Going green without spending green: How I saved the world without really trying

All of my friends know that I’m not big into trends. It took me about two years before I purchased a pencil skirt. I bought leggings, but I wear my jeans. Even though my hair stylist thinks I’d look great with one of those Victoria Beckham bobs, I choose to keep it the same as its been all 23 years of my life- long and blonde, no bangs, and the color varies only slightly.

Well, with the exception of that one time in 8^th grade when I went jet black. Let’s say I learned my lesson never to stray too far from home.

I am also vocal about this whole ‘organic’ and ‘going green’ business with my friends. Do I think that eating organic and all-natural is a good thing? Sure. Do I think that its practical for everyday people? Not really. I mean, people don’t jokingly refer to Whole Foods as Whole Paycheck for nothing. Not to mention, its hard enough living a healthy lifestyle when our society ‘runs on Dunkin’ and there’s a McD’s on every corner, let alone trying to find anything that can be certified organic.

Throw the ‘going green’ and ‘reducing your carbon footprint’ into the mix, and you’re really screwed.

When you hear about people going green, it tends to be about celebrities. Yes, we do live in a society that worships the rich and famous. However, slowly there is a shift in people’s thinking. I’ve found myself watching more House a lot less Real Housewives of Orange County. E! rarely is in the mix- not even to watch The Girls Next Door. I’m just not that interested in hearing about how Paris Hilton is carrying around the latest $5,000 handbag or Britney Spears’ comeback from insanity. I think everyone is feeling the need to resort back to the real Simple Life.

Going green, unfortunately, has taken on the undertone of costing a fortune because of the ties to the celebrity endorsements. Celebrities are talking about their renovations of their homes to include bamboo flooring, thousands upon thousands of dollars in solar paneling, and designer furniture that was made of renewable resources. There was even legislature on the ballots this year for vouchers from the government to help subsidize the costs of solar panels for home- which doesn’t really help the case that going green can be affordable.

Surprisingly enough, as I started looking at my own lifestyle- much to my surprise- I’ve been going green! I wasn’t even trying to! I was simply trying to save some money.

I’ve always poked fun at my boyfriend’s frugality. Eric takes it to a WHOLE other level. Even though he jokingly recites our ‘rule’ for the toilet- ‘If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down’- I know that if I wasn’t around it wouldn’t just be something he says to make me scrunch my face and roll my eyes. The whole point of it is to save water, even though it is in an effort to save money on the water bill and not the planet.

Another monthly expense we try to save on, like every other Floridian, is the dreaded electric bill. Lately we’ve been fortunate to have a few cold spells come through. It affords me the luxury to kill the A/C and throw the beloved quilt my grandmother made me on the bed. Keeping the windows open and letting the fresh, crisp air in not only keeps money in the bank but its also conserving energy. We also make sure to turn off our laptops, and use the natural light that pours in through the windows rather than turning on the artificial ones. How much has it saved me? In one month, we went from $95 to $59.

CHA-CHING!

But there are other little things that Eric and I do. We plan our meals and grocery shop once a week. Not only does it save some gas and money, but we don’t waste food. Most of the food we buy is on sale or in season. We can fit all of our groceries in the three Publix Green Bags that we use. The groceries that don’t fit go into plastic bags that we later use to line our garbage cans other than the one in the kitchen.

I wait until I’m down to my last pair of socks before I do the laundry, that way I not only save on the utilities bills by washing full loads but I can also put off having to fold laundry! We plan out our weekends and take one car to run the errands all in one trip. I’ve even set aside $25 a week for gas- and when its gone, its gone. When it comes to bottled water, I don’t have the money to pick up a new one every time I go to the gym. And just as the Brita commercials instruct, I refill one a few times before it hits the trash.

Even the Holidays aren’t safe from our frugal/green efforts. Since this is my first apartment, there are some things that I’m lacking. So that I could have a proper Christmas, Eric bought me a tree. Albeit it was second-hand- which means it probably cost us about $10 and didn’t involve cutting down a tree. Not to mention it fits perfectly in my living room. The lights and decorations were hand-me-downs from Eric’s mom.

Much to my surprise I’ve not only stayed inside my budget, but I’ve surpassed it. I always thought that ‘going green’ meant purchasing the hybrid car, ripping up the carpet to replace it with bamboo, or spending money in general to replace the things that you already have.

Thanksgiving 2008

I’ve been wearing my broke-ness on my sleeve more and more. I’m coming to realize that budgeting and frugal living really is the ‘cool’ new trend. I will say that its been a hard realization that life after college is not the glitz and glamour that it was cracked up to be. There are two great things to this: 1. EVERYONE is struggling. I’m sure even Donatella Versace is thinking that she needs to cut back on the Cristal purchases until more people can start buying her clothes in the boutique rather than the outlet store. 2. I’ve found it more enjoyable to swap bargains with people than to try to keep up with the Jones’. Instead of “Well, I just bought the most amazing bag at Neiman Marcus” I get my kicks with, “Yeah? So I paid $1.78 for gas.”

I will say that I’ve been justifying my showing-up fellow bargain hunters as a means of erasing the image that I had worked hard throughout college to create. I’ve never been a fan of knock offs, but lately I’ve been feeling like the biggest knock off of all. I find myself shouting from the mountain tops, “Hey! I didn’t pay full price for these pants!” I don’t want people to see the remnants of a better economy that I still hold on to and judge me.

While watching Inside the Actors Studio last night, Dave Chappelle said that being a well-off black man was like wearing a really nice sweater that itched like hell, and you can’t take it off. Nowadays, I think anyone that has any form of cash, stock, or 401(k) left is feeling that way. Even if you don’t but look like you do, you feel the heavy eyes on as you walk about with your façade. How do you walk into the grocery store with a designer handbag, pull out your VISA to swipe, and hold your breath hoping that the transaction goes through? How do you drive your German engineered car into your driveway and avoid the mailbox because you know there is a letter from bank about your mortgage in there?

I hear about the terrible economy, and though I know I’m not too far from a cardboard sign and a median in the street, I still can count my blessings. Its so easy to get wrapped up in one’s own problems these days that its hard to remember how well some of us still have it. At work the other day, a coworker said that one of her friends went from making six figures to working a job at the local Publix. The first thing that popped in my head was that he was lucky to have a job. Though it might not be the most glamorous, some money is better than no money at all. I see all of my friends taking jobs that one might not deem suitable for a college graduate, but these are not the times to be picky. I’ve been fortunate to have survived two waves of layoffs where I work, one included the laying off of the woman that hired me. I’m still holding my breath.

I’m currently reading American Psycho. Its not the gruesome torture and mutilation murder scenes that Ellis has so eloquently crafted that makes me squirm. Its more the pitiful way that the characters of the book interact with those less fortunate than themselves in the novel. I know the point that Ellis is making about yuppie culture, and I know he goes above and beyond far past the point of overkill because that’s the whole idea of it. It still hits a little too close to home, like the time I saw a clean-shaven man wearing jeans and a collared shirt asking for money on the corner of Semoran and Aloma about two months ago. It was like that picture that everyone associates with the Great Depression. For me, it was a man who looked just like my father who will forever symbolize these times we’re living in. Though it still makes me cry to think him, I have to keep hopeful and give thanks for what I have.

Cheap Nights and Cheap Trick

Eric and I finally stumbled into this billiards place across the street from our apartment Saturday night. Oh, it seems like yesterday that our relationship was blooming over games of pool and under thick clouds streaming off of other people’s cigarettes. Though we’ve traded our little hideaway in Holly Hill known as Brown’s, Clicks seems to win in this match up.

Not only did they serve decent priced liquor (I got 2 mixed drinks, a shot, and the tip for just under $17), but they didn’t charge a ton to play. But it wasn’t the fact that even though I haven’t played a good game of pool in a while and STILL managed to match Eric 4-4 that was the highlight of the night. As I perused the drink menu- though I tend to simply live on a bar diet of cosmos and dirty martinis- I came across this little gem: the Gingerbread Man. Or something like it. Anyways, its just Goldschlager, Baily’s, and butterscotch schnapps. Or, in my Bougie on a Budget case, Hot Damn cinnamon schnapps, Cream & Cask, and another generic brand of butterscotch schnapps. I would definitely recommend this as your drink of choice if you’re hosting a holiday party of sorts.

Sunday was pretty typical: Reading a good book in bed (I’m currently in the middle of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter), grocery shopping, and cleaning. Due to my humble position at a pretty well-known business here in O-Town, I was able to get some free VIP seats at the Cheap Trick show that was put on by WMMO. There was a party at a downtown watering hole called Ember, which I had been reading about lately in the latest edition of DRINK Magazine put out by Orlando Weekly. The bartender was really nice, and though the drinks were on the house she still managed to pour with a heavy hand. I grabbed a menu to look at while Eric and I hung out, and though nothing really screamed at me to try, I must say that the prices were pretty darn decent. Most of the fare was salads, flatbreads, and any other ‘food trends’ that are popular as well today. No deserts- I think this place is gearing mostly to those who are looking to have a few drinks and nibble on something. Either way, prices were generally between $7 and $12 bucks- not too shabby for a nice looking place downtown.

I ordered the calamari since Eric and I showed up about an hour early to the VIP party and we grabbed a table. I used to wait tables, so I know how frustrating it is to check up on someone over and over, they only order a water, and don’t bother leaving a dollar for your footwork. It wasn’t the best calamari I’ve had, but it definitely didn’t disappoint. The service made up for it- the waitress brought me an extra cranberry and vodka since someone changed their mind and she knew I was drinking them.

Once Eric and I meandered down to the concert, I got my kicks from the crowd around. The band that played some covers before Cheap Trick was Iced Down. They did a good job at getting the 40 year old women rocking out. I watched them waiving their hands around to the likes of The Rolling Stones and wondered to myself if in 20 years I’d be at a free show featuring Bullet for My Valentine. I’d be wearing my ankle-length denim skirt and sneakers, shouting, “Woo-hoo” when ‘Scream Aim Fire’ starts to play.

The best part was after Cheap Trick took the stage. Once they got to playing ‘Heaven Tonight’, all of the women started gyrating, like that was the jam to lose your virginity to back in the day. I also saw a woman who looked like she must have snuck in a few hours beforehand and saw the checkered flag motif that was the backdrop for the band- then found some tights that matched to put under her inappropriate-for-her-age-and-thighs denim skirt. Funny, she looked identical to the woman who lives below me with the little dog that never stops barking…