With the country’s financial situation the way it is, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whether it is really more expensive living a greener life. I think if you handle things right, you can definitely save money in some ways by going green. Here is a list of some of the ways I’ve helped myself live more naturally while helping the environment:
- Use home remedies for minor medical complaints. I don’t even buy cough lozenges anymore. Honey is the best thing I’ve found for sore throats and coughs, along with slippery elm. I recently discovered tea tree oil will get rid of my hives faster than the meds my doctors have given me in the past, and it’s much cheaper! Ginger is great for nausea. Obviously, if your symptoms are more serious, you need a doctor, but home remedies work wonders for minor symptoms.
- Join a local CSA (community supported agriculture) and buy local produce. Ever wonder how long produce has been in a warehouse and transported before it makes it to the store? You don’t want to know. Even if it’s not organic, I prefer to buy local whenever possible. And that includes honey and eggs. Sometimes you save a great deal buying this way, and it’s really nice meeting the people you buy your food from and knowing where it came from.
- Buy a battery charger and use rechargeable batteries. I didn’t realize how many batteries our household goes through until I started having a pile to recharge every week. A little expensive to start with, but will save tons later on.
- Make your own herbal teas. Forget the packaged teas at the store – fresh really is better, even with tea. It is so much cheaper buying loose lavender and chamomile, and a small amount lasts a long time. And if you buy a tea ball instead of using bags, it’s even better.
- You can buy all sorts of things in bulk. Flour, dry beans, cereal, grains, coffee….I see new things at the health food store every trip that I never thought about buying in bulk. And you can buy the amount you need instead of a whole package if you don’t usually use a whole lot.
- Just eat healthier overall. You may be surprised how much you can save if you stop buying so much junk and fill up on more nutritious food. Empty calorie food will only make you hungrier in a short time, while healthy produce and grains are more filling and are usually cheaper.
- Combine shopping/errand runs when you can. This works especially well for those of us living in rural areas.
- Grow your own veggies and herbs. It’s amazing how well some things grow in pots if you don’t have room for a garden. Even if you only grow a few things you normally use a lot of, it will help.
- And some things even grow wild in your own backyard. If you can’t beat dandelions, eat them – they’re really nutritious and are plentiful enough. I add the leaves and flowers to my salads. Just be sure not to pick anything that’s been exposed to chemicals or along a road being exposed to car fumes everyday. There are lots of books devoted to identifying wild edible sources.
- Turn off lights/appliances you’re not using….we’ve all heard this, but how many of us actually do it? When you’re complaining about how high your electric bill has gotten, think about what you can do to reduce it.
- Buy reusable water bottles instead of already filled plastic. Sometimes it’s just more convenient when you’re on the run, but when you can, it’s always better reusing your own. They’re found everywhere now – I’ve even seen displays at my local grocery store. I keep extra bottles in the frig and just grab one when I’m going out.
- Use online billing instead of mailing your payments. You can even set payments up ahead of time so you won’t forget to pay.
This is just a sampling of ways you can save going green. Sit down and make your own list – what you come up with can save you lots of money!
Feel free to share your ideas of going green on our Ning forums.
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