Ever felt like you have conflicting priorities? You want to do your part to save the environment (or at least, not contribute to its downfall!) but you are on a tight budget.
While driving an electric vehicle or going solar might be a great way to do that, they aren’t necessarily within reach of everybody’s budgets. Fear no more!
Here are 12 things you can do to go green while saving some green(backs!) Win, win!
Walk
My son’s school is about half a mile from my house. I can drive there…or I can consciously make time to walk. Walking significantly reduces your carbon emissions AND reduces your use of gas. Less gas = less spending at the pump. Plus, walking is an excellent form of self-care and exercise.
Not to mention, if you walk with a friend or family member, you’ve got some great bonding time built in too! I’d call that a win-win-win-win!
Lower Your Heat
Heating your house packs a punch on both your budget and the environment. Whether you have a gas or electric heater, using either negatively impacts the environment. Set your thermostat to a degree or two lower than you are used to. Just wear some cozy socks and a cute sweatshirt, and enjoy the benefits to your wallet and the environment.
Paperless Billing
Sign up for paperless billing with your bank, 401k, and any other financial institution. I just signed in to my IRA account and found that they were offering a $25 reduction in brokerage fees for signing up for paperless billing! Even if they don’t, you’ll be saving a tree (and avoiding having to file away pesky papers). Another win-win!
Use Fewer Disposables
With little ones in the house, it’s often tempting to use disposable bowls, plates, and cutlery. But that convenience is the same as throwing money in the garbage…and all that trash ends up in a landfill. Whether paper or plastic, it’s terrible either way!
Instead, train your family to clean up after themselves, and reap the rewards of saving money, helping the environment, and raising responsible adults.
Use DIY Cleaners
The harsh chemicals found in many household cleaners enter our water supply and hurt our fragile ecosystem. They also can cost a pretty penny! There are myriads of DIY household cleaners using healthier (for you and the environment!) alternatives like lemon juice or baking soda.
Experiment until you find the right one for you, and enjoy the benefits of a clean house on a budget that’s also eco-conscious.
Spot Clean, Don’t Dry Clean
Even with new, more environmentally friendly dry cleaners, sending your clothes to the dry cleaners still has a negative impact on the environment, with increased energy uses and harsh cleaners, and of course, harms your wallet too!
Take a closer look at your dirty outfit. Can you spot-clean it? Or hand wash it? Taking a second look might just save you cash and give you a chance to be more environmentally friendly!
Avoid Store-Bought Individual Snacks
Every one of those little bags of chips, or individually packaged nuts means a lot more packaging that ends up in the landfill. Almost none of those packages are even recyclable or compostable! Smaller portion sizes also usually mean a higher per-ounce cost.
Instead, buy larger packages and just portion out a smaller amount of yourself in a baggy (extra points if it’s reusable!) or a container. More in your wallet, and less in the landfill!
Bring Your Bags
Many states now charge for disposable shopping bags, but even if your state doesn’t, it’s a good idea to bring your reusable shopping bags to the store. Doing so keeps all those bags out of the landfill (where it can take 20 years to decompose at best!), and if your state does charge, you’ll be saving lots of money too!
I simply unload my groceries and then bring the bags straight out to my car and place them on the driver’s seat so I don’t forget them when I go shopping.
Shop Less
Our consumerist society has led to a huge uptick in environmental harm, as well as an increase in consumer debt. While online retailers are making strides in reducing packaging and emissions from delivery trucks, there is still a LOT of cardboard boxes and plastic bubble wrap flying around our planet!
Before you buy, build in a pause to help you evaluate whether you truly need that new item. Your wallet – and Mother Nature – will thank you!
Use Fewer Animal Proteins
Animal proteins, such as beef or chicken, have a pretty terrible carbon footprint. Plant proteins, by contrast, tend to have a significantly smaller (10 to 50 times smaller!) carbon footprint, and luckily for you, a significantly smaller impact on your budget as well.
Consider quinoa, chickpeas, edamame, etc, as your proteins at least a few times a week, and you’ll reap the benefit in your wallet, with a decreased carbon footprint, and with increased health as well!
Reusable Water Bottles
Those disposable water bottles can cost a pretty penny, and worst still, can take over 400 years to decompose! That’s a pretty terrible impact on the environment – and your wallet! Invest in a good quality (preferably stainless steel or glass) reusable water bottle, and refill it wherever you are. Don’t forget to take it with you when you travel and avoid those crazy high airport water bottle fees!
Garden
The food that has the smallest carbon footprint? The ones that are grown most locally, and there is nothing more local than your backyard! While you may not be able to get a full grocery produce section going, even producing some of your food can have a positive impact on the environment and your wallet, not to mention the health benefits of gardening!
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In our daily lives, we all rely on the trusty refrigerator to keep our food fresh and beverages cool. However, there are many items that people often overlook when it comes to refrigeration.
It’s not just about the groceries or leftovers; several surprising things actually belong in the fridge to maintain their quality and longevity.
12 Things People Don’t Realize Belong in the Fridge
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Do you feel sometimes like all you ever do is clean up and put away clutter? No matter how big your space is, it seems like all of our “stuff” just takes over, making it harder and harder to have a clean and tidy space.
The secret to a clean, orderly space is very simple: have fewer things around that take up space and force you to care for them. Here are 12 things you definitely can get rid of and won’t miss! (Or things you can avoid buying so you save money, too!)
12 Household Items You Can Throw Out Today (You Really Don’t Need Them)
8 Ways to Create a Relaxing Oasis in Your Rental
It’s always a great idea to improve our living spaces. After all, most of us spend most of our time at home, so wouldn’t it be nice if the place you spend most of your time is nice? But how do we execute this effectively?
Here, we have summarised some of the easiest ways to upgrade your humble renting abode, and the best part is that it won’t even cost you a pretty penny.
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The home design trends that are so popular today will be out of style tomorrow. The “in” styles usually start at the designer level before trickling down to the public. It’s helpful to look ahead at the next trends when having work done for your home. What’s in today among the public may already be on its way out and no longer be used by designers.
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