Go Green (It's Frugal)

Thursday (April 22nd) is Earth Day, and while I will admit I am not a totally "green" person I am trying. I do enjoy modern luxuries; like laundry soap, cosmetics, air conditioning, clothes dryers, and cars; just to name a few. I have come to realize, that we can use all of those things, we just need to use them conscientiously. I like being green, because it is also frugal. Gardening (even growing a few tomatoes in five gallon buckets, and some herbs in pots on the window sill) is healthier for both you and your grocery budget. Hanging clothes outside to dry, turning off lights when you leave a room, turning the thermostat down in winter and up in summer, watering flowers and lawns in the evening (or overnight if you have a sprinkler system) conserves resources, and saves on utility bills. Walking, biking, or carpooling to work saves on gasoline (which is suppose to increase in price as summer progresses), and the first two will make you healthier. Even categorizing errands according to area will help save you money and time. Washing out and reusing plastic storage bags,food and deli containers (check the underside of all containers if there is a #1,2,or 5 they are safe to reuse. Most food containers will fall into those categories)lessens the amount of trash that will end up in a landfill. Recycle items designated for the trash if at all possible. Hand down, mend, remodel, or repurpose clothing (check your local fabric stores they may offer sewing classes, and there are tons of tutorials on the Internet). This week I am going to gear my posts towards frugal ways to be green. With a little thought and effort we can be a littler kinder to our world, and our budgets.