PAPER
Keep a box to collect half-used paper for writing notes, shopping lists, sketching or working out math problems. Also much junk mail has only one side of a page written on it (Always open junk mail. Inside may be freebies like pads of paper, magnets and kid's stickers) or colorful paper that can be reused in art projects such as mosaic collages.
Some of the collected paper can be folded and cut or torn into uniform or nearly uniform pieces. Hold them all together with one or two small clothespins that have a good grip, to make a little notepad.
Also, saved scraps of cut paper can be used to make new paper. This is another fun and useful project with children worth learning more about. It is not very difficult and a lot of fun. An old blender top can be used for blending paper pulp and a piece of window screen for forming the paper.
This wrapping paper was made this way, along with collected ribbon :
Saved tissue paper from gift wraps can be used in children's projects such as paper flower making or collage instead of buying the paper .
It is quite possible to live without paper napkins, paper towels, toilet paper or tissues. Why use napkins when you can wash your hands immediately after eating? Rather than paper towels, an absorbent cloth towel can be used. Using a lota instead of toilet paper is much cleaner. So also is, in the shower or sink, either spitting the mucous out or washing hands after blowing one's nose.
OLD BOOKS AND CATALOGS
From old books too old or damaged to pass on or from consumable children's workbooks, there may be many nice pictures for children to cut and paste into homemade booklets, their school reports, for art projects or to use as models for drawings.
PHONE BOOKS
The extra thin paper is great for doing fine papier mache crafts or making paper pulp..
CARDBOARD BOXES
The nicest looking ones are good for storage.
They can also be painted Also, a sturdy, good-sized box with a hole for a handle on each end like these pictured can be used for carrying freshly washed clothing to the laundry line. It's cleaner than the laundry bin the dirty clothes came from.
CARDBOARD TUBES
Stuff dryer lint into cardboard tubes to create fire starters for a camping trip, or a cardboard tube kept in a drawer makes a good place to store many reuseable plastic baggies. One can be pulled out as needed.
MISC
Store a nearly- used up glue bottle upside down to get out every last drop more easily and quickly. This method works well for honey jars and hand cream, too!
Notebook pages and notebook dividers that need saving are easy to repair or reinforce with tape and a hole punch. Simply put the tape over a torn hole and repunch it.
What to do with leftover pieces of cedar wood? Lined boxes and drawers with them for seasonal clothing storage and a lovely scent.
What to do with picture frames? These can be spray painted for a new life, or use various sizes as a mold and deckle for the paper making mentioned above.
What to do with large, rectangular milk crates? These make good toy storage and compost bins.
What to do with burlap? This, along with blunt tapestry needles or large plastic yarn needles and colorful yarn, can be be used to teach children beginning embroidery. Also, strips of burlap are often used to cover a wreathe. Another idea is a burlap bag pillow.
No hot water bottle? Try a large plastic bottle with a tight fitting lid.
What to do with junk mail? Use the envelopes included by turning them inside out or using as a template to make new ones. Or use them for seed storage.
What to do with old candles? Melt to make new candles from. Use a piece to wax sewing thread to make threading needles easier. Use beeswax to wax thread to use for DIY dental floss.
SHOPPING TIPS
First of all, don't grocery shop when very hungry!
When buying something that must last, that's when quality counts. A good warning to heed is “Buy cheap; buy twice.” Of course, stuff like fine furniture creates stress when there's a house full of children, so items that are of good quality, but that are easy to clean and maintain are sensible.
For example, this is a solid wood sofa with removable cushions. The cushions can be easily removed to set outdoors for freshening, and the fabric can be easily replaced when worn out or dirty. The heavy wooded sofa frame itself can last lifetimes if cared for properly.
Ditto these chairs:
Also keep an eye on the cash register during check out; mistakes may be made. And it's helpful to save all receipts for a record of expenses.
WISH LIST ALTERNATIVES
Waiting a little while before actually buying something is a good idea and is easier if one keeps a wish list. Simply jotting down wants instead of purchasing immediately creates a delay that gives many advantages. First of all, if the thing desired is actually important or really needed, it'll keep coming up. Otherwise, time allows ideas to pop up how to obtain the item via a low cost or cost free alternative. For example, one may want the latest Klutz book about sculpting clay with children, but instead of buying the book, decide to go to the thrift store to see what's available that has the same topic and similar information. One may even find the book itself (True story!). Or how about consulting an artistic friend for ideas? Very often there's an inexpensive alternative for just about any desire.
Another example is a book about making "flower fairies". Further research on the Internet produced a clear picture of one of the projects. That was all that was needed to make a little girl one irresistible flower fairy from a collection of odds and ends.
Meanwhile, it's good to wear out, use up and take good care of what we already have, whatever Krishna provides. In the process, we can learn to want and appreciate what we already have. Appreciation makes that cheaper pair of underwear just as nice as a finest brand name item in the fanciest boutique. Appreciation makes a simple folding bed as luxurious as the bed in a king's palace.
In other words, before buying something, wait for alternatives. Waiting can also make us realize that "I don't really want or need the coveted item after all".
WHEN A KID WANTS SOMETHING
When kids want something reasonable, put it on a wish list for their birthdays and other special days or as a reward or special treat. Less expensive, "wish list alternatives” may be thought out in the meantime, too. This is better than indiscriminate indulgence. For example, what if a kid wants a pet? Well, it seems that most pets do better in a country setting, not caged, tied up or penned up in a city yard. Also pets such as a dog or cat should not be in the same house that deity worship is going on. Instead, there are many pet alternatives for city bound kids. One idea is to put out bird feeders close to windows at home to attract bird activity. Another is to help children to care for any strays (kept outside the house) that happen along and try to find homes for them. Another idea is to raise some butterflies from eggs and then set them free. All these make good outdoor or short term pets. Neighbors may also need help with their pets, especially when they are on vacation (you may wish to avoid getting involved in feeding them meat from slaughterhouses, however). Most importantly, there is the “Adopt a Cow” program to join and help protect cows, Lord Krishna's favorite pets.
MORE WAYS TO ATTRACT BIRDS
Keep a box to collect half-used paper for writing notes, shopping lists, sketching or working out math problems. Also much junk mail has only one side of a page written on it (Always open junk mail. Inside may be freebies like pads of paper, magnets and kid's stickers) or colorful paper that can be reused in art projects such as mosaic collages.
Also, saved scraps of cut paper can be used to make new paper. This is another fun and useful project with children worth learning more about. It is not very difficult and a lot of fun. An old blender top can be used for blending paper pulp and a piece of window screen for forming the paper.This wrapping paper was made this way, along with collected ribbon :
From old books too old or damaged to pass on or from consumable children's workbooks, there may be many nice pictures for children to cut and paste into homemade booklets, their school reports, for art projects or to use as models for drawings.
The extra thin paper is great for doing fine papier mache crafts or making paper pulp..
The nicest looking ones are good for storage.
They can also be painted Also, a sturdy, good-sized box with a hole for a handle on each end like these pictured can be used for carrying freshly washed clothing to the laundry line. It's cleaner than the laundry bin the dirty clothes came from.
Stuff dryer lint into cardboard tubes to create fire starters for a camping trip, or a cardboard tube kept in a drawer makes a good place to store many reuseable plastic baggies. One can be pulled out as needed.
Store a nearly- used up glue bottle upside down to get out every last drop more easily and quickly. This method works well for honey jars and hand cream, too!
What to do with junk mail? Use the envelopes included by turning them inside out or using as a template to make new ones. Or use them for seed storage.
What to do with old candles? Melt to make new candles from. Use a piece to wax sewing thread to make threading needles easier. Use beeswax to wax thread to use for DIY dental floss.
First of all, don't grocery shop when very hungry!
For example, this is a solid wood sofa with removable cushions. The cushions can be easily removed to set outdoors for freshening, and the fabric can be easily replaced when worn out or dirty. The heavy wooded sofa frame itself can last lifetimes if cared for properly.
Ditto these chairs:
Waiting a little while before actually buying something is a good idea and is easier if one keeps a wish list. Simply jotting down wants instead of purchasing immediately creates a delay that gives many advantages. First of all, if the thing desired is actually important or really needed, it'll keep coming up. Otherwise, time allows ideas to pop up how to obtain the item via a low cost or cost free alternative. For example, one may want the latest Klutz book about sculpting clay with children, but instead of buying the book, decide to go to the thrift store to see what's available that has the same topic and similar information. One may even find the book itself (True story!). Or how about consulting an artistic friend for ideas? Very often there's an inexpensive alternative for just about any desire.
Another example is a book about making "flower fairies". Further research on the Internet produced a clear picture of one of the projects. That was all that was needed to make a little girl one irresistible flower fairy from a collection of odds and ends.
In other words, before buying something, wait for alternatives. Waiting can also make us realize that "I don't really want or need the coveted item after all".
WHEN A KID WANTS SOMETHING
When kids want something reasonable, put it on a wish list for their birthdays and other special days or as a reward or special treat. Less expensive, "wish list alternatives” may be thought out in the meantime, too. This is better than indiscriminate indulgence. For example, what if a kid wants a pet? Well, it seems that most pets do better in a country setting, not caged, tied up or penned up in a city yard. Also pets such as a dog or cat should not be in the same house that deity worship is going on. Instead, there are many pet alternatives for city bound kids. One idea is to put out bird feeders close to windows at home to attract bird activity. Another is to help children to care for any strays (kept outside the house) that happen along and try to find homes for them. Another idea is to raise some butterflies from eggs and then set them free. All these make good outdoor or short term pets. Neighbors may also need help with their pets, especially when they are on vacation (you may wish to avoid getting involved in feeding them meat from slaughterhouses, however). Most importantly, there is the “Adopt a Cow” program to join and help protect cows, Lord Krishna's favorite pets.
MORE WAYS TO ATTRACT BIRDS
- A child can make a simple bird feeder. A tasty treat to include could be peanut butter and bird seed.
- Bird goodies to hang on a tree include apple cores, half a coconut, strung unshelled peanuts, nuts in a plastic net on a string. More bird goodies are boiled potatoes, chopped white cabbage or lettuce, fresh bread
- Dangerous foods for birds would be moldy, spicy or salty foods
- Bird food on the ground should be out of reach in an area where cats cannot hide.
- Bits of string, thin twigs, hair, thin strips of cloth, dried grasses, yarn, pieces of cotton and laundry lint can be left out at nesting time. Place these materials in piles on the ground or tied up if it is windy, so the birds can still get to them.
- Bird houses and a bird bath in the backyard is also fun.
- Some birds use mud, so a little muddy spot is good, too. How about a backyard pond to attract other creatures, too?