13 comments

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  Traci

  8 months ago

  Just the right kind of inspiration at just the right time. Thanks, Carrie!
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  L'Tanya

  8 months ago

  In addition to asking myself if something adds value to my life, I ask if my buying it possibly adds value to someone else's life. That has been huge for me and I learn something new everyday. I just learned about the cocoa plantations of Ghana and Ivory Coast and the way in which young children are virtually slaves in these fields. I've chosen to buy fair trade chocolate for Halloween. I'll pare down in other areas. By understanding more about where products come from, I feel more open, considerate, and caring.
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  DanielleLaPorte

  8 months ago

  I'm so glad you brought this up - chocolate production is an issue that more people need to know about. I'm going to check out the free trade stuff at Whole Foods - or, we might just give out stickers and tattoos that we get from the dollar store.
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  CarrieM

  8 months ago

  The origin of products is essential! And asking if a purchase adds value to someone else's life is lovely L'Tanya, thanks.
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  Daniel Gibbons

  8 months ago

  I'd like to chime in on the organic milk issue. We buy it all the time, but I'm not sure it's worth it. In BC, cattle are not pumped full of hormones, which is the main thing you want to avoid. However, organic milk does not mean that cattle never receive antibiotics or other medication; instead they're briefly removed from milk production when they're dosed. So I think it makes at best a marginal difference, and organic milk may be psychologically comforting but not necessarily worth the premium.
  
  But someone correct me if I'm wrong...
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  Alison

  8 months ago

  I love my brand of organic milk that I buy here in Australia... It just tastes so much better.
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  Kristi

  8 months ago

  I like your questions - very helpful as a sieve before making any purchase.
  
  I also like one of your other posts where you point out that cheap can be expensive in the long run.
  
  I'm cultivated - put me in almost any store and somehow the thing I most desire will have a big price tag - I don't plan it that way - it's just what I love.
  
  So, I'm working on your amortization theory - letting myself spend big on some purchases knowing I'll have/love the items for years - amortizing can be my friend (still have trouble parting with the cash, though!).
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  kc

  8 months ago

  I actually feel that buying organic milk *saves* my household money each month. Organic milk -- for a number of reasons -- stays fresher much longer than conventional milk.
  
  If we buy a gallon of organic, we can stretch that through 2-3 weeks, where a normal container of milk would be well spoiled.
  
  Buying organic is more expensive upfront, but allows us to purchase less milk throughout the month and feel good about what we're buying!
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  CarrieM

  8 months ago

  I didn't know that, thanks kc!
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  Alison

  8 months ago

  Its so strange, I find this to be true, too! Whenever I buy non-organic, I find myself throwing out off milk. Such a waste. But my organic brand seems to last so well..
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  laurin

  8 months ago

  Just had to agree with the others that organic milk saves us so much money. In addition to tasting much better, it never goes bad before my family finishes a carton. It's been five years now for us and we have saved a lot. Plus, no guilt for pouring spoiled milk down the drain.
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  Tao

  7 months ago

  Or, take a look at the other side of the coin. Besides saving, how to add another stream of income doing something you love? Now, that will make you think.
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  boston moving labor

  1 month ago

  In addition to asking myself if something adds value to my life, I ask if my buying it possibly adds value to someone else's life.
  reply