Becoming green doesn’t’ mean turning into a vegan or a PETA member and becoming all radical. It is profitable to live green and help the environment. You will save the earth, save yourself and save money. What is better than that? Many people say that they will not go in debt to be green, but here is the great news. Being green and environmental is nothing new. The philosophy of saving the world is built around the ideas of consuming less, buying only what you need, using things and stuff until they are worn out and recycling where you can. Frugality and environmental living is almost the same thing.
Consumption Reduction
If you think of all the items you use in a day or a week, you can find many items that you do not need to use. This is not self-denial, but practical and frugal.
Use fewer paper towels and napkins. Use cloth shop towels and keep them around for paper towel replacement. You will find that within one month you have saved money. Use basic cotton cloth napkins. They look better than paper napkins and are far less expensive.
Not only will this save you money, but you will clear up landfills and dumpsters. No more cloth napkins blowing around the highways. This would be so awesome!
Stop using bottled water. Consider buying reusable BPA free bottles and filling up with ice and tap water. Most bottled water is tap water anyway, but if you don’t like the taste of tap water use an inexpensive filter on your water tap. Better yet, add fresh lemon juice to your water.
You will see a tremendous savings in consuming less bottled water. It is estimated that you can realize over $1200 savings per year. Landfill managers will also thank you.
Conservation Practices
When you conserve resources you are providing the environment with more, but you are also ensuring that there will be resources for others. In addition, you are saving money by being conservative in your spending.
Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth or wash your face. Use low-flow shower heads. You will not sacrifice water pressure if you purchase a new model shower head.
Turn down the thermostat a few degrees. Set your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees. Try and arrange errands so that you drive less or do all your errands in one day. Better yet, use the internet to pay bills, purchase goods and services, and read a book.
You can also save money by conserving foods. Plan your meals so you waste less food and make fewer trips to the grocery store. Grow your own food if possible. If you have a garden you can save tons of money.
Watch Your Food
Americans are highly wasteful of food. We hate to eat leftovers, and generally have little imagination when it comes to fixing and freezing foods. Try making a huge chili or stew at one time and freeze it. Not only will you have dinner ready for another night, but you have saved money, conserved energy by not going to the store, and provided a nutritious meal for your family.
Being frugal is being green. Reuse everything that you can. Wear things out. Holes in the knees of jeans are “in” so keep wearing jeans with holey knees; or cut them off for shorts.
Lean to sew on buttons rather than throwing away a perfectly good shirt and running to the store to buy a new one. Live like you mean it; you can be frugal, sensitive of the environment and watch your bank balance grow by being eco-friendly.
About the author: Mark Riley is an active outdoors-man with a passion for keeping our environment healthy. He writes articles on green living, sustainable energy, and how to be frugal for many different websites.