Shift Your Spending to Protect the Environment

We launched the "One in a Million" challenge to encourage consumers to shift $1,000 of their usual household budget to products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefit. To date, almost 5,000 people have made the shift, resulting in a $5 million impact in the marketplace.

Here's the inspiring story of Cassandra, one of our most recent shifters. Thanks for becoming One in a Million!

Hi Diane!

I signed up for your "One in a Million" challenge last year at the beginning of May after I purchased your book. I am delighted to report I have achieved the goal of shifting $1000 towards organic products in one year. My total was $1153.06.

Just after I signed up for your challenge I moved from Syracuse, New York to Salt Lake City, Utah. This made my challenge both easier and harder. I didn't know where to shop for organic foods and I had to start from scratch with appliances and furniture.

I learned quickly and began shopping at Whole Foods as well as thrift stores for furniture for my new apartment, kitchen supplies, and clothes. I tried to share my excitement with my family and friends by buying them "green presents" - organic soaps, used books, organic chocolate, bamboo shirts, and organic cotton socks for their birthdays and Christmas. As a result my mother has begun to use her reusable grocery bags and buys organic fruits and vegetables. I'm working on convincing her to switch to organic laundry detergents.

I work as a project manager for a small firm based out of Arizona. Currently, I am helping my company manage the construction of a large wind farm in southern Utah called the Milford Wind Corridor. My company acts as the third party compliance monitor ensuring the biological and cultural resources are protected during construction. It has given me a new perspective on the process of shifting to alternative energy.

I enjoy being "green" at work and at home! Your book and blog has prompted me to be a better, more informed consumer.

Thanks so much for your inspiration!

Cassandra

How did Cassandra do it?

She shifted more than $1,000 of the money she spends anyway to:

* organic fruits, vegetables, snacks and milks

* non-toxic cleansers

* gently used, rather than new, clothing, home appliances, furniture and kitchen utensils

* recycled toilet paper, bulk soap, reusable shopping bags, and concentrated, fragrance-free laundry detergent

How are you shifting? Let us know, and become One in a Million!

For more ways to shift and save, see the Green Moms Carnival posts listed at CondoBlues.

Comments

[Condo Blues]

Excellent ideas because those little things do add up! I found that by tracking my monthly utility useage some of our small home improvements and new habits didn't seem like they saved much energy on the short term but after adding up the monthly totals we cut our use by 32% without any hardship and saved over $500 dollars. We were half way to the $1000 mark without even counting what we shifted towards buying cleaners, thrifted items, etc.

[Lisa @ Retro Housewife Goes Green]

Helps us remember our actions effect how others live. I know I have seen friends and family start to change to be greener. Sometimes it just takes seeing someone else doing it. :)