Instructional &
Informational Posts
She likes to save money. She likes to save the planet. Writer, Valerie McTavish, explores ways to do both at once. Each month she’ll have a new way to help you be true to your environmental and socially conscious self without breaking the bank. Caution: DIY projects ahead!
Caught up in coffee-break-craziness?
You go to work, tap away for hours and then, looking at the clock, you think ‘I have just enough time to grab a coffee.’ You rush to the café, stand in line, order, pay way too much, realize you forgot your to-go cup (vow to make it up to the earth some other way), then wait some more before you have to run back to the office and drink your ‘relaxing hot beverage’ in between meetings and phone calls.
Stop the madness!
Everyone needs to take a coffee or tea break during a busy day. Taking a time-out, even for a few minutes, is great for your mental health. But why stop there, why not also take a coffee break for the planet and give your wallet a break while you’re at it?
Here’s our secret to saving money, the planet and our sanity, all at the same time –- the good ol’ Thermos.
Preparing your own hot beverage at home and transporting it to work in a vacuum-sealed, stainless steel container may seem simplistic, but the benefits are ample. Just make a little extra coffee or tea in the morning, (be sure to pre-heat your container with hot water beforehand to ensure your java stays lava-hot) pour it in, seal it up and off you go.
No over-spending, no disposable cups, no waiting behind someone with a mile-long, customized drink order out.
We put our savings to good use by upgrading our cream to organic and our coffee to Fair Trade.
Why not grab a blanket and take your home-brew to the nearest park. The time you usually spend in line, is now time you can spend breathing in the fresh air and relaxing with your hot liquid of choice.
You may be taking a coffee break for the planet but your wallet and your mood will be the ones saying ‘Ahhh, that’s nice.’
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Valerie McTavish is a professional writer and video producer living ‘the good life’ in Kelowna, BC. She’s a long-time decision evader which she satisfies by letting a roll of the dice deliver her to spontaneous fun. Follow her adventures by chance at www.zufalladventures.com.
