5 Tips to Save Money and the Environment
It’s no secret that the world is in an economic crisis. Whether you are trying to save up for college, or just want to cut back on your monthly expenses, here are five tips to help you become more financially responsible and eco-conscious at the same time.
Since education costs continue to rise, many people are looking for ways to save money while still pursuing their educations. There are several great options out there for students who wish to go green while saving some green as well. One way to do this is by attending a community college for two years before transferring. This will allow students to double up on credits and use fewer resources (e.g., less gas traveling between schools). Also, thanks to online courses, it has become easier than ever to get the high-quality education you need, all while staying in your pajamas.
If you want to go even greener, there are several colleges out there that do not require students to attend classes on campus at all (however some courses do require some type of on-campus sessions). To find one near you, check the College Campus Green Directory. If attending a school with no physical campus is not an option, try checking out your university’s study abroad programs. Not only will this give you great insight into other cultures and societies (which is what college is about anyway), but it’ll also be a great way to cut down transportation costs while still earning credit hours for your degree. There are countless ways to go green while going back to school, you just need to know where to look.
One of the most eco-friendly things a person can do is install solar panels on their homes and businesses. Not only is this a greener way to power your house or office, but research shows that installing solar panels can reduce your energy bills by as much as 80%. Although prices of solar panel installation have been dropping across the nation, it’s currently still prohibitively expensive for some people. In fact, according to one study, the average home spends around $84/month on electricity costs. If you were able to cut those costs down by 80%, that would be equivalent to paying about $7/month on electricity! It may be a long road, but it’s a road well worth traveling on.
From toll roads to gas prices to airline fees, many of us feel that we are being nickeled and dimed more often than not these days. Although some expenses may be unavoidable, there are some easy ways to save money every month by making a few small changes around the house. Here are five tips for saving cash without sacrificing the quality of life:
Replace your standard light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs. Although they cost you more upfront, they will save you tons of cash in the long run because they use so much less power. If you’re really committed to reducing your electric bill, just get a few solar panels installed outside which can power most of your home during daylight hours.
Use reusable shopping bags for all your grocery shopping. Not only will this cut down on the amount of plastic bags you use, but it’ll also save you a few bucks as well. With many stores now charging anywhere from 10 to 50 cents per bag, those savings can really add up over time!
Eat less red meat and more vegetables. Although there are some great reasons to eat beef (namely protein and iron), studies show that eating less meat is healthier both for people and the planet. Not only do cattle take up huge amounts of space which reduces wildlife habitat, but they produce tons of methane gas. Methane traps 20 times more heat than Co2 so reducing its emission is very important for global warming prevention. And besides,, who doesn’t love a good veggie burger?
When you’re not using your vehicle, be sure to unplug it. Although this may seem like an odd tip at first, one of the best ways to save money and energy is by turning off nonessential electronics. Simply unplugging your car will do wonders for both your electric bill and the environment as idling cars waste more gas than most people realize. And so what if you forget and leave your headlights on overnight? If they run for 8 hours straight, that’s only 80 cents you’re wasting (not even counting how much gas was wasted starting up the engine).
As with many things in life that require sacrifice, some changes are more painful than others. For those who can’t justify the cost of solar panels, consider just unplugging your car. Getting rid of some meat one or two times a week may be annoying, but not nearly as much as giving up some of your favorite activities. Sorting through all these seemingly small choices can be more time-consuming than actually doing them. But in the end, it’s worth it because saving money on electricity and gas is more fun than anything else you could do with that hour every day! Plus, scrimping here and there will give you more leeway for that study abroad experience you’ve always wanted.
It’s no secret that the world is in an economic crisis. Whether you are trying to save up for college, or just want to cut back on your monthly expenses, here are five tips to help you become more financially responsible and eco-conscious at the same time. Since education costs continue to rise, many people…