Nowadays we all know the importance of having a ‘green’ lifestyle. However, there seems to be a misconception that an eco-friendly lifestyle is too expensive for the average person. Well, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way. Listed below are some of my top tips for going green, all of which should save you some money as well.
Most of us use batteries for some purpose or other. Whether it be for your TV remote, your electric shaver, your camera, or your children’s favourite toy, the cost of continually replacing batteries soon mounts up.
Buying rechargeable batteries may seem more expensive at the time of purchase, but the savings can be great. Most rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1000 times. Imagine how much it would cost to replace your standard battery 1000 times.
All batteries, when taken to the landfill, release harmful metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead into the environment. Rechargeable batteries, however, are much easier to recycle and because they’re used numerous times, they waste less of the earth’s precious resources.
If you’re a big reader, like me, you’ll know how expensive buying books can be. Joining a library is free, and because each library book is used numerous times, fewer trees are cut down to feed our reading addiction.
If joining a library doesn’t work for you, charity shops are a great place to pick up second-hand books at a reasonable price. Again, because a book is used more than once, fewer trees are cut down.
You could, of course, decide that digital books are the way to go. No paper is used in the production of digital books, but then you have to add in the cost of an e-reader and the books themselves.
We live in a consumer-driven, throw away society. Most times when something breaks the first thing we think is, ‘we need to get a new one.’ All of this ‘broken’ stuff goes to the already mountainous landfill. Today, it is often cheaper to replace rather than repair, but not always.
Recently our oven stopped working. We immediately presumed that we’d have to buy a new oven/cooker. Instead, we phoned the repairman who was able to fix the oven, which worked out cheaper than buying a new cooker. So, my advice is, before you consider throwing a broken item away, find out how much it would cost to repair it. Or if it's something simple, you could consider fixing it yourself.
We all need light. Lighting accounts for 15% of the average household electricity bill. Eco-friendly light bulbs are more expensive at the time of purchase than standard light bulbs, but switching from standard to eco-friendly bulbs, will save you money.
Eco-friendly bulbs last longer, so you’ll end up buying fewer light bulbs. There are two main types of eco-friendly bulbs – Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Light Emitting Diodes. Switching just one of your standard bulbs for an LED can mean a saving of £6/$7 per year. Imagine the saving if you change more than one.
Leaving things on standby has become the ‘norm’ for many people. But leaving the television, computer or games console on standby mode does use electricity, costing you money and using more of the planet’s natural resources. So, do yourself, and the planet, a favour and switch it off at the wall when you’re not watching the TV, or using your computer. Don’t forget about your chargers, either. When your phone, tablet or laptop is fully charged switch it off at the wall, too. Again, failing to do so costs you money.
How often do you buy something on impulse, get home and then decide that you don’t want the item? It’s something we’ve all done at some point or other. The discarded ‘thing’ more often than not takes up space until you eventually decide to bin it.
Thinking carefully about potential purchases can make a difference to your pocket and the environment. Ask yourself two questions, ‘Do I really want this thing?’ and ‘What value has it in my life and what purpose will it serve me?’ If you are undecided, you don’t need it. Don’t buy it. It’s another of those unused items that cost you money only to end up in the landfill.
If you’re having a clear out, don’t just chuck everything into the bin. Instead, donate it to the local charity shop or try selling some of your unwanted items online or at a car boot sale. Throwing stuff away adds to the volume of the rubbish in the landfill. Someone may be able to make good use of your unwanted items and may pay you for the privilege of doing so. Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
I’ve left this one until last because eating less meat is not high on everyone's agenda. However, Veganism and vegetarianism have become extremely popular in recent years. Eating a plant-based diet is not only beneficial for your health, but it is one of the best ways to help protect the environment.
Did you know it takes 7500 litres of water to produce one steak? Or that a dairy farm with 2500 animals produces the same amount of waste as 411,000 people? Animal agriculture contributes 65% of all nitrous oxide emissions. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas which has 296 times the global-warming potential of carbon dioxide. Animal agriculture requires more land than crop production and animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of destruction in the Amazon region.
Going Vegan or vegetarian will significantly reduce your impact on the planet, and it will save you money, too. I am a vegetarian, and my weekly shopping bill is much less than any of my family and friends who still choose to eat meat. It’s estimated that those on a Vegan diet save 1100 litres of water every day. Fresh fruit, vegetables and soya alternatives are readily available nowadays, and there are lots of great recipes to try.
You don’t even need to go Vegan or vegetarian. Just reducing the amount of meat you consume each week will have a beneficial impact on your pocket, your health and the planet.
For more information on Veganism click here.
For more information on Vegetarianism click here.
To see how you can help the environment by going meat-free click here.
well. There are many, many more.
If you're a gardener, you could compost your food waste.
If you live close enough to your place of work, you could cycle or walk instead of using the car.
You could try cold-washing your clothes; most washing machines have a cold wash setting, and most manufacturers now make detergents specifically for cold washing clothes.
Cooking from scratch is another excellent way of going green and saving money. Convenience foods are usually packaged in plastic and cost more than preparing a meal yourself.
I’m sure I’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg when it comes to going green and saving money.
You’ll probably come up with a few more. I’d love to hear any ideas you have, so if you have any green, money-saving tips, please leave a comment.
great tips, I should work on fixing stuff and avoid impulse buying.
Hi, Christine. Thank you for commenting. Just being aware of impulses is enough to overcome them.