Be A Paper Frugalista!

I know, I've already written about my commitment to using only recycled paper products.  And I do mean for everything: printer paper, gift wrap, paper towels, facial tissue and toilet tissue.  Thankfully, all of these recycled products are readily available.  My next step is to reduce my use of paper products altogether.  Here are some ideas:

• Printer Paper:  Don't print rough drafts, documents or coupons, etc. unless absolutely necessary.  You can proofread on your monitor and send coupons, driving directions and the like to your cell phone.
•  Gift Wrap:  Whenever possible, don't use paper.  Wrap gifts in useful fabric items, such as baby blankets, throws, a pretty scarf.  Use your imagination!  You can always put your gift in a cute reusable shopping bag or gift bag made of recycled materials.
• Paper Towels:   Buy the "you size it" style, which reduces the size of the paper towel by about 1/3.  Use cloth rags for spills instead of paper towels.  When you do use a paper towel, use the smallest size possible, even if that means tearing it in half yourself.
• Facial Tissue:  The tissues I buy are 2-ply.  Clearly, if you have a nasal explosion from the cold or flu, you need the whole tissue.  But I often only need to dab a bit of makeup.  In that case, I use just one ply or a piece of the tissue.
• Toilet Tissue:  The obvious solution is to just use less, and teach your kids to do the same!
• Books:  Switch to an electronic reader and save paper.  Don't think it's worth the money?  Download Amazon's 'Kindle for PC' for free.  The book downloads are cheaper than hard copies, too!

These suggestions might seem silly at first, but give them a try.  They are simple to do and have really made a difference at our house.  Share some of your own ideas or success stories.  Green frugalistas rule!