Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at Getting Freedom from Debt about Frugal Ways to Go Green and I’m excited to welcome Toni from The Happy Housewife to Pandora’s Deals:
I once heard someone say, “It takes green to go green.”
I disagree! I think you can make changes in your budget that are also great for the environment. Some of the most frugal people I know are also the most eco-conscious. I think it stems from having a mentality of wanting to waste less. Whether it be energy, resources, or money, being a good steward is great for your pocketbook and the environment.
Here are ten ways to go green without spending a lot of green.
Use a clothesline.
Did you know that it costs about $.25 for every load of clothes you dry in your drier? Running the drier uses a ton of electricity, wears out your clothes faster, and can heat up your house in the summer. A clothesline costs until $10 and will bring significant savings over time.
Make your own compost bin.
Instead of throwing away food, recycle it in a compost bin. Not only does this reduce your waste, it is a great natural fertilizer for your plants/ garden. You can make your own compost bin in under a half hour.
Use rags instead of paper towels.
I admit, I love my paper towels! But they are so wasteful. Even when you include the cost of washing rags they are still cheaper than paper towels. Rags are usually free, since they are…. rags.
Use vinegar to clean.
Vinegar is a great natural cleaner and also very inexpensive. If you’ve never cleaned with vinegar before it’s easy, and here’s 15 ways you can use vinegar to clean your home.
Eat your leftovers.
Did you know that throwing away leftovers is like throwing money in the garbage can? Few people would throw a five dollar bill in the garbage, but most people don’t think twice before they throw away last night’s casserole. Whether you serve them for lunch, or remake them into another meal, eat them!
Shop at the thrift store.
The thrift store is a great place to find clothes for kids (or yourself). If you start taking your kids there when they are young, they’ll be more likely to shop there when they are teenagers. My kids always ask to go to the thrift store before the mall. They know where the deals are!
Use reusable grocery bags.
Many stores give you a $0.05 rebate for every reusable bag you use, not only are you saving money you bring home less waste.
Buy whole foods.
Convenience foods have tons of wasteful packaging and ingredients that quickly go to your waist. Buy whole foods and you’ll be eating healthier (fewer doctor bills) and your garbage can won’t be as full every week.
Lower the temperature on your water heater.
Drop the temperature of your water heater by a few degrees to save on electric bills. Just remember to keep your water hot enough to do your dishes.
Keep your tires properly inflated.
Improperly inflated tires use more gas, and with gas prices nearing $4 a gallon every little bit helps!
What do you do to save money and the environment?
Toni is a mom of seven and writes at TheHappyHousewife.com.
Visit Life Your Way to see all of the Ultimate Blog Swap participants!
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