It looks like competing advocacy groups are entering the frugality debate over the wisdom of using cloth napkins vs. paper paper products according to the Star-Telegram.

Earth911.org claims that napkin and paper towels cost a family of four approximately $260/year and an unspecified use of natural resources.

New American Dream, a consumer/simplify group in D.C. questions whether the savings would reach that amount, but does offer some tips if you go that route, such as buying organic cloth napkins, washing in cold water, and line drying.

Then the Star-Telegram pulled in a money editor at Suite101.com, an online article site, to attest to her experience in saving $8-$10 the first month of switching to cloth napkins.

My take on the issue: by the time you pay for the napkins and run repeated laundry loads every month, it seems like whatever savings that accrue are probably not worth it. Not only am I jealous of my time, but I dislike doing laundry. My main goal in living a frugal lifestyle is so that I can eventually gain the freedom to do the things I want to do instead of the things I must do.

The newspaper article did turn over a new stone for me becauseI checked out Suite101.com,  which happens to be a website hiring freelance writers. I’d rather explore the possibility of getting a freelance writing job and earning an extra few bucks than spend it laundering my napkins, but to each his own.