Loved the last list of ideas for going green and saving money? Here are ten more strategies to expand your green repertoire.
1. Save Money on Mailing by Turning Your Product Boxes Inside Out - I wish I remembered who turned us on to this years ago. I do know that this single strategy has really come in handy many times and saved us major bucks ever since. Basically, you need to open the box as completely as possible (including the overlapping top and bottom sections that are glued together) without cutting. When that's done, pick one corner edge and slice it open with a box cutter or other sharp edge. Turn the box inside out, retape the cut corner edge securely with packing tape, and re-assemble the box. You now have a container to mail or store things in that has blank sides for address labeling. Since the post office prefers clearly labeled packages and has gotten a bit pickier over the years, this tip is a huge help for those who have been caving and buying new boxes every time. Been getting by with rewrapping your boxes in brown paper? You can now skip that step as well, reducing the amount of packaging you are using when mailing out a package.
2. Cloth Napkins - Compared to the suggestion on my last 10 Ways to Go Green and Save list of giving up paper towels, this one is much easier. You only need to empty the basket or container holding those paper napkins and refill it with a washable cloth alternative. I stocked up on fabric napkins by visiting a few thrift stores in Arizona, but I suppose youcould either buy a cute set or make your own if you were so inclined.
3. Choose a simplified system for composting so that it actually feels humanly possible. Two things that would have made it easier for me in the beginning? A compost crock with a snapdown sealable lid, and one of those hand-crank, closed system compost tumblers. In the beginning, I was using a cut off plastic vinegar jug. This worked fine, but the fruit flies were beyond annoying. Also, the first time we tried composting the old fashioned way (pitch fork flipping), it was a colossal pain in the neck. Compost tumblers aren't exactly dirt cheap (no pun intended), but we carved out the funds one year from our tax return to commit to the process. The broken down compost is free however, compared to buying potting soil for home gardening.
4. Cloth Diapers - We're still getting ready to start our family, so I can't say we've personally taken this one on. However, I've done enough preliminary research on the subject to comfortably commit to trying it out when the time comes. A good friend of mine who lives in an urban setting pulled this off successfully via a diaper service. The monthly fee included the storage and soaking pail, enough diapers to get through between pick-ups and deliveries, and a re-stock of diapers when the other ones left the home for cleaning. I'm not sure how much she paid, but she did tell me that while it was more than she would have paid to deal with all of the cloth issues on her own, it was still less than she would have dished out for regular disposable diapers.
5. Experiment With Growing Herbs - Environmental experts are always saying it's important to get your groceries locally. It doesn't get more local than your own backyard, balcony, or window sill. My parents always had a garden while I was growing up. In all honesty though, if I had to rate myself on a scale from gardening virgin to gardening veteran, I'd end up closer to the novice end. That being said, one thing I've had repeated success with is herbs. We're starting a raised bed here at the lake and will be trying our hands at sage, garlic, rosemary, basil, parsley and cilantro, as well as a few vegetables.
6. Paperless Billing - Getting and paying your bills online when possible eliminates the need for a stamp (and driving to the post office), and also skips all the paper from thicker statements.
7. Try Your Hand at Sprouting - This is affordable, nutritious, cheap and achievable without a garden plot. They also make a really power packed addition to lunch sandwiches.
8. Programmable Thermostats - In Arizona, we earned back the money we spent on ours within one month of utility bills.
9. Low Energy Lightbulbs - These not only use less energy, but need to be replaced far less often. One thing I noticed with the ones we tried. . . they took a while to warm up, so getting lots of light right away was an issue. Not sure what luck others have had with any brands they've tried.
10. Re-useable lunch bags and interior containers - I think many people already use these, at least those who routinely bring their lunch to work or on the road. When I think about the amount of packaging that gets tossed from take out lunches every day, it keeps me motivated to continue with my efforts. Most of the time I work at home now, but we always used a re-packable bag when my husband was going to work each day, and of course when I was classroom teaching I always had to take a lunch. These containers really do make a huge difference.
Some compact fluorescents do take longer than others to warm up. I use the slower ones in my bedside lamps, I like the fact that I have a moment for my eyes to adjust.
I could not tell you which brands are faster, but I have noticed a range from bulb to bulb. All of the ones I've bought in the past 2 years have, happily, been much faster than the 5-10 year old ones that came with the house. And no flickering!
One problem with composting is RATS--Oh yuck--my Dad composted when I was a kid--we lived in Florida at the time--and they infested the area until the compost heap was gone.
Warning!
I know. That's another reason I love the compost tumbler / twin. It's raised up, and completely enclosed so that problem is eliminated completely. Way easier to turn with the crank, too. Love that product.
A friend who calls herself "the master composter of Santa Cruz" inspired me start composting. I thought that I would need a compost bin but she said that it was easy..."all you have to do is dig a hole at least 1 foot deep and throw your table scraps and yard trimmings in and cover it with dirt. Do not throw any dairy or meat in the mix or it will attract animals."
She told me that it would take about 4 months; but I dug up my first batch after one month when I ran out of potting soil. The soil is incredibly soft and easy to shovel out.
I have to add that I did cheat as well...I threw in one of the holes seafood, yogurt, and meat. I suppose animals couldn't smell it because it was buried so deep; maybe also because I rolled a huge terra cotta pot over the mound and left it there!
I have since made 6 other sites in the backyard and everytime I dig up the soil, I leave the hole there ready for the next batch. I can't believe I used to buy potting soil...and drive bags of it back home in my car!
Even when washing your own, cloth diapers aren't a problem to use at all. Once you have kids, your laundry automatically increases, so doing one more every couple of days is no big deal - you just have to be sure to use the small load setting on your washer. My older kids (who were cloth diapered themselves) complained when I told them the new baby would use cloth - so once when I was going away for almost a week, I bought Seventh Gen disposables. When I got home, I found my youngest one in a cloth diaper. My 14-year-old said that really wasn't a big deal to use cloth after all - and in fact, they were tired of taking out the trash from using the disposables!
Thanks for the input on the cloth diapers. It's always good to hear encouraging words. I'm really concerned about being able to pull it off with efficiency, so it's a relief that someone is having success out there.
every list that has ways to "go green and save money" always included the light bulb thing. And it's making me sick! are there not new ideas? Every list seems to be the same 20 or 25 things. are there truly new ideas out there? or are all the ideas just recycled ideas?
Well, I guess having spent so much time out of the country in situations where living issues such as these were decided for me, the bulbs were new to me. Whenever I move back, I spend a fair amount of time being wowed by the new products and even (I'm a bit ashamed to admit it) the advertisements on TV. When I'm abroad, they are in a language I don't understand, so I miss a great deal of the humor. Did you check out the previous posting on going green? Or the suggestion on the inside out boxes? They were big new ones for me. One thing I try to remember is that many people have truly not had to think about these things before, so for them, the ideas are a starting point. I feel the same way sometimes when I am looking for any additional ways to squeeze a few extra nickels out of the family budget. Once you've really dug deep to do this, as with going green, many of the ideas out there are something that at least one other person has tried. Good luck with your green living quest.
I have no problem with you mentioning the energy saving light bulbs and yes, that is on just about every list everywhere BUT you it never ceases to amaze me the number of people who have no clue about them.
So, yes, 'newbies' constantly come on board to both being green and being frugal, so the same information is still brand new to them.
I am so tired of reading complaints in the comment sections of your and all the other writers postings. I understand if it is to update or possibly correct information . But I don't get the complaints about content. If you aren't satified with the information given read somewhere else or even better put up or shut up. Write your own. I think when you find how much effort these worderful people put into their writing you can appreciate their writing
Rock on! While all of us are more than capable of "taking the heat" if we need to, it can sometimes be challenging at the end of the day to read something harsh and find the energy to give a courteous response. Especially when we are giving of ourselves and our valuable time to do so, and if the comment has nothing to do with clarification or information. Thanks for appreciating the work of all of the writers here at Wise Bread. Have a great day.
Oh, and by the way, thanks for having the courtesy to include your name too. Not everyone does. Kudos to you!
Never knew this website existed. Maybe because I don't really surf the NET!
Anyhew, I am glad I found it and will be checking it periodically for "going green" ideas.
I have been hearing about going green for some time now but never really gave it any thought. But with the economy the way it is and me being jobless at this time, every little bit helps!
Some of the ideas, like recycling plastic bags from stores, have been going on for years in my house and we use them for so many things! Fits perfectly in a purse for an instant trash bag. Or useful as an emergency tote bag! The list is almost endless.
Keep up the good work! And I am looking forward to checking out this site in the future.
