Be Green and Save Green - How to Be Environmentally Friendly Without Breaking the Bank

Plant a Garden

I love fruits and vegetables, but it can get expensive buying organic all the time. Instead try supplementing some of your produce with your own garden- and I don't want to hear the excuse that your don't have enough room, I live in a second story apartment in the middle of the city and I have a garden! On my small (and I do mean small!) deck I grow a variety of potted plants including lots of several types of tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. Of course I need other fruits and vegetables, but with the money I save from not buying these vegetables and herbs I can afford to buy organic for the rest. Inside gardens can work too as long as they have sunlight from a window, ask someone who works at your local garden store which plants will work best inside. And if you have a large yard, then lucky you! Get planting, you can grow anything from tomatoes and pepper, to winter squash!

Use Vinegar

The new environmentally safe cleaning supplies on the market right now are great, most of them work well, and don't harm the environment, the only problem is the price! Not many of us can afford to spend 3 times as much on kitchen cleaner! But here is a little secret, vinegar works just as well, if not better then most of the products on the market right now. Just be sure to open a window and have good ventilation when cleaning. I usually a mixture of 2:1 (water to vinegar) when I clean and I get great results.

Take Public Transportation

Sure, I would love a new hybrid, and since my car was built in 1998 I guarantee it isn't very environmentally safe... but I can barely make my rent let alone get a new car. So my solution, I take the bus! Public transportation is a great way to help save the environment, and most places have it, or if they don't try carpooling! If you are planning a big road trip why not take a train instead of driving, you would enjoy the view a lot more and have time to relax.

Ditch the Gym, Ride a Bike

Instead of Driving to the gym to workout, why not ride your bike outside instead? You'll save the environment from some carbon emissions and your pocketbook from gas and a gym membership.

I hope my advice gave you some great ideas on small changes you can make that will make a big difference- remember we only get one planet earth, so we all need to take care of it! Let me know if you guys have any great ideas to add, I always welcome advice on how I can be more GREEN, and of course save a little GREEN too!