Comments on: Save Money and the Enviroment at the Same Time?

By: Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet

Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:52:56 +0000

One trash can a year! wow! I feel so wasteful now.

By: Amber Weinberg

Amber Weinberg — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:30:55 +0000

I’ve been trying to be more environemtally cautious also. I traded in my S2000 for a Yaris, I turn off my A/C and unplug all electronics if I leave for the weekend, and I bought a bunch of CFL’s. Little things really do add up after a small amount of time.

By: ike

ike — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:55:28 +0000

I go to Aldi’s as the Nightline story says.Not bulk but off brands that taste good.Vegetables usually lower too.Next door to Aldis is a large Asian Market where I get Tea and noodles way under a dollar a pkg.
ike

By: Frugalchick

Frugalchick — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:31:19 +0000

I’ve been trying to be more eco-friendly for the last few years and I can attest that saving money is a pleasant side effect of going green.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:18:10 +0000

Hey, it’s Heather from EnviroMom. Thanks so much for the shout-out! On the increased laundry issue: if you are always washing full loads of laundry, then you will not notice any increase. We throw our napkins and towels in with our clothing, and we wash exclusively on cold. Even the whites. Everything comes out just as clean and fresh. (Trust me, I have a super picky husband on this issue.) And yep, we use Biokleen powered laundry detergent, and because it’s so concentrated I only need to buy two boxes a year. Give cloth a try!

By: Andy @ Retire at 40

Andy @ Retire at 40 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:33:36 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the paper towel thing in my head for a few weeks now. If you buy something which you throw away, then you’re throwing away money. I intend on buying cloth wipes which I can use (and wash) in replacement of paper towels. This will spread thoughout the rest of my life too.

If this has good consequences for my wallet and the environment, then I’m all for it.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:03:14 +0000

Even if you use green cleaners, I can’t imagine that these are developed in zero-emission factories (run on solar power) and zero environmental-effect packaging. This may be nit-picky, just pointing out that it’s hard to calculate.

By: Studenomics

Studenomics — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:45:29 +0000

I don’t agree with the buying in bulk 100%. I feel that inorder to practice this concept you must possess self control. Many people will buy in bulk and then in the end eat more and have to buy again more frequently. Buying in bulk is not for everyone I believe.

I also feel that you must find the optimal trade off between going green and your wallet. How much extra money are you willing to spend inorder to purchase a more greener product?

By: ckstevenson

ckstevenson — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:22:30 +0000

“I would think that you’d have more laundry and have to do more loads of dishes. This would obviously use more water and soap.” Using cloth napkins or non-plastic utensils may result in more washing, but if you are using green cleaners then you aren’t doing damage in that respect. And while using more water isn’t desired, it is at least natural and recycled through the environment.

By: Miss M

Miss M — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:37:27 +0000

A lot of “green” changes can save you greenbacks as well. Things like turning off lights, using less heat and AC, using less water, buying reusable rather than disposable items, the list goes on and on. The times green gets more expensive is usually organic food and large home upgrades like solar panels.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:27:16 +0000

Thanks for these great tips, and the information. It is amazing how small changes can add up to a big difference. But I think it’s important to realize that in many cases, it’s about making a lifestyle change.