Six Small Ways to Live Green and Frugal

As the movement towards "greener," more environmentally friendly ways of living gains momentum, more people are changing their day-to-day habits to lessen their impact on the world around them. Many steps towards this goal are well-publicized: reducing energy usage in the house by turning off lights, switching to more fuel efficient cars, shopping with reusable bags, and carpooling are all excellent ways to be greener.

There are many small changes, though, that get overlooked. These changes can often not only help you in your quest towards a greener lifestyle, but can also save you money. Contrary to the popular notion that "green" costs more, often living a reduced impact lifestyle can be cheaper than the less-green alternative. In a few simple, small steps you can make a significant change in your carbon footprint and your monthly budget.

Use handmade shampoo bars and soaps. Handmade personal products are often completely free of harsh chemicals that can have negative impact on both humans and the environment. It's very common for them to be minimally packaged, or in reusable packaging, and so a superior environmental choice when compared to conventional products. Since shampoo bars and handmade soaps also last longer than equivalently priced items and work as well or better, they save money without sacrificing quality, making them a very frugal alternative.

Make your own household cleaners. Baking soda, vinegar, peroxide, borax, and even bleach are far better for the world around you than commercial cleaners, and they are just as effective. These ingredients are simple to use, and require little or no special mixing. Vinegar, for example, can be used alone or mixed with water to deodorize, remove soap and hard water buildup, deter ants, and countless other things. Baking soda removes stain, effectively cleans pots and pans, and deodorizes. As you run out of your commercial cleaners, simply replace them with these cheaper, more health and environment conscious substitutes.

Eat more whole, unprocessed foods. Whole foods, such as produce, whole grains, and meats, are usually more friendly for the environment because they have less packaging. Prepackaged convenience foods, like Lunchables, are so egregiously over-packaged they've been cited by many environmental groups. The same ingredients purchased separately and assembled into a reusable container cuts down substantially on packaging waste. Whole foods are also usually, pound for pound, cheaper and more nutritious than processed foods; so, you keep more of your money in your wallet along with keeping waste out of the dump. Whole foods are often good multiple purposes. Use vegetables for a stir fry dinner, and save the skins and leftovers to make stock. Once strained from the stock, the remaining vegetables can be used for compost, eliminating all waste and enhancing the environment.

Make a meal plan for the week. Making a meal plan helps you purchase food wisely, allowing you to plan time to cook and use less processed food. It cuts down on trips to the grocery store, saving fuel. It also helps you manage your time, and eat a healthier diet, which can help alleviate medical bills.

Shop second hand. This is the ultimate form of recycling. It keeps clothing, furniture, and household items out of the dump while saving you money. Many items in second hand stores are in excellent condition, occasionally with tags still on them; yet, they are priced at a fraction of the cost of purchasing them new.

Recycle instead of throwing things away. This is the obvious environmental choice, but it's also the frugal choice. Trash bags are expensive, but after a one-time purchase of a couple of buckets or bins and the recycling costs nothing. Some cities even provide recycling receptacles free of charge.

These six green ideas can be used immediately to lessen anyone's environmental impact, helping them lead a greener lifestyle while still keeping the budget under control.

Resources:

"Vinegar: (Almost) The Only Cleaner You'll Ever Need." By Noel-Marie Taylor. TheNewHomemaker.com

"The Manifold Magic of Baking Soda." By Deborah Sanders. Frugalfun.com

"Paper trail - food-packaging waste - Light Elements". Jeffrey Kluger. Discover. . FindArticles.com.