Sustainable Minimalists

We may indeed live in a world in which we can get whatever we want whenever we want it, but there's a problem with such instant (and incessant!) gratification: Resources are finite. On today's show, a conversation with blogger and author Liz Frugalwoods about how to teach our children that money doesn't grow on trees and buying new isn't consequence-free. Here's a preview:[4:30] Getting our kids on board: How to reframe eco-frugality as a game[11:00] Proaction as a handy Waste Not, Want Not tool [20:00] The why and how behind early financial education for our children[24:00] Real-time financial literacy: How to kick off a chore routine for kids[32:00] Liz's thoughts on normalizing secondhand as a means of preserving finite resources Resources mentioned: Last chance to sign up for our school bus initiative! Email Stephanie at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com with a simple "I'm in!" and we'll get you on the list. Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living Liz on Instagram Join our (free!) community here.  Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

A conversation with energy policy advisor Hal Harvey and award-winning NY Times journalist Justin Gillis about exactly what we need to do more of in 2023 to ensure the planet remains habitable for our children. Here's a preview:[2:00] Is it already too late?[4:00] The transition to seeing ourselves not as mere green consumers but instead as green citizens[12:00] Creating a "tangible local expression" of your environmental values: the why and how[25:00] How to decide which eco-policy to put your weight behind (and what it really means to "hit it hard") Resources mentioned: The Big Fix: 7 Practical Steps To Save Our Planet Want to work on school buses with me? Email me and I'll get you on our school bus mailing list: MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com Join our (free!) community here.  Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

What your clutter is costing you, plus 5 guiding principles for mindful rehoming. Resources mentioned: Episode #105: The Dark Side Of Donating: Where Do Goodwill Donations Actually Go? Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Thank you to our sponsors!  Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a $60 free gift. Dr. Marty's Pets: head to drmartypets.com/sustainable for Dr. Marty's Nature Blend.

When it comes to health-first resolutions (eat healthier! feel better in jeans!), it's unfortunate but true: such resolutions often fail shortly after January 1. On today's show Leeann Rybakov outlines what it *really* takes to make your health-centered New Year's Resolution stick.Here's a preview:[3:00] Exactly why our get healthy/lose weight/eat right/move more resolutions fail, according to a Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach[11:00] The Number One aspect of nutrition we tend to get wrong[20:00] How important is sleep when it comes to health, actually?[26:00] Extreme workouts don't lead to extreme health. Here's why[36:00] Stress effects on our individual health goals Resources mentioned: Pillar assessment 5-Day Detox To Reset Your Body

It's the most wonderful time of the year, or is it? December can be stressful, expensive, and emotionally taxing; it's no wonder, then, that 3 in 5 Americans believe the holiday season negatively impacts their mental health. Enter interpersonal boundaries which, when done right, protect your time, well-being, and budget. Even better? Drawing explicit lines in the proverbial sand increases the chances you'll actually enjoy the holiday season.  Here's a preview:[3:00] The personal and interpersonal benefits associated with setting boundaries[6:00] Getting our minds right: 2 soul-deep understandings that are necessary before attempting to set any interpersonal boundary[14:00] When to set a boundary (and exactly how to do it, according to psychologists)[19:30] It's role play time! 7 potential interpersonal trouble areas, with 7 real-life boundary setting examples Resources mentioned: Episode #243: Boundaries And Generational Clutter Episode #326: Gift Boundaries We Can Do Hard Things podcast Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at ‪(857) 264-1967‬. Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.   podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

How do we kindly ask our parents and in-laws to stop buying into plastic junk culture for our children? Why would we even want to embark on such an uphill battle?Overwhelming amounts of gifts may be commonplace around the holidays but the reality is this: The Number One most important gift we can give our kids is an inhabitable planet on which they can survive and thrive. With both the planet and families in crisis (hello, debilitating clutter!), it's high-time we find ways to avoid unnecessary presents in advance of the holidays.Today I chat with Whitney Leigh Morris about how she established (and maintains!) gift boundaries with her loved ones in December and always.Here's a preview:[3:00] Both you and your children benefit when you establish gift boundaries; here's why[7:00] When to play the "climate crisis card" versus when to pivot[20:30] 3 reasons to donate to reputable non-profits instead of returning or re-gifting[24:00] Hindsight Mom Guilt wisdom for parents concerned their kids will be left wanting[31:00] Thoughts on handling people who are affronted by your boundaries Resources mentioned: Episode #231: Unhappy Returns Episode #105: Where Do Goodwill Donations Go? Airbnb Experiences Whitney on Instagram  Thank you to our sponsors!  Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a $60 free gift.* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

When it comes to giving presents, sustainable minimalists understand that less is more and thoughtful is better. Indeed, minimalist holiday gift ideas don’t manifest themselves when walking the mall; you can’t find them by panic buying in the days leading up to Christmas, either.Need some inspiration? Today I’m thrilled to turn the mic over to you the listeners as you offer up nearly 2 dozen non-consumer gifts for the holiday season. *A note from Stephanie: This episode originally aired in November 2021 and it's too good to not re-release!Here’s a preview:[2:20] Making (and preserving!) memories through experiences and photos[5:20] 7 personalized DIY gift ideas (that will also be appreciated)[9:15] 2 book-related minimalist gift ideas[13:00] Creating new traditions as a means of buying less junk[16:00] When in doubt, donate[19:00] Thoughts on the “gift in a box” hack Resources mentioned: Yankee Swap rules Heifer International Did you know there’s a book based on THIS podcast? (Thank you for supporting my work!) * For even more minimalist gift ideas, check out this blog post from the archives * Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Are you getting all you can from your library?Libraries are quiet pillars of our communities that often get overlooked. That's unfortunate because libraries are one of the few places where you can truly get something for nothing.On today's show I'm outlining 7 goods and services you likely never knew you could get for free from your library. Here's a preview:[9:00] Exactly how much you're paying for multiple video streaming services (plus, how much the library can help you save)[16:30] Stephanie's favorite hack for cooking magazine lovers[20:00] How to get the most out of your Library Of Things[22:00] Museum tickets and your child's holiday Experience gift, BAM Resources mentioned: Episode #289: The Convenience Tax Leave a voicemail and rave about your local library! (857) 264-1967‬ Hoopla Digital Kanopy Video Database Mango Languages OverDrive Ebooks, Audiobooks and More Zinio eBook Central -- * Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.-- Thank you to our sponsors!  Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a free gift. Nutrafol: get free shipping and 15$ off at nutrafol.com with promo code SUSTAINABLE. Armoire: head to armoire.style/sustainable to get up to 50% off your first month plus 2 free bonus items. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Success is often accomplished with grit, resilience, and action. Still, many of us women are bogged down by countless pressures each and every day. Who has time to work toward goals when the obstacles in the way somehow feel both mundane yet unconquerable?You can face steep odds and still find happiness, and that's because every woman has wells of resilience within to help get us through.Today I speak with career and leadership coach Jennifer Pestikas about making the choice to take up space; she also offers the nuts and bolts behind boldly expanding. Here's a preview:[3:45] What should be in your resiliency toolbox (and how to build yours)[7:30] Thoughts on managing the pressures associated with being the first, the only, or different[15:00] Breaking down reasons why women sometimes make themselves small/diminish their accomplishments[24:00] What to do when you find yourself at the intersection of defeat and reinvention Resources mentioned: The Nine Enneagram Descriptions (via the Enneagram Institute) Gallup Strength Finder Good On You app Brave Women At Work: Stories Of Resilience  --* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. --Thank you to our sponsors!  Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a free gift. Helix Sleep: Get $400 off and 2 free pillows at https://birchliving.com/sustainable. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Ah, the holidays. The 5-ish weeks between Black Friday and New Year's Day tend to be an extended party of sorts in which many of us overspend, overeat/drink, overdecorate, and excessively waste. The excesses associated with the holidays come with a hefty environmental cost: on average, US households produce 25% more trash than normal between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day; worse, wonton wastefulness can (and does) add more than half a metric ton onto our annual carbon footprints.I believe it's entirely possible to have a joyous December without the waste and so, on today's show, we discuss practical ways to spread holiday cheer with the planet in mind.Here's a preview:[2:00] Artificial, local, root ball intact, and more: Breaking down the Christmas tree conundrum via Steph's handy dandy grading rubric[17:00] 4 of the most impactful (and practical!) ways to spread good tidings without being wasteful, according to mathematics Resources mentioned: Organic Christmas Tree Farms Near You Database The Carbon Trust's Tips For A More Sustainable Christmas (via Carbon Trust) Join us on Instagram! (Seriously! Just do it, we're having lots of fun!) Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com  Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a free gift. Helix Sleep: Get $400 off and 2 free pillows at https://birchliving.com/sustainable.  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content