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Here are some of the things — products, tools, books, and so on — that I’ve found particularly useful.
Jump to a section:
— Cooking, Canning and Preserving
— Gardening
— Animals
— Crafts
— Handiwork
— Sustainability
— Skills
— Finance and Blogging
— General
Cooking, Canning and Preserving
Salt Fat Acid Heat
This is one of my two favorite cookbooks. It takes a scientific look at the principles of how and why food tastes good (or doesn’t!), which helps you learn to be a better chef. It’s about half recipes and half informative text.
An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace
This is my other favorite cookbook! It looks at cooking sustainably and cost-effectively, and provides wonderful suggestions for using odds and ends you might otherwise have thrown away.
Ball canning jars
Canning jars are one of my favorite zero-waste items and I use them for everything. If it’ll fit in a Ball jar, I’ve probably put it in one at some point. (They’re also great for storing paint, or anything else that needs an airtight seal!)
Gardening
Trader Joe’s flowers and plants
If you’re in the “still figuring out how to keep things alive” part of your gardening journey, Trader Joe’s (yes, the grocery store) is actually a great place to get plants, especially succulents. They’re inexpensive, so it’s not a huge deal if you kill one accidentally, but they’re also surprisingly hardy. I’ve bought a few succulents in the past for $3 each, and not only are they all still alive, I’ve even been able to propagate them!
Animals
Crafts
Missouri Star Quilt Company
I’m in the process of learning to quilt, and Missouri Star has some great stuff. I’ve gotten fabric, batting, needles, thread, cutting mats, and more from them, all of which have been wonderful and have so far held up well. If you’re in the process of building your stash, their Daily Deal is a good place to look! I could (and have) spent hours on their website drooling over all the pretty fabrics…
Handiwork
RYOBI ONE+ tools
I really like the ONE+ line of tools because the batteries are interchangeable across each tool. (And my electrician likes them too — when he came out to repair something, I noticed that the ONE+ line is what he uses.) Batteries are super expensive, so being able to swap them out rather than buy a whole bunch of individual batteries is a great cost-saver. So far I have a drill (and corresponding set of drill bits) and a circular saw in this line; I plan to buy more as the need arises!
Sustainability
Barmop towels
Barmop towels are another of my favorite zero-waste items. They’re sturdy, utilitarian, inexpensive, and can replace paper towels in almost every situation.
Handkerchiefs
Like barmop towels, these are a great switch for something you likely use a lot. If you’re worried about germs, a good spray of hydrogen peroxide a few minutes before you throw them in a hot-water wash will do the trick.
Stainless steel to-go containers
These were my best friend in college. There were always lots of opportunities to get free food, and whenever I whipped out my trusty container people always ooh-ed and ahh-ed. They’re not too heavy, hard to break, and are great for tossing in a purse or backpack so you’re prepared!
Reusable sandwich bags
I’ve been using the ones made by ReZip for a few years now and they’re holding up just fine! They’re used exactly like their disposable cousins, but can be washed by hand or run through the dishwasher instead.
Reusable water bottle
I’ve had my Hydro Flask for… oh, four years or so now. That’s four years of heavy daily use, including two during college when it was being lugged back and forth across campus every day. It’s held up amazingly well, only acquiring a couple nicks and one small dent from when I slammed it (and me!) full-force into a granite countertop accidentally. It keeps things hot or cold for ages and helps me make sure I drink enough water every day.
Skills
Finance and Blogging
Your local credit union
I can’t give a specific link to this, since it’ll vary from person to person, but a credit union is a fantastic alternative to a traditional bank. They frequently have more favorable terms and better rates because they’re not-for-profit entities owned and controlled by their members (i.e., you). Some have eligibility requirements, which may involve being a resident of a particular area or a member of a certain profession (or being the spouse/child/relation of a current member). Some have no requirements at all! Look around and see where you might qualify.
Your local library
No specific link for this one, either, but libraries are so great. These days, most have a lot more than just plain old books, too. I get eBooks for my Kindle through my library’s Libby app; I can look at academic journals, newspapers, or Morningstar with my library card; and some libraries even have power tools and video games for you to borrow just like you would a book! How cool is that?
Flaticon
Flaticon is a website where you can get free icon graphics to use for blogging (or whatever). They have tons of cool stuff; I used them a lot when making graphics and presentations in college and use them here on Mindful Jay too! For example, my icons for baking, home, intentional living, and sustainability are by Freepik, my cooking icon is by Pause08, my crafts icon is by justicon, and my seasonal icon is by max.icons all on Flaticon. There’s a premium version but you can use it for free, you just need to attribute the source of your icons (like I just did).
General
Zebra Sarasa Clip Gel Pen
I’m extremely picky about the pens I use, and the Sarasa Clip pens are my favorites after quite a bit of trial and error. They write smoothly, have nice crisp ink, dry pretty quickly (though they also have a special quick-dry version for lefties), and best of all they’re refillable! They also make a really satisfying clicky sound when you jiggle the clip part of the pen.
JetPens.com
If you’re also picky about pens, JetPens is a fantastic resource for stationery lovers. They have all sorts of interesting finds, plenty of useful article and video guides to their various products, and are always quick with their shipping.
BlueAir 211+ air purifier
I have allergies to… basically everything. (Sigh.) Using an air purifier in my bedroom has made a big difference in the quality of my sleep and the degree to which I wake up sneezing. It also doubles as a white noise machine, which is SUPER helpful for anyone who lives in an apartment or townhouse, or for anyone with roommates.