Green Moving Tips

In light of moving this week, I wanted to post some tips I have discovered in our 12 moves in under 10 years!!!

Moving is a pain, expensive, back breaking, but it can be green and more budget friendly and here are some ideas for your next move!

Pre-Move

• Reuse boxes- gather boxes from local stores
• we have found that grocery stores, hospitals, and shopping retailers have the largest most sturdy boxes(call ahead, but generally they always have some & gladly part with them)
• Use green cleaning supplies
• it is a great time to get rid of toxic cleaners you have and start trying green cleaners
• contact your local garbage service to find out how to properly dispose of all chemicals, paints, flammables that you will not be moving
• Have three piles of things you no longer want or need
• Donate
• women's & children's shelter will take baby/child/blankets/towels etc...
• Goodwill will take most anything
• Habitat for Humanity will take any home improvement items
• Sell
• craigslist and local 'for sale' papers are a great way to make a buck and clear out things you don't want but can't afford to donate
• Trash
• not every trash can be someones treasure!!
• Use a trailer instead of renting a truck
• use of a trailer may consume more gas on your vehicle but it is more eco-friendly than the large box trucks
• trailers are often more affordable than a rental truck as well and no mileage is clock so you can make multiple trips if moving across town and save on gas and rental fees
• If you must rent a truck, get a vehicle tow behind trailer
• avoid burning gas in two or three vehicles by towing your vehicle

Post Move

• Recycle or re-gift your boxes
• believe it or not posting moving boxes on freecycle or craigslist will often take boxes off your hands and you know that they are being reused
• Set up curbside recycling at your new address or find out ways your county/city recycles and make a plan to start right away
• establishing a new habit is a lot easier when it becomes part of the new home!

Any tips??   I'd love to hear them!!!

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Good for the soul

Reading about the massive earthquake and tsunami's facing Japan and many other areas of the Pacific, I began to think of all the needs that surround us not only in light of disasters but those all around us in our local communities as well.

Sometimes it is easy to be good to ourselves in what we eat and do, but we forget the joy and blessings we receive when we give to others. Remember that health is always about what you consume but also what activities and things consume you!  This current move we are transitioning through has been brutal and exhausting in so many ways. Today, during my devotion, I reflected upon the hard times of this family and what has helped us get through the mental fatigue and drain of stress and hardship, surprisingly it was doing good unto others despite our situations mentally or financially.  I am so blessed that we have never had to endure the shock of going through a war or natural disaster.

This weekend's post is a challenge to recall when the last time you did an unexpected act of kindness to an individual or organization in need.

We move A LOT, don't believe me....we will be moving into our TWELFTH house in just over nine years of marriage.  It is safe to say we have no clutter, yes we own 'wants' and things that we don't need or have to have, but no clutter.  Each move we purge our clothes, toys, pantry foods, decor, and bedding to piles for selling, donations, and trash.  What we don't sell we generally give to charity organizations.  The feeling of providing much needed goods to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, local Women's and Children's Shelters, and local food banks truly brings a peace and reflection on the blessings many of us take for granted.

Another thing we plan to do when we move is bake a batch of cookies for our new local fire department and take Lorelei, our precocious three year old, to the fire station to learn about fire safety and meet our local volunteers.  I plan to have a post on this outing once we get moved and settled a bit. 

Another idea is to take school supply items to your area school or your child's teacher.  Many children do not have supplies and often times teachers end up paying out of their meager salaries to aid them in learning.

What are some other ideas of kindness, I am in need of some new ideas!!