Compacting Mommas Late Summer Thread - Page 2

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by Aguazul

Our tap water is disgusting. What we've been doing is using a large PUR filter container that stays in the refrigerator. We fill the top with water and it filters down. It has a little spigot dispenser, from which we fill our Sigg and Klean Kanteen bottles. We have another small filter container that we keep on the counter and use for making ice cubes, tea, etc. I'm concerned about the safety of the plastic, but haven't yet looked into filters for the sink itself.

Didn't think about the filter container. Good idea.

Would have to buy that new.....hmmm....and the filters.

[Aguazul]

Originally Posted by AngelBee

Didn't think about the filter container. Good idea.

Would have to buy that new.....hmmm....and the filters.

Don't be grossed out, but I got our countertop pitcher at a yard sale. It was late in the afternoon and the people just put out a big sign that said "FREE" for whatever they had leftover. So, I got it, washed it out and we've used it for months now. Maybe you know someone who doesn't use theirs and would give it to you. Filters I would definitely buy new anyway. When it comes to things like food, water or hygiene products, I go new.

[MamaPam]

Originally Posted by AngelBee

Situation: Need clean drinking water

I would prefer to not drink the water at our house. Right now we are using jugs of water or bottled water. It is wasting all of the plastic.

What is the best option?

1) Drinking tap water if a stainless steal drink bottle

2) Drinking large jugs of water in stainless drink bottle; recycling jug

3) Use refillable jugs

4) Install a filter system on kitchen sink

What do you all think?

We were going through tons of bottled water at the beginning of the year. : What we did was bought a purifying system that goes on the counter that cleans a pitcher at a time and each of us a Sigg bottle. The pitcher keeps cold water in the fridge for meals and such. The Sigg bottles keep me drinking water during in the day and from buying water bottles while we are out.

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by Aguazul

Don't be grossed out. I got our countertop one at a yard sale. It was late in the afternoon and the people just put out a big sign that said "FREE" for whatever they had leftover. So, I got it, washed it out and we've used it for months now. Maybe you know someone who doesn't use theirs and would give it to you. Filters I would definitely buy new anyway. When it comes to things like food, water or hygiene products, I go new.

Oh....that doesn't gross me out

I have purchased used cloth diapers and nightware and bras. I would probably wear used undies......depending on how they looked.

[VeganCupcake]

Originally Posted by AngelBee

Situation: Need clean drinking water

I would prefer to not drink the water at our house. Right now we are using jugs of water or bottled water. It is wasting all of the plastic.

What is the best option?

1) Drinking tap water if a stainless steal drink bottle

2) Drinking large jugs of water in stainless drink bottle; recycling jug

3) Use refillable jugs

4) Install a filter system on kitchen sink

What do you all think?

The best solution is probably a filter. Even a basic filter will make a big difference in taste, and from what I've read, in reducing nasties like phthalates, too. We have one in our fridge water dispenser.

I don't blame you; I won't drink tap water, either, even though ours isn't so bad.

I would love to join a group blog, but we don't have kids (yet! coming soon!). Can I still join?

[PeacefulSeams]

I'm in!!! We are going to be downsizing within the year. I am currently searching for a piece of land so we can become yurt-friendly

[snowbunny]

Alright: I've got the new Compacting Mamas blog up and running. You can check it out here: Mamas on the Compact. If you want to join up to contribute to the blog you can email me at jenny(at)green-mommy(dot)com and I'll add you to the contributors list.

(And, no, you don't have to be a mama to contribute. )

[Aguazul]

Originally Posted by snowbunny

Alright: I've got the new Compacting Mamas blog up and running. You can check it out here: Mamas on the Compact. If you want to join up to contribute to the blog you can email me at jenny(at)green-mommy(dot)com and I'll add you to the contributors list.

(And, no, you don't have to be a mama to contribute. )

Jenny, I emailed you, but I got an error message. Can you let me know if you received it?


ETA: I just tried again and still get this message "PERM_FAILURE: SMTP Error (state 16)"

[snowbunny]

Originally Posted by Aguazul

Jenny, I emailed you, but I got an error message. Can you let me know if you received it?


ETA: I just tried again and still get this message "PERM_FAILURE: SMTP Error (state 16)"

Weird. I just sent a couple tests and they went through alright. It's a fairly new email address so maybe that accounts for it? At any rate, send me a PM with your email and I can send you an invite right away.

If anyone else cares to join the group blog, send me PM with your email addy and let me know.

[Aguazul]

Originally Posted by VeganCupcake

I would love to join a group blog, but we don't have kids (yet! coming soon!). Can I still join?

Please do!!!!!!!

[MamaPam]

DH and I have started talking about but still need to work out the details. One thing we want to do as part of this is downsizing the stuff we have now. We've started making lists of things in our head that can go.

-Pam

[rachelmarie]

I started this year out Compacting, but didn't make it past February .

Our baby is due in late October and we really need to *not* spend extra money so that we can save money to cover dh taking time off from work when the baby arrives (sorry for the run-on sentence).

We've been buying used baby things so far (diapers, mainly) and I plan on keeping that up. Yay for the Trading Post! We really don't need much more. Just some homebirth supplies and, obviously, some of that will need to be new.

Part of my Compact will also be to not eat out! We've been doing pretty well in that regard the last couple weeks and I really want to keep it up.

Good luck, everyone!

[jlazx2]

Returned swimsuit yesterday ( $21).

We got free carpet from MIL- it is top of the line carpet that she is ripping up so we are carpeting the bedroom in the basement. So I had to declutter that room so he could carpet it. Got rid of lots of items, and now we have a great space. I had been using it for storage & my sewing room.

The only problem is the carpet is much nicer than our carpet upstairs.

[AngelBee]

Still trying to really figure this all out.

Mostly working through emotional stuff about my "stuff"

[Aurora]

[HipGal]

Yes! Get me back on the wagon!

[insahmniak]

We're compacting. We've been at it only a month, and plan to go through December - so six months is our goal so far. So far it has gone really, really well and we're all pleased.

I'm currently struggling with a bike light. It's not too spendy - $20. It has front and rear lights. And we're planning a ride next week that may end up in the evening. Esp. with DD along, I really want to make sure we have a light. But it's just sitting there in its package and is kind of haunting me. We had to buy extra rechargeable batteries to operate it, too. Yuckie. Plastic package. Plastic battery-operated object..... Sigh. What to do? I'd love to be able to return it! Yet safety is involved. Any ideas?

[chiromama]

Keep it. safety is more important to me. esp if you plan on using it again. and again. and again.

[VeganCupcake]

Originally Posted by ohmtaretu

We're compacting. We've been at it only a month, and plan to go through December - so six months is our goal so far. So far it has gone really, really well and we're all pleased.

I'm currently struggling with a bike light. It's not too spendy - $20. It has front and rear lights. And we're planning a ride next week that may end up in the evening. Esp. with DD along, I really want to make sure we have a light. But it's just sitting there in its package and is kind of haunting me. We had to buy extra rechargeable batteries to operate it, too. Yuckie. Plastic package. Plastic battery-operated object..... Sigh. What to do? I'd love to be able to return it! Yet safety is involved. Any ideas?

That's a tough one--and I'm a very new compacter. Have you tried Freecycle? I would think there's a chance someone has one hanging around and doesn't use it.

Alternatively, I wonder if there's any chance that a bike shop would have something used. Do bike shops sell used bikes sometimes? Maybe they would have used accessories, too? But buying "used" stuff like that is a very un-modern idea. :

[MamaPam]

I've been lurking on the yahoo group now. Its been helpful. I posted a couple ISO posts on the trading post for birthday stuff and a tea kettle. I thought I'd try here. I'm hoping I'll be able to work out a trade and then try Ebay and/or Etsy if I have to. I joined the local free cycle group but so far have just been lurking as well. I've also been trying to look at some of the blogs.