For starters, using the free item means you aren’t using something up that you paid for. And very often, those free samples come with coupons, so if you watch for a sale, you can get a great deal on it (this should go with out saying, but I’ll say it anyway – if you can’t get a great deal on it, and you wouldn’t have bought it normally, DON’T BUY IT just because you have a coupon ).

Secondly (or maybe firstly, depending on whether your household is like mine) – getting a package in the mail, even if it’s small, is pretty exciting. Super exciting if it isn’t a bill. And triply exciting if it’s something to play with or eat.

Vocal Point is a great site for samples and coupons.  If you don’t already have an account, I encourage you to sign up, especially right now, since they are offering a free Swiffer Duster. The registration is short and doesn’t require a ton of private information, and the samples usually come in very creative packaging.

We’ve been so busy since this year started that I’ve been relying almost completely on PeaPod grocery delivery via an iPhone app for grocery shopping. I’m sure there is a way to use them and not spend as much money as we have been, but the method of using a saved grocery list and fast select shopping has led to a ton of waste. Wasted food that gets bought but spoils before we can cook with it and wasted money since I never take the time to comparison shop or look for coupons (which PeaPod does accept.)

So! Time for a change. But this time the key to success is learning from my big sister. She has developed a system of grocery shopping that is the perfect mix of coupon collecting, bargain hunting, smart shopping and self control. Those of you who know me will get right away that my plan is to add some technology into this mix to make it work for our family, but I’m on board. Time for a change that also saves us some change.

If you don’t use it in the first place you won’t have to recycle it right?  I’m sure I’m not the only who has a stash of bags taller than my children in the corner of my pantry. I try to reuse them as often as possible, they collect cat littler, trash, get used as toy holders by Wee Kahunas who like to pretend they are going on little trips, and all sorts of other things, but for goodness sake there is just a limit to how many bags a person can reuse, and it doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to figure out that all that plastic or paper and all those chemicals aren’t helping anyone (well except the companies that make them.)

Some times you just have to take a moment and participate. No, we don’t live in Seattle, but seriously – they are the test bed, and you know that next will be Austin, and then hopefully Chicago.

So here are some links and tips from The Seattle Green Bag Campaign and Reusable Bags

On August 18th, Seattle voters can send a clear message to Big Oil and their allies in the chemical industry: Hands Off Seattle!

If you live in Seattle,” Your vote to APPROVE Referendum 1 will uphold common sense local policies that encourage use of reusable “green” bags. Right now, the average Seattle resident uses over 500 plastic bags per year, many of which end up littering our streets, endangering Puget Sound wildlife, and creating a market for highly toxic, petroleum based plastic bag production.

The “green bag fee” is OPTIONAL — you only pay if you decide not to shop with a reusable bag. But out-of-state chemical companies want to protect their profits — and have already spent over ONE MILLION dollars to overturn Seattle’s environmental law.”

Top Tips to reduce plastic (and paper bag consumption)

1. Start using reusable shopping bags. Find the right styles and designs to suit your taste and lifestyle. Take a look at their store for ideas.

2. Refuse a bag. Cashiers are programmed to keep the line moving and don’t always stop to think or bother to ask if you need a bag. If you don’t need one, don’t take a one.

3. Reuse plastic bags you have accumulated as garbage liners.

4. Start using Ultra Compact bags. We love these since people tend to forget their bags when they go shopping- Ultra Compact bags are small enough to stash in your purse, jacket, backpack, car, etc. so one is always handy.

5. Get stores to offer cash credits if you bring in your own bags.

6. Open your eyes to how many bags you consume: keep count. For instance, if you have a giant plastic bag holding plastic bags in your closet, take 5 minutes and count how many you have. (Ours had 323 and drove us to start this company!) OR, count how many plastic and paper bags you go through in a week.

7. Cut down on plastic produce bags by bringing your own reusable produce bags.

8. Create a safe, eco-friendly lunch kit with our wide range of smart reusable lunch bags, bottles, food containers, sandwich / snack bags, & utensils.