To give my dryer and electric bill a break, I hang clothes that normally would go on hangers (shirts and pants) to dry on the hangers. Not only do I save electricity, but I save the into-the-dryer-out-of-the-dryer step. As a bonus, during dry winter months, it also puts humidity in the air. During the humid summer, the clothes dry faster in the sun, however.
This post was submitted by Angela.
Washing large loads on the “medium” load setting saves water. My clothes are just as clean using less water. Better for the environment and your wallet!
This post was submitted by Carla Grist.
I eat absolutely no processed food. All fruits and vegetables are purchased in their natural state plus I grow a few things at home. All meat is purchased from local farmers. No, I repeat NO, commercially grown meat. Purchasing whole foods in their natural states helps cut down on waste from packaging and eliminates unwanted chemicals and additives in food. Once I learned how to prepare these foods in different ways I found that it was actually a cheaper way to purchase top quality food so I have extra money in my pocket.
Here are what I call the bonus points of this lifestyle change:
*I have lost 20 pounds and I actually get to eat more food.
*Fewer trips driving to the dump to dispose of trash.
*Saved money on both food and gasoline.
*A skin condition that I have battled for years has totally cleared up with out medication.
Note=== I just found out about you, your website and your book this morning, please keep up the good work and help inspire others to start taking control of their lives.
This post was submitted by Jeanine.
My partner and I just setup our first worm composting system. We are keeping food scraps and paper scraps for the worms and out of the landfills. Then these scraps will turn into powerful fertilizer for our organic garden!
This post was submitted by Stacey Jenkins.
Put a rain barrel underneath your eaves trough and capture the water for your outdoor and indoor plants. I also use my rain barrel for cleaning off dirty shoes,garden tools, or even my hands. I keep an eco-friendly soap outside so no one has any excuse to go inside and use the water from the tap. You are not only saving money on water, you are teaching your children, friends and neighbours that rain water is a good resource.
This post was submitted by Michelle Harris.
When the kids come home from school with printed information,I cut the paper into for pieces,use a hole punch,and make our own note pads.We are never short on scrap paper,and we do not have to spend a dime on note pads.
This post was submitted by doreen.
I pre-dry heavy items - such as towels or jeans or sheets - before putting them into my dryer. It reduces the drying time, thus reducing electricity use.
This post was submitted by Lena Goodberlet.
Imagine a minimal garbage lunch, saving money AND helping our planet.
Follow these steps:
Purchase a recycled lunch bag with containers. NO sandwich bags.
Purchase in bulk and pack quantity needed in containers. Say NO to individually packaged foods.
Recycled old clothes into cloth napkins. Cut into squares.
More importantly, don’t be tempted to re-purchase a lunch box each year. Keep your box clean and it will last a long time. Found ours at Fruitful Yeild.
This post was submitted by Mary Nerge-Elliott.
I realized that just cutting down on paper towel use wasn’t enough…if they were there my husband and kids grabbed them for everything. Every spill, messy face, cleaning job required at least 2 paper towels in their minds. I just stopped buying them - and funny enough, sponges, and old cloth diapers, ripped up tee shirts, etc. are completely sufficient for getting out cleaning done. Better, in fact.
And then the paper towels always get used for napkins. Yet, I had dozens of nice napkins sitting in a drawer waiting for a special occasion to use. Now we use our real napkins for every meal…and it makes every meal feel more special.
I haven’t bought a roll of paper towels in over two years…where I used to buy one each week!
This post was submitted by Sally .
Spend time with your friends or family by sharing stories that you’ve either made up or heard. You can also have story reading time with your family by taking turns reading the book aloud. Aside from being fun this saves money, allows you to spend quality time with your family, and can be very educational. If you run out of stories you can always get a library card.
This post was submitted by Clayton Green.