Four Free Things: September 27, 2013

This image, borrowed from RowdyKitten, shows an example 
of the type of place we could gift to a family in need if we 
all pitch in. Click the image to view the request at GoFundMe.

Four Free Things is a (mostly) weekly feature here on The Green Gazelle. Each Friday, I share four free or almost free things I hope to do over the weekend and upcoming week. Share the free or cheap things you've got planned in the comments section of this post.

Help Out a Single Mom

I'm starting with the one I think is most important. It isn't free, but it doesn't cost much and it has the potential to make an enormous difference in the lives of a single mama and her two teens. I've set up a GoFundMe fundraising site to help a friend of mine with her small, tangible, eco-friendly wish: a tiny home or travel trailer that they can always call home. Any donation size helps, even a dollar, and anywhere you can spread the message helps too. Here's the description. Together, we can give this family a home.

"Please help me raise money to give a family in need a home!  

I've got this amazing friend who always finds the positive, despite often dealing with hardship. Perhaps you know her. Maybe you don't. She found the strength to leave a bad marriage, and now she's raising two teens on her own - with child support checks that are insufficient and undependable. She is an extremely hard worker and fantastically thrifty, but still money is always really, really tight. Imagine how difficult that must be.  

After moving from one temporary housing situation to another, her simple dream is to own a tiny house, travel trailer, or some other small dwelling - a guaranteed, forever place for her family to live. That is such a small, humble thing to wish for in this world, don't you think?  

She's a strong woman, but she can't do it alone. Please help me make her dream come true. This mama and her kids deserve a home.  

Any size donation is greatly appreciated. If we all chip in what we can - $1, $5, $10, $25, $100 - in no time this family will have the funds to own their own little abode (or at least a great start on one). And you would have helped a lovely, kind family have a little more security and certainty in their lives - and one less thing to worry about. Thank you for considering, and please share this link."

Screen-Free Saturday

I think we all know that I spend too much time on the computer. This Saturday I'm taking the day off. As a bonus, I'm planning to do all of my house cleaning tonight so I don't have to do it tomorrow. That means I get to play outside all day, and read, play instruments, or play board games all evening! Doesn't that sound fantastic? Are you taking a screen-free day this week?

 Make 

I want to use a prize wheel during some events I'll be tabling at. The trouble is, I don't have access to one, and I really don't want to spend money on one. So I'll be attempting to make my own prize wheel this weekend out of cardboard and such. Wish me luck! It should be a fun project. What are you building or making this week?

Visit the Library

I think we also all know that I love, love, love the library. This time, though, my visit will be very specific. We are looking at a house (I know, I know. More on that later) that is listed as a 1950's home but actually looks much, much older. Our local library has a great North Carolina history room, complete with actual physical Sanborn Maps. These are maps that were created every few years by the Sanborn Insurance Company for insurance purposes, but now serve as an excellent resource for historic research. I'll pull those dusty old maps out and see when this house showed up on the maps to help me know how old it really is. What kind of research is peaking your interest these days?

Have you found any fun or interesting free opportunities in your area during the next week? Do you have tips for others on where to look for free activities?

Ditching the Personal Printer - A True Story

Why are home printer ink cartridges so dang expensive? They never last long, they always run out at the moment you need them the most, and they are made out of a ridiculous amount of plastic. And the refilling options seem to have an unacceptable failure rate. Does anyone else feel like perhaps we are being scammed here?

This infographic gives some shocking stats on ink cartridge costs and wastes. But while these numbers are of concern (especially in green-gazelley households such as yours and mine), the negative impacts we aren't talking about might be even more important.

It wasn't until the end of my last long-term office job that a friend of mine tipped me off to the health hazards of printers. Some studies show that desktop inkjet printers that you often get free with your computer, and that everyone has in there home or office or both could be really bad for your health (laser printers appear to be safer for now). It turns out that the offices of old, with their separate copy room housing ink-using equipment, might have been much better for us than the conveniently-located personal printer of today. Once I heard that, it was so obvious. But it had really never crossed my mind before.

I was once someone who couldn't imagine not having my own printer. For a while I even had a large format printer able to print 11x17. As one who dabbles in both graphic design and photography, I loved being able to see my work on paper. As one who is falls in the age group who is computer savvy, but still prefers to read from actual paper, I enjoyed the ability to rest my eyes from too much screen time while still reading something from the web. Environmentally friendly? Heck no.

But when we moved in January, I took the leap. I ditched our home printer. I had nearly finished school, we had just downsized our living space, and I didn't want to buy any more ink.

It turns out that life without a printer is pretty great. I still have things to print on occasion - resumes, doctors office documents, proof of car insurance. I go to either the local university or copy center to print by the page. The public library also offers printing. Often, forms a doctor asks you to fill out and bring to your appointment (for example) can be printed by the office and filled out there if you just let them know you don't have a printer. 

But believe it or not, there is much less necessary printing in my life than I would have thought. I have gotten used to reading digitally more often now, and much of my filing is now done on my computer (paperless) as well. Eliminating my home printer has reduced my use (and therefore expense) of paper, electricity, ink, ink cartridges and packaging, time trying to print something I really didn't need or those lengthy nozzle cleaning checks, and the new, better, gotta-have-it technology in printers that can convince us to replace an existing hunk of plastic made in China with a brand new one. Are you feeling me here? 

There are many of us who pretty much need a home printer - if you or a child is in school and needs to print regularly (like more than once a week), if you have a home based business and you have to print a lot, etc. In that case, perhaps there is a closet or porch where you can locate your printer to maintain good air quality in the areas of your house you tend to breathe in more often. But if it is necessary for you to print once a week or less, you might consider getting that beast out of your house. You'll save money, natural resources, time, and quite possibly your lungs. 

Have you chucked your printer, or are you considering it? How are you managing, or what are you worried might make it hard to live printerless?

Note: Links to other articles are provided to peak your interest in the topic. I am not guaranteeing their accuracy. You should always do your own research and fact-checking on anything you read on the internet.

My Most Prized Possession

I...have...THE POWER!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there is great power in a library card. With this single item, I am afforded a huge amount of access to both information and community. My husband is a librarian, but my love affair with libraries started at a very young age... likely as soon as I realized that was where books lived.

I know for a fact that there are many people who choose not to own a library card. Some of those nearest and dearest to me don't use the library. Perhaps you moved and never determined where your library was located. Maybe you used the library as a child, but didn't get into the habit as an adult. Maybe you think the library has little to offer.

If you know someone like this, and it makes you sad, please feel free to forward them this post. If you are one of those people yourself, I'd like to encourage you to stop by your local library branch and see what you are missing. From a green gazelle perspective, it is a lot. Here's the lowdown of what you get with this free card (yep, free)*:


1. Online Card Catalog. Just Like Online Book Shopping, But Free.

You don't even have to browse the physical stacks anymore to find a book you'd like to read. Public libraries now have an online card catalog that you can access through their website. You can search for a specific book or author, or peruse within your favorite genre for a title that tickles your fancy. When you find what you like, you can reserve it simply by entering your library card number and pin (which they give you when you get your card). The library will hold the book for you behind the counter until you come in and ask for it. Boom. Simple.


2. Interlibrary Loan—Pretty Much Whatever You Want, You Can Get.

This is probably the coolest thing to happen to libraries since the Dewey Decimal System. Today, your library card doesn't just give you access to the materials in the specific library you visit.

Oh, no.

Now you can use that online card catalog (or your favorite librarian) to search the entire library system for the book you want. Usually, that includes all of the public libraries in your county or region. Believe me, there are a lot of books in that system. You can usually find the author or book that you want, then simply ask the librarian to get it for you (or "order" it, if you are using the library's website — again, you'll need to enter your card number and password for this, and then just be sure to select the entire system for your search and not just your specific library branch). It will arrive in a couple days, and your library will call you and then hold it for you behind the counter until you come in. So. Stinkin. Easy.


3. Books on CD. Or, As I Like to Call Them, Bearable Commute Makers.

Do you commute to work? You can get free books on CD from the library to pass the time productively.  If you already love books on CD and simply purchase new ones regularly, getting them from the library instead will save you big bucks AND reduce the books-on-CD clutter in your house (you get to return library materials, after all).

Let's think about this one for just a second.

Let's say that your book on CD is 10 hours long (this is an easy estimate for math purposes — they will all be different). Let's also say you purchase it at the screaming deal of $10 (we won't even bring up the sales tax you will most assuredly pay). If your commute is an hour each way, that CD will last you one work week. And if you purchased an new CD each week (minus two vacation weeks), you will have spent at least $500 on books on CD in a year's time. Now, you may say that this is a low price to pay to make your commute enjoyable, and I would agree with that. But if you could get the exact same entertainment for free from the library? Why then you are just out $500. Go to the library.

The library also often has music CDs, which can be a great way to try out a new artist or new type of music to see if you like it before you buy.


4. Digital Materials For Those Who Prefer Their Books Paperless

If CDs are too old school for you, see if your library has books on mp3. If available, it's usually an easy download through their website. I'm not much of an ebook reader, but I'm told that many libraries also provide ebooks for check out. Pretty sweet, eh?


5. Movies. For Free.

Do you subscribe to a DVD or movie service? Do you visit a DVD kiosk? These services are great—and pretty darned inexpensive—for new releases. But if you are just looking for a fun movie or tv show to hunker down and eat popcorn with on a rainy day, the library should be your first stop. This is how I found one of my favorite tv shows of all time, Rosemary and Thyme. There is usually a pretty random assortment of newish and older movies of every genre, and often a large selection of family-friendly movies. FOR FREE. And once again, you can always check the online catalog for your local branch before you head down to see what your choices are. It will tell you if your DVD is available or already checked out.


6. Other Cool Stuff You Want

Many public libraries also offer other excellent materials that you might not have thought of, things like current magazines, books on home repair, learn-a-language systems, and how-to-play-an-instrument videos.

Some libraries do really innovative and fun check-outs, like this Wisconsin library (among others) which checks out plug-in energy monitors that tell you how many kilowatts your refrigerator uses. Or various libraries that check out plant seeds (theres' a free webinar from the Center for a New American Dream this Wednesday, March 27, 2012 about this topic if you are interested). The St. Olaf College Library (granted, not a public library, but a great idea) has a bicycle check-out program for its students, complete with a helmet and lock.

But the library is more than its materials for check-out. They often have public programs, author talks, or book groups. There is usually a community space that can be reserved for meetings or gatherings. They generally have computers available for cardholders to access the internet with, and offer wifi as well. And they always have plenty of cozy chairs and studious tables for those looking for a quiet place to read or do homework.

Dang. This place has it all.

I am not advocating that you stop purchasing books. It is important to support your local bookseller and favorite authors if you want them to continue to be around. But if you've had to cut back on spending; if your book buying budget is limited, or nonexistent; if you want to own less stuff; or if you want access to all of this other cool stuff too, go to the library.

I'm hoping by now I've convinced you. If so, be sure to bring your i.d. (and a piece of mail from a utility company that has your name and current address if your i.d. isn't current) along with you when you go to get your card. That's it. What an important, amazing, and powerful community resource.

Note: Free stuff is super cool, and much appreciated. When we have the finances to do so, we try to donate at least a portion of the money we've saved over the year thanks to the library to the Friends of the Library group. I justify $7 per month for an online movie service, and since I get much more benefit from my public library I should probably consider donating at least that much (or $84/year) to them. I've been told that fines for overdue books don't actually go back into the library necessarily—just into the general fund. Donating to the Friends group at your library will help your library directly. Ask your librarian for details.

What is your favorite part about your public library? If you aren't yet a library user, what has held you back from getting a card?

* Edit: When I say free, I mean that there is no charge at the library for the materials or services the library provides. All of these things are made possible by our local government and the taxes its residents pay. Much like public school, roads, storm sewers, street lights, and free parking spaces on city streets, these are paid for by taxes but not charged for per use.

Can't live without my public library

I love information, whether from books, magazines, or the internet. I used to buy lots of nonfiction books on topics that interest me, but often times never got around to finishing them. They take up space in my very small house. I like getting magazines in the mail and having a small library of my own at home, but I've saved money and space by changing my subscribing and book shopping to magazine and book borrowing- from my public library.

It's fun to browse books online at Powells.com (it's union- much easier on the conscience than shopping Amazon). But my fabulous librarian beau tipped me off to a request login on my local library's homepage. By using the patron number on the back of my library card, I can browse and request of all of the books, movies, and music cd's in my entire regional library system. I've asked my computer to save my login information, and I've bookmarked the page, so it's even easier for me to login and make selections there now than it is to purchase books online. If I request something that isn't at my local library, they call me when it is in. Brilliant!

I now can get ten books on a subject I'm interested in- for FREE- and figure out which is the best, or if I'm even still interested once I've read or browsed those books. And if I don't finish the book, it's no skin off my back. I can always get it again later if I want. While I'm picking up my books, I can read many, many current magazines without having my own copy that I end up recycling. Using the library instead of online bookstores or magazine subscriptions saves space, money, and the resources it takes to produce all those goods. And most libraries are beautiful and peaceful places to hang out. Sharing is so much sweeter than owning!