When you here the words “GO GREEN” and “FRUGAL” in the same sentence, what is the first thought that crosses your mind?  I know your probably thinking; “Is that really possible? Wait!!! What about time?.  I don’t have enough time as it is and wished I had more.”

Through some helpful hints and tricks, and yes a little time you can start to go green and save money.  Going “Green” has more advantages than you might initially think. Doing your part to save the environment is probably the best reason to go “Green.” But it’s no longer the only reason.  It’s also a great way for you to save money, both short-term and long-term

How Going Green Can Save You Money!!

You might be surprised to find  what you can do to preserve the environment and keep your hard earned money where it belongs, in your pocket.

Here are 7 “GREEN” Tips that help you save money.

Unplugged – Everything that is plugged-in, in your home, is using electricity whether it’s “on” at the time or not. By simply unplugging your cell phones, computers, fans, televisions and other appliances that aren’t being used, you will be surprised at the savings you’ll see on your electric bill.

Water – There are many options available to help you save water. You can purchase low flow shower heads to help the members of your household use less water when showering. Building or purchasing a rain barrel to capture rain water is a great way to water your flower or vegetable garden.  Also, placing a bucket in the shower while you wait for the shower to heat up.  Collect the water and use to water your plants, clean or even drink.

On The Line – Air drying your clean laundry is a great way to save energy and save money. If you live in an area where the climate isn’t favorable (Like Upstate New York for example) in the winter then there are multiple choices available for you to hang them indoors.

Stop Eating Out-The typical U.S. family spend $4,000 on meals outside the home — whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, according to a statistic quoted in The Cheapskate Next Door ($9.23 on amazon.com) by our own Jeff Yeager, the Green Cheapskate. Yeager estimates that a family that commits to eating at home can save $3,000 and eat just as well.  That is incredible.  By making your own food, you’ll pay attention to the ingredients you use, how they were grown and how nutritious and wholesome that meal can be.  It is also a great opportunity to spend time with your family.

Rent, Borrow and Freecycle-Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse. Barrow what you need from others is FREE. Have you ever heard of Freecycle?  This is an example of reusing, since it connects people getting rid of useable stuff to people who want that same stuff (it reminders me of Craigslists “FREE” Catagory.  Think about it, by reusing items, we make the best use of the resources used to create those products, whether its energy, wood, metals or other raw materials that can be used for the same or different purpose.

Make your Own Cleaning Products-Cleaning products can be very pricey and some toxic.  When you think of  the range of cleaning products we buy from dishwasher and laundry detergents to all-purpose, window, toilet bowl and tile cleaners, you can see the bills adding up. Most cleaners can be replaced with simple, cheap ingredients like baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. Make the switch, and you’ll save significant amounts on cleaning up. Bonus: These simple ingredients are nontoxic, so you don’t have to worry about the “hazard” labels that come on many household cleaners.  I have started the change in my home.  Read more about making your own Laundry Detergent here on my blog (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3).  Making your own laundry detergent saves you 85 percent of the cost it would for you to buy it.

Use Paperless Billing-Bills, Bills, Bills, They love to cause a headache, but they don’t have to be clutter, and they don’t have to cost as much as they do. Many companies offer a $1 discount for signing up for paperless billing (because it saves them significant printing and postage costs) and you can save another $.46 per bill, at today’s stamp prices. Assuming you can save $1.84 on each of four monthly bills, and you’ve saved nearly $70 in year. Not to mention all that paper!  It is also a lot quicker to pay them online, which means more time with your family.

Now that you’ve learned that going “Green” is also a great way to save yourself money, go ahead and get started. You will be amazed at how much money you’ll save on your energy costs!