What do you *really* need?

I watched a documentary called No Impact Man the other day and it really got my wheels turning. The film followed a Manhattan family for a year as they shed every environmentally detrimental habit they possibly could.
They started by shopping strictly at farmers markets, bringing their own cloth bags to carry the produce home. They rode bikes to work and took the stairs when they got there, washed clothes in their bathtub using cheap, basic cleaning agents, quit eating out and buying coffee, and even eventually lived without electricity.
Many people have argued that No Impact Man was simply a publicity ploy that would be impossible for the general public to really accomplish, but I don't think full compliance was the aim. It is fascinating to watch these people give up all these creature comforts that we really believe we NEED, and to see the result it had on their overall happiness and wellbeing. Though it was clearly not an easy year for the family, it was most definitely beneficial-- the adult couple naturally lost weight, reversed diabetes, conquered bad habits and generally adapted a brighter more connected world view. And they saved a huge amount of money while they were at it.
Why do I bring this up? Because we live in an age where money is tight and the environment is in trouble. These two facts are not mutually exclusive. Re-evaluating the way that we live need not be a sad or scary practice. Life is ever-changing, and it is those who are able to adapt and evolve in response to this change who truly consistently flourish.
I've challenged myself to see what I can (and cannot!) live without, and I've found that any gaps created in this process are quickly filled with more fulfilling alternatives. It may take more work or seem difficult at first, but I promise you it is worth it.
Find your local farmers markets and take pride in choosing fresh, local, healthy produce for your family (you'll even need to buy less because organic produce is higher in nutrients!)
Get a cool glass bottle to refill with water.
Walk to the store instead of driving, and enjoy the fresh air and improved cardiovascular conditioning in the process.
Go to a park instead of the mall.
No, this won't be boring. Living outside the box is, in fact, far more interesting than the alternative. Just ask No Impact Man!