Save Your Money: Go Green

Ask anyone what their biggest concern is and most will tell you – money.  No surprise there.  Now if I tell you that you can actually save money by being environmentally friendly would you be surprised?

You heard me right.  Save some green by going green.  Don’t take my word for it, give it a try yourself.  Here are some easy steps to get you started.

1. Use public transit.  Leave your car in the garage and save on fuel costs.  Another alternative would be to set up a car pool or car share program with neighbours or co-workers.  If it’s feasible ride a bike or jog to work.
2. Turn off the lights.  Don’t panic.  I’m not suggesting you sit in the dark.  Simply turn off the lights when you’re not in the room.  Try turning just one light on instead of two or three.  Go a step further and change to Compact Fluorescent Lamps or LED lighting. 
3. Use the clothesline.  Maybe you don’t want to display your underwear selection in the back yard but you could hang other stuff.  Jeans, sweaters and towels tend to take longer to dry in the dryer than they do on the line.  Large items like sheets and blankets actually do better on the line because they don’t roll up into a ball.
4. Pull the plug.  Unplug your electronics.  Devices that ’sleep’ or ‘hibernate’ and have a quick-on feature still use power when they are turned off.  Unless you physically pull the plug most of your electronics are quietly using unnecessary power.
5. Turn off the tap.  Quit pouring water down the drain.  Literally.  Use a water conservative shower head, a low flush toilet and only wash full loads in the washing machine and the dish washer.  Turn the taps off while you brush your teeth.  Catch rain water off your roof to water your plants.  Chances are your water is metered and you pay by the gallon or litre.  Save yourself some money doing the simple things.
6. Go back to basics.  Talk to Grandma.  Some of those old ‘folk remedies’ actually work and they are better for the environment than their chemical soup counterparts.  If Grandma can’t help you then try searching the internet for ‘environmentally friendly’, or ‘green’ cleaning methods.  Follow the link at the end of this article, then navigate to the ‘green links’ page for a great, reasonably priced, E-book filled with ‘green’ recipes for soaps, cleaners, etc.

Give some of these strategies a try and I’ll bet it won’t be long before you start seeing some green coming back to you.

Another great article to help you save money and be environmentally friendly at the same time is : Green Car Wash

For some more great ‘green’ tips and products visit The Green Spot