Want to save $5,000 a year (or £3.500) without a lot of hassle, heartache, or sacrifice?
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.
