During No Spend Month last year, I realized that making "green" choices often costs more. Organic and healthy food tends to cost more than generic brands. Organic and hemp clothing is more expensive than mass-produced discount clothing. It is a daily struggle to choose between green products and cheap deals. Here are seven green and frugal choices that are easy to make:
1. Buy recycled goods. If you are like me and need a little retail therapy every now and then, shopping at thrift stores and garage sales can provide a shopping fix while knowing that you are not contributing to any more production. Other items you can buy recycled include estate jewelry, used cars, stereo equipment, refurbished computers, boats, bicycles, and furniture.
2. Shop at farmer's markets. Even though organic food tends to cost more in stores, it is usually cheaper at farmer's markets. Find out when and where your local farmers sell their produce, and you can save money while eating healthier.
3. Use cloth grocery bags. Many stores offer discounts for bringing your own grocery bags. Keep your cloth bags in your car so they will always be ready for a shopping trip.
4. Conserve energy. Unplug appliances, turn down the heat, and lower the temperature on your water heater. These simple steps will save you money and save energy.
5. Downsize your car. There are more affordable and efficient hybrids on the market these days, and some models do not even require downsizing. If you are not ready to swich cars, when it comes to driving there are many green and frugal options. You can reduce your load by taking out unnecessary items, check your tire pressure, reduce your mileage, and regularly maintain your vehicle.
6. Downsize your house. A smaller house requires less heat, less maintenance, less property tax, and overall less energy. This means more free time and more money in savings.
7. Downsize your lifestyle. Are you starting to see a theme? Downsizing saves environmental and financial resources. To downsize your lifestyle, cook more meals at home, use fewer paper products (or switch to environmentally friendly brands like Seventh Generation), use more public transportation, visit the library more than the bookstore, and bring your own mug to the coffee shop.
And one more frugal and green choice - recycle your clutter. I covered this pretty thoroughly in a previous post, but basically there are several ways to recycle your clutter and make a little income.
These are just a few ways to be green and frugal. What ideas do you have?
Photo by WildMouse
No comments:
Post a Comment