I’ve got two words for you: Live. Green.

Living green is probably one of the fastest, easiest ways to save money.

√ You spend less because you end up buying less, which lets you save more.

√ The shifts you make to greener products and services improve your quality of life and are better for the planet – saving energy, saving water, reducing pollution, and creating a healthier environment.

Here are 13 of the easiest, quickest shifts you can make to start saving money right away, with thanks to the Trust Deed Scotland, our sponsors for this post.

 13 Ways to Save $5,000 a Year

• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb ………………………………… $5 – $10/yr/per bulb
  (shift from incandescent bulbs to CFLs or LEDs for electricity savings)

• Reusable Water Bottle ………………………………..…….………………   $250 – $500/yr
  (shift from throwaway bottled water to a reusable bottle you refill at home or out)

• Take Lunch to Work ………….……………….……..…..………………               $1560/yr
  (shift from buying lunch in throwaway packaging to taking lunch in reusables)

• Programmable Thermostat ……………………………..………………                 $150/yr
  (automatically set your heating & cooling temps to save money summer & winter)

• Low Flow Shower Heads, H2O Saving Toilets ………..………………         $72/yr
  (reduce the amount of water you use by installing water saving faucets, toilets)

• Smart Power Strip ……………………………………..…………..………………   $94/yr
  (save electricity by turning off all electronics plugged into the same power strip)

• Window and Door Weather Stripping ……………………………………     $129/yr
  (reduce heat loss by sealing leaks around doors and windows)

• Improve Car Fuel Economy ……………………………..…………………… $1780/yr
  (get a tune up, replace air filters, keep tires pumped up & drive the speed limit)

• Skip One Driving Trip Each Week ………………….…………………           $225/yr
  (telecommute, car pool, use mass transit, walk or bicycle)

• ENERGY STAR Washing Machine …………$50/yr on energy, 7,000 gallons H2O
  (Use less energy, save water using an ENERGY STAR washing machine)

• Make-at-Home Non-toxic Cleansers ……………….…………                  $500/yr
  (make your own basic cleaners out of baking soda, H2O, & fragrance-free liquid soap)

• Total ……………………………………………………………..…………….       $5,070/yr

Source: Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World

Simple shifts make all the distance. A sponge instead of paper towels. Buying gently used rather than brand new. Sharing rather than buying new. The savings will mount the more you do!

What’s your favorite way to live green and save money? Please share!

NOTE: Trust Deed Scotland helps people who are struggling with their unsecured debts. It creates an opportunity for people in debt in Scotland to freeze interest on their debts, then make one affordable monthly payment to reduce debt over time. For more information, contact TrustDeedScotland. 

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Next to your mortgage (if you have one), you probably spend more money on food and groceries than any other item in your budget. You can cut expenses way down by following some of these ingenious and eco-friendly ways to save money on groceries:

1) Eat the food you buy. I’m not being facetious. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that people throw away 30 percent of the groceries they buy because the food spoils before it is eaten or people lose track of leftovers in their fridge or freezer. Keep a list of what you have in the fridge on the front door so you remember what you have to cook.

See also: The Three Best Ways to Reduce Food Waste

2) Love your leftovers. Many meals actually taste better reheated, especially those in sauces, like spaghetti, soups and stews. Want to get more creative? Use cooked vegetables, like green beans and potatoes, in a salad with carrots, tomatoes, and crisp greens.  Just add a little vinaigrette and eat up! Or, puree them and add them to soup.

3) Store food in air-tight containers. It’s worth investing in some good glass containers with tight-fitting lids so that when you put leftovers away, they’ll last a few days in the fridge. Use a piece of masking tape to date and label what’s inside.

4) Give up bottled water. In most parts of the United States, local tap water is just as good as, if not better than, bottled water, and it’s many times cheaper. Buy a water filter and keep a pitcher of filtered tap water in the fridge. Or, fill up some reusable water bottles with filtered tap water. You can save $10-$15 a week, depending on how much bottled water you buy currently.

See also: 5 Best Reusable Water Bottles

5) Eat less meat. I’m primarily a vegetarian, but my kids eat meat once or twice a week. That probably adds $20 – $30 a week to my grocery bill. Cut back on serving meat as a main course, at the very least. A chicken-stir fry will use a lot less meat than serving a whole chicken breast.

6) Eat more vegetables and grains. For grains, try brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, wild rice and polenta. With veggies, whatever is in season and looks good works. If you’re not sure what to cook, check out our Meatless Monday recipes.

7) Cook your own beans, peas and lentils. You can buy a whole bag of dried beans, peas, and lentils, and cook up what you need. Or, you can spend twice the money to get them canned. Cooking them yourself just requires a little advance planning, since you need to soak them overnight or put them in a slow cooker. It’s worth the effort, not just because you’ll save money, but because they’ll be tastier and healthier, too. Canned food usually has way more salt in it than we want or need, and many food cans are lined with BPA, a nasty chemical linked to reproductive problems.

8) Replace meat with eggs for protein. I like protein as much as the next person, but I usually get mine from eggs. Twelve organic eggs costs around $4 a dozen where I live – but compare that to steak, which might be $8 or $9 a pound. Plus, a dozen eggs can feed five or six people; one measly steak is good for only one. There’s really no comparison where your budget is concerned.

1 Dozen Eggs – $4; Feeds 5 people

1 Steak – $8/$9; Feeds 1 person

9) Buy in bulk. If your store offers bulk bins, start shopping there. The price per pound will be significantly cheaper. Otherwise, you can buy bulk online or at big box stores. It makes sense to buy rice, popcorn, cereal, and many grains in bulk. You can buy meat in bulk, as well.

See also: The 10 Best Foods to Buy in Bulk

10) Identify the most and least expensive meals you regularly cook. Cook more of the meals that cost you less, and save the expensive foods for special occasions. For example, a vegetable-rich lasagna  with a salad might cost around $3.50 – $5.00 serving. Steak and potatoes would cost twice that.

11) Join a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture works by letting you buy a full or half share in the produce a farm generates in a season. It generally turns out to be a very generous delivery of greens and vegetables.

Want to find a CSA near you? Here’s where to look. 

12) Grow your own. At least in the summer, can you grow and harvest lettuces and tomatoes for salads, bush beans or pole beans, snap peas, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and more. Even if you buy the most expensive seeds (which you don’t need to do), you’ll save hundreds of dollars when your crops come in.

Get our Top 10 Tips for Organic Gardening right here.

13) Raise your own chickens. One of the fastest growing trends in the food world is that people in cities and suburbs are raising their own chickens, especially for the eggs. Check your municipal zoning regulations before getting started.

14) Shop with a list you make from recipes you plan to cook. You’ll avoid impulse buying by shopping for the ingredients you actually plan to use.

15) Skip single-serving pre-packaged food. It’s estimated that shoppers spend $1 out of every $11 on packaging we just throw away. Single servings are the worst offenders. Invest in reusable containers or bags, then dole out chips, cookies, nuts and other snacks or lunch items yourself. If you have kids, have them do that at night, after supper, so they learn early how to save money when they shop.

RELATED

10 Delicious Meat-Free Foods to Grill

Afford Organic Food! Top 10 Organic Food $$$$ Busters

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Green living can save anyone money, but for seniors facing retirement, going green is especially economical. Choosing an eco-friendly lifestyle can save literally hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year through simple steps that won’t crimp your style but definitely improve your life. And all that green living will help leave a healthier legacy for future generations, too. Want the specifics? Here you go.

10 Ways Green Living Seniors Save Money

1) Energy – Green living seniors use less energy to heat, cool, light, and power their homes. That means they have taken steps to: insulate attics and crawl spaces; weatherstrip windows and doors; install curtains or blinds over windows on the north (cold) side of the house, and awnings and shades on the south (hot) side. Green living seniors also use a programmable thermostat to make it easy to automatically reduce energy consumption when they’re not home. This model, the Nest, is one option.

2) Water – Green living seniors don’t waste money buying bottled water, which ounce for ounce can cost 10,000 times more than tap water. Instead, they have made a one-time purchase of a water filter and fill their own reusable bottles and pitchers with filtered tap water. Depending on how much bottled water they previously bought, these smart seniors could be saving $10 or more a week.

3) Food – According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most consumers throw away at least 30% of the food they buy because they forget about it and it spoils, or it passes its expiration date. Green seniors keep track of what’s in their fridge and pantry; find yummy ways to enjoy leftovers; and shop from grocery lists so they don’t buy too much in the first place. They also buy from the bulk bins, where they can buy as much or as little as they need and avoid the excess packaging that also drives up the price of our food.

4) Cars, Car/Van Pooling, and Car Sharing – Seniors living together who retire often find that they no longer need two cars, or don’t need their own car as much as before. It’s more economical to maintain and fuel only one car, and to take advantage of the van pools that many communities now offer their senior citizens. Plus, with the expansion of car sharing services like Zip Car, it is becoming much more convenient to share cars rather than maintain your own. This is particularly true with Zip Car. You pay an annual membership fee and an hourly use for the vehicle. But you don’t pay for insurance, gas or oil, new tires, or maintenance.

5) Bicycling – In retirement, seniors find they have more time and interest in bicycling for recreation or to get chores done. It’s a great oil-free, pollution-free way to get around town without having to spend money on gasoline, and of course, it will keep you in shape.

6) Mass Transit – Cities that have mass transit systems usually offer seniors big discounts for taking the bus or subway. Check with your municipality to see when the discount kicks in. In Washington, D.C., it’s age 65, but it could be as early as 60 or 62 where you live.

7) Downsize – Downsizing to a smaller home or apartment probably saves the most money on heating, cooling, and maintenance. The environmental benefits can’t be beat either, since a smaller dwelling has a smaller carbon footprint, and will use less water (fewer bathrooms? less lawn to water?) and require less “stuff” in terms of furnishings, paint, cleaning products and more.

8) Extra Care Communities – Rather than downsize to a smaller home, many seniors are opting to move into retirement communities which are already designed to save energy and other resources, and make it easy to bicycle or take van pools rather than drive. Some communities specialize in eco-friendly dwellings and offer their residents organic gardening options and opportunities to volunteer on green projects. Others maximize energy efficiency through wise construction practices, community design, and use of LED lights and water-saving appliances.

9) Travel – Green living seniors in the U.S. who have a sense of adventure can enjoy many opportunities to volunteer with the National Park Service or the National Wildlife Refuge System. In some parks, you can camp at low or no cost in exchange for volunteer services. If you put in 250 hours over the course of a year, you’ll earn a free annual pass to national parks and other wilderness and wildlife destinations. At the age of 62, for just $10, you can buy a lifetime pass that will gain you free entry to the nation’s national parks, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management public lands.

10) Library – Libraries offer seniors an absolutely free way to access almost any information you want. If you don’t have a computer, use one at the library. Rather than buy a book, borrow it. The same goes for movies and music. Plus, use the library to read your favorite magazines and newspapers.  You’ll save money on the buying side, and do your part to cut back on the amount of paper that needs to be printed, since you’ll be sharing all these materials rather than owning them outright. If you have an e-reader, you can probably download a lot of what you want from the library’s website so you don’t have to make the visit there if you don’t want to.

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Where to start?

1) Go to your own cupboard or storage boxes first. If you haven’t already done so, check the stashes of pens, pencils, crayons and paper leftover from last year before buying new. SAVINGS:  $25-$50/child

2)  Use last year’s backpacks and lunch boxes. Most backpacks are made from pretty heavy duty material that can last for several years. SAVINGS:  $50-$125/child, depending on backpack.

3) Before you shop, swap. At sites like swap.com, you can swap everything from clothing and toys to games and sporting equipment. Want to swap in your community? Here are some ideas for setting up a neighborhood school supply swap.

4)  Shop yard sales and thrift stores for back-to-school clothes. SAVINGS:  $100 – $250/child, depending on your usual clothes budget.

5) Borrow sports equipment and rent musical instruments. Is your daughter trying hockey for the first time? Not sure if your son is a budding violinist or just likes to hear the bow scratch? Borrow skates or rent the violin until you’re sure a purchase makes sense. SAVINGS:  $50 – $250.

6) Keep a supplies drawer or bin throughout the school year. It’s easy to think you need pens or pencils when you can’t find the ones you have. Keep all the school supplies together in one spot – a drawer, some shelves, a bin – where anyone can get what they need without having to buy it. You don’t need anything fancy.  Old shoeboxes can hold tape dispensers, staplers, and paper clips. Empty sauce jars can hold pens, pencils, and rulers. Contain reams of paper with rubber bands. Make it easy, organized and convenient.

Total Savings: $225 – $675 per child.

Check Our Amazon Back-to-School Store

When you do need to shop for new supplies, ask for the greenest items available: recycled paper, pens that use non-toxic ink, cloth backpacks and lunch bags, stainless steel water bottles. You can start in our store, or simply take a look to get an idea of what to seek out when you head to the mall.

The post Six Green Ways To Save Hundreds of Dollars on School Supplies appeared first on Big Green Purse.

On Earth Day, all of us here are sharing our stories so you know that just the opposite is true! My own experience is that going green actually saves me several thousand dollars a year while increasing my quality of life. That’s because I’ve figured out how to reduce what I buy, reuse what I have, and save energy and water, two items (especially energy) that could otherwise cost me hundreds of dollars a year. I put my top suggestions in a new ebook that’s free to download if you want more information.

Want even ore ideas to go green and save money? Here’s how a lot of people I know and respect are also saving money by being green:

Betsy at Eco-Novice offers very concrete ways to save money on products that otherwise increase your exposure to toxic chemicals. Her helpful post includes 6 switches she’s made that you can, too, including a switch from disposable plastic baggies to reusable food bags in food-safe fabrics in a variety of sizes, from snack to gallon.

Kristina of The Greening of Westford recommends using local libraries to borrow books and movies for kids and adults alike rather than go out and buy them brand new. Also, she says, if you do want to buy, drop in to your library’s book sales, where they generally sell used books at greatly reduced prices. Kristina notes that she brings the process full circle by donating the books she buys back to the library at some point so they can be re-sold again.

Brittney Gordon-Williams, Communications Manager for EPA’s ENERGY STAR products, ticks off some specific ways consumers can save money by saving energy. For example, did you know that ENERGY STAR certified LED light bulbs use 70-90% less energy and last 25x longer than your old incandescent bulbs?  Or that enabling your computer and monitor’s power management fatures can save you up to $90 a year?  Brittney invites you to check out My ENERGY STAR for more tips and energy-saving suggestions.

Beth from My Plastic Free Life has found many ways to save money by going plastic free. Of course, she saves a lot of money by using a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water, and she’s reused all kinds of glass jars for food storage, rather than by new plastic ones. She skips new plastic shampoo bottles and deodorant applicators by mixing up those products herself from baking soda and other ingredients, and then storing them in the same containers over and over.  And she’s learned how to fix many things when they break rather than replace them – the ultimate money-saving strategy.

Anna at Green-Talk offers lots of useful ways to go green in the kitchen and save money, too. For example, “don’t forget to install an inexpensive aerator for your faucet to reduce your water usage as well as your bill,” she suggsts. Plus, “Don’t stop there. Plants need water? Water them with leftover cooking water or half drunken glasses of water.” Good idea!

At Groovy Green Livin’, Lori has a great list of “15 Ways to Be Green Without Spending a Dime.” One that has saved me a bundle over the years is her #14: “use Freecycle, Craigs List or other sites that have free stuff.” It’s all about reusing and keeping good stuff out of landfills,” she says. Amen to that!

Paige of Spit That Out the Book recommends using coupons from green companies to offset their costs. She provides a long list of green couponers, green coupon aggregators and flash sale sites, which was totally new to me.

Leigh Ann at Green4U offers this unique suggestion to save money and go green, too: Invite friends over for dinner, rather than go to a bar or the movies. Make it potluck so everyone participates, and rotate houses so the same person isn’t hosting all the time. Great idea!

 Sommer at Green & Clean Mom reminds people that “Less Meat Means Less Money.” Generally, she reminds us, “veggies, rice and beans cost much less than meat products. In this economy, as fuel prices and food prices rise, we can expect meat to become an expensive habit. Reduce your meat consumption and save a little.”

Karen at EcoKaren offers a terrific list of “11 Things You Should Never Buy to Be Safe and Save Money.” For example, skip the pre-cut drumsticks and chicken breasts – a whole chicken is half the price. Chicken stock in a box? Not when you can make it yourself much more cheaply from the bones of that chicken you just cut up. As for canned tomatoes, many cans are lined with BPA, a toxic chemical linked to birth defects. Maybe it’s time to learn how to can or freeze tomatoes yourself?

Jen of Jen and Joey Go Green doesn’t shy away from the fact that sometimes, “eating healthy is going to cost you more than pre-packaged food. That is just the way the kale crumbles!” However, “pre-planning will help you spend less on healthy food than you would buying processed foods that are full of chemicals.” That sounds like a good trade to me!

Trina at O’Boy! Organic also focused on food, offering real food money saving tips that help her on a weekly basis.  She says she’s able to keep her food bill down to $150 a week by planning her menus, using foods she already has, having at least one leftover night in the week, buying meat in bulk, and buying staple items online. Her links to the various shopping sites she uses are very helpful, too.

For a few more ways to save money buying food, here’s my list of Top Ten Organic Food Price Busters. As Stacy of Move The Market says, “If money is energy, I want to invest mine in creating the world I want to live in…As I’ve happily discovered, what’s best for my body and the planet is often best for my budget, too.” That is so true!

How do you save money going green? Please share you suggestions!

 Want More Money-Saving Tips?

Top Ten Ways to Beat the High Price of Gas

Top Ten Ways to Save Energy and Money at Home

The post Go Green, Save Money. Here’s How! appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Yet that’s exactly what Bonnie C., a 26-year old resident of Washington, D.C., has done. Bonnie is single, lives in an apartment, and works for the U.S. Government. Here’s her story:

“I read a blog post of yours last year encouraging readers to redirect $1000 in spending to green purchases.  This really struck me, and I decided to try it.  I hit $1000 in December when I installed my own programmable thermostat.  Here’s how I did it:

BONNIE’S BIG GREEN SHIFTS

Used furniture (sofa, dining table, patio table, TV, TV cabinet): $340, but the TV and cabinet were free!

 Used Bike: $250

Garden Plot, tools, soil: $200

Organic Food: $75

Glass food containers: $40

Organic Body Products: $5 (but I’ve only run out of toothpaste, so I expect this number to grow)

No VOC Paint: $40

CFL Lightbulbs: $20

Green Cleaning Products: $25

Programmable Thermostat: $34

Total: $1029

Even though I live in an apartment, I installed the thermostat and painted – I’ll change them back when I move out.

I think it’s also interesting to note that most of these purchases saved me money.  I’m 26, and I don’t have a large budget to reallocate, but by buying used items, I must have saved hundreds.  The lightbulbs and thermostat will save me money, AND I don’t have to get out of bed in a cold house!  I also bought a fuel-efficient Honda Fit that gets about 34 mpg on average for my typical commute, but 37-38 on long road trips.

This year I’m planning to shift more spending towards food and beauty products.  I’m also trying to get a roommate, which will not only cut down on expenses, but house 2 people using about the same energy as 1.

Most of these were really easy changes, but I’m still getting over sticker shock of organic food and beauty products.

Changing out the thermostat was surprisingly easy.  Yes, there were tons of poorly labeled wires, but we followed the directions carefully and it only took about 30 minutes.

Next I’m looking for a roommate!  I’m also going to try to get into composting.  And I’ll keep migrating to better food and beauty products.”

Bonnie’s also going to keep working on her boyfriend, who was helpful if skeptical. “He was reluctant at first,” she says, “but had a positive view after we finished those projects (installing the thermostat and setting up the garden plot).”  I’m still trying to get him into better toiletries and food, but he was a quick sell on green cleaning products!”

Thanks for blogging and motivating me!”
Bonnie

As Bonnie knows, every dollar you shift makes a difference. The way you spend your money is your first line of defense against products that contain toxic ingredients or waste energy. Just as importantly, buying “green” encourages companies to reduce pollution and use water and other natural resources with greater care. Plus, choosing more environmental options often saves you money immediately. For all these reasons, the Big Green Purse One in a Million campaign inspires people to set a goal of shifting at least $1,000 of money they’d spend anyway on the most environmentally-friendly products available.

Thousands of people have already committed to shifting their spending. Why don’t you? You can sign up here.

For more inspiring stories like Bonnie’s, start here.

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What inspired you to make so many “green” changes in your life? My doctoral studies were in MindBody medicine and holistic healing…which led directly to my first change: become a vegetarian(1991)—which reversed bone loss. In the intervening years I continued to study, teach courses, and give lectures and workshops on holistic healing and spirituality. My studies and workshop presentations expanded in 2005 after I learned about the known health risks associated with land fills at a meeting of the local chapter for the League of Women Voters. The local land fill had expanded despite opposition and was (and is again) asking to expand.

Troubled by the evidence, I began reading about recycling, which led me to studies about plastics, cleaning agents, bath and body care, cosmetics, and, surprisingly, food safety and how they affected human health and the environment.  The readily available evidence was, and remains, shocking and deeply distressing.  I believe that all of us need to be more conscious of the factors which affect our health and over which we can chose to  have control, with our voices,  pocket book, and votes. As a person living with a life-long disability I felt that, based on this new learning, I had a responsibility to act on it by making conscious choices about my life and health as I move toward retirement and continued aging! That led to my second change: I became a vegan, eating only organic foods at home, and have reaped more health benefits than I imagined possible. No more antibiotics and hormones I didn’t chose, need or want; no more insecticides and pesticides bred into Genetically Engineered foods—as  far as I can determine and choose; reading labels to avoid corn derivatives and high fructose.

All of this learning, alongside continued growth and new learning in my spirituality and prayer life, led me to my third change: a decision to become conscious and present to the world and nature around me, as well as to family, friends, and neighbors. All of life breathes the same air, is exposed to the same water, and shares the consequences of toxins in the land fill. The very least I could do was to avoid adding toxic, disposable, meaningless stuff or organic garbage, leading to my fourth change: changing my patterns of consumption, understanding the what and why of every purchase. Suddenly you see the stuff that clutters home, office, car and life.  Stuff that wastes financial resources and generally obscures the meaning or purpose of one’s life. De-cluttering is a lesson in letting go and led to my fifth change, saving money as my shopping habits changed.

Are your choices for you alone or for a household? I live alone but children and grandchildren visit often. They know the routine — I have posted a list of what items go in the paper basket, the compost pail, the small garbage basket, the shredder and the recycling can (in kitchen). The cleaning woman, handy man, and lawn person know what does where in garage containers each week.

What was harder than you thought? Eating out with NO dairy products. My experience has been that the majority of  restaurants, chefs, and cooks in small cities are not well-informed or prepared to serve vegetarians and vegans.

What was easier? The absolute easiest thing was simply adding each new change as I came to it and then living into it.  I have a savings account for my ‘annual savings,’ which I use for life-giving organic foods, addressing needs (recreation, retreat, play) instead of wants, and enjoying a healthier and more purposeful life!

What’s next? These changes are part of a spiritual journey that I hope will continue to evolve and deepen.  I hope my example or words will save at least one person and one child from the toxic effects known to exist in our environment, water, food, and products we consume or purchase in blind faith.  My greatest hope is that in the near future, Americans will take to the streets and demand accountability of corporations and government agencies for safe food and water, and non-toxic, renewable and sustainable products.   If we dream GREEN, we will become GREEN!

Nancy’s Green practices explained with savings:

Switch to natural cleaning agents – saving $800-900/yr. By natural, I mean: vinegar, baking soda, lemons, castile or natural soaps, peroxide, salt.NO BLEACH.

Create zero waste – saving $180/yr. The zero-waste effort led to canceling my trash service. In addition to a monthly fee,  they charged per bag beyond 2 bags, which can happen if your put leaves and grass clippings out. All organics, wet garbage, yard waste, and shredded paper, compostable picnic table ware (rare) go into compost. I have two piles so one is in use while second matures and gets used up. I use the simple layer method which Cornell advocates. I take my recycling to the municipal solid waste transfer station every 3 months. I also take one (1) $3.50 large plastic bag with non recyclable, non compostable garbage once a year.

Drink and carry tap water – saving $500+ annually.  I don’t want plastic toxins leaching every minute into my water. Plus, I want to eliminate CO2 emissions and costs of plastic bottles and transporting water world wide, often at the expense of poor people with little or no access to their own water supplies.In addition to saving money, I am expressing my personal values and beliefs in the face of big corporations that bottle and sell for profit water at the expense of poor people whose right to it has been stolen. (Here are some reusable bottle options.)

Buy $.99 reusable grocery bags, eliminating real costs of using and disposing of plastic bags – savings $100/yr.  These bags are also often used for giving small gifts rather than purchasing gift bags or wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, bows.

Limit gift giving – saving $500. My gift giving is generally limited to a small gift to open and a donation for relief of poverty in some way (e.g. mosquito nets; poultry to raise, feed, sustain income for a family; building a school in Sudan; and now, for Haiti.) There’s no over-spending for “just one more gift.” No environmental costs.

Drive fuel-efficient car less – saving an average of $100-$150/month, or $1200 – $1800/yr. As often as possible, I plan errands, appointments, and work travel so I can drive in a circle and save extra trips to buy food.  There are always the unexpected trips but planning cuts down on fuel costs. If I need something at the home improvement store/mall I wait, if possible, until I have a list of everything I need from stores in that area (12 miles away). This has cut shopping trips to the mall area to 4 or less per year. I generally work from a home office which also cuts fuel consumption.

Buy no fragrances: no perfume, scented candles, or air-freshners – saving $500+ annually. I open windows or doors; use all natural cosmetics, limited to foundation & rouge (see Cosmetics Database). Bath and body products are w/o fragrance and generally cost less. The health benefits are related to avoiding carcinogens, nano particles, phthalates, and asthma-causing ingredients.

Avoid plastic wrap – saving $150 annually. I  use brown wax paper in microwave (limited use) and re-useable plastic bowl covers or lids for food storage in glass kitchen ware. I never purchase plastic food containers.

Minimize paper – saving $300. I use compostable picnic ware for those few times I am unable to use washable ware.  I read newspapers online. When purchasing subscriptions to journals or placing catalog orders I request my contact info not be rented or sold. I am registered on the Mail Preferencing services and have a note on my credit records. This effort dramatically reduces junk mail and the amount of recycling I need to do.  All loose paper goes through my shredder and is added to compost pile. Magazines and journals are generally saved or shared.

Use compact light bulbs & other efficient appliances – saving $200/yr. CFLs, which last 708 years and use less electricity, power all light fixtures. I replaced my old refrigerator 4 years ago and purchased an energy-saving dishwasher recently. I turn off my computer when away from my desk for more than two (2) hours and overnight.  I turn off and unplug all electronics not in use, including the flat screen TV. I only turn on lights in rooms being occupied by a person and have attractive night lights in rooms which we may need to visit briefly after dark. My TV use is limited to evening news and occasionally a PBS special.

Buy used, refurbished goods – saving $2,000/yr, plus gas, energy and time to shop.  My purchases, beyond health and house maintenance, are generally confined to gently used, repurposed, or refurbished items.

Grow own food – saving $450-$500 on food, garden chemicals. I have two “square foot garden” boxes in which I grow organic produce every year, and share with a daughter and family. I figure I save $700.00, of which I use $350.00 for a CSA share for fruits, potatoes, and other or, unusual, vegetables I don’t grow.

Conserve water – saving $100/yr.  I installed two free rain barrels, offered by our county storm water management for attending a course on storm water. The rain barrels collect roof water run off, which I use to water front and back, including vegetable, gardens. I have a small home but collected enough water to keep both barrels full all but a few days last summer, watering daily.

Installed gravel driveway – saving $4,000.  My paved driveway was torn up to install a dry ditch four years ago (for run off from a side hill). Hard surfaces cause storm water flooding and permit toxins to reach water supplies. Without hard surfaces, ground water is filtered by soil before it reaches water supplies. Consequently I choose not to repave the drive and instead have crushed stone. (I live in a traditional, residential neighborhood.)

Feeling inspired? Take the One in a Million challenge yourself. Get started here.

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Well, Kim (pictured right) also started buying more organic chocolates and tea (who can blaim her?), organic groceries,and organically-based personal care products like body lotions and shampoos. She printed her business cards on recycled paper and bought recycled envelopes, too. Plus, she bought a re-usable stainless steel lunch container so she could forego plastic bags or takeout boxes. All told, she shifted more than $1,000 in just a few months, qualifying her to become a One in a Million member.

Now, you might think it was a “no brainer” for Kim to put her money where her mouth is. After all, she is a green living consultant who has founded her own sustainable business and website. (Make sure you check out her work at GreenWell Consulting and GetGreenBeWell). But she still has to manage a budget, make choices when she shops, and evaluate trade-offs.

So I asked her, “What inspired you to make the shifts to greener products and services?” “I started living greener because of health problems that weren’t being adressed by modern medicine – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia,” she said. “After quickly realizing the positive health benefits of living green, I really became more in tune with how my decisions directly or indirectly affect the health of the planet as a whole. It’s a “Do unto others….” mentality that I have now.  What do my excessive spending habits do to the livelihoods of individuals less fortunate than us around the world?”

Then I wanted to know, “What was easy about the shifts? What was more challenging?”  “Buying organic and healthier foods was definitely easier. There’s an instant benefit there.  And buying green cleaners is a no-brainer. Same cost, or less, for the same cleaning power. Paying much more for healthier personal care products can be challenging sometimes, since the cost is often SO much more than the cheap stuff, but these are products that are being absorbed by your skin, so the health benefits to me are more important. I just find ways to use less stuff, and the savings justify the costs!”

Being intentional about how she’s spending her money has also inspired Kim to plan for the future. “I hope to invest in larger, more expensive items such as rain barrels, a composter, a drip irrigation system and even a hydroponic garden system,” she vows. “I know these are so important, but the initial expense can be quite expensive, especially when it also involves some modifications to your home.”

In the meantime, Kim will continue to make affordable shifts in her day-to-day purchases that benefit her as well as the environment.

Kim’s Shifts in 2010

Feeling inspired? You can join the One in a Million campaign yourself. Here’s how.

And to read about more One in a Million members, click here.

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The stay-at-home mother of three young boys lives with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina. She writes The Conscious Shopper blog, where her motto is “Go Green. Live Better. Save Money.” She’s also the newest member of our One in a Million campaign, joining almost 5,000 other folks who have shifted at least $1,000 of their household budgets to the greenest products and services available.

One thousand dollars sounds like a lot of money. But since we’re talking about shifting our spending, rather than adding to what we already spend, it’s something most of us can afford. Plus, if a million people do it, we could send a message worth a billion dollars to manufacturers that we want them to make our health and the environment a priority.  Here’s how Erin made the shift:

Every month I spend about $600 on local and/or organic groceries for my family of five. Over the past year, I’ve also spent:

$400 on a winter CSA membership
$60 on Charlie’s Soap laundry detergent
$54 on Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent and dish soap
$16 on recycled paper towels
$10 on trash bags made with recycled content
$45 on recycled toilet paper
$72 on Tom’s of Maine toothpaste
$30 on Preserve toothbrushes
$60 on organic make-up
$7 on Crystal deodorant
$173 on thrift store clothing and Simple Shoes
$27 to set up a worm bin
$52 on recycled printer paper

$1606 – Total

Erin’s shifts did not happen overnight.

“For a long time, I had a misconception that living green was expensive and therefore out of reach for my family,” she said. “Then one day, I got frustrated with the feeling that I was buying inferior and unhealthy products and that I wasn’t spending my money in accordance with my values. I decided just to go for it and see if I could buy organic, non-toxic, and fair trade products without blowing my family’s budget.

“At that time, our budget was extremely tight, but I found that by living more frugally and doing the green things that save money, I was able to shift our savings to our food and clothing budget. Without affecting our overall budget at all, I was able to go green!”

Erin said some shifts were pretty easy. “I love buying fresh foods from the farmer’s market and through our CSA. I love that my family is eating healthier, but I also enjoy meeting the farmers and hearing their passion. Knowing where our food comes from is such a wonderful feeling,” she says.

But there are still some challenges – like clothing. “In my past life,” Erin admits, “I was a Target-clothing addict. I’ve learned to enjoy thrift store shopping, but there are some items (like shoes) that I prefer to buy new and the price difference of eco-friendly clothing versus Target clothing is a hard one for me. Mostly, I get over that hurdle by not going to Target. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Erin is taking what she’s learned as a green budget shifter and launched a campaign to encourage others  to make small behavior changes, too. It’s called The Conscious Shopper Challenge, and it provides weekly goals to help people go green in a year without spending a lot of money. “We start with “trimming your waste-line” (reducing your trash production), then we work on energy, water, transportation, shopping, food, and finally looking “beyond your front door,” explains Erin.

“I think a lot of people have the same misconception that I used to have: that going green means big expensive changes like buying a new car or putting solar panels on the roof. But I’ve learned that there are so many small things each individual can do, and those small things add up to make a big difference.

“I hope The Conscious Shopper Challenge will show people how easy and affordable it can be to go green while providing a strong supportive community to go green with. But beyond that, I hope people will feel inspired to be conscious shoppers, aware of how their decisions in the marketplace affect other people and the planet.”

Feeling inspired? Check out even more inspiring One in a Million stories here. Why don’t you join us? It’s easy. Start here.

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Fran is the newest member of the One in a Million campaign, a feat she achieved by switching more than $1,000 of her household budget to products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefit. The campaign doesn’t ask people to spend MORE money. Instead, it encourages consumers to throw their marketplace clout behind non-toxic, eco-friendly alternatives that often end up saving people more money in the long run.

Who is Fran?

Fran, who is married, 67, and the mother of grown children, has lived in Butler, PA for the past 43 years. Her husband trains and breeds Labrador retrievers; “We have two,” she says. Fran is retired, but works part-time conducting food demonstrations where “I really push the organic products whether it is my demo of the day or not.”

“At home I am an avid cook – everything from scratch,” says the One in a Million devotee.  “After the Women for a Healthy Environment conference last year, and after reading Omnivore’s Dilemma, I extended my organic garden and got two hens so I could have organic eggs.  I erected a hoop house in October to have a winter garden which proved to be quite successful.  The only red meat we eat is venison, and I can and freeze everything possible.”

“I also made homemade mouthwash and fabric softner,” she said.

How did she shift $1,000?

Here are the actual eco budget shifts Fran made between October 2008 and December 2009:

Organic Grains, Beans – $40
Organic Coffee – $208
Organic Dairy – $155
Organic Nuts –  $52
Organic Pasta – $21
Household Products (like eco-safe laundry detergent, dish soap, and cleaning soap) – $115
Nontoxic Health/Beauty Products – $66
Organic Chicken Feed – $26
Beverages – $23
Soymilk (2 cases) – $25
Meats/Fish – $123
Snacks – $8
Veg/Fruit – $90
Organic garden fertilizer and soil amendments: $75
Stopped using clothes dryer almost completely: undetermined energy savings

Total: at least $1,025

Why?

When I asked Fran why she made the shifts, here’s what she said:

* What inspired you to join the One in a Million campaign? I attended the Women’s Health and the Environment Conference in Pittsburg and heard you describe the difference we can make based on how we spend our money. I thought, “I can do that.”

* What change was unexpectedly easy to make? Keeping track of my purchases!

* What proved to be most challenging? Finding the best prices (ed. Note: This is true for many people, but a little bargain shopping can make organic food and recycled products very affordable)’

* What’s your next step? Continue to purchase present organic products and add new ones as I find them.

Great job, Fran! Thanks for sharing your success with us.

Join Us!

And for all of you who are inspired to make your own spending shifts, get started here.

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