Today’s post is from Finely’s dear friend, and ‘other’ big sister, Emily Dunn.  Thanks for the post Emily, Finley would be so impressed!

I used to have an unhealthy obsession with bottled water. In college, my best friend and I would go to a specific grocery store because they had a “great water selection.” We would test out the different brands and I was one of those people who insisted that they all had unique tastes. The amount of empty Fiji and SmartWater plastic bottles I had in my dorm room and in my car now fill me with shame. I always knew that buying all of these water bottles was bad for the environment but I thought, hey, I need water to survive and at least I am staying hydrated! I thought carrying around a refillable water bottle was a hassle, that I would never be able to refill it, and that it wouldn’t “taste as good” as my Voss water I had spent $5 on. Flash-forward to January 2017, I had not changed my ways and I decided as my new years resolution I was no longer going to buy plastic water bottles. It was a spur of the moment decision and I stopped cold turkey. Looking back now I am shocked as to how easy it was for me to do. Since that day, I have only used two plastic water bottles–one at an airport and one in a meeting. I carry reusable water bottles wherever I go, I have cups at work, I bring a bottle to my exercise classes– it is so easy people!! They have water fountains at airports, movie theaters, office buildings, schools, and the list goes on. In addition, I have saved so much money by cutting out that daily (or sometimes twice daily) purchase. There is really no excuse not to do it, especially since there are so many amazing brands that sell reusable bottles. If I can stop buying plastic water bottles—anyone can!