Going Green on a Budget

First of all, conserve energy. This is a free way of saving energy with very little effort and is necessary to help go green. You can save energy by turning off lights when you leave a room or ones that don't need to be on. You can also lower the thermostat, clean your refrigerator coils, unplug any unused electronics and wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot. Prepping your house for winter by sealing drafty windows and doors can also help to keep heat in your house longer thus using less energy.

The next tip is to conserve water. Take shorter showers, water your lawn less often, when washing laundry, make sure that it is a full load and fix any leaky faucets. Even the little things like turning the water off when you are brushing your teeth can add up to save a lot of water. Don't let the water run when you are washing dishes, instead, fill the sink up with some clean water to rinse.

When you are shopping, buy in bulk or larger sizes to reduce the amount of packaging and of course, save money from your grocery bills. You food will not only last longer, but it will save you from running to the store thus saving you money on your groceries and gas. The lower amount of packaging that goes into the landfills will decrease also.

You can save gas by going the speed limit, keeping your tires properly inflated and avoiding the "idle" waiting. To save gas, you can carpool when neighbors whenever you able to or use mass transit. Riding a bike and walking is not only good exercise but will help you go green.

The little things count too. When you want to save money and go green, try getting a book from the library instead of buying one, use cloth towels, washcloths or napkins instead of paper towels and skip the expensive and abrasive chemical cleaners. Use more natural cleaning supplies such as vinegar, baking soda or ammonia. When a light bulb goes out, replace it with a CFL bulb. It is more expensive then a regular light bulb for it lasts a lot longer and uses 1/3 less energy. You will also be saving on your electrical bill each month.