NEAT & SIMPLE LIVING

You can't make this stuff up! Egg-vertizing???

Here's a scary bit of news from the Organic Bytes e-newsletter.  On the one hand I can see a lot of people thinking this is really cool.  I know I would have loved when I was a kid and didn't understand the implications.

On the other hand, it's just one more example of how far corporations will go to get their advertising out there so you (and your children) can't avoid them in any way shape or form.  Before you know it, our street lights, traffic lights, street signs, and maybe even our front doors will all be sponsored and branded.  Why stop there?  We could brand our schools - how bout "Coca-Cola High" maybe? Each classroom door (Imagine "The Dow Chemical Science Class") and every chalkboard could have a different sponsor's logo.  Even the kid's desks could be a collage of logos and ads.  Now that would be truly "intrusive" advertising. Just so you know how flagrant they are about their methods, check out the quote in red below.  Okay enough of my ranting.  : )   Here's the clip from the article.

"In September, CBS plans to start using a new place to advertise its fall television lineup: your breakfast. Ads for CBS’s shows will be etched on eggs sold at some grocery stores.

The network plans to announce today that it will place laser imprints of its trademark eye insignia, as well as logos for some of its shows, on eggs — 35 million of them in September and October. CBS’s copywriters are referring to the medium as “egg-vertising,” hinting at the wordplay they have in store. Some of their planned slogans: “CSI” (“Crack the Case on CBS”); “The Amazing Race” (“Scramble to Win on CBS”); and “Shark” (“Hard-Boiled Drama.”). Variations on the ad for its Monday night lineup of comedy shows include “Shelling Out Laughs,” “Funny Side Up” and “Leave the Yolks to Us.”

George Schweitzer, president of the CBS marketing group, said he was hoping to generate some laughter in American kitchens. “We’ve gone through every possible sad takeoff on shelling and scrambling and frying,” he said, adding, “It’s a great way to reach people in an unexpected form.”

Newspapers, magazines and Web sites are so crowded with ads for entertainment programming that CBS was ready to try something different, Mr. Schweitzer said. The best thing about the egg concept was its intrusiveness.

“You can’t avoid it,” he said. He liked the idea so much that he arranged for CBS to be the only advertiser this fall to use the new etching technology. The CBS ads are the first to use imprinting technology developed by a company called EggFusion, based in Deerfield, Ill. Bradley Parker, who founded the company, wanted to reassure shoppers that egg producers were not placing old eggs in new cartons, so he developed a laser-etching technique to put the expiration date directly on an egg during the washing and grading process."

Read the whole article here:

http://alerts.organicconsumers.org/trk/click?ref=zqtbkk3um_0-29x365x3304311&>http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_1112.cfm

Sending neat thoughts,

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale

I personally don't hold garage sales for several reasons. 

1. The extensive time and effort involved.
2. I don't like selling and haggling over the cost of items.  I'd end up giving it all away anyway! 
3. I don't have enough space in our small house to hold the amount of stuff it would take to have a successful garage sale!

But if you enjoy the whole process of planning and conducting garage sales, you can make money, and it's a great way to practice Green Organizing.  Garage and yard sales provide an opportunity to recycle and reuse perfectly good stuff instead of throwing it way.  To help you have a successful garage sale, the blog Garage Sale Professional - Successful tips for hunting and selling. provides advice and links to many resources. 

(FLICKR.com Photo Source Chaosatlanta)

For example, here is an excerpt providing tips from an NBC news article by KPVI posted on the blog.  Dean and Suri, 18- year veterans share tips on how to conduct a garage sale AND how to shop at garage sales.  Dena earned over a thousand dollars at her last garage sale so she knows what sh'e talking about!

Dena Ruffridge, garage sale shopper:

"Just be organized, have everything priced, clean. People will buy your stuff if it's been washed and cleaned and it looks like something you would want to buy at a store."

Garage sales can be a lot of work, so why should someone take the time of hosting their own garage sale?

Siri Kline, garage sale shopper:

"Money! It's a great way to make some money back. It's always great to donate too, but you spend a lot of money for your stuff so sometimes it's nice to just sell it for a dollar or something, you know, because you get a lot out of it."

When it comes to shopping, they say

"Don't get it just because it's cheap, and most importantly make sure it works."

"The standard is usually don't pay maybe more than a fourth of what that item was originally worth and look at what kind of condition it's in.

If it takes batteries or if it needs to be plugged in, you know, ask the person if you can plug it in or make sure it works before you take it."

Source: http://www.kpvi.com/index.cfm?page=nbcheadlines.cfm&ID=34689

This is good advice, but while making sure something works is important, I have to stress that the MOST IMPORTANT criteria in buying any item is that you:

• Know exactly how and why you will use it.
• Know exactly where you will store it and be able to find it!!! 

If you can't answer these questions, chances are 99% sure you will have just paid money to acquire someone else's clutter and add to your own clutter! Don't fall victim to buying something because "it's so cute!"  or "I'll find a way to use this someday"  Those are some of the most common thoughts that lead to clutter accumulation.   

That said, if you really need something, looking for it at garage sale is a treat way to save money.  Just make sure you have a list of what you need with you and stick to it.  There are always exceptions, but think 2 or 3 times before buying something not on your list and you will be more likely to truly save money.  As a bonus, you can help keep good stuff out of landfills by shopping garage sales.

Here are a few other neat links to on how to hold a successful garage or yard sale.

BEST GARAGE SALE TIPS ARTICLE
The best article I found is by Sara Noel, called "Holding a Successful Garage Sale."  Here's an excerpt.

First Things First
Before you start planning, phone your local authorities to inquire about any permits you may need and any provisions or ordinances they may have. Some communities may prohibit the sale of food items or used bedding.

Plan ahead what you'd like to do with remaining leftovers that don't sell. Donations are always welcome at thrift stores, some shelters, and even some nursing homes. Call ahead to these establishments and get information on any items they don't accept or how and when they accept drop-offs.

Decide if you want to include others. Maybe you have friends or family that would like to add some items to your sale. You may want to consider an entire neighborhood or block sale. This can cut your advertising costs down considerably.

Safety Tips

• Have a phone handy if possible.
• Post a sign on any entrance doors that states "Off Limits". You don't want anyone inside your home or wandering around the perimeter of your home.
• For safety reasons, consider sitting outside of your garage. Being inside the garage is often remote and not visible from roadside.
• Keep your cash box in a safe location.
• Don't permit any hanging sale items or tables to obstruct your view.
• Don't place items right next to the road where they could be easily stolen.
• If you have a pet, please make sure it's on a leash.
• While making change, always keep the money handed to you in plain view. This prevents anyone from claiming they gave you an amount they didn't.
• In many areas, it's illegal to post signs on utility poles because it's a potential hazard to workers. Check before placing your signs.
• Be sure the items you're selling have not been recalled or pose any potential hazards. You should avoid selling older cribs, strollers, helmets, playpens, carseats, and baby gates.
• Consider not posting your full address in your ads. You can share main cross streets and let visitors follow your signs.

Gathering the Goods
You can start at anytime to declutter and organize items you don't want to keep. You can start organizing your unwanted items into boxes. There are many practical items that are great sellers, so don't overlook...Read more at: http://www.sideroad.com/Home_Organizing/successful-garage-sale.html

WIKI-HOW

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale

Looking for a great way to get rid of your clutter and make extra cash at the same time? Garage sales are popular, fun and easy to manage. Think how much neater your home will be and what you could do with the money you make. Depending on how many unwanted items you have, you can make upwards of $1000/weekend!

Steps

1. Gather items for sale by walking from room to room in your home, identifying what you no longer need. If you haven't used something for over a year, it's a good sign you won't miss it! Hot sellers are children's toys, old tools, books and simple kitchen items.
2. Inventory each item on a sheet of paper as you identify it for sale.
3. Review your completed inventory sheet and assign a price to each item. Remember, garage sale items have to be inexpensive. If you have an item worth more than you will get at a garage sale, consider selling it on Ebay.
4. Attach a CLEARLY written price label to each item. Using brightly colored labels will make it easier for your customers to find the price and will save you time on the day of the sale.

READ ALL 18 Tips Here:  http://www.wikihow.com/Hold-a-Successful-Garage-Sale

Happy Garage Saling!

The Ultimate Bartering Scheme - One Red Paper Clip for a HOUSE!!!

As Media Guru Marshall McLuhan predicted, getting attention in the age of media isn't easy. You have to come up ever more extreme and outrageous schemes.  One of the latest schemes I read recently is another of those that makes me wish I'd thought of it!  But my outrageous gene is just not extreme enough!  Anyway, you gotta love the ingenuity behind starting with a single red paperclip and after 14 very clever trades and one year - ending up with a house! 

 

Bartering and trading is one of the oldest and most effective strategies for success and this is a great example of how to make it work!  His story is hilarious and informative.

Bartering is a great way to live more simply and frugally and even as a strategy for growing yoru business. There is absolutely nothing illegal or unethical about bartering.

So how can you make bartering work for you?

If you are interested in how to use bartering legally and effectively in your business, or to enhance your simple and frugal living strategy, check out these resources.

IRS RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=113437,00.html

WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartering

BARTERING EXCHANGES - Most of the USA Fortune 500 companies use barter to increase their market share and improve productivity. There are about 500 barter exchanges in North America and Latin America, and several hundred more throughout the rest of the world. Here are listed links to hundreds of the Web sites of the many barter exchanges which have developed internationally.
http://www.gigafree.com/barter.html

ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE - Bartering in Business
Barter is back in style and spanning the globe. Here's what you need to know to become the master of your exchange.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,321937,00.html

ABOUT.COM on the Rewards of Small Business Bartering and how to do it WISELY.

"Whether you are starting or growing a small business bartering can aid in preserving cash to help get your venture launched or expand. Bartering is a must have success tactic for operating your small business. Bartering can be defined as the exchange of goods or services for other goods or services. It is a transaction where no money changes hands. Bartering is estimated to exchange 8.25 billion a year in trade for 2004, according to the International Reciprocal Trade Association."

5 Things You Need To Know About Business Barter

1. Money Pit: Beware of troubled companies on a quick downward spiral to bankruptcy. If your barter partner is in financial trouble and seeks bankruptcy, you may never receive your share of the barter agreement.

2. Time and Money Equivalent: Attach a time or money value to the barter. For a win-win situation to exist in a barter agreement both parties involved need to sit down and compare the exchange of goods and services in a quantitative fashion.

3. Tax Issues: Bartering does not offer a tax loophole to avoid taxation. According to the IRS tax website, "Income from bartering is taxable in the year in which you receive the goods or services. Generally, you report this income on Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business Form 1040."

4. Business Barter Relationship: Any barter relation should be examined against the value added to your small business. A barter of 200 lbs of animal feed is going to be useless to a management consulting firm; but 3 months of free magazine advertising can greatly improve cash flow and aid your profits. If your services are not in high demand by your barter target, consider a barter exchange group.

5. Barter Exchanges: Hundreds of barter exchange groups operate in America, offering an efficient channel to barter for small business. Barter exchanges allow companies to have access to more goods and services in a quicker fashion. For instance, a graphic design firm may exchange its services with a pet food company for trade credits. The pet food company in turn can exchange its trade credits for another member`s service, such as tax preparation.

READ MORE AT:
http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/smallbizlearning/a/barter.htm

All the best,

The Backlash on Consumerism Grows - The Compact

Can you imagine not buying anything new for a year?  That's part of the "Compact" this group is committing to. Here is an excerpt from the Compact's Yahoo Group, describing their goals and credo. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact/

We are a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid (calendar year 2006).

The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):

• To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
• To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
• To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)

We've agreed to follow two principles (see exceptions etc. on our blog).

#1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.

I admire this group tremendously.  It's not easy to change your habits and give up your stuff.  It makes you really have to think about everything you buy, and why and how you are buying it. You can learn a lot about yourself, and what you truly value in an exercise like this.

For example, I have tried to shun all disposable products, but when I have to clean my cat box, I use paper towels or Clorox Wipes.  I'm addicted.  I just can't bring myself to use cloth that I would then have to launder with my other stuff. And washing the rags alone would waste water and electricity.  In the end, convenience and hygiene wins.

I also can't let go of my Swiffer wet-jet or dust wipes.  And I still use plastic zip-loc bags - but not often.  And I do wash them out and re-use them around the house until they are truly worn out.

But all in all I truly admire and respect what these people are trying to achieve.  Read more at their blog. http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/

Green Organizing - Code of Ethics

Green Organizers are also working on a set of voluntary Green Ethics to supplement the existing NAPO Code of Ethics.   Here are some examples:

As a Green Organizer, I will strive to:

• Limit the nature and volume of the products we and our clients consume and discard
• Purchase from Green product and service vendors.
• Support clients in teaching Green practices to their children.
• Set up effective and efficient recycling centers in the client’s space. 
• Find creative ways to store potentially useful items or give them away for future re-use instead of throwing them away.
• Purchase earth-friendly, second-hand, or locally-produced products.
• Follow Green disposal practices such as:
  • Using recycling centers
  • Finding individuals or organizations who need unusual items
  • Safely and legally disposing of toxic items.
• Attend educational events for Green Organizers and other interested organizers.
• Contribute to the knowledge base to support other Green Organizers.
• Encourage vendors to offer more earth-friendly products.

If you want to use a green approach to organizing your home or office, let your professional organizer know!  While NAPO.net does not yet have a referral service for Green organizers it is being discussed - so stay tuned!

"Green" Organizing - What is it?

"Green" Organizing is a growing trend which I'm excited to see developing in the professional organizing industry.  It ties in nicely with the "think-buying" approach which encourages thinking about the social and environmental impact of your purchases, as well as the ethics of the companies you buy from.

Green Organizing is an environmentally-friendly approach to professional organizing emphasizing the principles of “reduce—re-use—recycle”. 

Green Organizers promote:

• Using recycled and/or biodegradable products where possible and feasible
• Re-using products rather than buying new products
• Limiting the amount of unwanted items going to landfills by donating, free-cycling, selling and recycling as much as possible
• Purchasing organizing products from companies that adhere to environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices

I recently joined a new Yahoo group that provides an amazing network of resources for professional organizers who strive to practice simple, green and sustainable organizing. If you are interested in green organizing check it out at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/simple_and_sustainable_organizers/

See you there!

Neat Ideas For Living: Why live frugally? Why organize?

I just found this really neat blog Simple Living America with a great post by Dawn who writes an awesome blog on living simply and frugally, Frugal for Life.   She wrote this great post on why she lives frugally and what it means to her.

"I guess when it comes down to being frugal or not, the question needs to be asked, “Does this fulfill me?” For myself less is more in my world; less to worry about, less to find space for, less to keep up."

This really got me thinking about my approach to organizing and what's fulfilling to me.  There are some organizers who prefer to work with people who have collections that need extensive organizing.  Like devoting a whole room with custom closet systems just for shoes.  Or maybe a whole room devoted to gift wrapping.  But that just isn't fulfilling for me. 

I find it most fulfilling to work with people who want to simplify their lives - even if they have plenty of money and don't have to be frugal.  I love working with people who want to have less stuff to worry about so they can have more time and energy to focus on things are more important meaningful to them.  For example:

• The stressed out mom who wants to get organized so she can relax and be more able to enjoy her children instead of yelling at them out of frustration because she can't find stuff she is looking for.
• The couple who fight over clutter instead of enjoying time playing with their kids.
• The lady who is distraught because she just found out she got charged ridiculous late fees because she lost a bill and didn't pay it on time. The money could be much better spent on healthier food for her family or getting a massage.
• The professional running a small business out of their home that could be doing a lot better if only they could fulfill orders efficiently, show up on time, not lose client data, organize their paperwork, or keep track of their marketing, etc.
• The mom who feels guilty because her kids are embarassed to bring friends home from school and is worried because they avoid being home as much as possible and may be getting into trouble.

Dawn also says:

"Frugality in my opinion is also about moderation. Moderation is key no matter if I am eating, drinking, watching TV, going to movies or exercising. Excess is what happens when I stop controlling my life and let something else run it. It’s about keeping things in check, whether it’s my reasoning for buying and item or getting caught up in the good feeling a TV commercial gives me. "

Moderation is key to Neat Living!  Every now and then I get a call from someone who fears they aren't organized enough, yet when I go their home it looks like a page out of a magazine. Perhaps they are so bombarded with images of perfection in the media they judge themselves very harshly.  They are often relieved when I tell them they are normal and it's okay to have some papers on your desk while working.  It's okay to process your mail once a week.  If you work 12 hours a day and don't have time to go through every day, DON'T!  : )   (But do at least contain it in a basket till you are ready to deal with it)

The thing is it is possible to overdo it with organizing and even with de-cluttering.  You ARE ALLOWED to have sentimental stuff!  It's okay if there are kid's toys not put away, or clothes hanging on the back of the chair in your bedroom.  You can even keep clothes you haven't worn in a year!  Living isn't "neat" ALL the time! 

It's about balance and moderation.  You only need to be neat and organized enough so that your stuff isn't stressing you out or impeding your ability to function effectively. It's about YOU running your life and YOU deciding what's important. If you are organized enough to be on time for work most of the time, be a good spouse and parent, entertain in your home without shame, and find 90% of things you need when you need them.  You are doing a great job!   

Okay, so I got off the subject of frugal living a little bit, forgive me...and go read more of Dawn's thought-provoking post here! : )

Simple Living America: Why live frugally?.

ThinkBuying: Boston Globe Slams Corporations Pushing Bad Food on Kids

In keeping with my series on ThinkBuying, I wanted to share with you this excellent post from the Sugar Shock Blog. 

Link: SUGAR SHOCK! Blog: Boston Globe Slams Big Food for Pushing Bad Food on Kids. 

Here's an excerpt from the Globe Article that will really make you think about the damage junk food and sugar are doing to our health. 

"TYPE 2 DIABETES is sweeping so rapidly through America we need not waste time giving children bicycles. Just roll them a wheelchair. Forget the basketballs and baseballs. Give them Braille flash cards. The next thing you know, iPods, Game Boys and Xboxes will come with glucose meters, beeping 'Sorry to interrupt your song or movie, but it will not continue until you use me.'"

Corporations will eventually have to realize that in addition to making money, they are citizens of this country and world.  As citizens, they must be responsible to a higher value system that just making money.  If they don't start to really get it soon, then social responsibility will have be legislated.  They know very well that the sugar and chemicals in our food is killing us slowly and are  primary factors in chronic inflammation, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more. But they make so much money on it that they can't seem stop themselves from continuing to sell the junk!  They need external pressure to quit.   Just like the cigarette manufacturers needed it to stop advertising to kids. Heck half the reason I quit smoking was because of all the grief I got for it.  They are as addicted to the money as we are to the sugar & hydrogenated oils in the junk food they sell! 

They can say "parents have the right not to buy it"  "parents have to control their kids" and that's true.  But then, they MUST stop actively and purposefully UNDERMINING  PARENTS through their deceptive and manipulative marketing. Conversely, we need to stop using sugar as a reward for every good thing we do, or to celebrate.  Why must sugary cakes be at every birthday?  I don't know...I suppose sugar is no different from all drugs that make us feel good when we ingest them...and then later we pay the price. 

Anyway, it's great to see a newspaper taking on  big companies even though they put their advertising dollars at risk.  Not many news outlets are prepared to do that. 

Kicking Sugar Update
So, enjoy the column and check out the extensive program on kicking sugar. You can also listen to FREE replays at http://www.fasttrackkicksugar.com/

I haven't totally quit sugar yet - but I have dramatically reduced it.  The hardest part for me is giving up my morning coffee.  I used to use 3-4 sugars in a 15 oz mug.  And sometimes I'd have 2 or 3 mugs!!!  Thanks to Connie & Nancy Appleton's suggestion, this morning I used only one sugar in a much smaller 7 oz cup and it was tolerable.  After a week of 1 tsp, I'm going to go to half tsp for a week then 0.   If I can do that....I can do anything!!!!  I really loved my morning coffee - just like I used to love cigarettes...but I quit them..and I'll quit this, too!

All the best, Ariane

Link: SUGAR SHOCK! Blog: Boston Globe Slams Big Food for Pushing Bad Food on Kids.

ThinkBuying - Huh?

What is ThinkBuying? 

(I found this term at http://www.thinkbuying.com/ but I'm giving it my own meaning here.)

Many of us, including me, put a lot of effort in researching products before we buy.  I've always focused on getting the lowest price and the best quality and features for my money.  In the background, I've occasionally given some thought as to whether or not I'm buying from an ethical company, but how could you possibly know? Before the advent of the web, researching who you buy from was an extreme effort.  Not anymore! There are tons of websites to help you think before you buy.  (see the list at the end of this post)

I found these sites after watching a film called  "The Corporation" on Sundance this weekend. I was quite shaken up by how much I didn't know.  It really rocked my world.  It led me to look deeper into corporate ethics and what I could do to make a difference in influencing the impact huge corporations are having on our society, culture, values and even our personal lives. So from time to time, I'll be sharing some of my journey and learnings about the concept of ThinkBuying with you.

ThinkBuying may not seem to directly relate to organizing, but think about it.  Why do so many people today need help organizing?  From personal experience, I can tell you that much of the clutter I help people deal with is a direct result of out-of-control, impulse spending. Much of this spending is spurred on through extremely manipulative marketing designed to make us want things we don't need - purely to make a profit for the companies - not to help us.  They don't want us to really think before we buy.  Part of helping people prevent clutter is helping them learn to take back control of what they spend money on and what they choose to bring into their homes. So that is part of ThinkBuying. 

Another part of ThinkBuying is thinking about how socially responsible the companies we buy from are.  Do they really care if our children are harmed by their products? Or if they are destroying the environment?  I'm not advocating that everyone become a radical.  Corporations have done a lot of good in the world.  But the bigger they grow, and the more they market to children using amazingly devious tactics, and the more we start seeing schools and public art centers being named after corporate sponsors (e.g., the Garden State Arts Center is now the PNC Bank Arts Center), and the more corporations like Coke and McDonalds are fighting tooth and nail with school districts to have the right to take over school cafeterias, the more we have to start wondering: just how far will their desire to manipulate us go?  what will stop them?  What will the limits be?   

Two college students have already become walking billboards to pay for their college tuitions. Including getting tattoos with the name of the companies.   Will the corporations also dictate what they can study?  Others have paid for their weddings by turning them into ads / reality shows.  Babies are used in commercials now, how long before children themselves are leased out to become walking ads just so parents can afford to raise them and give them all the stuff corporations are selling? 

So, what I'm suggesting is not that you become a radical, but that we become more aware of how we are being manipulated and maybe that we take just a few minutes to think before we buy.

Wishing you nothing but the best,

Ariane

~~~~~~~

Here's how to see "The Corporation" for yourself:

• TV:  Sundance Channel - it airs again on Jan 16.  If you don't have a TiVo or DVR,  find someone who does to record it and watch it with. 
• LIBRARY: If you can't do that, try a library.
• BOOKSTORE:  You can also get the film and the book at Amazon:
    DVD - The Corporation - 2 Disc Set with Tons of Bonus Footage
  BOOK:  The Corporation

Related Interesting Material

• DVD: Wal-mart:  The High Cost of Low Price

Cosumer Education Websites

• Organic Consumers Association
  The OCA promotes food safety, organic farming and sustainable agriculture Great information to make informed food choices and understand how Genetic engineering, irradiation, hormones, etc. are used in our food supply.
  
• SRI | alonovo.com
  The Social-Responsibility Index, or SRI is a rating of business character or citizenship. The higher the index the more likely we would want such a business to thrive within our community. This website is a great source to help you make conscious decisions.
  
• The Corporation Film: Welcome
  If you haven't watched the film / documentary "The Corporation" yet, I strongly recommend investing 2 hours and 25 minutes to learn some stunning facts about the the history of how corporations came to be in the first place.
  
• Commercialization of Education 2005 Annual Trends Report
  Univ of AZ report:  schools are a prime corporate advertising targets.  Learn what's being marketed to children in schools, what's being done to try to stop it, and the lengths corp's are going to fight parents & schools from banning junk food.
  
• Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood
  National coalition of health care professionals, educators, and parents seeking to limit direct marketing to children.
  
• Links to Organizations -Social Responsibility
  Links to Organizations Concerned about Social Responsibility and the Effects of Rampant Consumerism
  
• Transnationale.org
  This is a  "citizens' portal on brands and corporations". You can search for profiles on over 9,500 companies. Profiles list their social & environmental records
  
• CorpWatch : Index
  Features news, analysis and exposes about various corporations with records of environmental, labour, or social injustices.

How to Save the World The WalMart Dilemma

I've written my piece on Wal-mart...but wanted to share this Canadian's view.  He has an excellent point about the real blame being on the way the Free Trade laws are structured.  However, It should be noted that Wal-mart expends a HUGE effort to influence Free Trade agreements that make it easier for them to import from China - even though China actually subsidizes businesses there so that they can export cheap goods to us. 

See: How to Save the World - The Wal-mart Dilemma.

Clutter-free gift ideas for a less commercial Christmas

Have you ever thought Christmas has become way too commercialized? Have you ever wished you could just not participate in the frenzy the holidays have become?  Do you worry you might seem cheap to your friends and family?

Well, thanks to Dawn at www.frugalforlife.com I discovered a site that actually gives you amazing resources to get started decommercializing the holiday. They even have a Kit. It's called www.buynothingchristmas.org This site is EXTRAORDINARY. They have coupons you print for services you can give. They even have a Buy Nothing Catalogue.

Here are 10 gift ideas you can give without buying anything. 

1. Create a...

Humanitarian Gifts for the Holidays or Any Occasion

A really wonderful trend I'm seeing this year is the practice of giving humanitarian aid gifts this year instead of the usual gifts. Many of us who know people who have experienced great tragedies as a result of Katrina (and the many other disasters that have occured the last few years) are looking for ways to help. Using money that we normally spend on holiday gifts to donate to worthy causes is a great way to contribute and to experience the real joy of giving. Here are some ways you can give  Humanitarian gifts:

Alternative Gift Website (AGI) at www.altgifts.org 

They let you pick specific gifts from a catalog and send beautiful cards to notify your recipients of your gift.  Here are some example alternative gifts:

• Give job training so impoverished women can earn better wages / USATrain and equip poverty-stricken women for a year-round, income-producing livelihood. More...
• Rescue victims of forced prostitution / Southeast Asia Millions of trafficked women and girls worldwide are working as prostitutes against their will. Some were kidnapped, others were tricked or sold. Rescue, a safe place and healing aftercare can restore their lives. More... 
• Give micro-loans for small businesses / Haiti, Ukraine Poor people in undeveloped countries have good loan repayment records. Give hardworking, enterprising people a chance to improve their livelihoods. More...

Habitat for Humanity's Holiday gift page

 Americare's Holiday Gift Site

Save the Children

For just a few dollars each month, you can give a child the gift of being a sponsor of a less fortunate child through "Save the Children." Your sponsorship can help a child eat a warm dinner, see a doctor, or even graduate from school, while also teaching your child the value of helping others.   Sponsor a Hungry Child.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Is Wal-Mart Good for America?

Dawn over at www.frugalforlife.com posted an extremely thought-provoking post on Walmart and the new Wal-Mart Movie. Frontline also did a Wonderful show on "Is Wal-mart Good for America?"  Clear facts and figures about Walmarts business practices.  You can watch the full 60 minute program online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/view/   While you are at it, check some of their other shows like "The persuaders" about the advertising industry, and "The Secret History of Credit Cards"

Here's what I have to say on the subject of Walmart.

I have already seen several documentaries on Wal-Mart and agree with a lot of the points and comments on Dawn's post. I personally stopped shopping at WalMart years ago. And, we are fighting having them come to our town. Being 10 miles from New York City, we are not even close to rural.

Our town, and those surrounding us, have vibrant downtowns filled with unique shops. That's one of the things we love about living here. We aren't a carbon copy filled with chain stores and we want to keep it that way.

Wal-Mart does indeed lie and unethically maneuver the system in the pursuit of profit.  For example, they actually had a written policy that stated they wanted to keep wages within a limit so that people would qualify for medicaid rather than them having to pay for Health benefits.

They also said they would only buy American. Hah! They have killed more American businesses than they have helped. AND they buy a huge percentage of their stuff from Asia. Not only that, they use their buying power to force small businesses here to redesign their products to make them cheaper (and lower quality) or they won't carry their products.  In fact though, their strategy is to provide ridiculously low prices on endcap products to lure you in...and then most of their stuff is the same price you'd find at Kmart or Target.

Let's not even get started on how they use their power to censor artistic products like movies, music and books. I suppose we get what we deserve when we value low prices above all else. It's like when you hire a contractor just because they give you the lowest bid. You usually don't get quality. Or worse, you have to redo it.  The thing is low prices lead to low wages and eventually a lower standard of living.  For example, in ohio, massachusetts and vermont where factories (like Thomson electronics and Rubbermaid) were closed because they couldn't compete with China (Which most of Walmarts goods now come from China) A Walmart opens.  50 and 60 K per year jobs are now replaced with minimum wage jobs and rundown towns.

One last thing, I understand the argument that rural folks don't always have access to the product selection and low prices...but how did they survive before Wal-Mart? They had to be frugal, creative, simple and live with less stuff. Ironically, isn't that what a lot of us are trying to do?

Bringing mass consumerism to rural areas is not the solution. I don't mean to judge or offend individuals who do choose to shop at Wal-Mart. Having grown up on welfare myself, I know what it's like to be really poor.  I only hope to inspire people to think about it.

For really low prices, I think you can do better at Amazon.com or even e-bay.com, where they let everyday people sell their stuff to anyone, anywhere. It's like a big online flea market where you can get amazing deals. - Now that's democratic!

Okay, I'm off my soap box now. Have a great holiday And think about this...

What if you bought NOTHING at Christmas? What Gifts Would You Give? (Click to see 10 gift ideas that cost nothing or next to nothing...)

All the best,