We’re looking at whether or not green products are worth the extra cost. As I’ve noted earlier, I think green products are worth the cost and I think green products are attainable – even on a slim budget. But you have to follow some strategies. Yours may not be the same as mine, but below is what works for my son and me.

First read: The number one tip for buying green products on a limited budget
Other ways I’m able to afford green products on a slim budget…
I DON’T USE THE “I HAVE KIDS EXCUSE”:
Kids are so expensive and need so …read more

This week we’re looking (in part) at the money side of green. Yesterday I gave my thoughts on whether or not green products are worth the extra cost. Today we’ll start looking at why the cost of green is a major misconception.
Green to me is worth the cost and I’ll just go ahead and put it out there that I also don’t think green products are unattainable – even on a slim budget. Almost anyone can afford green products over conventional with some planning and strategy.

Where I’m coming from: Just so you don’t think I’m spouting total bunk about anyone …read more

Tomorrow is Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day. I already know what I’m planning on doing. Have you decided? If you’re leaning toward Buy Nothing Day, but still need a little help deciding what you can do, here are some activities you can try tomorrow…

Find a BND event.
Do the obvious – hang with the family, have a cookie baking day, play games, go for a walk, plant a tree, play dress-up, sing, make some crafts, it’s a great day to find a family activity.
Go to a store, but not to shop, instead stick one of these up quietly.
Get started on …read more

Being that Buy Nothing Day is coming up fast, here are some ideas for gifts of time you can give this holiday season. These are all cost-nothing gifts, or gifts you can provide with what’s on hand already….
Teach a child something or just spend some time: Honestly, I can’t tell you one item my grandma gave me for a holiday. But I think about everything she taught me or did with me all the time. How to sew, cook, play cards, paint, and more. Plus her stories stick with me. These are the things kids remember when they’re older, not …read more

For anyone interested in the Buy Nothing Day Challenge, I’ve rounded up some of the best consumer posts we’ve had here at THF (and a few from Declutter It).
These are posts full of tips that can help you to rethink purchases, money, and the general idea of stuff.
Cold Turkey Paper Towels & the What Questions
Why Does Being Green Cost So Much?
Organizing by Simplifying
How To Start Getting Rid of Stuff – Get Rid of “Maybe” Items
Kid specific consumer info: 
Raising Green Kids In A Commercial Culture
Kids & Shopping – How Kids Can Be Smart Consumers
My Own Little, His View of Commercials, …read more

Each year I advocate Buy Nothing Day.
Each year I run a green gift guide here, and if you visit my other blogs, you’ll see that I run gift guides there as well.

Could I be more hypocritical?
Each year at this time I start feeling like I should answer the question above. Last year I posted, If you’re so against having stuff, then why show all these products on this blog? That post basically covered why I’m not a hypocrite. But, it’s always good to recap during the holiday season.
My take on stuff:

Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day – you should choose a side. If you’re choosing Buy Nothing Day, that’s great; you can participate in this month’s green challenge here at Tree Hugging Family. If you’re choosing Black Friday, maybe you should reconsider.
Basics: 
Buy Nothing Day it’s fairly self-explanatory; it’s a day you, you guessed it, buy nothing. Created by the folks at Adbusters; Buy Nothing Day correlates with Black Friday otherwise know as the biggest shopping day of the year.Facts:

You have better things to do with your time than shop.
The U.S. is overwhelmed with consumerism, and this is one day …read more

You may remember the popular BYOB Challenge – the bring your own reusable bag challenge and the Paper Towel Challenge. In any case, we haven’t had a green challenge in a while here at Tree Hugging Family, but this month, it’s on.
Your green challenge, for November 2008, should you choose to accept it, is…
To buy nothing on Buy Nothing Day 2008.

Steps to take:

Yesterday, I posted about foil use, because a reader asked a question about it. Which made me think of how I quit using paper towels. Since we’ve got the paper towel challenge going on right now, I thought I’d share.
I’m not in the paper towel challenge, because we have zip paper towels at our house. We quit using them cold turkey. We didn’t ease down, or aim to use less, we just quit.
I asked myself: “What if the store was out of paper towels?” And, “What the heck did they do before paper towels?”
WHAT? Well, I’d use something else, find …read more

If you’re unplugged to save energy; cool. If you’re unplugged and celebrating TV turnoff week, well that’s fine too. I’m not unplugged though for the week, and here’s why.
It’s not a realistic campaign. While I agree with the reasoning, I don’t much agree with how they’re trying to pull this whole, get the family together or get moving or what have you.
First off they lie, or at least exclude decision making processes:
From the TV Turnoff Network: “All TV is passive, sedentary and non-experiential. Most viewers tend to watch show after show–not individual programs. Instead of watching a documentary about birds, …read more