Why I Shop on eBay...

I've compiled a list of the Top 5 reasons to shop eBay:

1.    You can shop from the comfort of your own home -- in your pj's at 3AM, if you like.  Not only is this convenient, but it saves on the gas you'd be using to drive to the store, hence, reducing emissions and your carbon footprint.

2.    Purchasing previously used items rather than buying new, helps the environment by keeping stuff out of landfills.  Furthermore, it reduces the amount of new products that are manufactured and shipped to stores to sell, reducing the carbon footprint and pollution associated with these processes.

3.    You can find anything, and everything your heart desires.  Remember that Smurf toy you had when you were younger -- it can be yours again...  (I might be dating myself here.)

4.    The whole "cash for your junk" (eBay) concept has altered the way people look at junk.  It has inspired people to re-sell their stuff rather than throw it into the landfill. 

5.    You can potentially save money.  Many prices are inflated due to exaggerated value of the items, but it is still possible to find a good deal. 

To make shopping on eBay even more attractive, Groupon is selling a $15 gift card for only $7 (through 3/31).

I also like to shop at thrift stores.  Click here to find out why.

How about you:  Do you ever purchase anything on eBay?  What is your favorite item to look for?  What is your most interesting find?

Freebie Alert: Redbox, Or Should We Say Greenbox?

I'm sure many of us have rented a DVD or video game from a Redbox Kiosk at one time or another.  But how many of you have thought that you were helping the environment when doing this?  I consider my Redbox movie rental to be green living. 


First of all, renting reduces the amount of DVD's that are manufactured, thus decreasing pollution and carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing process.  Also, if you buy a movie that you haven't seen yet, you may watch it and decide you don't want to keep it.  Then what do you do with it?  Best of all, if you rent rather than own, you eliminate the storage needs for a movie that you'll probably only watch a few times during the time you own it anyway.

Why I Shop At Thrift Stores

I've compiled a list of the Top 10 (make that Top 12)  reasons to shop at thrift stores:

1.    Helps the environment -- keeps stuff out of landfills
2.    Save money on everything from clothes to books to household decorations to craft supplies
3.    Benefit a charity -- most thrift stores donate a portion of their proceeds to non-profit organizations 
4.    Don't have to take up storage space for out of season or larger size kids clothes
5.    The thrill of finding that $1.00 Prada handbag
6.    Good entertainment when you bring a friend -- makes for many laughs
7.    I'm only one season behind in my wardrobe (at retail prices I'd only update it once a decade)
8.    Can find books with other people's notes scribbled in them
9.    Jeans have already be broken in -- the worn look is back in style, right?
10.  Get a picture frame with the photo already inserted
11.  Can actaully say yes when the kids beg for something and not feel like I'm wasting a lot of money
12.  Great place to find halloween costumes

To find a thrift store in your area, visit TheThriftShopper.com.

How about you:  Do you shop at thrift stores?  What is your favorite item to look for?  What is the best deal you've ever gotten?

Home Improvement Projects -- The Green Way

As the weather report tells me the cold and snow are here to stay for at least another week or two, cabin fever escalates.  Spending so much time indoors lately, has forced me to look at each room and the many projects that have been started, but not yet completed.  I've also had many extra hours to watch home improvement shows on tv.  My "honey do" list grows longer by the day.  I've decided to put a few restrictions on the projects to keep them earth-friendly.

1.  Anything we take out of a room cannot go in the trash.  It must be reused somewhere else in the house, given to someone else who can use it, or be recycled.

2.  Anything that comes into the house must not be harmful to the environment.  It must be recycled, re-purposed, or not contain any toxins or pollutants.

I found that there are several organizations that are available to help me accomplish my goals.  Not only do the following organizations help to keep re-usable materials out of the landfills, they will save me money on my home improvement projects.

Made In America -- Buy Local

ABC World News has a series running this week on buying American made products.  Their rationale is that by buying American products, we’ll be keeping our money and creating/keeping more jobs in the United States.  This is very important, but I think it’s also important to remember the concept of buying local.  Sometimes “local” is as close as down the street.  In this case, “local” is in our country.  Buying local drastically reduces the carbon footprint and any emissions that are generated during transportation of raw materials and final products back and forth overseas.  In the World News report, they challenge people to go through their houses and find items that are made in America.  There are several websites that contain databases of products that are manufactured in America.  Here are a few:

ABC World News

Stilll Made in USA

Made In USA