With the year rapidly coming to an end, and what seems like many peoples’ bank accounts with it, it seems like a great time to start thinking about what we will do differently for the next 365 days. The following ideas are just the tip of the iceberg on ways to improve not only your bank account for the next year, but also the environment. By combining the concepts of saving money and staying green, what more could you want in a New Year’s resolution?
-Stop buying new, and start buying new. We all love the newer, bigger, better models of everything from toys and gadgets to new cars, but you can save a lot of money and lower your environmental impact by recycling the items that others have finished with.
-Start recycling! Most areas offer free recycling and trash pick up these days. Do your part and separate the two. That little bit of energy that you put forth saves a lot of energy on the other side of the spectrum.
-Shop at thrift stores more often, and take your used goods there. Instead of throwing things away, donate or sell them to used stores. Your trash may be someone else’s treasure.
-Grow a garden! Indoor, outdoor, whatever your climate allows for. Organic food is expensive these days, but if you are the one growing it, not only do you know what kind of chemicals are or aren’t used, but you are saving money at the grocery store!
-Slow down. Allow for a couple extra minutes when you leave your house each day. By slowing down your driving speed you consume less fuel and put less wear and tear on your car. Better for the environment, and great for your bank account.
-Use cruise control. If you aren’t stuck in city traffic allow your car to do it’s thing. Your car’s computer is better at maintaining a constant speed and consuming less fuel than you are. It was designed to reduce fuel consumption.
-Keep your home well dusted. Especially around the fridge. Extra dust behind and around the fridge makes it harder for it to breathe, and will force it to consume more energy doing so. If your fridge sits in direct sunlight, pull the blinds down during sunny hours, this will allow it to stay cooler by itself.
-Turn off your TV. By spending extra time doing something more productive you will not only feel better about yourself, but also save the energy that it uses up.
-Store your food in re-usable containers. Yes, ziplocks are great for on the go, but the more you throw away the more you are harming the environment. If you plan on eating it tomorrow night, save it in something more lasting.
-Eat at home! Have friends over for meals. Potlucks are great fun. You not only get to enjoy the company of the ones you love, but may also have leftovers for tomorrow and a much less heafty food bill.
-Ditch the home phone. If you have become cell phone dependent and the only people who actually call the house line anymore are solicitors, what are you doing?! It’s time to lower the bills and save the time that you spend declining absurd offers.
-Re-use old boxes. If you order something and it comes in a box, save it for the next time you may need to send anything or move. Boxes break down and can be stored anywhere from behind doors to under beds. No need to waste them and buy new ones the next time you are moving out or sending a care package. That’s money in your pocket and less trash in the can.
-Get more sleep. If you average less than 8 hours a night, try to give yourself a bit more tomorrow. Not only will you feel better, but you are using less energy and racking up less bills if you are sleeping for the correct amount of time.
-Get off those annoying mailing lists. Do you really read everything they send you anyways? It’s a waste of paper if you throw out half of the mail you get on a daily basis anyways. Plus that gives you a little more time and a bit less rubbish to sift through.
-Buy a water saving shower head. It’s unbelievable the amount of water these save. Plus they are more relaxing and natural. In addition to saving the water, you’re also saving the energy used to heat it!
Help out your bank account and your environment, reduce, reuse, and recycle!
If you have any real estate related questions, or are looking to move into a home that is more green than your c\urrent house call us here at Occasio Realty today! We’d love to help you clean up your lifestyle. 480.699.1820.
On the New Year, you have to given most important points that what we have to do and what we have to not do, the most important point from my vision is Start recycling!!!! Because that point is based on environment and today you know now a days how environment is polluted.
I just read your blog and I must say that I am really concerned about consumption levels in this country. The environmental impact of constant “new” is tremendous and I appreciate your supporting a more conservative, use what you have approach. I refinish wood floors and wood floors have a long shelf life if cared for properly and refinished periodically.
You have suggested nice tips for new year.These are very helpful to improve bank account and environment conditions as well.I appreciate the job done by you.Thanks for sharing such an informative post.
These are particularly good tips for people who have just gotten a divorce and are working hard to balance their budget. Often, it is the little things that count and add up when it comes to saving money and stretching the family dollars to make money go farther.
Susan,
An excellent list of tips. I wish I had seen it at the beginning of the New Year. If I can add to the list, how about “Take a Walk Every Day”? Every time I get a bit of walking in, it clears my mind (and helps thin my waste).
“Turn off your TV. By spending extra time doing something more productive you will not only feel better about yourself, but also save the energy that it uses up.” – This is one great way of saving some buck and at the same time socialize with family and friends. Thanks for sharing all these great ideas Susan!
For quite a while right now, I have already been writing and discussing property investing and I will keep performing that as long as I can. There’s a lot of chances for people to complete well monetarily and grow into abundant providers by means of investing in real estate. I also agree that this a great way of saving and investing a lot of cash.