Earlier this month, I wrote that our budget is at the top of my mind for 2017. I've hinted at a few things we are focusing on, but I wanted to put them all in one place...so...

The commitments we're making in order to boost what we can get out of our budget are:
-New clothes = make.
-No new furniture. We have what we need for now. (This has taken time with overseas moves.)
-Replacements only. We have what we need.
-Send monthly budget savings off to the mortgage. It will feel at least as good as getting something new...and we'll remember it longer.
-Enjoy it all.  :)

I intend to keep our budget at the top of my mind by writing down each and every purchase. I budget by the month, so whatever is left over at the end of the month (hopefully there is something left over) goes toward the mortgage. 

I feel like making this a commitment for one year feels doable + not like a life sentence. We will probably do some iteration of this again next year (because our mortgage will still be there), but maybe it will involve different guidelines.

Perspective is everything, so I plan to see luxury in the healthy food we eat, in our cozy home, in the ability to drive around our amazing city, in cello lessons, in hugs from my tribe, in walks under tall trees, in smoothies from my blender, in running water, in our garden, in the farmer's market, in education, in the abundant selection at the library, in the cool breeze, in my closet, in having a washer + dryer, in sunbeams, in fabric running through my sewing machine, in our health, in my mattress + comforter, and periodically in a double scoop of matcha ice-cream in a waffle cone.  :)

Love,
​Jane

Our hearts go out to those caught in a cruel, sudden web of fear and hate. Refugee families boarded planes with hearts full of nervous hope and disembarked into a nightmare of uncertainty and confusion. Others who thought their road to resettlement was about to begin find themselves back in the limbo they have experienced for years on end already. Ninety days is a very, very long time (and noone is saying that this will all be over in 90 days). It is the exact amount of time we spent living in my wonderfully generous and compassionate sister's family's home after our visas were unexpectedly denied in the UK. We were told we'd have to leave 5 days before we needed to be gone. The four of us left our home in London and arrived in Chicago believing we'd be there for three weeks. Day after day, we made inquiries into the progress of our visas. Days stretched into weeks, and weeks stretched into three months.

Uncertainty is a gut wrenching soul suck. ​

Our lives were put on hold...and for us it was only three months. We had family and a home country to come home to. We did not have employment, health insurance, transportation or friends, but we knew the language, had a bank account, and a place to sleep. I can't even begin to imagine the terror and loss and pain and death and peril that these refugees have experienced. They have gone through years of vetting too.

I've been helping Mr. Tribe study for his citizenship test. One of the questions asks why the first colonists came to America. An answer is: "for religious freedom". Another question asks two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy. One of the answers is: "publicly support or oppose an issue or policy". 

Our tribe spent this weekend making and writing postcards to our Congressmen. We stood with fellow compassionate souls at the International Airport. It felt like a tiny something.

Refugees are victims of war. Please don't make them victims of our fear. 

Everyone deserves a home.

Love,
Jane

"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion, against injustice and lying and greed. If you, not just you in this room tonight, but in all the thousands of other rooms like this one about the world today and tomorrow and next week, will do this, not as a class or classes, but as individuals, men and women, you will change the earth."  ~William Faulkner in an address to the graduating class of University High School, Oxford Mississippi

Fewer ends refers to a favorite quote: "Instead of figuring out how to make ends meet, work on having fewer ends."  ~Courtney Carver

Home expenses accounts for a very large proportion of our monthly budget. It is not cheap to keep a roof over our heads today. When we moved back to the states after living overseas, we planned to live in an apartment for a while in order to save some money to purchase a home. We'd sold our previous home at the height of the housing collapse. We felt fortunate to be able to sell it for what we owed on it, but that left us with no equity. We were starting from scratch. It soon became clear that the rent on a 2 bedroom apartment was no cheaper than a mortgage payment...and with first + last months rent + a pet fee...well, that was as much as we could put down on a house.

Just sayin'...housing is not cheap. With electric, gas, trash, water, waste water, phone and internet bills...ugh. So, yeah, we're looking for ways to have fewer ends in this category. Bill by bill, it can be a good challenge to try to think of ways to decrease costs.

First up...the mortgage :: I'm just going to toss out some food for thought...no judgements. We bought the smallest home we could find (that fit our needs), but I still felt + feel like it is bigger than I wanted/want. I still periodically scroll through homes for sale, looking for a smaller suitable one.  :) Obviously, size matters in regards to price. A smaller house keeps its inhabitants close. A smaller house is cozy. There is less to look after and maintain. Fewer possessions fit easily into a smaller home + this can encourage decreased accumulation. Exposure to tiny homes + not so tiny homes reveal the beauty small has to offer...even if we don't actually want to go quite that small. Entertaining can be done in a small space...or at the park or coffee shop. Smaller homes cost less to heat + cool. Extra space costs money. If choosing a smaller home is not an immediate option, it might be a good idea to close off unused spaces after closing the heating/cooling vents.

Electric :: Situate furniture to take advantage of sunlight's warmth + light in colder months...move a comfy reading chair closer to the window...utilize a sunny bedroom more during the day...work at a well-lit kitchen table instead of the desk in the dark corner. I try to keep the lights off during the day. Obviously, turn off the light when you leave the room + teach kids to do so as well. They will often be the best at policing this.  :) Feel the seasons (turn down the air-conditioning). In the summer, wear linen sleeveless tops, spend time in the least sunny room + turn on a ceiling fan. Line dry clothing. Consider not using a dish washer  (I know people have different opinions on this). Let hair air dry. Utilize a power strip for electronics + turn it on only when needed. Replace lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs. Embrace mood lighting (less).  :) Turn off the TV and devices + read or chat or play.

Gas :: Feel the seasons (turn down the heat). Wear a wool sweater + socks in the winter. Open the oven door when finished cooking, because you might as well feel the heat. Snuggle up under a blanket or keep moving and get some cleaning or yoga in.  :) Cooler + shorter showers. Wash the clothes on cold. Use drying racks. Caulk the cracks + gaps in the house. Weatherstrip drafty doors. Install insulation. Install a fireplace balloon, when the fireplace is not in use.

Trash :: If only there was a way to fairly opt out or pay by the bag...but decrease the trash anyway. 

Water :: In one of our houses, the utility company came to change the meter, because they thought it wasn't working. It was. I guess we just used way less water than the typical four person family. Short showers, shallow baths for the children (and maybe they don't need one every day). Turn off the water when brushing teeth or washing face. Consider whether hand washing dishes or dishwasher uses less (+ only run a full load of dishes if using the dishwasher). Full loads of clothing in the washer. Wear clothing more than once before washing. Use towels longer before washing. Keep tap water in the fridge, so that it doesn't have to run to turn cold for drinking. Place a brick or two in the toilet tank. Collect gray water for plant watering. Use a rain barrel. Plant native plants.

Wastewater :: We pay a flat fee for this, but you know the drill...if it's yellow...

Phone/Internet :: Consider letting the home phone go (if you have cell phones)...or consider something like Ooma (we use it + it works). Choose a slower internet connection/stop upgrading all the time...patience is a virtue.  :)

Cable :: Just let it go. Most things can be found on the internet...and less TV isn't really a negative.  :) Listen to the radio or podcasts. Read a book. Get movies from the library. Have a conversation.  :)

Home repairs/maintenance :: Address repairs while they are smallish. Keep the gutters flowing. Keep an eye on things...outside + in. Check smoke detector batteries. Fix leaky faucets. Keep an emergency fund.

Do you have any tips or thoughts to share on decreasing home expenses? Please share!  :)

Love,
Jane

P.S. Find other fewer ends posts here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

As I begin this year of sewing my clothing rather than purchasing ready-made fair clothing, I want to be aware of my fabric's origins as much as possible. It is not the easiest task to find fairly grown + made fabric. Usually the origins of the fabric are simply not available to the consumer. I was able to find a few fabrics with a little bit more back story, so I thought I'd share.

Diamond Textiles :: "a fair-trade international textile distributer" :: a selection of 100% cotton fabrics found at Dry Goods Designs :: think Ace + Jig

images via

Alabama Chanin :: "100% organic cotton grown, spun, knit, and dyed in the United States" :: available in many beautiful colors, including indigos :: try one of the basic  (or embellished) patterns available in Natalie Chanin's books (check the library)

Foxfibre :: organic cotton grown in the USA + spun/woven in Japan :: would be gorgeous as a dress, loose pants, or even a full blown pair of jeans :: a lovely selection can be found at A Verb for Keeping Warm as well as on the Foxfibre site

Spiritex :: Organic cotton grown in Texas :: spinning, knitting, finishing done within 150 miles of the North Carolina headquarters :: "We avoid bleached fibers by using a citrus scour for our naturals and a peroxide wash derived from apples for our whites. We use non-radioactive, heavy metal free, fiber-reactive dyes in a closed-loop system, preventing any toxic substances from being released into the external environment and allowing unfixed dye and water to be recycled."

images via

The New Denim Project :: fabric made from upcycled preconsumer denim waste in a fair factory in Guatemala :: these fabrics available at Dry Good Designs :: try a soft Grainline top or cardigan :: I hope to see a greater variety of this beautiful fabric available in the future!

Hudson Textile :: Small, family-owned textile business using vintage American made machines :: natural + indigo dyed cotton :: can't wait to see more from this one!

Hemp Traders :: free + fair trade suppliers :: hemp fabrics + hemp blends :: everything from hemp denim to hemp knits to hemp silk :: hemp from head to toe?

Organic Cotton Plus :: organic fibers :: cotton, linen, peace silk (for your zero-waste dental floss + party dress), wool, knits, blends, etc. :: not necessarily fair trade, but organic, natural fibers

Bolt has a selection of "sustainable fibers".

​List of ethical + organic fabric suppliers.

​Buy + sell secondhand fabrics.

I love that there are some fair options out there, and hopefully our choices will grow as awareness + demand grows. We may decide to do our best and come as close to entirely fair as we can. Supporting a local fabric shop is a positive action. There is no substitute for feeling fabric and seeing color in person. I sure don't want my local shop to disappear! Asking the shop owners for what we are looking for might spark an interest in buying some fair fabrics...or in their prodding the industry toward fair. I look for natural fibers like cotton, linen, and hemp. Lyocell and tencel are derived from trees. Wool is lovely for garments that don't need to be washed often, like coats. Bamboo + soy are also options. Organic fibers, natural dyes, and local sourcing are even better. 

Though I don't know exactly what conditions this khadi cotton was made under, it is organic cotton that was "hand-spun, hand-woven, and naturally dyed in India". Khadi cotton has a history with Ghandi, who encouraged his people to weave + use it as resistance. 

Thrifted garments or sheets can be great sources of fabric too, just be aware that the fabric can deteriorate in the wash if it is older. (I've learned from experience.) We have a shop in our city that is a thrift store just for craft supplies. We can donate our unwanted supplies + shop for fabric and other supplies. Isn't that great!? Check to see if you have one too!

As I get started thinking about my own sewing, I'm first using what I already have. I have a few pieces of fabric that were bought for specific projects that were never made. I also like to reimagine pieces in my own closet. A top of mine might become a smaller top for Julia. A fabric swap with a crafty friend would be a treat too...wouldn't that be a great idea for a craft store?

Have you come across any fair fabrics? Please share!!  :)

Love,
Jane

Please tell us a bit about yourself and what makes you you.  :)
My name's Lindsay and I'm a writer, speaker, workshop facilitator and all-round sustainability enthusiast! I write the blog treadingmyownpath.com, and I'm passionate about zero waste, minimalism, real food and plastic-free living. Or, to put it simply, making better choices. I live in Perth, Australia, but I'm from the UK originally. I always thought of myself as a bit green, but my epiphany came in 2012 when I signed up to the challenge Plastic Free July. The challenge was - to give up plastic for the month of July. I thought it would be easy - after all, I considered myself sustainable. I purchased eco-friendly washing up liquid and took my own bags to the shops. Never mind that I'd fill those reusable bags with plenty of overpackaged plastic-wrapped products! It was a bit of a shock (and definitely an embarrassment) to realise the amount of plastic I was using. I'd thought I was sustainable, but I realised I wasn't really acting like it. I'd thought that recycling was good enough. Now I realised there was a whole lot more I could do. 

That was the beginning of my journey towards living plastic-free, then zero waste. Looking at all the choices that I made, asking questions, and trying to do things a little bit better.

How do you see + approach fair in your closet?
This is a tricky one to answer, because I don't think there's a perfect solution. Fair means more to me that simply having a "Fair Trade" logo. For me, waste is a top priority, and there is so much clothing that is still perfectly wearable going to waste in the world. Charity shops are overflowing with garments. To use resources or the labour of people, and then not really honour those fully, seems wrong. So whilst clothing in charity shops might not be Fair Trade, I think it is important to consider these second-hand items.

Then there is the issue of materials. I try to choose materials that are biodegradable: cotton, hemp, wool and silk. I don't want to be contributing to landfill or polluting the environment when my clothes are no longer wearable. But finding these materials in the charity shops can be challenging, as so much clothing is made from polyester these days.

Next is wanting to support companies who are trying to do the right thing: producing Fair Trade clothing. These companies are trying to change the system, so whilst they use more resources than choosing second-hand, it is important to help these companies where we can. Finding second-hand organic Fair Trade clothing isn't easy, but I hope in the future it will become easier.

In practice, my wardrobe is a balance. My clothing is a mix of second-hand and newly purchased organic Fair Trade pieces. Some of my clothing was purchased pre-2012 when I'd never considered the environmental impacts of polyester or microfibres. I hope at some point that my wardrobe will be predominantly biodegradable fibres.

Does "less" play a role in your closet?
Definitely! I used to have far too much stuff, most of which I didn't like and didn't wear. I was the classic girl who opens her full closet and cries that she has nothing to wear. I kept all this nice stuff that I didn't wear for when all my tatty old stuff had worn out, things that I wanted to suit me but didn't, things I'd hope I'd slim into... Eventually I realized that if I wanted to get the best life out of what I owned, I needed to let go of everything I didn't wear. This may sound obvious, but it took me a few years to get my wardrobe down to what I actually wear right now -from a couple of hundred items to about 50. Keeping stuff for the future didn't make sense. Some of those things I was keeping, I hadn't worn in 3 years! How is that not a waste of resources? Why did I think that once my tatty stuff wore out I'd even want to wear those things?

In reality, I wear the same thing day after day. I don't need a huge choice. Clearing out the excess made it easier for me to see what I actually owned that I did like. I ask myself "Will I wear it 30 times?" If it's too obscure, not made well enough, or there's another reason why I can't imagine myself wearing it 30 times, then it's not something I should own.

Do you have a favorite outfit that just makes you feel like you?
I'd expect most people would say yes to this, but actually, right now I'm going to have to say no. I've had favourite outfits in the past of course, but recently I've had several things that I love wear out, and I'm yet to replace them. Honestly, I'm dreading shopping! It's an ethical minefield out there. I'm still feeling my way with ethical brands. The hippy style that seems common with ethical brands just isn't me. The charity shops are full of fast fashion that won't last. 

Do you have a piece in your closet with a special story? Would you mind sharing?
I have a skirt that is 100% silk in a mustard yellow, that I bought second-hand. It's an exact match of the previous skirt I had, that was also 100% silk, mustard yellow, same brand, also purchased second-hand. I loved that skirt so much that I decided to keep my eye out for a replacement, so when it wore out I'd have another. By chance one became available - for sale via a charity site on eBay. I couldn't believe my luck! I bought it, and it sat in my wardrobe, waiting for it's turn. But you know what? When that much loved skirt finally wore out - and it disintegrated in spectacular fashion! - I didn't want to wear the new one. It looked so new and shiny compared to the old faded, worn one that I'd worn almost every day. The one I'd had to restitch, and move the button numerous times. I still like it, and of course I'll wear it, but there is something less magical about it. Maybe some things are meant to be worn and loved, but not repeated. 

Do you struggle with any part of buying fair?
My biggest challenge is finding balance. On one hand, my desire to reduce waste by choosing what already exists, and diverting clothing from the waste stream. On the other hand, supporting ethical companies that produce brand new clothing, even though there is already enough clothing in the world for everybody already. I want to do both, but that is hard! Ethical companies are fairly new, and finding second-hand ethical goods are a challenge. In the future it will be easier, and I can keep both parts of my ethics happy. 

The other thing I struggle with is buying online. I'd rather buy in a store, where there isn't unnecessary packaging, transport costs and I can try things on for size, but ethical shops seem to be predominantly online. 

Do you have any goals or next steps you'd like to take in your own fair fashion future?
My main goal is to ensure that future purchases are made of natural fibres. I'd love my wardrobe to be plastic-free. I'm always keeping an ear out for new ethical brands too. My ideal goal? A wardrobe full of ethically made, natural fibres, all purchased second hand. :)


Thank you so much, Lindsay, for taking the time to chat with us! I love your story of the yellow skirt and find it interesting in so many ways. I love that you use the word "magical". Isn't it interesting that some pieces just have that magical quality + some just don't? Is there a time limit on love of things? Does the back-up item ever live up to the original? Lovely food for thought. And I love the belief that ethical choices will get easier in the future...let's keep this movement going + growing!
​
Read more about Lindsay's journey and lessons learned at treadingmyownpath. Lindsay offers so much juicy content to inspire thoughtful awareness + action. I especially enjoyed both a peek into her minimal home and her articulate TED talk. You can also find Lindsay on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Thank again, Lindsay! I appreciate you!

We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense. ~Barack Obama

While I was thinking about Julia's cold weather pieces this autumn, it was a challenge to formulate some kind of style in my mind. Julia isn't really into clothing and would probably have just tried to get by with what was already in her closet, if it was up to her. This is fun for me on one hand, because I still get to sort of pick what she wears...and on the other hand, it can be difficult to read her mind in order to pick pieces that will allow her to feel like herself + meet her preferences.

At some point during that process, we decided (excitedly!!) to go to an Oh Wonder concert. Julia joined us in revealing that it is one of her favorite bands. Josephine Vander Gucht's style started to catch my eye...so down-to-earth + playful. Knowing that Julia liked her, it seemed like the perfect inspiration. Julia already had all of her cold weather pieces, so it was only a matter of being inspired to put them together a little more adventurously.  :)

We chose a few images of the duo to inspire a few outfits made with Julia's own pieces + thought it would be fun to share them here.  :)

Here are a few other places to get inspired by Oh Wonder's Anthony + Josephine:
-listen
​-talking a little bit about style
-their music inspiration
-a peek at their home

We love you, Josephine + Anthony! Can't wait for your next album!

Love,
Julia + Jane

In order to save money, we may need to decide that something is more important than the thing we would like to buy right now. I saw this so clearly a couple of summers ago, when we were going through Julia's things + letting some go. She would look at an item and decide to let it go, saying, "I really like this, but I want a full-sized cello more." She had been invested in saving her gift + allowance money toward that cello. It was clear in her mind that every dollar she made selling her books, toys + clothes would add up to a beautiful new (to her) instrument.

It's the same for me as I try to focus my mind on something better than the enticing object I desire at the moment. What is more important? It will be different for each of us + different as time passes (because hopefully we'll have met some of our goals along the way). Paying off student loan debt, paying off a car loan, saving for college, saving for a new couch, paying off the mortgage, saving for a downpayment, saving so one parent can stay home with the children, saving toward a comfortable retirement, saving for a trip, saving for solar panels...all worthy goals.

A great motivator for saving and pouring all the little extras into a debt payoff or a savings goal is to use the payoff calculator that can often be found on a loan's website. I was able to see the payoff date for our mortgage by entering different monthly payments toward the principle. It is incredibly motivating to see the years tick off as the amount goes up little by little. Calculate how quickly a trip or solar panels could be saved up for by dividing the cost into monthly savings goals. Those months are going to go by whether we are saving or not.

In the pursuit of saving, I'm not personally advocating for cutting out all that makes life today enjoyable. In order to live within our means, we've just redefined luxury for ourselves. I want my life to feel abundant + vibrant. I don't want to feel deprived. 

A spicy, warm chai, a glowing candle, my favorite blanket, and a good book make me happy in these cold months. I buy my favorite loose chai + make it at home. I let my tribe know that I really like candles + received some for Christmas. My favorite blanket was a gift that I've happily used for years + years. The library has an endless supply of all the books that I want to read. Saving the coffee shop for occassional friend meet-ups, watching movies at home instead of going to the theater, having friends over for a dessert potluck instead of meeting at a restaurant, or thrifting instead of taking a trip to Anthropologie...it all adds up. Often these shifts feel better too. I'd usually rather snuggle up under a blanket with my stovetop-popped popcorn than sit in a sticky seat with a $20 popcorn bucket anyway. :)  (It makes gifted movie passes more special too.)

So what do Mr. Tribe + I place more value on than what we will find in front of us this year? Our mortgage is going to be the top priority for us. (I know, sort of boring.) When a borrower puts less than 20% down on a house in the USA, they have to pay for PMI, or private mortgage insurance each month. Once that 20% is paid off, the borrower does not have to pay for PMI anymore. When we reached this point, we just kept putting the amount that had been going toward PMI toward the principle. This was not the easy choice with our tight budget, but it was the right one. We've also put a large portion of our tax return toward our mortgage each year. We lost all of our home equity in the economic downturn, so actually having the end of our mortgage in sight is pretty darn exciting!

There are a couple of home improvements that I would like to do too, so those may receive some priority as well. I struggle with the idea of paying the mortgage off first (which still won't be for about a decade) versus really enjoying our home while we are paying it off. Still working through that one. Please let me know if you have any insight.  :)

What do you find more important?

Love,
​Jane

I have a new favorite artist + I'm so excited to share! 

How had I never heard of Corita Kent?

Francis Elizabeth Kent joined the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters of Los Angeles, California in the 1930s.

She took the name of Sister Mary Corita, attended school for art, and in time became a beloved art teacher at Immaculate Heart College.

I love these images of the Mary's Day celebrations she helped to organize at the college in the 1960s. Christianity should be this joyous!

Corita Kent became known for her clever mixture of ubiquitous advertisements, lettering, and pop art in the 1960s. She used these consumerist words and images in stirring combination with poetry and religious references. The result are these powerful, yet contemplative images.

My eye is drawn to the bold colors and simplistic lines, while my heart and mind are stirred by the text. The messages are powerful, and yet the colors and shapes keep the overall message full of hope and light. Corita, you speak my language.

All of these images come from the beautiful, comprehensive book Someday is Now :: The Art of Corita Kent edited by Ian Berry + Michael Duncan. I was lucky enough to find this book at my amazing public library.  :)

For a little bit more of Corita Kent...I don't think I've ever seen such an amazing google images search page!

Love,
​Jane