For those who don’t know the difference, compostable and biodegradable are two completely different beasts.

Compostable items can break down into organic matter.
Sugar-based compostables do so faster than corn-based compostables. Paper and food are compostable. All compostables may go in your green compost bin. A (compostable) newspaper lining will save you money over plastic liners. You can also keep your compost and use it for your garden, which saves money on fertilizer. Either use an outdoor compost, or create a worm compost. (btw, worm composts don’t stink.)

Biodegradable just means it degrades. Biodegradable plastic just breaks down into small plastic molecules that are good for nothing but being small bits of plastic that easily move around the soil and potentially the water supply. Don’t waste money on this.

I have been using reusable bags for years to buy groceries. I still have a steady supply of plastic bags. I find I always have something to put my garbage in. Milk bags, cereal bags, fresh produce bags, bags that wrap that new thing you bought, bags your friend returned your stuff in… It’s also a good idea to use fewer bags. There are usually alternative places to put your waste (compost, recycle), and don’t typically buy products with lots of packaging (they’re often pricey).

An interesting note - conservation is something that saves your wallet as well as the environment. Being “green” could just as well be talking about those twenties you’ve been saving using “reduce” and “reuse”. (Both are far more important than “recycle”.

Thanks for keeping this blog alive. I have a self directed mortgage and I like it. Beyond the financial considerations you point out, I find it reduces my workload in managing my RRSP investments and due diligence. Call me lazy? I suspect many of us would like to spend less time managing our money, and spend less money paying others who should be better jobs for us.

I have one question however, if I issue a mortgage to a rental recreational property i am intending to buy for myself are the payments tax deductible? My understanding is that third party mortgages are tax deductible on a income producing property, do you see it differently? or see risks?

Thanks for the time you put into this, long live capitalism, ………….with a social consience…..

Count me in on the FIGHT!!!!!