Save Money by Going Green

If you are looking for ways to trim your budget, one way is to save money by going green. Making choices that are good for the earth are also often good for the pocketbook! 

Going green is not about replacing all the products you use with an organic or earth-friendly alternative. Making better shopping choices is part of a green lifestyle, but there are many other things to do to green your home. 

Use Fewer Cleaning Chemicals

Many homes have an entire cabinet dedicated to the toxic substances we use to clean up our homes. Most of these are unnecessary, so once empty, these bottles can be recycled and not replaced! Homes certainly require regular cleaning, but most surfaces will be cleaned to a spotless shine with warm water and a bit of dish soap. Once you start, you will find that dish soap often does a superior job of cleaning anyway! One notable exception to this is windows. Window cleaner is great for getting a streak free and clean surface, so just replace your normal blue window cleaner with a variety that is biodegradable. Most stores carry both types now and a simple glance at the glance at the label will tell you if it is earth friendly or not. 

Replace Burnt Bulbs with Compact Fluorescents

As your house light bulbs burn out, replace them with those curly compact fluorescent bulbs or the spiky looking LED bulbs. Both are incredibly energy efficient and as you gradually start relying on these bulbs instead of the old incandescent variety, you will find no difference in lighting. You will find your energy bills creeping down, and the extra cost of these bulbs will more than be made up for in energy costs and the longevity of the bulb: these bulbs last for many years before burning out. 

Cancel the Newspaper; Subscribe Online

One huge use of resources is the paper and fuel it takes to get that newspaper to your door every day. If you are a newspaper reader, simply subscribe online to get the news you love and save the trees it takes to get that paper delivered to you daily. In addition to being better for the environment, many newspapers such as the New York Times offer free access to news on their websites. 

Switch from Paper Products to Cloth

All the money you use to buy paper towels and paper napkins, paper cups, paper plates and so on; if you added it all up, you’d have a substantial bit of money you can be saving. Get a pack of inexpensive washcloths for the same cost as a couple packs of paper napkins, and you can use them instead of paper towels as well. Use them for cleaning, for napkins, and you will see the costs savings quickly. Keeping all that trash out of the landfill is better for the earth and your wallet as well. 

With these easy tips, you can take a step towards being a better steward of the planet and your finances. Save money; go green!