Today I coined a new term and started a blog...

I often tell people that I am the greenest guy I know. Do I drive a hybrid and wear clothes made from organic hemp? No. Have I replaced every lightbulb in my house with CFL's? No. Is my house made from reclaimed materials and using a heat pump to control the temperature? No. So what is it that makes me green and more important, why did I coin the term "grifty" this afternoon and decide to start yet another blog? Hmmm. Good questions.

Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated in what other may consider to be junk. As a kid growing up in New Jersey I would go around each year during the city cleanup day and collect bicycles. Lots and lots of bicycles. One year I brought home so many bicycles that my parents made me put most of them out on our own curb because we flat out didn't have room for them in our garage! I think that may have been the beginning of what has become the topic of many conversations and even some poking of fun at me by friends, family and even myself.

I have never been a person that has had much money. Sure, my parents and later my Mom would make sure that I got most of the stuff that I wanted but I was always looking for another angle, for a way to take those things and leverage them into something even more. This has translated into many things over the years one thing has remained the same; I have a knack for saving "stuff" from the landfill and putting it to good use. Sometimes these things are used by me or my family, othertimes they are sold to someone else that will use them. Regardless of whether it is a bargain for me or a moneymaker one thing doesn't change - these are perfectly usable items that are either being thrown away, given away or sold by someone else. The goods I deal with may come from city cleanup days, garbage piles, garage sales, thrift stores, Craigslist or every now and then from the clearance rack at a retail store. I am not too picky about it - it just has to be a great deal or even free. Get it?

Living green and recycling is all the rage these days and seems to be increasing in popularity with each passing day. On top of that, the economy is in a bit of a tailspin forcing people to find ways to save money and live on tighter budgets. It occurred to me that saving money, recycling and living "green" are all things that I am pretty good at so maybe I would write a bit about my adventures for others to read about. If anything I write helps you in your life - great! If you just read it and shake your head and laugh - great! It is what it is and that's just fine by me. Enjoy - or not?

Today is Tuesday, thrift store day for me. For the past year or two I try to hit my favorite thrift store over my lunch hour. I won't disclose the name and location of said thrift store, but I will tell you that almost every week I leave there with something that someone has graciously donated for the benefit of the veterans in exchange for a tax decuction. Today I picked up a pair of navy blue Crocs that appear to have not been worn more than once, and a pair or REI cycling gloves for a grand total of $10.47. These items purchased new would have cost me $40-50 so this was a good savings. It was thrify - and I "recycled" someone's discarded goods to be put to use by me. Green and thrify - grifty!

I could go on and on but we have lots of time for that later so until then - keep on livin' grifty!