Fredia created the House of Green organization to “encourage residents and business owners (of the District of Columbia) to embrace environmentally-friendly lifestyle alternatives as a solution for sustainability.” The organization offers workshops, connects consumers to green products, and helps raise awareness about green businesses that are operating in the District of Columbia.

She was inspired to shift her spending because she wanted to “live healthy and elmininate toxins” in her lifestyle. Fredia says that the increasing availability of products where she shops and online is making shifting her spending easier than she’d anticipated. However, the challenge is determining what’s organic and what’s not, especially for products that are not food, but still claim to be organic.

In the future, Fredia plans to put solar collectors on her home and replace her current vehicle with one that is more environmentally friendly. Meanwhile, the House of Green will continue to share Fredia’s knowledge with D.C. residents.

How Fredia Shifted $1,000 in 2 Months:

4/10 – Mineral cosmetics – $300

4/17 – Foot detox – $50

4/15 – Two months of natural body products – $300

4/16 – Whole Foods groceries – $100

4/17 – Natural vitamins/minerals – $133

4/21 –  Cookies $7.99

4/28 – Whole Foods – $75

5/2 – Whole Foods – $35

5/3 – Yes! Market – $49

5/6 – Groceries – $31.21

5/25 – Organic shoes – $114

Total Shift – $1,195.20

Have you joined the One in a Million challenge yet? It’s a great way to make the changes you’ve been thinking about making anyway. Get started here.

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Well, Kim (pictured right) also started buying more organic chocolates and tea (who can blaim her?), organic groceries,and organically-based personal care products like body lotions and shampoos. She printed her business cards on recycled paper and bought recycled envelopes, too. Plus, she bought a re-usable stainless steel lunch container so she could forego plastic bags or takeout boxes. All told, she shifted more than $1,000 in just a few months, qualifying her to become a One in a Million member.

Now, you might think it was a “no brainer” for Kim to put her money where her mouth is. After all, she is a green living consultant who has founded her own sustainable business and website. (Make sure you check out her work at GreenWell Consulting and GetGreenBeWell). But she still has to manage a budget, make choices when she shops, and evaluate trade-offs.

So I asked her, “What inspired you to make the shifts to greener products and services?” “I started living greener because of health problems that weren’t being adressed by modern medicine – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia,” she said. “After quickly realizing the positive health benefits of living green, I really became more in tune with how my decisions directly or indirectly affect the health of the planet as a whole. It’s a “Do unto others….” mentality that I have now.  What do my excessive spending habits do to the livelihoods of individuals less fortunate than us around the world?”

Then I wanted to know, “What was easy about the shifts? What was more challenging?”  “Buying organic and healthier foods was definitely easier. There’s an instant benefit there.  And buying green cleaners is a no-brainer. Same cost, or less, for the same cleaning power. Paying much more for healthier personal care products can be challenging sometimes, since the cost is often SO much more than the cheap stuff, but these are products that are being absorbed by your skin, so the health benefits to me are more important. I just find ways to use less stuff, and the savings justify the costs!”

Being intentional about how she’s spending her money has also inspired Kim to plan for the future. “I hope to invest in larger, more expensive items such as rain barrels, a composter, a drip irrigation system and even a hydroponic garden system,” she vows. “I know these are so important, but the initial expense can be quite expensive, especially when it also involves some modifications to your home.”

In the meantime, Kim will continue to make affordable shifts in her day-to-day purchases that benefit her as well as the environment.

Kim’s Shifts in 2010

Feeling inspired? You can join the One in a Million campaign yourself. Here’s how.

And to read about more One in a Million members, click here.

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