A Year without Wal-Mart & Paper Towels Complete…What’s Next?

January 3rd, 2010 we, as a family, concurred that we could go one year without shopping at the ever convenient Wal-Mart. Then I added on the fact that I could make it one whole year without buying any new paper towels, I would use the remaining 5.5 rolls and make due with reusable cloth towels. Here is how it went! We entered Wal-Mart to help others 2 times, and almost gave into a desparate moment once. Chris helped my dad find a new router in February 2010, but he was given strict instructions to not touch or buy ANYTHING! And he didn’t! He pointed out the router my dad’s house needed and then exited the store. Then on the way to my Great Aunt’s House we discovered we left precious “B” at home! This is Ainsley’s must have comfort blanket. We pulled into the parking lot, then decided to find a different store, we found a dollar general and a replacement blanket. Thank the Lord! But then later on that trip we had to enter Wal-Mart to help my Great Aunt (age 88) buy a new monitor for her computer. We decided since she was set on a given budget we had to go to Wal-Mart for this item. She also asked as we were walking out, “doesn’t Ainsley want a new toy or some clothes?” I quickly said “No, we are all set! Let’s get going!” These were our only setbacks from January 3rd to now! And recently we watched the documentary Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. It was amazing how much we learned. Mainly to see the workers in China making the “cheap” clothes for not even a wage they can live on. The employees in America are barely making it as well. Some are left out on benefits, some are getting their wages cut, and then others are doing just fine! The other problems of shopping with and supporting Wal-Mart is the way it takes business from the local retailers, cuts job opportunities, and guts some smaller communities. Now I have family that works for and loves Wal-Mart so I am not going to say that Wal-Mart is totally awful, they do give back some. But overall we need to think before shopping there. I know that we have decided to not shop at Wal-Mart again. We will support the local yocal. We will investigate the products we use to make sure they are made from companies that TAKE CARE of their employees by paying them a fair wage. Are we being extreme? YES, it’s time to be extreme! Being extreme brings me to the next topic of my little rant. PAPER TOWELS! I still have 1.5 rolls left. We converted to cloth napkins and cloth towels all over the house. It does add to my laundry and folding and sorting and putting away, but this is more calorie burning which I always can use! I love using cloth it’s less messy and convieient for us, I made a small trash can into our kitchen cloth catcher, we throw all our napkins and towels in there. Then I put it in the wash! We also started recycling paper, plastic, and aluminum last year. Also, we started composting all our veggies, fruit, coffee, and eggs shells. Being more conscientious about our consumerism and our usage has really helped us be more EARTH friendly. So what are we going to do this year? Buy recycled toilet paper (maybe go to family cloth, if I can talk Chris into it!), continue with all cloth where we can, ditch all disposables, lessen our trash and recycle what we need to and are able to! We also want to lower our meat and dairy intake after watching Earthlings we learned alot about the treatment of animals. Good Luck on your adventure! -Andrea