Frugal Green Living: Go Green on the Cheap

Going green doesn’t have to mean going broke. Read on to learn simple strategies for frugal green living.

Green Cleaning

Keep harsh chemicals out of your home, and hang on to more of your money by stocking up on a few natural products that can be used to clean your house from top to bottom. Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner, as is baking soda. Use these two items alone or together for a clean that you can feel good about.

Green Energy

Reduce your carbon footprint by finding ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption. Use compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs, turn down the thermostat, turn off electronics that aren’t in use, install a low-flow showerhead. Walk around your home to identify sources of energy waste, and then implement the change necessary to fix them. You’ll be saving the environment and your wallet at the same time.

Green Renovations

Turn your home into a green haven by using environmentally-friendly building materials for all of your home renovations. No-VOC paints, wallpapers and flooring make it easier than ever to do your part—and many of these products carry price tags that are comparable to their less-enviro counterparts.

Green Eating

Organic foods are great, but pricey. If you can’t afford to go organic, there are plenty of other green changes that you can make. Shop locally to cut down on pollution; buy products that are minimally packaged; cook more foods from scratch; bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store; avoid restaurants that package meals in Styrofoam and other non-recycleables. Use your food dollars to exact change—even if it is change on a budget.

Green Travel

No room in your budget for a hybrid vehicle? No problem. There’s still a lot that you can do to green-up your travels. Walk or bike around town; take advantage of city transit; carpool to work; vacation closer to home; group your errands. Do whatever you can to cut your gas consumption, and be proud of your efforts.

Green Shopping

Organic cotton clothing and the other environmentally-responsible items hitting store shelves are great, but not nearly as great as what’s hitting the shelves of second-hand stores. Shop your local thrift stores and yard sales before shopping retail stores, and you’ll help to keep more out of the landfill and more in your pocket. A win-win if there every was one.
 

~Erin Huffstetler

Erin Huffstetler is a freelance writer specializing in frugal living tips and tricks. Her work has appeared in numerous print and electronic publications including Family Circle, Guideposts For Kids and Pregnancy. As the stay-at-home mom of two young kids, Erin is always looking for new ways to live better for less.