Photo: SXC

(I know there are a lot of reports saying we’ve reached bottom, there was a bit of growth, etc., but do you know how long the recovery will have to go on before all your unemployed or underemployed neighbors who are exhausting benefits can get new jobs? Me, either, but I bet it won’t be two weeks or even two months.)

So, on to how to help your neighbors when you don’t have a lot of cash to donate:

• Check for places like my local mission center. It feeds people hot meals once a week and has a food pantry and community garden. It also sells surplus food that was donated, like the cart filled with spices I saw the other day. So, if you need spices anyway, why not buy theirs? And if you need bread, why not take it from the day old bread rack in the store and drop the two dollars you would have spent at the grocery store in the donation jar?
• Offer your children’s outgrown clothing in great condition to your neighbors. If you’re worried about offending them, set up a neighborhood clothes swap, instead.
• Put items in good condition on Freecycle for your area instead of throwing them away. I never dreamed that a single unused window that sat in the shed for a year would be such a blessing to a mom who wanted to put one in the wall overlooking her back yard so she could supervise her children when they played.

Do you have some ideas for helping your neighbors through tough times?

Post from: Blisstree

Giving Back

Photo by Andrew C.

When we redid our kitchen, we carefully removed our old cabinets and used them for storage in my shed. (It was supposed to be my art studio, but it was so far from the house that I’d weed the garden on the way and never actually made it to the studio!) I have a super organized shed and didn’t have to spend a penny on shelves and cupboards. Kitchen cupboards in decent condition can also be used for storage in garages or pantry areas.

Another option is to send a message out on Freecycle letting people know you have a nice, used set of cabinets to give away. While they may seem dated to you, someone who is remodeling their old garage or working on a kitchen in an area where there has been flooding or another big disaster may be more than happy to get your cabinets, apply a coat of primer and paint and install them in his or her home.

Post from: Blisstree

Repurpose Old Kitchen Cabinets

Here are the ones I got:

Case Logic 72 Capacity Heavy Duty CD Wallet: I got two of these, one for CDs and one for DVD. They don’t hold much, but I listen to records mostly, not CDs and we don’t have mountains of movies. 72 will be plenty for us. I like that they’re inexpensive (around $12) and hard. I also like that they’ll fit easily on a bookcase. Plus the color is simple.

There are other choices though.

Case Logic makes larger disc holders that are pretty basic, not expensive, and variable in amount they’ll hold. Their products also hold up well. My travel case from them is at least five years old and perfectly good. I also have one for my computer discs that works well. I’d check out their selection of CD and DVD holders first. You can find any number of folders for discs at office supply stores.

You could also try a boxed solution: I don’t love boxes as much, because they’re not as easy to flip through, and also have to sit wide side down, but it’s not a bad option. One nice one box solution are the CD/DVD Storage Boxes from Winner Computer – I like the silver color.

The boxes come in various sizes. You can find stuff like this all over; even use photo storage boxes if you don’t have a large collection.

Other ideas:

1 Touch CD Drawer 160 CDs Included Sleeves by Hipce

Portable CD Briefcase 180 CDs in Included Sleeves by Hipce

Also read: Where To Recycle CD & DVD Cases

Post from: Blisstree

Where to find CD and DVD file folders and cases

You can recycle instead of toss:

Some people want your old cases. Sign up on Freecycle and see if someone needs them.

You can ask if your local library needs them. Some might.

Many cities do have recycling centers that take old cases. However, don’t just set them on the curb; CD and DVD cases are different than say a typical water bottle plastic. Some centers may allow curbside but sometimes there are specialty centers in town that take them. To find your local centers visit Earth 911 – they have a form you can fill in and it will locate you a center.

Post from: Blisstree

Where To Recycle CD & DVD Cases