Giving up bottled water!

[ReverendRN]

I know. I know. I shouldn't have been using it in the first place.

But I've been carrying a 50-cent bottle of water with me to work every day. That's $2.50 a week wasted -- which turns out to be $130/yr! Not to mention the environmental impact. I just ordered 2 glass, dishwasher safe water bottles from Amazon for $28. I'll be saving $100 dollars this year -- and even if they had to be replaced yearly, $1000 over the next decade!

 I wonder where else I have $100/yr laying around waiting to be discovered... Hmmm...

[NewStachian]

Great start! I personally just got a Brita at work. Keep this attitude as you tackle other stuff, and you'll be well on your way.

[Jamesqf]

Why spend the money at Amazon?  Just refill the plastic water bottles.  I have some I've been using for years, after picking them up at conferences, meetings, &c. 

Plastic bottles do last nearly forever: my hiking water bottles are empty 2-liter soda bottles that I've carried in the backpack for maybe a decade now.  Lightest water containers you'll find, as well as the cheapest.

[zataks]

Good job on giving it up!

Really though, what got me about your post is that you work 260 days each year!

[arebelspy]

Really though, what got me about your post is that you work 260 days each year!

I know, sounds like a lot to me, too.

The math adds up though.  0.5/day x 5 days a week = the 2.50/week OP posted x 52 weeks/yr = the 130/yr the OP posted.  Implying they work 5 days a week, every week = 260 days.

[arebelspy]

Why spend the money at Amazon?  Just refill the plastic water bottles.

BPA.

[zataks]

Really though, what got me about your post is that you work 260 days each year!

I know, sounds like a lot to me, too.

The math adds up though.  0.5/day x 5 days a week = the 2.50/week OP posted x 52 weeks/yr = the 130/yr the OP posted.  Implying they work 5 days a week, every week = 260 days.

Yea, the math was quick (although I did 365-104 (weekend days)*0.5per day).  260 days/year just sucks!  Blech!

[Thegoblinchief]

Not the lightest bottles out there, but I like insulated steel bottles. Keeps water cold in summer and lukewarm in winter.

I have HydroFlask bottles in a few different sizes and colors for the family.

[ReverendRN]

Really though, what got me about your post is that you work 260 days each year!

I know, sounds like a lot to me, too.

The math adds up though.  0.5/day x 5 days a week = the 2.50/week OP posted x 52 weeks/yr = the 130/yr the OP posted.  Implying they work 5 days a week, every week = 260 days.

Yea, the math was quick (although I did 365-104 (weekend days)*0.5per day).  260 days/year just sucks!  Blech!

Hey, there. Careful! You don't know that my life sucks.

I'm co-pastor of a small Mennonite church, and I'm bi-vocational, which means that I also do secular work to help support my ministry.

I worked as a nursing assistant for the first three years of my ministry, and now I'm in nursing school. The major hospital in my city pays for 80% of school if you agree to work for them for two years after. I'll be graduating in July, and I'll put in my full-time years (during which time I'll save most of my salary, bc I've been poor for so long that I can't imagine what else to do with extra money), and then I'll be able to afford to work just a couple days a week as a nurse (work I find very fulfilling) and spend the rest of my time serving the church/resting/gardening/biking/whatever.

I'm new to this community, and this is the first thread I've ever started. But due to never having had an income, I already do lots of things you guys like, like bike everywhere instead of owning a car. I found MMM looking for investment advice, seeing as I'm about to have a real income for the first time in my life.

I'm here to learn, and wanted to share, so please be kind!

[arebelspy]

I'm here to learn, and wanted to share, so please be kind!

No one said your life sucks, just noted the number of days you work.

zataks did say that amount of days sucks (not your life- they are different, unless your life is your job, and you go into a coma the other 105 days), which may or may not be true, depending on how much you like your job.

If your skin is that thin that someone commenting on the number of days you work makes you feel hurt, you may want to brace yourself before posting on these forums.  We're pretty direct and blunt.  Not mean, per say, but we tell it how it is.   :)

[Janie]

Not mean, per say, but we tell it how it is.   :)

It's per se. Just telling you how it is.

[zataks]

Definitely not trying to say you suck!

MrSpy had it right in that working that much sucks. I'm at roughly 180 days/year and that's too much!

[arebelspy]

Not mean, per say, but we tell it how it is.   :)

It's per se. Just telling you how it is.

Yeah.  Autocorrect.

I don't get too bothered by obvious typos anymore (the other day I saw indignant instead of indigenous when it was clear what the person meant, for example) because so many people post mobily now.

/shrug

Thanks for the note.

[arebelspy]

Definitely not trying to say you suck!

MrSpy had it right in that working that much sucks. I'm at roughly 180 days/year and that's too much!

Yeah, and again, that all depends on how much you like your job or not.

I work ~180 days as well, and enjoy it a lot, and work more days when I can.

[Runge]

Why spend the money at Amazon?  Just refill the plastic water bottles.

BPA.

I second this notion. I just have a 1 L Nalgene bottle that I picked up for $10. I've used it for 4 years in conjunction with a Brita filter now instead of using bottled water.

Glass will work to in regards to the BPA issue, but it's a bit harder to keep glass from breaking if it gets dropped.

[ReverendRN]

I'm here to learn, and wanted to share, so please be kind!

No one said your life sucks, just noted the number of days you work.

zataks did say that amount of days sucks (not your life- they are different, unless your life is your job, and you go into a coma the other 105 days), which may or may not be true, depending on how much you like your job.

If your skin is that thin that someone commenting on the number of days you work makes you feel hurt, you may want to brace yourself before posting on these forums.  We're pretty direct and blunt.  Not mean, per say, but we tell it how it is.   :)

Fair enough. It is hard to work so much. When I pay off my two years of service to the hospital and can work part-time as an RN, I'll get to work at least 52 days less. That will be nice.

[Janie]

Well done on breaking the bottled water habit! It's amazing how small expenditures add up over time.

[Runge]

Why spend the money at Amazon?  Just refill the plastic water bottles.

BPA.

I second this notion. I just have a 1 L Nalgene bottle that I picked up for $10. I've used it for 4 years in conjunction with a Brita filter now instead of using bottled water.

Glass will work to in regards to the BPA issue, but it's a bit harder to keep glass from breaking if it gets dropped.

I reused plastic water bottles until I found out about the BPA issues.  I wanted to switch to glass bottles, but most of what I could find at the time was $10+ for a single empty glass bottle.  (This was about 6 years ago.)  Then I finally figured out there was a cheaper way to get the glass bottles by buying Fuze drinks.  They have 18oz glass bottles and they would go on sale for $0.75.  So, I bought a case of them, poured out the drinks (no way I would drink that stuff), and had a dozen 18oz bottles for $9.  I've been using those to store water in my fridge ever since.  Word of warning: wash the metal caps by hand and dry them immediately so they don't rust where the metal touches the glass.  I learned that one the hard way.

I just looked on Amazon and they have a 6-pack of 18oz Aquasana glass bottles for $39.99.  $6.66 per bottle?!  Yikes.  I still see the Fuze drinks in glass bottles for under $2 in grocery stores.  Should be able to get them for a buck or less on sale.

Good thinking!! Mustachian high-five!

[Nancy]

Nice job! I've had a stainless steel klean kanteen for years. My favorite trick is going through airport security with the empty bottle and then filling it with water at one of the countless fountain soda machines.

[ReverendRN]

Why spend the money at Amazon?  Just refill the plastic water bottles.

BPA.

I second this notion. I just have a 1 L Nalgene bottle that I picked up for $10. I've used it for 4 years in conjunction with a Brita filter now instead of using bottled water.

Glass will work to in regards to the BPA issue, but it's a bit harder to keep glass from breaking if it gets dropped.

I reused plastic water bottles until I found out about the BPA issues.  I wanted to switch to glass bottles, but most of what I could find at the time was $10+ for a single empty glass bottle.  (This was about 6 years ago.)  Then I finally figured out there was a cheaper way to get the glass bottles by buying Fuze drinks.  They have 18oz glass bottles and they would go on sale for $0.75.  So, I bought a case of them, poured out the drinks (no way I would drink that stuff), and had a dozen 18oz bottles for $9.  I've been using those to store water in my fridge ever since.  Word of warning: wash the metal caps by hand and dry them immediately so they don't rust where the metal touches the glass.  I learned that one the hard way.

I just looked on Amazon and they have a 6-pack of 18oz Aquasana glass bottles for $39.99.  $6.66 per bottle?!  Yikes.  I still see the Fuze drinks in glass bottles for under $2 in grocery stores.  Should be able to get them for a buck or less on sale.

Good thinking!! Mustachian high-five!

Awesome!!!

[Latwell]

My SO continued to tell me we should invest in a water cooler (note that a filter won't work for our water because it is really bad).

Finally I broke down and we got the water cooler. I don't even bother plugging the thing in because I don't care if the water is freezing or hot, just as long as it doesn't taste like it came from a dirty toilet bowl (ew, sorry).

Initial investment: $150, 1st 5 gallon bottle $12, every 5 gallon bottle thereafter from the local grocery store $6. Case of bottled water at our local store $6.

As if you weren't convinced already, here's some more impressive numbers:
24 bottles per case @ 16.9oz per bottle =
1 ounce = 0.0078125
16.9 x 24 x .0078125 = 3.16875 gallons per case of water for $6 vs 5 gallons of water for $6 and now I don't have to take out the recycling every single day because of all the dang bottles! :)

[zataks]

My SO continued to tell me we should invest in a water cooler (note that a filter won't work for our water because it is really bad).

Finally I broke down and we got the water cooler. I don't even bother plugging the thing in because I don't care if the water is freezing or hot, just as long as it doesn't taste like it came from a dirty toilet bowl (ew, sorry).

Initial investment: $150, 1st 5 gallon bottle $12, every 5 gallon bottle thereafter from the local grocery store $6. Case of bottled water at our local store $6.

As if you weren't convinced already, here's some more impressive numbers:
24 bottles per case @ 16.9oz per bottle =
1 ounce = 0.0078125
16.9 x 24 x .0078125 = 3.16875 gallons per case of water for $6 vs 5 gallons of water for $6 and now I don't have to take out the recycling every single day because of all the dang bottles! :)

A good point of use reverse osmosis system = $300 with annual membrane and filter replacements around $50.  $350/year.  It should permeate at least 1000 gallons for you (128,000 ounces)(and really, probably well more than that).
350/128000=.002734. 
add in the cost of water from your municipality or well and let's say that $5/1000 gallons (likely lower than that though)

That's around $1.78 per 5 gallons. 

1000 gallons is over 16 5 gallon jugs per month. 

=\

[Emg03063]

If you'll pardon the commercial announcement, this just reminded me that I have a water bottle for sale here:  http://www.amazon.com/Other-Water-Bottle-Styrofoam-Cups/dp/B002C7O7NU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

It amuses me, anyway.

[Joggernot]

My favorite video by Penn and Teller is about bottled water...I send it to all my friends who walk around with a bottle of water and tell me how bad tap water is.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XfPAjUvvnIc

[zataks]

My favorite video by Penn and Teller is about bottled water...I send it to all my friends who walk around with a bottle of water and tell me how bad tap water is.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XfPAjUvvnIc

The water "sommelier" (aqualier?) laughing as he filled bottles with a hose was fantastic!

[Joggernot]

My favorite video by Penn and Teller is about bottled water...I send it to all my friends who walk around with a bottle of water and tell me how bad tap water is.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XfPAjUvvnIc

The water "sommelier" (aqualier?) laughing as he filled bottles with a hose was fantastic!

All you need to retire is a hose and a nice label and sell the water locally.

[Jack]

I just looked on Amazon and they have a 6-pack of 18oz Aquasana glass bottles for $39.99.  $6.66 per bottle?!  Yikes.  I still see the Fuze drinks in glass bottles for under $2 in grocery stores.  Should be able to get them for a buck or less on sale.

Two words: canning jars.

(Also, spaghetti sauce jars, pickle jars [washed out really well], etc.)

[Latwell]

My SO continued to tell me we should invest in a water cooler (note that a filter won't work for our water because it is really bad).

Finally I broke down and we got the water cooler. I don't even bother plugging the thing in because I don't care if the water is freezing or hot, just as long as it doesn't taste like it came from a dirty toilet bowl (ew, sorry).

Initial investment: $150, 1st 5 gallon bottle $12, every 5 gallon bottle thereafter from the local grocery store $6. Case of bottled water at our local store $6.

As if you weren't convinced already, here's some more impressive numbers:
24 bottles per case @ 16.9oz per bottle =
1 ounce = 0.0078125
16.9 x 24 x .0078125 = 3.16875 gallons per case of water for $6 vs 5 gallons of water for $6 and now I don't have to take out the recycling every single day because of all the dang bottles! :)

A good point of use reverse osmosis system = $300 with annual membrane and filter replacements around $50.  $350/year.  It should permeate at least 1000 gallons for you (128,000 ounces)(and really, probably well more than that).
350/128000=.002734. 
add in the cost of water from your municipality or well and let's say that $5/1000 gallons (likely lower than that though)

That's around $1.78 per 5 gallons. 

1000 gallons is over 16 5 gallon jugs per month. 

=\

I've read and heard that the reverse osmosis system wastes a ton of water. I'll definitely have to keep this in mind though.

[zataks]

I've read and heard that the reverse osmosis system wastes a ton of water. I'll definitely have to keep this in mind though.

That's true.  In commercial/industrial scale facilities you can expect recovery rates in the 85% area. 

Domestic systems, as they are typically functioning on the relatively low pressure of the municipal water system, have a much lower recovery rate.  That is for every gallon that comes in, less of it gets pushed through the membrane to the "clean" side of the element.  I don't really use or work too much with point of use (household) systems but I'd guess recovery is probably down nearer 60%. 

You said "a filter won't work because it's really bad."  The water may be bad but filters work!  It just might be involved than a charcoal filter or it may not be easy or cost effective but if you are interested in sharing some of your water quality concerns or specific constituents that are a causing issue, I may be able to point you toward an effective system. 

I've been meaning to write a breakdown of water purification systems for this forum as water is typically a concern everywhere and not much seems to be known.

[rusty]

Side note:  I keep a gallon of water in my car when I travel.  If I want it cold, I will stop when I get gas and get a cup of ice for $.10-.20 (sometimes free).  It's amazing people will pay $1.00 for a 16oz bottle of water and complain they just did for $3.50 gallon of gas...

128 oz = 1 gallon
People are paying $8 per gallon for chilled water.