Ways to Go Green and Save Money

Going green doesn't just mean plunking down some heavy dough for organic everything! There are some ways that you can go green and save money at the same time. Consider your lifestyle and the bigger ways that you can help reduce your carbon footprint on this world through green living. While you may not be able to go out and buy a hybrid car now, there are certainly other ways to go green and save money.

Here are some things you can consider to move toward a greener life:

Buy used clothing
Used clothing stores are becoming quite the trend and it's not just because of the recession. A lot of buyers are becoming more conscious of consumerism and material goods and thinking twice about buying completely new clothes considering all the labor and manufacturing that goes into each garment. Used clothing stores seek to extend the life of clothes and continue on their cycle of wear. Most used clothing stores are a great place to pick up gently used and sometimes designer threads at a highly discounted price. Buying used clothes is a way to go green and save money in a meaningful way.

Used cloth napkins and cloth paper towels
Cloth napkins aren't just for fancy restaurants anymore! Consider buying some cool fabric to sew your own cloth napkins and paper towels. You can certainly keep a stack of paper napkins handy, but try making a habit of using your cloth napkins which will help to reduce waste and save money.

Hang dry your laundry
Dryers use a lot of energy, especially if you do laundry often. Consider buying a drying rack and hang drying some of your laundry instead of putting your clothes through a drying cycle. Also, if you are using cloth napkins, this could be especially useful in reducing waste and saving more money. Aside from saving money, you will also be reducing the wear and tear on your clothes. If you can't stand the thought of stiff jeans, consider hang drying certain types of clothes to begin with, such as lingerie, delicate tops and dresses, under garments, etc...

Ride your bike and/or use more public transportation
One of the best ways to go green and save money is to reduce your driving. Consider walking, biking, or using public transportation for errands that are nearby. Not only will you be saving money on gas and reducing air pollution - you will be getting exercise and sunshine, nothing wrong with that!

Grow your own vegetable garden
Consider planting your own vegetable garden this spring. Come summer you will be able to save a lot of money through simply consuming your own homegrown food! Growing a garden helps to spark a natural community of wildlife that thrive in lively and green environments. You do not need a lot of space to grow a garden; tomatoes and green beans can be grown in a decent sized pot, so there's no excuse in just trying to make it happen - nature can surprise us sometimes!

Use the public library
The public library is a great place to go green and save money. The library not only has books, including the latest best sellers, but also movies, magazines, and music compact discs. Instead of purchasing books or music from bookstore, considering checking it out from the library. If you are a bookworm, then this could save you hundreds of dollars a month and reduce material waste.

Buy vintage
Aside from clothes, consider other items that you can buy used or vintage. Great pieces of furniture, books, electronics and other goodies can be found at thrift stores at reasonable prices. There are even ways to get creative by refurbishing old furniture with new upholstery or with a fresh coat of paint.