Saving money and loving the earth

photo credit

Paper towels and napkins are so easy. They make spills and oil changes easier. They are convenient. I do love a good paper towel. However, they cost money, they are a lot to store, and they are not so green. Since this blog is about baby steps, let's say we just change up meal time. Let me introduce you to the cloth napkin.

Cloth napkins feel good. They make the meal feel special, like you might want to light a candle. They are bigger and some of you need a bigger napkin. Nobody said you had to wash them after every meal. You decide that based on your germaphobia-ness.

If you don't want to wash them after each meal but you can't imagine the stress of keeping up with whose napkin is whose,  here are some ideas:
 a. Everyone has a white napkin but you can stitch a different coordinating ribbon to distinguish Johnny's from Susie's.          
b. Go to the fabric store and buy enough fabric to make 5-6 napkins of the same kind for each family member of something they would enjoy. Wouldn't 6 year old Johnny love the napkin in the picture? He might even be more excited to set the table.  
c.  Have someone sew the first initial of each family member on napkins to designate whose napkin it is.
d.  Use coordinating colors that match your kitchen or dining room. Johnny is always light blue, Susie is always beige etc.  Napkins don't have to match!

You'll invest a little money on the front end, but save on the back end. Again, fabric stores, Target, Kohl's, yardsales are your friends. How about that scrap fabric in the basement? Put it to good use!