22 Project and Presentation Ideas for Kids on Simple Living

Getting your children to understand and enjoy simple or minimal living is not an easy feat, especially in today’s consumerist environment. However, it is possible. And one way to get there is to give your children projects and presentations to do. This method requires that your children research ideas and then, process them. Instead of forcing your children to agree with your opinions, you are educating them.

I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to come up with creative ideas that my brother, cousins, and I could do to make sure we did not spend the entire summer in unintelligent activity. One summer she paid us several cents for each book we read and wrote a report on. Of course we all were excited at the prospect of making money. It meant more ice cream from the ice cream truck. Unfortunately, it did not last long. I had a cousin who was a speed reader and he quickly divested my mom of her extra money. But the dye was set. That summer, I learned to love reading and I have continued to love it to this day.

My mom’s idea was an ingenious way to get us kids reading when we would have rather been playing. And this is my inspiration for this article. I welcome you to tweak my mom’s idea even more, so that it best fits you, your children and your situation. For example, you do not need to pay your kids money to do projects. You can offer them a different incentive, like a picnic, skating in the park, a day at the beach or their favorite home-cooked meal.

The point is: there are many ways to go about this teaching method. Be creative. Think outside the box. And most importantly, have fun. Laugh! Smile! Bring fun back into learning.

Let’s begin…

(If you are a minimalist, change “simple living” to “minimal living”. )

Poonsap / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 
1. What does simple living mean to you? Ask your children to research what simple living means and then write a short essay on it. If you haven’t simplified your life yet, this is a great way to introduce your children to the idea.

2. What are the different ways a parent can live simply? This can be a fun and thought-provoking project for both parents and kids. Your kids will enjoy following you around and critiquing you. This will allow them to feel like they too, have a say in this life-changing decision. And parents… You will get to  hear not only your kids opinions on you, but also on what simple living means from a kid’s point-of-view. This can be a powerful exercise because kids do say the darndest thing.

3. What are the different ways kids can live simply? This is another powerful exercise for your children. Have your children create an illustrative presentation on this topic. It can be as simple as gluing pictures to a board or as difficult as a PowerPoint presentation. The point here is to get your children to understand simple living from personal and practical perspective.

4. How does simple living affect the environment? This topic is important for tying simple living to green living. It can be presented as an essay, a speech, an informative short film, or a PowerPoint presentation. If you have older children, I recommend that the presentation be done digitally. This will add one more educational tool to the mix.

5. In what ways does and should simple living affect life at home? This is an easy topic. It will require some research and processing from your children. But the presentation can be as simple as a conversation with you.

6. What benefits do parents receive from simple living? This topic will force your children to think from a parent’s point-of-view. You can make the project even more interesting by turning it into parent-child role reversal exercise. There’s a lot of opportunity for laughter with this one.

imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 
7. What benefits do children receive from simple living? Let’s face it: we all want to know what’s in it for us. And kids are not an exception. With this project, your kids will need to interview you. The interview should be about what you think a simple lifestyle would mean for your kids, what you think will be different, and what you think will remain the same.

8. Name and describe simple living concepts. This project can be as basic as outlining general beliefs of people who practice a simple lifestyle. Or it can be as complex as collecting stories of what simple practitioners are doing around the world to make a positive difference. Interviews can be included in the presentation. And if you choose this topic for an older kid, a short docu-film would be a creative and inspirational way to present this information.

9. Name the advantages and disadvantages to simple living. This essay topic would be a great way to teach your children both sides to a movement. As we all know, there are advantages and disadvantages to every decision. Seeing both sides from a child’s point-of-view can also be educational for you.

10. If God were to talk to you, what would he or she say about simple living? This idea is inspired by the book, Conversations with God. If you do not believe in God, you can substitute “God” with “Universal Consciousness” or “your high-self”. The point is to get your children to think from an above or 3^rd person perspective. For those that are open to this type of research, you’ll find that this is a freer method of thinking and learning. All the things that influence your opinion on Earth can be forgotten for that short moment. Toys no longer matter, nor do trips to the playground. This is a great way to begin teaching your children how to think outside of the box, from a higher-self standpoint and unbiasedly. You can present this topic in a variety of ways – as an essay, short video, play, fictional book, song…

11. If Mother Earth were to talk to you, what would she say about simple living? This is similar to the topic above. And like the topic above, you can present this in a variety of ways. I recommend something visual since Mother Earth is so beautiful. This would be the perfect opportunity to take your children on a field trip outdoors. You can even have them take photos of the various moments that inspired them throughout the day. These photos can be added to their presentation or essay.

12. How is green living related to simple living? What do these two movements have in common? This is a great way to get your children to tie the two movements together in their heads.

Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 
13. Draw and design a house that fits the concepts of simple or green living — exterior and/or interior. This is a creative project for kids interested in design, architecture, engineering, or construction. The older the kid, the more you should expect from him. This can be a very detailed and innovative project. For example, you can request a 3-D mock-up, house plan, brochure, video commercial, and/or informational booklet. At the end of the presentation, you should be allowed to ask questions on key elements. Who knows, this project may inspire the answer to our country’s architectural woes.

14. Design a clothing line that fits the concepts of simple living. This can be really fun. So, tell your children to be crazy and create something that will make them smile.

15. Write a letter to a congressman about simple living. If you want to teach your children about their role in politics, this is a great way to start. Who knows, this letter may inspire your congressman to make a positive difference or it may inspire your own children to become politicians in the future.

16. Create and design new technologies that can help the environment, like an alternative to solar and wind power. This project is perfect for creative kids who are interested in engineering, computer technology, and futuristic concepts. There’s nothing like getting your child to think like an inventor early on.

17. Design programs and solutions that can be implemented by businesses, governments or the public to foster interest in simple living. This can be as basic as naming 5 solutions in an essay format. Or it can be as detailed as writing a business proposal which would include a mission statement and sections on values, overall issues, goals, strategies to reach those goals and financial planning. This topic would be a wonderful way to introduce your children to entrepreneurship.

18. Create and design a video game based off of the concepts of simple, green, or organic living. This topic is for the kids that eat and sleep video games.  It’s a great way to tie something they really love to do to something that’s educational in nature.

19. Create a play that discusses simple living under a genre (suspense, mystery, drama, romance or inspirational). This can be an entertaining way for the whole family to spend time together. A lot of bonding can happen during a project like this.

20. Write a short book or story that discusses simple living under a genre (suspense, mystery, romance or inspirational). This is straightforward. If you have young tots who can read and write sentences, keep in mind they too can tackle this project.

photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 
21. Develop a new philosophy and movement that focuses on healing the environment. This topic strays away from simple living, but at the same time it can emphasize the need for more simplicity on earth. This can be presented in an essay or professional proposal format.

22. Develop a new philosophy and movement that focuses on personal well-being. Like the topic above, this presentation has the potential to be very thought-provoking and inspirational.

If you want to share an idea or story with us, please do so by leaving a comment below.

Revised: May 22, 2013

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10 Ways to Nurture Simple and Nature-loving Kids

Kids are naturally simple beings. You witness this when their tiny faces light up as they are thrown in the air and dangled down by their feet, when they are allowed to go to the pool, when mom and dad take them to the beach to make angels and castles in the sand, or when grandma and grandpa come into town with grandma’s famous cookies and grandpa’s teddy bear hugs. You can also see it when they scream in excitement as they chase each other around a tree. When was the last time you enjoyed a chase around a tree?

I remember loving the homemade fruit popsicle my mom used to make when I was a kid. She used to make them in an ice tray. I never cared whether it was store-bought or brand-named. All I cared about was: it was sweet and cold — the perfect snack on a hot summer day.

Kids really are simple creatures until we bombard them with material objects and the idea that they need more stuff to be happy and cool-looking. This is why it is best and easier if you start your kids down the simple and natural path when they are young. This way you will not have years of developed materialism to fight. But whether you are starting early or late here are 10 ways you can begin nurturing simple and nature-loving kids:

1. Talk to them. This is my most important advice because you do not want to appear as a completely irrational dictator. Kids are more sensible than most of us adults give them credit for. They actually can understand concepts quicker than most adults because they have less social norms, opinions, and complexes roaming around in their heads. So, explain to them why you are choosing simplicity over materialism. Discuss your values. Show them pictures and short films about the destruction of earth and humankind as well as other topics that are important to you. Give them the facts and not your opinions and then ask them questions like: What do you think? How do you feel about this? What would you do? What is your personal responsibility in all of this? The point is to get them thinking, analyzing, questioning, and taking personal responsibility.  Do not forget to tailor the wording to the ages of your children. You want them to understand what you are saying and not be intimidated by your vocabulary otherwise they will shut down and that would defeat the point of this step. Also remember to teach instead of preach. When they share with you their opinions and ideas really listen to them and be open-minded. Respect their views. It is not always easy for kids to talk to adults. So create a family value of respecting the opinion of everyone.
2. Be an example. This is really important. Do not let your kids think you are doing this to be a miser or to punish them. Do your part. Recycle, donate, volunteer, decrease spending on yourself, cook fresh food more often, decrease your time in front of the TV, computer, on the phone, or at work. Remember one of the reasons for simple living is to have more time to spend with your family, not more time to spend in front of the TV. So show your kids that there are personal benefits to simple living like more time with their parents.
3. Entertain them with stories, books, TV shows and movies that illustrate simple living concepts. As kids get older they become more impressionable and the words of their parents become less sacred. So, it is advisable that you find outside media that shows simple living concepts to be fun, inspiring, worthwhile and beautiful. This will help cancel out what they see in school and TV shows. Remember that life outside of your house is different. Life on the outside is based on consumerism. So, be conscious of the difficulties your kids face when leaving the house.
4. Go simple gradually. Do not go from saying Yes all the time to No all the time. Such drastic measures are unnecessary unless you are in a financial bind. Also, do not go on a rampage, throwing away every toy your child has. How would you feel if someone came into your house and threw away everything without your consent? Give yourself a time frame that you know your kids can handle without any trauma. It can be a year or 2 years. During that time slowly eliminate what your kids do not need — de-clutter their toy closet. You can make it a family event. This way your kids will feel more in control of what is being eliminated from their home.
5. Homemade toys. Make your kids homemade toys. You can also get your kids into the spirit by having them help you and encouraging them to make a few toys for you. I recently went to visit my cousin and her little ones in Atlanta. What I found cute was her youngest would rather play with an empty cardboard box than his store-bought toys. He spent half an hour pushing and pulling, drooling and tumbling into the box. His antics became the topic of our adult conversation. 
6. Create a project or presentation for your kids to do. Give your kids a topic and have them create an essay, project or presentation based on this topic. Topics can be as easy as what does simple living mean to you or as complex as develop a new philosophy and movement that focuses on healing the environment. If your kids are artistic or you want to get their artistic juices flowing, have them create a song, dance, short play, puppet show (homemade), or mini movie based on a simple living topic of your choice. You can even get your neighbors and family members involved. Consider doing this during summer vacation when kids have an excess of free time. The reasons for this step are to have your kids do their own research and to have them come up with their own conclusions and solutions. Some things you do learn better on your own. For more project and presentation topics, please click 22 Project and Presentation Ideas for Kids on Simple Living.
7. Teach your kids how to spend money. It is never too early to teach your kids how to spend money wisely. So, on your next shopping trip, take your kids along and let them get involved with your shopping process. Question them on their choices, needs and thinking. Explain to them how you shop and why you choose certain items over others. Allow them to question your methods. Together you can grow, learn and create a better shopping system.
8. Garden. Create a vegetable and fruit garden in your yard. Get your kids involved with the process of planning what to plant, tilling the soil, planting, picking and cooking. This has so many benefits, a few being: learning the gift of hard work, becoming acquainted with the taste of fresh local food, more sun (vitamin D), connecting to Mother Earth and understanding the amount of hard work and resources it takes to put food on their plates every day.
9. Take your kids on nature field-trips. Youth is the best time to teach someone to love Mother Nature and her simplicity. I am sure you know how difficult it is to take a born and raised city gal or boy on a camping trip. Do not make that mistake. Raise your kids within the simplicity of Mother Nature. Take your kids horseback riding along a mountain trail, camping in the woods, hiking through lavender fields, bike riding up and down the green hills of Ireland, flower picking in Provence, sailing the Mediterranean Sea, or on a simple hay ride at a local park.
10. Create traditions based off of simple living concepts. Some examples are:

• Have a big family picnic or barbecue at the park every year on the same week to celebrate the arrival of spring, summer, fall, and /or winter. You can time it to the summer and winter solstice or the March and September equinox. If you are open and adventurous, you can research the foods, games, and rituals ancient tribes ate and performed during these events and then tailor it to fit your modern needs. And don’t forget that several festivals occur around the world to celebrate these seasonal events.
• Create a family dinner out of solely the food you grow in your own garden every Sunday. Turn off the TV and the computers and get your whole family involved in the picking, cleaning, cooking, and the setting of the table. This is the time for the entire family to gather in the kitchen around the kitchen table speaking harmoniously about life, love, goals, and ideas. The most important advice I will always give parents within and outside the realms of simple living is to enjoy their children while allowing their children to enjoy them. Their youth pass by in a flash.
• Plan trips with your kids to local outdoor farmer’s market weekly or monthly during spring, summer and fall. Allow them to buy fresh fruits and vegetables to eat that day. You can even create a picnic lunch from what you buy at the farmer’s market and take your kids to the beach, park, or mountains for a picnic of fresh produce.
• Book your family every summer into a small minimalist home on the beach, in the mountains, or overlooking a valley. It should be a week or two of no TV, computers, video games, or cell phones (except for emergencies). The purpose is to live as simply as possible while spending time with each other and in nature. This will help bond your family together and teach them to appreciate the modern conveniences we usually take for granted.

There are many options available to parents. Be creative, talk to other simple, minimal and green living parents, and search the free ads and magazines found in libraries and supermarkets. The key is to have fun and enjoy being in the presence of each other while educating your kids on the importance of simple living. Wishing you lots of smiles and laughter! 

 

 

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Technology: A Human Addiction

Humans and no technology… put together, it’s difficult to imagine. Now this combination added to whining and tears. I can see. Tell a kid you’re taking away his Wii, X-Box, palm pilot, laptop, TV, cell-phone… and oowee, I can see a full-on war about to rage. And I understand why. It would be like going to rehab. Except in this case, the addiction isn’t drugs. It’s external stimuli through technology-that-entertains.

Most humans today, old and young, unknowingly suffer from external stimulus addiction. Do you carry your cell phone into the bathroom with you? Do you have a TV in your kitchen? Is it on when you are cooking or eating? Do you use the TV in your car? When you eat at a restaurant or drink coffee in a  coffee-house, do you bring a computer or cell phone with you? Do you ever watch TV and talk on the phone at the same time? Have you ever sped, run home, driven through a red light, crashed your car, canceled a date, or hung up on a friend just to make it in time for a long-awaited TV moment?

We bombard ourselves today with electrical waves from a multitude of sources, coming from every direction, stimulating our senses 24/7. So, is it hard to believe we are addicted to these waves? The only difference between this addiction and drug addiction is: one is accepted by society and one is not.

Both are stimuli. Both cost. Both are purchased even when they are too costly to afford. Both come in various forms and formulas. Both temporarily remove you from the reality of your world. Both leave you unsatisfied, wanting more. Both destroy the body and senses when used indiscriminately. And both can destroy your life and the lives around you. What is addiction but the inability to control the need for something even in the face of health, social, financial, and legal consequences.
As with drugs or alcohol, eliminating these stimuli from our system causes withdrawal symptoms like irritability, depression, loss of concentration, weight gain, anger, insomnia and confusion. I experienced a few of these symptoms myself when I eliminated TV from my diet. It was hard in the beginning. But like everything else, it became easier with time. It saved me a bundle too. I haven’t owned a TV in over 3 years. Not to say I will never own one again. I probably will. Except now, I have freed myself from the constant need to watch it or have it on, playing in the background. In the process, I have also freed myself from constant manipulation of my senses and mind by controlling agents strategically placed within TV programs.

Other external stimuli I have denied myself in the past are: home internet access, video games, radio, and the movie theater. I recommend everyone try it. Try eliminating one or two external stimuli from your life for a few months. I guarantee you more moments of clarity, more time and a change in how you look at life and the world around you.

Recipe: Tomato and Carrot Salad

photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1 tomato, medium sized
2 handfuls of baby carrots
1/4 cup of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut the tomato into bite size pieces. Place into bowl. Slice carrots horizontally into tiny circles. Place into bowl. Pour olive oil over tomato and carrots. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Mix.

NOTE:
If you are not a big fan of raw carrots, let the mixed salad sit for 1 to 3 hours on the counter. The carrots will soak in the various flavors, improving the taste of the raw carrots.

Salt removes water from tomatoes. So, if you let your mixed salad sit beware it will become soupy. I prefer this because what is created is flavorful juice. The tomato juice mixes with the olive oil, salt and pepper. The mix is so wonderful that if I have any juice left over after finishing the salad, I dip a slice of bread into it.

In this dish, it is important you use good, olive-tasting olive oil, not necessarily expensive. I have used fairly expensive and organic olive oils that did not have much olive flavor. And I recently tried a cheaper brand, Crisco, which had a surprisingly stronger taste of olives. Anyway, it is important that your olive oil tastes of olives and not just oil.

Inspiration: Yoga Gymnastics

“Equinox’s Briohny Smyth shows there’s no limit to what the artfully honed yoga body can do.”

http://q.equinox.com
Video by: Project Dstllry
Directed by Brody Baker
Scored by Sanford Livingston and Jamie Biden.

 

The Essence of Simplicity

Excerpt from The Simple Life
By Charles Wagner (1901)

BEFORE considering the question of a practical return to the simplicity of which we dream, it will be necessary to define simplicity in its very essence. For in regard to it people commit the same error that we have just denounced, confounding the secondary with the essential, substance with form. They are tempted to believe that simplicity presents certain external characteristics by which it may be recognized, and in which it really consists. Simplicity and lowly station, plain dress, a modest dwelling, slender means, poverty—these things seem to go together. Nevertheless, this is not the case. Just now I passed three men on the street: the first in his carriage; the others on foot, and one of them shoeless. The shoeless man does not necessarily lead the least complex life of the three. It may be, indeed, that he who rides in his carriage is sincere and unaffected, in spite of his position, and is not at all the slave of his wealth; it may be also that the pedestrian in shoes neither envies him who rides nor despises him who goes unshod; and lastly, it is possible that under his rags, his feet in the dust, the third man has a hatred of simplicity, of labor, of sobriety, and dreams only of idleness and pleasure. For among the least simple and straightforward of men must be reckoned professional beggars, knights of the road, parasites, and the whole tribe of the obsequious and envious, whose aspirations are summed up in this: to arrive at seizing a morsel—the biggest possible—of that prey which the fortunate of earth consume. And to this same category, little matter what their station in life, belong the profligate, the arrogant, the miserly, the weak, the crafty. Livery counts for nothing: we must see the heart. No class has the prerogative of simplicity; no dress, however humble in appearance, is its unfailing badge. Its dwelling need not be a garret, a hut, the cell of the ascetic nor the lowliest fisherman’s bark. Under all the forms in which life vests itself, in all social positions, at the top as at the bottom of the ladder, there are people who live simply, and others who do not. We do not mean by this that simplicity betrays itself in no visible signs, has not its own habits, its distinguishing tastes and ways; but this outward show, which may now and then be counterfeited, must not be confounded with its essence and its deep and wholly inward source. Simplicity is a state of mind. It dwells in the main intention of our lives. A man is simple when his chief care is the wish to be what he ought to be, that is, honestly and naturally human. And this is neither so easy nor so impossible as one might think. At bottom, it consists in putting our acts and aspirations in accordance with the law of our being, and consequently with the Eternal Intention which willed that we should be at all. Let a flower be a flower, a swallow a swallow, a rock a rock, and let a man be a man, and not a fox, a hare, a hog, or a bird of prey: this is the sum of the whole matter.

…The spirit of simplicity is not an inherited gift, but the result of a laborious conquest. Plain living, like high thinking, is simplification. We know that science is the handful of ultimate principles gathered out of the tufted mass of facts; but what gropings to discover them! Centuries of research are often condensed into a principle that a line may state. Here the moral life presents strong analogy with the scientific. It, too, begins in a certain confusion, makes trial of itself, seeks to understand itself, and often mistakes. But by dint of action, and exacting from himself strict account of his deeds, man arrives at a better knowledge of life. Its law appears to him, and the law is this: Work out your mission. He who applies himself to aught else than the realization of this end, loses in living the raison d’être of life. The egoist does so, the pleasure-seeker, the ambitious: he consumes existence as one eating the full corn in the blade,—he prevents it from bearing its fruit; his life is lost. Whoever, on the contrary, makes his life serve a good higher than itself, saves it in giving it. Moral precepts, which to a superficial view appear arbitrary, and seem made to spoil our zest for life, have really but one object—to preserve us from the evil of having lived in vain. That is why they are constantly leading us back into the same paths; that is why they all have the same meaning: Do not waste your life, make it bear fruit; learn how to give it, in order that it may not consume itself! Herein is summed up the experience of humanity, and this experience, which each man must remake for himself, is more precious in proportion as it costs more dear. Illumined by its light, he makes a moral advance more and more sure. Now he has his means of orientation, his internal norm to which he may lead everything back; and from the vacillating, confused, and complex being that he was, he becomes simple. By the ceaseless influence of this same law, which expands within him, and is day by day verified in fact, his opinions and habits become transformed.

Once captivated by the beauty and sublimity of the true life, by what is sacred and pathetic in this strife of humanity for truth, justice, and brotherly love, his heart holds the fascination of it. Gradually everything subordinates itself to this powerful and persistent charm. The necessary hierarchy of powers is organized within him: the essential commands, the secondary obeys, and order is born of simplicity. We may compare this organization of the interior life to that of an army. An army is strong by its discipline, and its discipline consists in respect of the inferior for the superior, and the concentration of all its energies toward a single end: discipline once relaxed, the army suffers. It will not do to let the corporal command the general. Examine carefully your life and the lives of others. Whenever something halts or jars, and complications and disorder follow, it is because the corporal has issued orders to the general. Where the natural law rules in the heart, disorder vanishes.

I despair of ever describing simplicity in any worthy fashion. All the strength of the world and all its beauty, all true joy, everything that consoles, that feeds hope, or throws a ray of light along our dark paths, everything that makes us see across our poor lives a splendid goal and a boundless future, comes to us from people of simplicity, those who have made another object of their desires than the passing satisfaction of selfishness and vanity, and have understood that the art of living is to know how to give one’s life…

**To read the book, The Simple Life, free-of-charge, click on: Project Gutenberg.

 

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11 Tips for a Car-free Lifestyle

Considering a car-free lifestyle? Here are some tips to make this lifestyle easier for you.

Image: njaj / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. Use a secure back-pack or cross-body bag. Traveling with several small bags in your hands can be tiresome and straining. Your torso can carry excess weight easier than your hands. So, try packing all your small bags into one large back-pack or cross-body bag.
2. Use public transportation. Most cities have a public transportation system–bus, train, street car or escalator. Some even allow bicycles to be stored on board. So, try combining your walking or bicycling with public transportation. This will get you to your destination faster.
3. Be prepared for rain. It’s hard to predict when and where it is going to rain. So, always pack a raincoat and/or umbrella. If rain is in the forecast, bring along water-resistant boots too.
4. Dress in layers. If you live in an unpredictable climate, predicting how the temperature will affect you is difficult. One solution: wear tees, cardigans, sweaters and jackets that can be removed and put on easy as the temperature rises or lowers.
5. Pack accordingly. Pack a second outfit that won’t wrinkle, 1 to 2 small towels, a bottle of soap, and deodorant in a bag for sweaty days or semi-formal events. This way you can arrive at your destination without worrying if you smell, if your clothes are soiled, or if you look sweaty. Make sure to pack your clothing in a separate plastic bag for protection against rain, make-up and leaking bottles. Remember to plan extra time for changing and washing-up in a public restroom.
6. Plan ahead. Before traveling to your destination, plan the streets and bus/train routes you will be taking. Find the most direct and safe route possible. Travel with a detailed map (paper, GPS, iphone, smartphone) just in case you get lost.
7. Use a leg wallet or money belt. If you want to travel without any bags or are afraid of theft, strap a wallet to your leg, waist, or shoulder. You may also want to have a few dollars in another location like your pocket for quick retrieval. You never know when you are going to want a cup of coffee or an extra train ticket.
8. Wear super comfortable shoes. Fashion is great when you are traveling in a car. However, if you are going to walk or cycle to your destination, it will be easier, faster, and healthier if you wear comfortable shoes. So, test your shoes before you leave your home. If fashionable shoes are a must, carry them in your back-pack. When you arrive at your destination, they will be there in your backpack waiting for you and thanking you because now you will be able to wear them without pain.
9. Live where you frequent. You can save yourself money, time and effort by choosing to live near the places you visit regularly (ex. work, school, grocery store, laundromat, doctor’s office, gym).
10. Invest in a folding shopping cart or rolling suitcase. Shopping is much easier if you own a carrier-on-wheels that you can walk with, lift in/off public transit, pull up stairs, and store in a closet. These carrier-on-wheels can also double for a laundry holder or book carrier. Remember to put fragile items and food on top (ex. banana, eggs, bread).
11. Join a car-share program. Joining this sort of program gives you access to cars stationed around your city. You can reserve a car-ride 24/7 via your phone or the internet. Here’s a list of car sharing associations around the world: http://www.carsharing.net/where.html.

Going car free has many benefits. It means no more car insurance, weekly gas fill-ups, toll, yearly maintenance and registration costs. It is better for the environment. And it is a healthier choice for you — more exercise, more sunlight, and less financial stress.

 

Related Posts:

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