Doing more by throwing out less.

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Did you know? The United States is home to 4% of the world’s population, yet produces more than 12% of the trash — to the tune of 4.9 pounds per person per day – and over 28% of our garbage is packaging. That means we throw out 82 million tons of material every year.

Want a scarier number? Every 15.5 hours, we throw out enough plastic to fill the stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play, and 91% of it isn’t recycled. It’s enough to make you want to refill that olive oil bottle instead of buying a new one.

It’s no secret our groceries come with a lot more packaging every day, but we probably don’t think about it more than once a week when we take out the trash. The Almanac takes a look at two Peninsula “refilleries” trying to reduce our collective climate footprint.

The Best Things in Life

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They say the best things in life are free, and that’s (mostly) true. But sometimes it’s fun to splurge a little. What are your favorite splurges and the little things you can’t live without?

CHIC (Pearl)

It’s my job to find our clients stylish homes at a price they can afford, so I’m used to getting more with less. When it comes to food, I can’t resist the occasional “cheat day” to try a new restaurant or bring home premium ingredients for one of my favorite dishes. But at the end of the day, the finest meal is made even finer with the company of friendly neighbors — and you can’t put a price tag on that!

GEEK (Kevin)

I’m also fairly frugal and try to get our clients the most bang for their buck with home improvement. That said, I lose my will power in the power tool section of the hardware store. There’s something about the whirring of an electric drill that makes me open my wallet. But when I come home, I can’t wait to grab a shovel and dig around our backyard garden. It’s very relaxing.

The Long Haul

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Like we said earlier, you have to think big when it comes to home investments, and this chart says it all. While median house prices in Santa Clara County may have dipped a bit in 2023, they’re still more than double the pre-Recession peak in 2007. Want to see a more detailed report for your neighborhood? Request one today, and we’ll deliver it to your home or email.

The Big Picture

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It’s always important to consider the “big picture” before making any financial decisions, and especially when it comes to real estate. This is particularly true in the Bay Area, where a home is not just a lifestyle choice but also a long-term investment. Here are some dos and don’ts for home buying in an uncertain market.

CHIC (Pearl)

I’ll take the Do’s. First thing’s first: Ignore the noise. Back-of-the-napkin analysis or one set of data should never dictate your next move. If you’ve made a financial plan, stick to it. Wait for the right moment, and make your best offer. And it never hurts to rebalance your investment portfolio to insulate yourself from market fluctuations. Like the meme says: Keep calm, and carry on.

GEEK (Kevin)

Looks like I get the Don’ts, which is only one letter away from donuts, so now I’m hungry. But seriously: You can’t time the market, so don’t even try. Don’t panic because of something you read online (even our emails). As the market continues to recover, you can make significant gains simply by holding steady. Hang on to your investments for the long haul, and your patience will pay off.