Go Green to Save Green
By Amanda Farah
Nothing says you can’t save a little cash while trying to save the Earth. Here are a few money saving tips that will help you go green without cramping your style:
- Get reusable grocery bags: Bringing reusable bags when you do your food shopping can save you money. More grocery stores are offering discounts per bag to shoppers who don’t ask for paper or plastic. Savings might only be $0.05 per bag, but it won’t take long for each bag to pay for itself. And if you regularly get your lunch at a grocery store, the savings could add up even faster. If you’re especially crafty, you can make your own totes out of old clothing, especially jeans.
- Get energy saving light bulbs: You’ve probably heard about the advantages of compact florescent light bulbs; if you swap your 100 Watt incandescent for a 20 Watt compact florescent, you’d be cutting your energy usage -- and saving – 80 percent. But compact florescents were originally marketed for their staying power: they last eight to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. By not having to replace them as often, you’ll save even more!
- Save paper: Keep old notices, flyers, and letters home for scrap paper. They’re good for printing directions and coupons. If you need things to be a bit neater for school or work, try printing on both sides.
- Don’t buy new printer ink: You can save a good 50 percent on the cost of printer ink if you refill your own cartridges. If you don’t have the patience to sit with a syringe, you can still save money by buying refilled cartridges instead of new ones at your office supply store. If neither of those appeal to you, stores like Staples offer coupons and discounts if you bring your empty ink cartridges when you buy a new one. And who doesn’t need to bring the empty to remember which one to get anyway?
- Ditch the paper towels: Using paper towels not only creates waste, but the cost can add up quickly. Save the paper towels for particularly sticky messes and keep a reusable alternative on hand for little accidents. A dish cloth is an easy way to clean up spills and can be tossed in the wash when you’re done. Old t-shirts also make good replacements for dusting and other household chores.
