Week of 3/19/2008

A New Twist on Recycling

It's called "freecycling," and it's a grass roots phenomenon that is sweeping the globe. People join a local online group to give away items they no longer need, and to get things they do need. From Sydney, Australia to Paris, France to Johannesburg, South Africa -- and all places in between -- the growth of this network is truly mind-boggling.

The Freecycle Network's mission is "to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."  And with spring cleaning fast approaching, this might be an ideal time to give this idea a try. Membership is FREE and everything offered must be FREE.

The use of Freecycle comes with a few caveats from Consumer Reports. "Limit how much personal information you give out. And it's a good idea when delivering an item to arrange to meet in a public place vs. meeting in your home. "  Some groups require approval of all new members with good reason:

• known spammers can be rejected 
• automatic signups can be rejected (stops email address harvesting) 
• people can be directed to a Group that's more local to them 

All in all, Freecycle may sound a bit idealistic, but certainly it's heart is in the right place. It is certain that the earth can only be our dumping ground for so long. Already it is stressed, and it will only continue to get worse.

Week of 4/2/2008

Try The Y

Christian and Jewish Y organizations offer a variety of activity choices at a fraction of the price charged by private recreational facilities. Check out the YMCA, YMHA, or JCC (Jewish Community Center) nearest you. Programs are usually open to all faiths.

Exercise Facilities -- Many Y's are equipped with swimming pools, weight rooms, tracks and exercise rooms. They may also offer classes in stretching and yoga, as well as weekly basketball games.

Entertainment Activities -- These may include plays, concerts, dances, recitals, tours and travel opportunities.

Educational Programs -- You may find classes in parenting, reading and writing, self-help and personal growth, to name a few.

For Kids -- Many organizations offer low-cost day care and summer camps for children.

Week of 4/9/2008

Decorating On A Budget

Spring is here (although you wouldn't know it in some parts of the country). Time to refresh the old homestead a bit, but how to do it on a budget.

  1. If you plan on replacing furniture, concentrate on a few key pieces -- an area rug or a sofa for example. Always choose quality over quantity. Can't afford a new sofa? Try recovering a piece of furniture with an inexpensive slipcover.

  2. Think neutral. Stay away from bright colors or big prints for upholstered furniture.

  3. Liven or spruce up a room with accessories and paint. When you tire of the decor, you can change it by just replacing accessories and repainting. If you don't want to repaint an entire room, invest in contrasting paint and use it to liven up just the trim. Places like Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Max, Ross Dress For Less, Target, Wal-Mart all have tons of inexpensive accessories for the home.

  4. Little changes can make a difference. Change out switch and outlet plates, lampshades, overhead lighting fixtures, doorknobs.

  5. Get rid of the clutter, the knicknacks, the dust collectors. Keeping your decor simple will produce a more professional look. In fact, this one step may be all you need to do to change the appearance of a room. You might find The Definitive Guide To Home Organization For Busy People useful.

  6. Last but not least, clean -- not just a quick swipe, but a really deep cleaning. Nothing says "fresh" like a clean home.

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