With more GLASSes

This year, from birthday to birthday, I am endeavouring to take a year without buying plastic.

Here are the rules for my no buying plastic year (which will increases the glasses in my life :P )

- no buying plastic unless it is necessary for work or health in which case I should:

  - not be able to get it without plastic
  - buying a non-plastic option costs more in shipping than the item
  - find the least plastic option possible
  - seek for a second hand option
  - dog food is not part of this ban -

 In this blog, I will post about the things I am trying and occasional photos of my cool finds, accomplishments, and grand failures. In addition, I will list a few challenges I faced, I anticipate, and ones that I have overcome.

 Finding ways to be gracious about being plastic free is tough. Like, at the bakery when I asked for no plastic, it doesn't mean put it in one plastic bag and not three - it means, no plastic, please. It's a baguette, I can put it in my shopping bag directly, it's cool. I got a bit snippy at the clerks for not listening to me, which certainly did not help my overall goal of reducing plastic consumption over the long term.

 I'm looking forward to using up all the things that I do have that are in plastic before tackling many of the needs I face. I have ordered a box of veggies from a local organic farmers group and have asked them for plastic free shipping. It mailed out today, so I am looking forward to seeing how it goes and the cool things I will have to cook with. I will be buying meat and tofu at the market so I can use my containers as well.

 Someone asked me if I will be saving money by doing this. Honestly, I don't know. I really don't think I will be. It's time consuming to buy food without plastic. I don't know if I will save money. I know not getting to-go drinks, snacks, or meals will save me money, but that is something that I already did. Buying in glass, paper, metal, or unpackaged will be tricky and in many cases might cost more. I am in a place where I have that option, though.

This week's challenges:
 - my USB died at work last week so I need to get a new one. Trying to find one without plastic packaging is proving tricky.
- I ordered some prepared food from a vendor and forgot to ask her to send it in non-plastic containers. This is on me.

Things I need solutions for eventually:
-toilet paper is only sold in plastic bags.
-So are tea lights.
-Same with tooth paste, face moisturizers, and makeup.

Things I have found solutions for:
- plastic free toothbrushes are available.
-Dish soap comes in bar form, and not wrapped in plastic.
-I made my own laundry soap (updates over the next month on the effectiveness)