Living the Eco and Budget Friendly Life May 5, 2010
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Budget Smart Girl's Guide.Tags: Billee Sharp, eco friendly products and cleaning items, Living the simple life, Viva Editions
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Here’s another book that got my attention a few months ago, Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It, An Eco-Fabulous Guide to Life. I discovered that its author, Billee Sharp and I have two things in common. One, we both follow budget savvy lifestyles and two, we’re both originally from England. Sharp’s book offers budget savvy wisdom and tips on consuming less and is another must for the Budget Smart Girl’s bookshelf. Here is my interview with her. The book is available at www.vivaeditions.com
Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Tell us about yourself?
Billee Sharp (BS)-I live in San Francisco with my Scots musician husband and my two sons. I have been a California resident for 18 years and I am originally from England. I studied at University College London and received a Joint Hons degree in Ancient History & Social Anthropology. I became a contemporary art curator and dealer in my twenties, setting up Building One, a gallery space in South London, working with a group of artists who became known as the YBAs ( Young British Artists). In 1991 I left London for California and started an independent record label, Reflective Records, with my husband. We also started our family here.
BSG-How did the book come about?
BS-I was approached by Brenda Knight of Viva Editions to submit a proposal for a book about living on a budget. Brenda has known my husband and me for many years and knew that we sustained ourselves on what can be the meager earnings of artists. Like most creative types our income can fluctuate quite widely from one month to the next and we have developed strategies for dealing with lean times.
BSG-Have you always lived the simple life?
BS-No, although there has always been something appealing about it for me. In my twenties when I was pursuing a career in the art world, conspicuous consumption and displaying the appropriate symbols of affluence were important considerations for me. I knew that to be credible in certain circles I had to be legitimate in their eyes, this meant a good deal of expenditure on wardrobe. I was always aware that this kind of display was necessary for certain types of activity but living that reality came to feel very superficial and unappealing to me.
BSG-Although the economic downturn has been a wake-up call for most, many are still ‘keeping up with the Joneses” What would you tell people about consuming less and its advantages?
BS-I think it’s hard for people to re-assess their desires. After all, our society approves and encourages us to seek more materially as a sign of our personal success. However, one’s bank balance is the ultimate reality check. If money is not available, it’s impossible to keep spending. I think in times of scarcity our desires get scrutinized and people generally realize that they don’t need all the stuff they think they do. I think when we are being careful with our resources we get more satisfaction from the things we do acquire. There is a special joy when you get exactly what you need for free or really inexpensively! Also, abandoning consumerist desires is a personal epiphany. I think most people feel liberated when they seek less materially.
BSG-What about people who say this is all about going without?
BS-I say just be discerning, give up things you feel ambivalent about and try to want things that are positive in your life. A good life isn’t characterized for me by having anything and everything that I might like the look of. It’s about making good sensible ecologically aware decisions about what I spend my money on.
BSG-For the person who has never lived a simple life, what’s a good (and pain free) way to start?
BS-I think that everybody has an inkling of how they can improve their life. If you find yourself in a place where you are buying everything, then try and win back something- make your own sprouts instead of buying them. Make your own eco-house cleaning products for pennies. Make a decision to volunteer in your community- there are lots of great charities and non-profits that will welcome your support. Wean yourself off buying everything in your life.
BSG-You own a green cleaning company. Any tips for cleaning our homes using inexpensive and eco friendly cleaners?
BS-The great news about eco-cleaning is that the ingredients are super cheap: if you have distilled vinegar, baking soda and castille soap in the house you have everything you need to clean. Lavender oil or another essential oil is nice to add to cleaning solutions, the aroma is delicious and lavender is also a natural disinfectant. For a general purpose eco cleaning solution, good for all types of surfaces, wood, synthetic, metal, tile take a spray bottle and mix : 1 teaspoon castille soap, 1 teaspoon baking soda ( or Borax), 3 drops of lavender oil or squeeze of fresh lemon, 1 quart of warm water. Shake well and apply to surfaces with rag or sponge. If you are dealing with a lot of grease, add a cup of vinegar to the mix.
BSG-Many of us are starting vegetable gardens so we can grow our own foods. Any tips for success?
BS-When you are starting a garden, plant easy-to-grow basics. Mint for example is a prolific herb. It grows well in all soil types and doesn’t need a lot of attention. It is important to have positive growing experiences to begin with because it encourages you to expand your horizons. I recommend getting an herb garden up and growing while planning and preparing for a vegetable crop. Seek out the advice of local gardeners about what grows best in your micro-climate, look at the allotment gardens in your neighborhood and see what seems to be flourishing.
BSG-Your book has a section on organizing a free market. Can you tell us what that is and how it works?
BS-We are lucky in San Francisco to have a local chapter of the Really Really Free Market movement www.reallyreallyfree.org
The idea is to work as a collective, designate a space and invite people to come and give what they have to the market. Some people bring clothes, books, furniture, plants, food, anything really. Others bring their skills be they hair-cutting, tarot reading, pedicures, music, legal advice, health advice, massage etc. The most effort will go into alerting people to the event and explaining how to contribute-everything is free. At the end of the market the organizing group can decide how to deal with whatever is left, our chapter generally donates everything that’s left to a local thrift store.
BSG-What are your favorite money saving tips?
BS-Simple things like: don’t pay for a gym membership just walk everyday- I walk to our local supermarket everyday and walk the dogs, its plenty of cardio for me, especially as I live on top of a San Francisco hill! I learned that walking will keep you in shape years ago from a girlfriend who had an amazing body, very slim and toned. I asked her what she did to look so great and she told me she walked to and from her work every day – four miles in all. The other advantage to walking more is saving the environment and spending less on gas and transport.
BSG-Any recipes you’d like to share?
BS-Most of my recipes come from my friends. I have one who has turned her love of healthy eating and cooking into a business, where she prepares food for individuals in their homes, tailored to their particular needs. She has a great blog with many affordable, delicious and healthy recipes, do visitwww.nutritiousdeliciousfoods.blogspot.com
BSG-Any simple living websites or books you think we should check out?
BS-I think the internet is an amazing resource generally and searching for specifics will lead you to a lot of interesting resources. D-I-Y and alternative thinkers abound on the internet. There are many useful blogs out there and chat room communities. I recommend www.simpleliving.net as a good starting place. Also, join your local online Freecycle community and make friends. If you’re thinking about living a simple life away from the city I still think Alicia Bay Laurel’s beautiful book “Living on the Earth” (Random House, 1971) is the best.
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