If you have read any of my past posts, you know that I’m digging myself out of a financial hole. You know that I have adopted frugality, budgeting, and various methods to save money. What I haven’t discussed is the things I do that have very little monetary value, but significant value in terms of lifestyle and happiness. These things save me time, money, and make me happy. They make me feel good.

Feel Good Stuff

One of my “feel-good” things is composting. I know! Weird, but true. I love the idea of it; I appreciate the environmental aspect of not having all that food waste going into the landfill. (Side rant: One of my biggest pet peeves is food waste. So much food is wasted in this country. So many people don’t use their leftovers. I stand by my conviction that “no leftover should be left behind.” /end rant) I understand that composting it could save me a small amount of money; and my plants will be that much better for it.

Let’s break it down

The idea: I recognize that composting is great for the planet and my plants. However, it just seemed daunting. All that building of the pile, digging, layering, and aerating seemed overwhelming. Not to mention how to keep my dogs and the local wildlife out of my compost pile. While inticing beneficial wildlife such as worms to find my pile and think they could get all sexy in it. My time is sincerely limited and composting seemed out of my comfort zone, but I really wanted to try it.

So, like any good librarian, I did my research. I found a composting system that can be done indoors (no smell! Yay!), then taken outdoors for the finished product. After said research, it turns out that I needed to invest a little money. Now, I hate to spend money if I’m not going to get a return on it in the future. I needed to think long and hard and do the math on this one. In the end, I felt that the monetary return would take a long time (at least a year. It makes me happy to say I over estimated the ROI), but the happiness return would be short.

I plunked down a bit of cash for this system and a countertop compost bin. I probably didn’t need the countertop bin, but it does make my life and the lives of our caregivers easier. Win!

Happy Factor

Why does composting make me happy, though it isn’t saving me all that much money? Yet! Because

1. Our food waste isn’t going into the landfill. With my recycling efforts and composting, I was able to reduce the size of our garbage bin. While not a significant monetary savings, it does save approximately $6 a month by using a smaller bin each month. Happy savings: $72 a year or just over half the cost of the system.
2. Gardening benefits. I enjoy gardening. It takes me outside the house and my head. Sadly, the cost of gardening can be expensive. Soil, fertilizer, pots, plants, and all the accompanying paraphernalia can really add up. Sure, that tomato tastes fantastic, but if it costs you several hundred dollars, is it worth it? Compost is a soil and fertilizer all-in-one deal. I haven’t calculated the cost down to the cents (I’m sure someone on the internet has), but I do feel the savings can be significant. Happy savings: my sanity
3. Seeing results. Let’s be honest. I need to see some results fairly quickly, or I lose interest. (Look! Squirrel!) This system breaks down food waste very quickly. The best part is the compost tea that it produces. My indoor and outdoor plants have never been healthier. Happy savings: money saved on organic fertilizer, cleaner indoor air, and beautiful plants.
4. Teaching moment: Mom’s caregivers request to come to our house. Why? It isn’t because mom and I are all that interesting. It is my DIY efforts, saving money tips, meal planning, storing, and cooking, and budgeting plans have started to rub off of them. One of them said to me last week, “I learn something new everytime I come here. I love it!” Happy savings: teaching others

Bottom Line

While money is nice and right now is very much needed, but it is not all I need in my life right now. My sense of self, accomplishment, gratitude, and mindfulness are just as important. To only focus on money to make me happy is a hollow experience. To build my life solely around paying down debt does makes me feel accomplished and proud, but it doesn’t fill my soul. It doesn’t give me that sense of being a good stewart to the earth or thoughtful of social or public good. A little thing like composting does it for me.

For me it is small but mighty.

Do you do something that might seem insignificant but makes you feel you’re doing good?