Six tips to simplify your holiday season

Casey Hazlett of Sustainably Organized shares six tips for simplifying the holiday season ahead.

Most of us want the holidays to be about spending more time with friends and family, and not about spending more time shopping at the mall or online. Start the holiday season by reflecting on what you want more of, and plan your time around those goals or values, to have a calmer and more joyful season. 

1. Start with your values

Write down a few words or draw a picture that represents your values (especially what you value during the holidays). Consider involving others in the family to help. Some of my values include having relaxed time with family and keeping long-standing family traditions going (like going to cut down a tree).

Simplify the Holidays, a program of The Center for a New American Dream, includes a calendar to help focus on what matters most during this time of year. You get six weeks of daily inspirations and practical tips for simplifying your holiday season. They also offer a booklet, coupon ideas and other resources to connect more with each other. Need more inspiration? Watch their video!

2. Make your to-do lists

Make a list of all the events or projects you want – or feel you need – to do this holiday season. Consider making separate lists for each holiday. Don’t forget to include what you’ll need to do for preparation, during the actual project or event and clean-up.

For example, the activity “Christmas Dinner” may include sending out invitations, choosing recipes, buying food, preparing food, decorating, cleaning up and putting away dishes and decorations.

3. Revisit your values

After you have your list of activities, revisit your key values to make sure your activities align with them. Consider filtering out activities that don’t match up with your key values, or adding activities focused on downtime, relaxation and fun.

4. Assign your time

Once you have your activity list, assign the amount of time you think each activity will consume. Be realistic when assigning time to each activity and add some extra time. If you’re not sure, give it your best guess – it doesn’t have to be perfect. The important part is realizing that everything takes time to complete.

5. Create your calendar and revisit it regularly

Schedule your list of activities on your calendar. Scheduling your activities ensures you are creating space to get them done. As we all know, things will change and you might need to add, remove or change activities. By allowing for some buffer, you’ll have space to be flexible as things change.

6. Delegate

Consider which activities you can delegate. Have a teenager in your life (son, daughter, niece, nephew or neighbor) who loves to wrap? Let him or her take on some of the present wrapping. It gives others a chance to contribute and feel involved with the festivities and play to their strengths. It also allows us to share some gratitude with those that make these holidays worth enjoying.

Find gift ideas for other hard-to-buy-for people in your life in our resourceful holiday series. #holiday

Four tips to save money and waste less food this holiday season

There are lots of ways to make the most of your holiday meal, especially here in plentiful Portland. Did you know many farmers markets reopen for Thanksgiving food shopping? And while we love food composting, we also offer some tips for reducing food waste before you feast.

1.      Plan your meals or special dishes

Be it a holiday gathering, potluck or special dinner, planning your meals or specific dishes ahead of time allows you to get what you need with less waste. Check online for menu planning help to decide how much food you’ll need based on the number of guests. If you’re hosting, serve food buffet style so people can choose the best portions for themselves.

2.      Buy local food

There are some farmers markets open year-round and even more open for Thanksgiving, so it’s a great time to get back out to the market. The farmers market map allows shoppers to find a market based on the neighborhood and the day they want to shop.

Choose from a wide variety of seasonal food that tastes fresh and looks beautiful on your plate, including apples, pears, cranberries, winter squash, hazelnuts, walnuts, chard, kale, leeks, beets and potatoes.

3.      Reduce wasted food

Along with buying seasonal foods, you also have a chance to reduce food waste and make the most of all the food you buy. Often it feels easier to compost your food scraps (which is great!), however, even better is using all the bits you can. The Washington Post recently highlighted a few surprising and delicious food parts you may not be taking advantage of when you cook, like beet greens, squash seeds and citrus rinds.

4.    Save waste at the table, too

There are many waste reduction ideas you can incorporate at the table and in the kitchen. By using durable plates, cloth napkins and serve-ware, you can add beauty to the table, save money over time and reuse these items year after year. Invite your guests to bring reusable Tupperware or casserole dishes so they can take home leftovers (or bring your own if you’re a guest so you get dibs on leftovers too!).

Resources, including mobile apps for meal planning and more, are available at Climate Action Now.

How to shop the bulk aisle and reduce food packaging waste

We all eat, so grocery shopping is a task we have to do. There are alternatives to help you avoid the clutter created by food packaging, while still getting food you love and need (or want!).

Plastics, paper, metal and glass require natural resources and energy to manufacture into packaging, even if they are made from recycled materials. Think upstream and consider ways to get what you need for yourself and your family by choosing durable options over disposable ones.

Buy in bulk and bring your own containers. Stores like Fred Meyer, New Seasons, Sheridan’s, Whole Foods and Winco make it easy to buy grains, beans, coffee, cereals and snacks using your own bags and containers. By not taking a new bag at the bulk or produce area, your household can save 500 bags a year!

Try these five easy steps for a waste-free visit to the bulk aisle:

1. Make a grocery list. Include the exact amounts you need (1 cup sugar, ¼ tsp nutmeg).
2. Inventory your pantry and check off any items or ingredients you already have.
3. Pack the containers you’ll need for each of the items on your list. Bring empty spice jars for bulk spices, or larger glass jars for coffee or olive oil. Reusable plastic containers (such as deli or yogurt tubs, or other food-grade plastic containers) work well for dry goods because they are easy to transport.
4. When you first get to the bulk aisle, weigh your containers. Write the weight and the word “tare” on each container. Cashiers are required to remove this weight from the total they charge you. If your store doesn’t have a scale in the bulk area, you can ask a cashier to weigh containers before you fill them.
5. Write the PLU (price look-up) number and the name of the food on the side of each container (which is necessary if you have multiple containers that look similar in your pantry).

And remember to bring your bag! Pack your durable containers in reusable bags to take to the store. Bonus: many grocery stores offer a refund if you bring your own bag. 

Chinook Book offers more than coupons in the new edition

Carrie Treadwell, from Resourceful PDX partner Chinook Book, shares highlights from the latest edition of the local coupon resource.

Chinook Book highlights local, sustainable businesses with a belief that businesses that give back also thrive in the community. The Chinook Book team spends time thinking about businesses and their industries and the approach and criteria with which they appear in the book.

The 16th annual edition has updates and improvements of both the print and mobile editions. The print edition includes information and resources on how to connect with local food and Portland’s many farmers markets, as well as the plethora of local businesses that are in line with resourceful living. The new app launched in July and offers even more personalized navigation and provides savings at your fingertips.  

View fullsize

Resourceful PDX shares community resources with the newly updated map (page 403 in the print edition). Some resources are in the Chinook Book for the first time in the Home and Garden category, like Salvage Works, ReClaim It! and St Johns Living Well.

As always, there are many places to go for used art supplies, building materials and clothing. Look for coupons and tips for bike shops, consignment and thrift stores, hardware stores, and even car sharing opportunities.

Find savings by using both the print book and mobile app, available at local retailers and through school and nonprofit fundraisers.

Learn new skills from talented Portlanders at PDX Skillshare!

Did you know that during the Enlightenment, penny universities began to appear across England? For just one penny, people from all levels of society could purchase a cup of coffee and attend lectures and discussions on a wide variety of topics taught by their neighbors.

PDX Skillshare is a nonprofit organization that is trying to create a similar culture in our city by giving Portlanders the opportunity to teach their neighbors valuable skills.

PDX Skillshare does the work of organizing classes – scouting locations, promoting the workshops, and handling ticket sales – so that talented Portlanders can focus on sharing their passions and skills with others through hands-on, affordable classes.

The topics taught are as varied as Portland itself. This fall, the Skillshare offerings include everything from cake decorating to basic budgeting and financial planning. Fall classes are already underway – view upcoming classes at the PDX Skillshare website.

"If you have a skill you would love to share with your neighbors, we want to hear from you," said Noah Heller, founder of PDX Skillshare.

In particular, PDX Skillshare is interested in offering classes that help Portlanders learn skills that will help them lead more sustainable lives. 

In City Gardening 101: Container Herb Gardening you can learn from a seasoned green thumb on how to start gardening even if don't have a yard. In the same spirit, at Learn to Hem Your Pants students will be able to leave class with a money-saving skill that will extend the life of their clothing by making sure it fits well.

Noah thinks Portland is the perfect city to help bring back the spirit of the penny universities. "We are blessed with so many passionate and talented residents, there is really no limit to what the city can accomplish if we can share those skills with each other."

Take your learning to a new place with PDX Skillshare classes!

Find back-to-school savings with Chinook Book

Carrie Treadwell, from Resourceful PDX partner Chinook Book, offers her insights on last minute uses for the local coupon resource.

As any parent of school-age kids knows, getting ready for back-to-school includes lots of lists of what kids need for the classroom, for the lunchroom, or out on the field.

Carrie wants you to put your Chinook Book coupons to work for you and your family. The mobile coupons expire on August 31, 2015, while the print ones expire on October 31, 2015. Before the new edition arrives in September, utilize what you already have and save money!

With kids in school, the Chinook Book offers coupons in many categories, including Fashion and Gifts, Grocery Products and Local Grocery. It has you covered for back-to-school and last minute needs, from clothes and supplies to food and fashion. Savings abound with local, sustainable businesses in Portland.

Are you after new or used clothes?

Under Fashion and Gifts there are a number of places to purchase kids’ clothes, coats, shoes and more. A few clothing options include Grasshopper, Bella Stella and two locations of Piccolina.

There are adult resale options too! Sequel Apparel, Silver Lining, Button and Here We Go Again.

Trying for waste-free lunches or healthier lunch and snack options? Need a new backpack or a way to make an old one new again?

Stock up with grocery products at local stores to create weekly meal plans and to reduce waste while shopping. A few grocery options include New Seasons, Food Front Coop and Grocery Outlet.

Most local grocers carry backpacks, lunch bags and water bottles for supplies and waste-free lunches. Shops that carry kid friendly items also carry these. Many of the coupons take a percentage off or $5-$10 off a purchase based on how much you spend.

SCRAP offers inexpensive school supplies and art supplies to add something special to favorite or worn-in items. The coupon offers an additional $3 off of a $10 purchase.

Get more tips about waste-free lunches at a previous Resourceful PDX post under kids in school.

Plan ahead and make your lists based on Chinook Book savings!

3 ways to rethink back to school supplies

Getting kids ready to go back to school may include more stuff, more hassle and more stress. But there are things you can do that will help save time, money and resources. Check out Portland resources first to get what you need to go back to school.

Does everything have to be new? Can creativity and reuse have a place at this time of year? The stuff we need for school accounts for a large amount of money spent on items we may already have on hand. On average, a family with school-aged kids expects it will spend $630 this year, the lowest it’s been since 2011 and down from $669 last year. (Source: Time)

You can get the young kids involved with back-to-school readiness by making a game of finding things they already have in the house for the school year ahead. Establishing a routine is important this time of year so get them involved in maintaining new (or reused) items by making an effort to put school supplies in a safe place every day. Perhaps the one who finds the most usable things can win a special prize or shared experience at a local scoop shop!

Here are some ways to rethink how to get the supplies your kids need.

1. Plan ahead. When you have a plan it's easier to take action.

Before the new school year begins, sort through your old materials and reuse what you can from last year's supplies. Make a list before you shop for school supplies because it will help you remember what you wanted to purchase and limit impulse buying.

2. Consider quality over quantity.

Buy products with more recycled content – paper with a higher percentage of post-consumer materials, for example – and less or no packaging. If the product comes with packaging, ensure the wrapping or container includes recycled content and can be recycled.

3. Buy local. Reused school and craft supplies are available in Portland.

Visit SCRAP to help create DIY one-of-a-kind items for school, like pencil bags from fabric, zippers and found objects, or to customize last year’s backpacks by adding sew-on patches or letters. SCRAP offers paper of all colors and sizes, markers, pens, colored pencils, plus so much more.

For books and computers, consider used or refurbished ones. Many schools reuse text books to save money and reduce waste. Share your used books with friends, relatives, or younger schoolchildren. Multnomah County Library is an excellent resource for research projects and homework help. The library’s Title Wave Used Book Store offers a wide selection of books and other materials at deep discounts. Free Geek is a great place to donate old computers and buy replacements, plus find other electronic equipment.

Shwop is a year-round swap shop for Portlanders

Alicia Polacok, from Resourceful PDX partner Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, stopped by Shwop in Southeast Portland and spoke with owner Marci Pelletier about a new take on swapping.

Marci Pelletier has been thrift shopping for 27 years. And owning her own business isn’t anything new either. She’s been involved with start-ups and financial companies most of her professional life. Starting a swapping business seemed like a natural fit. Marci opened Shwop three years ago. After outgrowing a space in Woodstock, she’s been in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood since 2013.

“Shwop is a clothing swap boutique where people pay a membership fee and then swap clothes,” said Marci. There are over 600 members who swap clothes, shoes and some household goods. Marci wants her shop to have a community feeling – offering women, men and kids a place to meet each other, find usable items at a deep discount and get the retail therapy that many of us crave.

The average person throws away 65 pounds of clothing a year. Swapping provides a different way to donate unwanted or unneeded clothes and reinvigorate your own wardrobe by shopping at Shwop.

Shwop isn’t a consignment store, nor does Marci buy clothes. Instead, members pay a fee to harness the stock. Marci keeps track of everything that comes through the door and then sorts and tags it for member store credit. Members are then free to shop for items they want to take home, matching their credit.  

Marci also works with artists to upcycle or repurpose not-so-perfect items that come into the store. One artist uses denim jeans as her canvas. One classroom of first to third graders at Franciscan Montessori Earth School use stained and worn out t-shirts for weaving rag rugs. The rugs sold at their school auction for $1,300 each!

Portland residents are welcome to learn more about Shwop online or by visiting the store to become a member.  

There’s a healthier way to clean this spring

With spring in the air it can only mean one thing – time to clean!

According to Metro, the average person in the U.S. uses 40.6 pounds of household cleaners each year.

Many of these products include ingredients that can be harmful to those we love and the environment around us. Choosing products that are less harmful are better for you and your family (and saves you money!).

Recipes for a greener clean

Metro has a wealth of information about reducing toxics, including simple cleaning tips and recipes for a safer home. There are many recipes available – and you may already have all of the ingredients you need at home – from window and wood cleaners to drain and oven cleaners.

Combinations of three key ingredients – baking soda, white vinegar and liquid soap – are the staples of natural, green cleaners. Reuse an existing container or spray bottle and label it so you know what type of homemade cleaner it contains.

Part of the cleaning ritual may be the smell of ‘clean’. Perhaps it reminds you of your family home or your grandma’s place. The smell is often the result of synthetic fragrances which can trigger asthma and may contain hormone-disrupting chemicals. By making your own cleaners, you can choose to add an essential oil to your mix for a customized and chemical-free clean smell. Metro’s recipes offer guidance for which oils and how much to use.

Take a look at the Washington Toxics Coalition Top 10 Tips for Safer Cleaning for more inspiration and tips. Get your house clean safely this spring by following these tips to make sure you use the best cleaning products for both you and the environment.

You can hire a green housekeeper, too

If you prefer someone else do the cleaning, check to see if these companies use safer, less toxic cleaners too. Resourceful PDX partner, Chinook Book, has many service-oriented businesses under Home and Garden. Coupons on your phone or in the book include offers for house cleaning services.

Gifts of time or service help big families enjoy the holidays even more

Whether you give a gift of your own time, or buy a service gift from a Portland business, gifts of service can be a great way to show you care without breaking the bank.

Betsy holds a picture of her family, who also benefit from a family gift exchange and her gifts of service.

Try a gift exchange

As Pam’s family started growing, holidays were becoming more expensive and stressful. So rather than buying for 12 or more people in her extended family, they began a gift exchange. Each family member gives and receives just one extra-special gift, and encourage homemade creations or gifts of service, like house cleaning, kitchen organization or babysitting. Holidays are now less expensive and a lot more fun.

Make it personal

As a massage therapist, Betsy knows some individual pampering is a good thing. She has given the gift of massage for many years. She even makes gift cards for her family and friends, who look forward to opening her gifts year after year. She has even begun to get requests from younger members of her family rather than gifts of the latest toy or gadget!

Looking for other ways to offer a gift of service?

Resourceful PDX partner, Chinook Book, has gift ideas based on the book’s categories, including service-oriented businesses under Wellness and Home and Garden. Coupons on your phone or in the book include local spas for massage, fitness and healing centers, yoga studios and offers for house cleaning services.

---

Find gift ideas for other hard-to-buy-for people in your life in our resourceful holiday series. #holiday