating unit will make 110 liters of soda or seltzer. You can make your own flavors as well. This idea is both practical and fun. The unit does not use either electricity or batteries and will save you money on the light bill.
These are just five green living kitchen products that are both affordable now and money saving later. With a bit of research you can find dozens of products that will save you money in the checkout line and on your utility bills. For me, this saves the most important ‘green’ in my family, our money.
