Ten Easy Ways Save Money and Help the Planet

The rising cost of oil has drastically raised the cost of nearly everything else we need and use on a daily basis. Americans have felt the crunch in every area of life, from transportation and utilities to food and diapers. Fortunately, there are ways we can take back our control of our hard-earned cash, and help save the planet at the same time. Following are ten easy steps we can take to do just that.

1. Public transportation

Gasoline prices have gone through the roof in recent months, and it appears those high prices at the pump are here to stay. If you are driving a gas-guzzling SUV, or even a good economy car, but have to go long distances for work, then you may wish to consider public transportation as an alternative. I live in a small city, but the bus goes within blocks of anywhere a person would want to go, including the community college which is a ways outside of town. At $1.50 a ride, the bus may not be the best alternative for the casual rider, but our bus company offers deep discounts to those who purchase monthly bus pass. You may also be able to save on your car insurance if you are no longer driving your car to work.

2. Carpool

The idea of carpooling is almost cliché these days. We think of driving the kids to school, but there is no reason we can't drive with our co-workers to work. Either take turns driving, or split the cost of gas in half. Just make sure your co-worker is dependable and that you have alternative transportation in case of emergency.

3. Walk

With today's busy lifestyles, it's very tempting to get in the car and drive even the shortest distances. This saves time, but it costs money. It also contributes to the huge rate of overweight in this country. The next time you want to go out for coffee or run to the convenience store, consider walking. Fifteen minutes each way is easy to do and gives a good cardio workout.

4. Fans

A lot of focus has been on the price of gas, but there is a lot we can do at home, as well. One easy way to save money is by turning off the air conditioner. Cooling the entire house when you are only using one room is pricey as well as environmentally irresponsible. Single room air conditioners are expensive to use even under the best of conditions. If the temperature isn't dangerously hot, try using a fan to circulate the air instead of cooling it. Wearing lightweight natural fabrics instead of synthetics will also help you feel cooler.

5. Cold water washes

Most detergents these days are formulated for use in any temperature. Washing your clothes in cold water instead of warm or hot saves the cost of heating the water. It also cuts down your family's carbon footprint.

6. Short showers

Cutting down your shower from ten minutes to five will cut your water use in half. It also saves on the gas or electricity used to heat the water. Switching from baths to showers saves even more.

7. Cooler hot water

Another place we tend to throw money away is in the water heater itself. The average person isn't going to be able to suddenly replace his or her tank style water heater with one that heats on demand, but anyone can turn down the temperature. Keeping your hot water tank at a more comfortable level will save the cost of keeping that tank boiling all the time. When demand for hot water is high, newer water heaters will compensate by temporarily increasing the temperature of the water.

8. Unplug

Most people don't realize that everything we have plugged into the wall draws electricity. However, according to Rochester Gas and Electric of Rochester, New York, that is exactly the case. An appliance does not have to be turned on to use electricity. What is the alternative? Unplug it! Use the battery on your laptop and only plug it in when necessary for charging. Cell phone chargers, stereos, microwaves, coffee makers and video game systems all pull a lot of energy as well.

9. Cloth diapers

Over the course of a child's life, he or she could go through as many as six thousand disposable diapers. Those disposables suck the dollars out of your wallet as well as stack up in the landfill. A much cheaper alternative is cotton diapers. Sixty diapers will last any child a full week (longer as they get older) and only have to be purchased once. Even with the extra load of laundry each week, you're saving money. An added bonus: Once baby is potty trained, those diapers make excellent cleaning cloths.

10. Consignment shops

Everyone needs clothes, and everyone wants to look good. Unfortunately, that isn't always easy when our income doesn't go up to match the rising costs of necessities. My final tip for saving money and helping the environment is this: shop at consignment shops. Consignment shops usually carry higher-end, gently used clothing and jewelry. Shops that specialize in children's items often carry baby and children's furniture as well. You can save money by buying used clothes, and save the environment by cutting down on manufacture of new clothes.

As I promised, these are ten easy ways to save money. These small steps also help to protect our planet. By making small changes in our lives, we can be doubly responsible, save some green and go green.