How can i stay green and save elements while saving my own money?
December 29th, 2009 | 
Author: How can i stay green and save my own money. I have tried ways, but i could use some more ideas on how i can stay green! Can you help me?
How can i stay green and save my own money. I have tried ways, but i could use some more ideas on how i can stay green! Can you help me?
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To me the 1st element of going green is conservation, if you use less energy you save money, if you only buy what you need you save money. Replace disposable or single use items with durable reusable items, there may be an initial investment, but you will save in the long run. Food is often an area with a lot of waste, eating a fresh local diet is healthier and usually costs less. Packing a waste free lunch instead of dining out can save a bundle. Buy in bulk, that doesn’t always mean buying large quantity, the bulk bins are cheaper and reduce packaging. When you need things try to find used, thrift stores, Craig’s list and free cycle are great resources.
Without knowing your lifestyle it is hard to make specific recommendations. A great tip to see where you can save money is to write down every cent you spend and what you spend it on, that will show you where you can save, many of us don’t think about how we spend our money, those little trips to the coffee shop or vending machine can really add up.
Many "green" ideas are money-savers. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cost more initially than incandescent bulbs but last up to 10 times longer and use much less electricity. I heat my house with firewood. This saves me the cost of natural gas. Two neighborhood landscapers drop off the trees they cut, saving them the cost of driving to the dump site and the dumping fee. I split most of the wood myself, so I don’t have to go to a gym for a workout. The "waste" product is wood ash, which I spread on my lawn, compost heap (another "green" money-saver), and garden plots to reduce acidity.
DON’T BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND YOU SAVE MONEY AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR TEETH TURN GREEN
Reducing the amount of energy and water you use can save money.
-For water you can: Collect rainwater for use outside instead of running the hose. If you do use the hose make sure it has a nozzle so the water isn’t running constantly. Don’t leave water running when it’s not in use. (e.g. brushing your teeth, when you’re only shampoo-ing or washing up in the shower,etc.)
And as weird as it always sounds, flush less! seriously, that uses so much water…
-For energy: Instead of using the dryer you can hang your clothes up on the lines whenever possible.(if the lines are in front of your windows they also can create shade and help cool down the room sometimes.)
Speaking of cooling down, instead of using air conditioners use ceiling fans or open up windows. For warming up you can just add other layers of clothes or blankets onto yourself instead of using the heater.
Change your incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent ones. (But I’ve heard you shouldn’t use flourescent ones if the light fixture will be completely inclosing it.) Don’t even use lights unless you actually need them. Never leave things running, and never leave chargers plugged into outlets.
-A good money saver is replacing napkins and paper towels with cloth towels/napkins. Same thing for tissues you can use burp rags(Yes, like the kind for babies) and handkerchiefs instead of buying tissues.(That way you don’t have to buy a bunch of napkins/tissues all the time and it won’t be using anymore water because you can wash the cloths with other wash loads, like your towels for example.)
-Instead of buying bottled water you can get a filter and use a stainless steel water bottle. (The plastic ones release chemicals into your water.)
-Instead of buying rags you can use your old/ripped/stained clothing.
Hopefully these little things help a bit ^-^