I tried to fix it. I tried to will the thing with my mind to work. Nothing. It was dead. I managed to get dressed sans coffee, and headed out to buy a new coffee maker. At the store, I was going to buy the same old coffee maker. Mine was nice, and had automtic brew, which is really nice when I have to be up and going early. However, the downside of an auto brew pot, is that you have to leave it plugged in. I unplug most everything when it’s not in use, but not my coffee pot.

At the store, I started thinking, do I really need auto brew? This may seem like a small question, but I sat there on the coffee maker isle for a good long while.  I don’t really need it. If I don’t have it, I can unplug the coffee maker for most of the day. That saves energy. I’m nice and green in other ways though, do I really need to cut out the auto coffee?

In the end, I bought a non-auto pot; just a basic, brews your coffee deal.  I figure what, it’ll cost me a few minutes on early mornings, but no big. Over time, I’ll save more resources. That’s the little luxury I gave up this week. Maybe you can give something up too. Some ideas:

• One magazine subscription
• Your home phone – if everyone in the family has a cell, do you really need a home phone?
• Packaged cookies – save packaging, make your own
• The newspaper M-Sat, try cutting down to Sunday only
• Part of your lawn – have a deck instead
• Use the same towel more than once – perfectly clean linens are overrated
• Buy one less pair of shoes this year

Find something that can save a little energy, or some resources; something that makes your life a wee bit better, but that you can live without, and give it up.

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Post from: Tree Hugging Family