It seems as though virtually virtually everyone on radio & television is suggesting that we all ‘go green’. The process can be as involved as you want it to be. Those who can afford it are purchasing hybrid vehicles, doing their part to help save their environment in many ways. Not only by cutting down the consumption of gasoline & oil products. Hybrids reduce air pollutants & waste. Others make certain any products they buy specifically state on the label they are”environmentally friendly”.

Many who can afford to – buy vegetable & food items that are organically grown, meaning the veggies are grown without the aid of pesticides or other chemical agents. So… So… Similar to the recycling era that began in the 70′s “going green” means doing anything you can think of in your corner of the world to reuse, recycle & reclaim long time throw-away items. Clear? I believe that there’re many of us who would incorporate additional environmentally friendly habits in our every day lives, if we only knew what to do.

First of all be realistic; what does “going green” mean to you personally?
Those of us who live in the every day world of rural America do not have access to public transportation & can not afford to buy hybrid vehicles. Right. We run our own errands, do our own shopping, make our own daily meals & consider eating out a rare treat. We live on pretty strict budgets already. We can not afford to purchase new energy efficient appliances & with tight grocery budgets, most organic foods are simply not affordable.

A large part of the population have only recently realized the financial problems that are created by not living within your means. Clear? I believe new years resolutions & setting unrealistic goals are generally a waste of time. Drastic changes too fast = failure. And so… Start with being aware of what you throw away on a daily basis & making small changes. Grand resolutions rarely work because the changes you are attempting are unrealistic & unattainable. In order to save money, most of us have been conserving for years without thinking about it… I am sure you have things you do on a daily basis that you do not even think about. If you have only recently resolved to make daily changes, why not start simple & avoid overwhelming yourself & thereby avoiding failure. And so… Staying within your budget may now be mandatory for you too. There’re a thousand & one things that you can do to improve your own environment that will also help you save money.

Here are a few easy tips to help you become aware.

Conserve Cash

Stop by your local library & check-out a DVD or tape for FREE, instead of paying over
3 dollars $ $ to rent one at the video store. Most libraries let you check out 2 movies for up to 2 days. On pizza night attempt making your own pizza by using a package crust mix, shredded mozzarella, & a jar of pizza sauce. This will save you a LOT of cash & is also healthier for you & your family; you know
exactly what goes into & on top of your pizza. Here is another quick tip, Buy refill bottles of soap for your hand soap pump dispenser instead of continually replacing the whole small bottle. It saves both cash & plastic use.

Cutting down on gasoline consumption

Grab a friend & share gasoline expenses – get organized by making Lists.
One easy way to help save gasoline is to group errands together by location. Making a list can assist you gather your thoughts, remind you of important appointments or prescription refills, not to mention remind you to take that video back to the library to avoid a late charge. Make a list of where you need to go &
try to get most of your running done while you are out & about. For example if you need to buy stamps, get a gallon of milk & go to the dollar store for pet food. Instead of backtracking, write down what you need to get, where you need to go & the stopping order will become evident.

Electricity use

You have probably heard this since you were tall enough to reach the light switch. Turn the lights out when you are not in the room! With the exception of clocks or cordless answering machines unplug any
appliance you are not currently using.

Save Water

The easiest way to conserve water is to keep it turned off while brushing your teeth. Many people let the tap run while brushing & flossing. Do you follow? That’s an easy habit to break, use a glass & simply turn off that tap.

Home composting

Instead of purchasing expensive fertilizer, make your own compost from food scraps, yard waste, tea bags, coffee grounds, shredded newspaper & other household waste. There are many books available at your local library or on line to show you step by step how-to setup the right compost system for your family.

In this writers opinion, going green is changing your lifestyle by conserving, recycling & doing what you can to save the Earth’s resources in your community and, by the way, saving yourself some money in the process. Nothing Earth shattering! Start simple, start small; as long as you start today.

? Linda Watts – All Rights Reserved