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Going Green and Still Living Within Your
Means
Going green may be good for the health of the planet, but it is
often very unhealthy for the health of your savings. However,
going green does not only mean shopping at chic eco-friendly
boutiques or buying expensive organic produce. Here are some
tips for going green and still living within your means.
Go green in your garden
One of the easiest ways to go green is in your garden. If you
are an avid gardener or you’re just getting started in this
rewarding practice, you’ll find that it’s one of the best ways
to go green without spending a lot of money. Why pay a lot of
money for fresh organic produce when you can grow it yourself?
There are many pros to starting your own organic garden. First,
you choose what you want to grow and eat. You control exactly
what goes into growing your fruits and vegetables. Finally, you
save a lot of money by growing your own fresh produce. You
don’t need a farm to grow your own vegetables. Even if you live
in a cramped apartment, chances are you can still grow some
staple produce items. For instance, tomatoes grow just about
everywhere. With a little care and patience, you will
experience the unique pleasure of growing your own dinner, and
saving a lot of money in the process. If you have a small space
or corner in your yard, make your own fertilizer by composting
your fruit and vegetable scraps. Banana peels, melon rinds,
apple cores and used tea bags can all become valuable fuel for
a great compost pile.
Shop at your local farmer’s market
Chances are you won’t be able to grow all of your own fruits
and vegetables. When you need to stock up on your favorite
produce, head to your local farmers market. Buying locally is a
great way to shop green since it uses less fuel for your
produce to get to the market. It can also be easier to find
deals on local produce, especially if you live in an area where
certain fruits or vegetables grow in abundance.
Going green in your work life
Chances are that you can save a lot of money by going green in
your everyday work life. For example, if you commute to work
each day, you are probably spending a hefty price just on gas
and car maintenance. Save money and help the environment by
carpooling, taking the train or bus into work or by walking or
biking. There are now many helpful services online that help
match commuters. There may be someone in your neighborhood with
a similar commuter route that you can carpool with. If
possible, you should also look into teleconferencing and
telecommuting if your job permits. Air travel has never been
costlier or more hectic. Avoid the stress of traveling by car
and air by teleconferencing instead.
Going green around the house
Your house is a place of comfort and rest. But it is also
probably a place that costs a lot to maintain. Cut down on home
maintenance costs by going green whenever possible. Make sure
you have adequate insulation to keep your house cool in summer
and warmer in winter. Change the filters on your air
conditioning unit regularly to keep it working long and more
efficiently. If possible, upgrade to Energy Star appliances to
save money on refrigeration and washing and dryer units. If you
haven’t already, upgrade to eco-friendly fluorescent bulbs.
They may cost a bit more, but you will save money on your
utility bill in the long run, and save yourself the trouble of
changing your bulbs often.
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