Janice Clark

I am making these changes permanent, and it hasn't been very hard to do.

I got to be a little warmer today, because we had company and used the oven to bake a casserole and the stove top to make another dish. The saving side of that is that I made enough to have leftovers for three more days.

I did cut back on toilet flushing, but not quite as much as I have before, because it was causing problems with our low flow toilet. Tomorrow is my grocery shopping day and I will be careful to only buy necessary items.

I have run into a problem with not flushing so often.The toilet paper goes down but some of it floats back up again. We have very low flush toilets, so I may have to flush a little more often so as not to clog the drain.

The hardest thing for me to do is have the heat low. I wear an under-shirt beneath a warmer top.

When doing my weekly grocery shopping, I was careful not to buy any unnecessary items..

I am really cold today as my son is painting and turned off the heat and cracked a window open a little bit to let out paint fumes. I have on a winter jacket. At church the toilets were out of order due to a broken water main. I was thirsty but didn't drink any water until I got home so I wouldn't have to use the rest-room more than once. A number of us with small bladders just couldn't wait. Someone gave me some hand sanitizer since I couldn't wash my hands. At home I conserved bathroom water. I bought a Street Roots paper today as I do every Sunday. After reading them, I use the papers for counter protection when  polishing shoes as that is the only paper I get. I also use papers for weed control in the garden, so besides helping out the vendor, I put the paper to good use. I did buy a card at church for someone who is very ill. I don't consider that a luxury and proceeds go to the church.

I am checking in after midnight so didn't get it in in time for the 15th, but I met all my challenges.

I kept the thermostat at 66 degrees F.. I just dressed in layers to keep warm. I cooked and ate food that would soon be outdated so as not to waste it, and to save buying more. I did the when it is yellow let it mellow, and when it is brown flush it down to save on water. That is not hard to do as I have a private bathroom.

I will wear warmer clothes to be comfortable in cold weather with less heat. I sometimes buy more food than I can eat in a week, so I will be careful how much food I buy. I will only flush the toilet when necessary.