This is a guest post from Robyn, who gives lots of advice on frugal living on her blog A Dime Saved. Robyn is a millennial mum of 3 on a budget. Her blog is full of great ideas on how to raise a family on a budget to get your finances in order. Here, she gives some money saving tips to help the environment.
If you are anything like me, you’re passionate about saving our planet.
If you are anything like me, you’re passionate about saving money.
Good thing the two often work well together!
I have always felt that frugal living and saving the environment go hand-in-hand. Stretching and preserving our resources to reduce waste, minimizing our footprint, and saving for future generations are principles that work well with both living frugally and being eco-friendly.
I also believe that for both: every little bit counts. Each small measure that we take adds up and makes a big difference. So no matter the circumstance, we must do our part and try to do the best we can.
There are plenty of scientists and individuals who spend their lives searching for unique ways to save our environment, and some might actually work. Even if you don’t have time to solve the world’s pollution or water crisis, you can still make a difference in your community. Every little bit counts.
Not only will these easy tips help you reserve energy and save the planet, but you will also save money while you are doing it. There is no excuse!
Here are a few unique ways you can help the environment around you:
Eight Easy Tips to Save Our Planet and Some Money
1. Replace Your Clothes Dryer with a Heat-Pump Clothes Dryer
A heat pump dryer uses less electricity (about 40%- 50% less) and doesn’t vent your conditioned air to the outside. Heat pump dryers may be slightly costlier upfront, but you will save money on each load you do. You could save anywhere from 14 to 27 pence (20 to 38 cents) a load. In turn, you are helping the environment as you are using less electricity.
Keep in mind that a heat pump dryer may be a little bit louder than your typical dryer, so you may want to be cautious about when you choose to do loads.
Want to save even more money and reduce your energy consumption even more? Hang your clothes to dry as much as possible. Not using a clothing dryer at all will save you a lot in energy costs and will use less power. Even better? Your clothes will often last longer and will not fade as quickly when they are air-dried rather than dried in a dryer.
2. Use Fewer Cleaning Supplies When Cleaning Your Home
Instead of using fancy, different cleaners in your home, switch over to the basics. You can DIY many of your cleaning solutions or use hot water and soap. Many cleaners that are marketed for specific uses can be very easily substituted for some plain bleach or a vinegar solution.
3. Do a Home Energy Audit
The best way to do a home energy audit is to hire a professional. However, if you would like to save a little bit of money, you can do it yourself. You will need to check your ventilation, check for air leaks, check insulation, and more. It may take some time, but it can save you money over time.
4. Build Your Own Solar Panels
Are you a do-it-yourselfer? Build it solar offers ideas and tutorials on how to execute energy conservation projects. Everything from solar panels to bubble wrapping your windows can lower your energy cost and help the environment.
If installing solar is not an option, there are several excellent options to invest in solar and renewable energy.
5. Unplug All of Your Appliances
Did you know that your appliances and electronics pull energy even when not in use? So keeping items plugged in when you are not using them is wasting your money.
Many electronic devices, such as TVs, DVD players, and video game systems use small amounts of power even when turned off. Unplug small kitchen appliances such as your microwave or coffee machine, and plug your electronics into a power bar for an easy off-switch. The power bar will also act as a surge protector and may protect your belongings from damage should there be a power spike.
Disconnecting your appliances and electronics will also reduce the chance of electrical fires. When electronics age, some wiring can become faulty and spark. You don’t want to take the risk.
Note: Leaving your computer on sleep mode or standby still uses your electricity.
6. Use a Bike Instead of a Car
Bikes are a great way to get around town and are a healthy form of transportation. You can use them to avoid traffic, save money on gas, and help the environment. Bikes are also a great way to exercise and get some fresh air.
7. Use Cloth Napkins
Cloth napkins are a great way to reduce waste and save money. They also give your table a more elegant and classy look. The trend of using cloth napkins has been gaining momentum in recent years. This is due to the desire to use less paper and plastic, increase the lifespan of the napkins, and reduce the amount of waste.
You also don’t need to stop at cloth napkins. You can use cloth instead of paper towels, diapers, or sanitary pads.
8. DIY and Zero-Waste Your Home Décor
Of course, you want your home to look nice and neat. Everyone wants a nice living area that is presentable and welcoming. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or buy many plastic or new items to make that happen. All those boxes and containers that you bring home from the store? You can reuse them for a different purpose. Be creative in reusing things that you would ordinarily throw out. You would be surprised with how many things you can repurpose and fix up!
Don’t forget that you can also upcycle items in your home that you already own too, as Jane shows in this post. (You can also see how she did it on her YouTube channel here.
There are countless ways to save money while saving the environment. Get creative and take action to do your part!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like Ten easy ways to reduce plastic waste and save money and How to prevent food waste – and save money too.
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