I don't know if anyone has done this in an official way...though I outlined my take on what saves money and what costs money for an existing family.

You miss one point, though. We DON'T really have wallet room. But we make the decision anyway. This is what I meant before referring to our children...I look at my son and KNOW I have work to do. That is motivating for me and I compare it with our ancestors: my grandmother worked hard (working 3 jobs and going without food) so my mother would have a better life...I need to work hard to make sure my son doesn't have a significantly worse life. That's not a guilt trip, that is my personal thought process and why I personally extend our already extended finances to do what I see is best for my son's future.

Now financially I probably am in a different situation. We manage to have bought a prime apartment at the right time, so my net worth is quite high...but it also means our expenses are actually somewhat beyond what we pull in...though some creative investments and loans get us by. But I do have the ability to do some creative finances (creative in the LEGAL sense, not illegal) which many do not. But our expenses are probably far beyond what most people imagine because of where we live. Our financial juggling cause ENORMOUS stress and for awhile I was convinced we might have to sell our apartment and move someplace much crappier. But I muddled us through...and we still managed to make our choices that, in our eyes, help protect our children's futures. Compared with our other expenses it was a minor factor, but important in terms of our personal and political and family philosophies.

Interestingly, one way some creative financial juggling brought both together was I was able to invest a small amount in a geothermal company (USEY) and in a solar company (SPWR) that both made a good amount of money for us. That actually was timed luckily to help get us over one of our financial crises. But that was a gamble most people shouldn't do.

Your idea of a broad overview of how people can make sound individual choices is a good one. I can tell ANYONE that compact fluorescent bulbs and quitting smoking are the best combinations of saving you money and saving the planet. From there the choices get complex. THere are MANY energy solutions for a home or apartment building that cost money up front, sometimes lots of money, but save so much in the future that they are worth it...if you have the ability to make that initial investment and you live in a situation where you can make those changes. THe building I am living in has had to pay so much just to stop sewage backup, black mold infestations and flooding problems that our co-op finances are in bad shape as it is. That's what we face even in a prime neighborhood in NYC. How can I go to my building and suggest an investment in solar panels or a reflective surface or a garden on the roof (all of which are ways of reducing certain energy costs and even improving property value) when all we are trying to do is battle rising fuel costs, build back our reserve fund and if at all possible lower the monthly maintenance costs? I can't. And most people can't. But we have to. To see changing our habits as a choice is, in reality, just as short sighted as a government policy that focuses on more and more oil. It perpetuates the same mistakes because of short term finances. The short term finances really are a problem, but all will get worse if we don't change. It is either a catch-22 where things will get worse and worse, more and more expensive with no choice, or we can make the choices now (as individuals AND as a society...neither will work alone) no matter how hard they are so we can maintain some choice in HOW we change our habits rather than have those changes in habit forced upon us.

Not saying it is easy. And your idea would help people make choices. I am trying to think where such information, if it exists, would be. If I can track it down I will post on it. But I think it is way more hapazard than that. Though one group I have been out of touch with for years is Worldwatch Institute and they put out lots of great publications that could be helpful. If I have time I will investigate...though time is getting hard to find these days!