Be Green to Save Some Green!

Everywhere you turn someone is talking about how bad the economy is and people are losing their jobs. Even those who have not lost jobs are becoming more conscious of how they spend their money. So what are some great ways to save some money? Go Green!

There is a perception that being green is expensive. People look at the cost of organic food or solar panels and assume that they can't afford to be Eco-conscious. But if you really think about it being green can actually save you money in the long run. So what can you do to save money?

• Use reusable bags instead of buying zip lock bags. The very cute and durable SnackTaxi bags will outlast boxes and boxes of zip lock bags. If you are sending plastic bags in your child's lunch each day, it won't take long to actually be saving money.



• Use cloth diapers instead of disposable. There is some expense upfront with cloth diapers, but then you are set. Think of how many bags full of disposable diapers you will use one one child (let alone the pile of diapers headed to the landfill). You will definitely save money by buying cloth.



• Breastfeed. This is a no brainer. Formula is expensive and breast milk is healthier anyways.



• Be crafty. Learn to knit or sew. Your friends will love handmade gifts and it will alleviate the stress of gift giving on your budget.



• Conserve water and energy. Saving Energy= Saving Money.

So forget about the perception of Eco Friendly being expensive. Choose to be green and save money while you do it.

Thrifty and Green

Many people have the belief that it is too expensive to buy environmentally friendly items. It is true that organic cotton is more expensive than traditional cotton as is organic produce. Is it possible to be natural without going bankrupt? Absolutely.

Don't forget the 3 R's. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Lets focus on Reuse today.

The absolute best thing you can do to prevent waste and have the lightest carbon foot print is to simply reuse items from others. This is especially easy with children's clothes. Kids grow so fast that they can't possibly wear out clothes before they are in the next size. So talk to you friends with older kids, most people can't wait to get rid of the clothes that don't fit anymore.

Check the local thrift stores, Goodwill, etc. Just spending a little time looking around could save you a fortune on children's clothes. Also check out your local Freecycle. Freecycle is an awesome network of people giving items to members of their community. It is the ultimate in reuse and recycle.

If you are careful to save money on the majority of your child's clothes and get them from free or less expensive sources, you can afford to purchase organic cotton on the few items that you actually do need to purchase. By reusing items from your friends and neighbors you are keeping those items out of the landfill which is just as important as supporting organic farmers and it is cheaper.

To do the right thing for the planet you don't have to spend a ton of money. You just have to be thrifty. Then you can afford to make the conscious decisions and buy green products on the few items you must buy.