Going Green on a Budget: Saving the Environment One Penny at a Time
We all want to save money on our monthly bills. What if you could do that while also reducing your carbon footprint? Well, it’s possible, with just a few little life tweaks that are as eco-friendly as they are budget-friendly. Saving money and the planet doesn’t have to be hard!
Here’s a few ways that people just like you have learned to reduce their monthly utility bills while being kinder to the planet, by going green on a budget.
Prepaid Electricity
There have been big movements both state and nation-wide, with people pushing for clean energy and other state funded initiatives to use less resources and save the environment. One of the cool new services to come from these ideas is prepaid electricity. It’s just like it sounds – you pay in advance for your electrical usage. This method isn’t just a money saving measure; it can drastically reduce your energy usage by forcing you to be more conservative with the electricity you use. The prepaid aspect of this essentially forces consumers to be more mindful of their consumption. Best of all, these plans save you tons of money every month, have no credit check, expensive deposit or contract, and you can start your service with as little as twenty bucks.
Grow Your Own
Many people are starting to reduce their monthly food costs by utilizing garden spaces. You don’t have to have a huge, elaborate commercial-sized garden to make a difference. Even just a tiny space in the backyard for a few herbs and easy to grow vegetables can save you tons of money every month. Pick easy to grow items from inexpensive seedlings and plants, and see how well you do! Not only will this save you money, but again, it’s good for the environment, and your health. You’ll be cutting down on the carbon emissions from more frequent trips to the store and avoiding those pesky pesticides that get sprayed all over your store-bought produce.
Buying Used
People have been buying used and secondhand clothing, furniture, books and more for as long as goods have been purchased, but there’s really been a push in recent years to urge people to do it more. Buying second hand has a lot of benefits – saving money is just one of them (and it can definitely save you a ton of money). Another benefit is the sustainability of purchasing used and second hand. If you buy just a portion of your goods used, you can reduce the harmful impacts on the environment in so many ways.
Take, for example, the act of buying used computers. When you purchase a second-hand one, you pay less for the unit. Plus, you retain the flexibility to modify some of the computer’s components to expand memory or improve overall performance. If there’s one pro tip about buying second-hand computers, it is to confirm that the unit is refurbished. Also, ask questions about the specs and options for upgrades.Not to mention the money you’ll save. There’s really no reason not to.
And while you’re out buying second hand goods? Why not donate old items you no longer use as a “pay it forward” gesture?
These three ideas are just a few ways that people are saving money and giving back to the environment every day. There are tons more great ideas floating around out there, for the person who wants to live a sustainable, affordable lifestyle they can feel good about.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Richard Dacker
