Ten Money Questions for Siel Ju

Nina Smith — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:08:06 -0600

In this week’s Ten Money Questions, we speak with Siel Ju, BlogHer’s Contributing Editor for all things Green & Eco-conscious. Siel also blogs for the LA Times at Emerald City and her personal site at greenLAgirl.com. I asked for her thoughts on sustainability, consuming less and how this translates to spending greenbacks. Enjoy!

1. Can you name a couple of ways to save money and our planet by treading with a lighter footstep?
Go for the low hanging fruit first! To start, change out those light bulbs into CFLs if you haven’t already done so. Then unplug your computer, TV, cell phone charger, or basically any electric device when you’re not using it. Keeping appliances and adapters plugged in still leeches electricity-- which you’ll have to pay for even when you got no benefit from it! An easy solution’s to plug everything into a power strip; then you can turn everything off with one simple switch.

2. What is your most significant memory about money?
Um, probably how frugal (stingy? miserly?) my father was. It taught me to be smart about my spending, but really impressed on me the need for balance.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?
I haven’t contributed to my Roth IRA in like 5 years. But I will this year!

4. How can women eat green on a budget?
Cook! Eating green -- meaning organic, local, and fair trade foods -- is not expensive if you’re willing to spend a little time in the kitchen instead of buying pre-packaged stuff all the time. Make an all-organic soup from scratch, and you’ll find it’s actually less expensive than the cheap, factory-farmed, pesticide-infused canned goods.

5. Are all your clothes secondhand? If not what items do you buy and why?
About half the clothes I own now were bought long before I really started thinking about the environmental impact of my purchases. In a way, they’re now eco, in the sense that I’m reducing my impact on the planet by preserving and reusing what I have. Since then, I’ve started shopping by first checking out second hand stores to see if I can find what I need there, then widening the search to eco-friendly (organic, recycled, fairly-made) new clothes if I can’t find it second hand. I always try to opt for high-quality, long-lasting, classic designs. They may cost more up front, but they’ll save me money in the long run!

6. What did your parents teach you about money?
See #2. Growing up, my mom’s complete financial dependence on my father taught me the importance of making and having my own money. My mom’s doing fine now though; she runs a pre-school.

7. Does it pay to recycle?
Define “pay.” If you’re talking about cold hard cash, then you sort of need to be living in a state with progressive recycling laws. In California, for example, you can get money back for recycling most glass and aluminum containers. If you’re talking about emotional rewards -- recycling anywhere is more rewarding than sending stuff to the landfill!

8. How can women become less focused on consuming?
The easy answer is to focus on other aspects of your life that bring you joy -- people, new hobbies, new experiences and adventures. Easier said than done, I think -- shopping can be an addictive habit -- but more rewarding in the long run.

9. If people have to drive a car, what kind should they buy?
Buy the most fuel-efficient car, whether old or new, that you can afford.

10. How does money play a role in your relationships, romantic or otherwise?
The most direct role’s probably that I find guys who talk about money constantly -- and there sure seem to be a lot of them -- instantly repellent --

More about Siel Ju
BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel lives in Santa Monica, Calif., and gets to most places via her pink townie bike. She blogs for the Los Angeles Times at Emerald City, and at greenLAgirl.com.

-------------
Read other interviews in Nina’s Ten Money Questions series at Queercents.

BlogHer - Ten Money Questions for Siel Ju - Comments

Ten Money Questions for Siel Ju