10 Simple things you can do TODAY to be more Green AND more Frugal

Looking to start being more green, or just looking for ways to save money & don't want to kill this place you live in while doing it? This is your ultimate kick-off list!

1. Buy a stack of cloth rags (at the very most these will be $10 for a 12 pack @ Kohl's).
Greenest: organic cloths. http://www.simplefamilyliving.com/products.asp?pid=299&cat=36&mode=open
Savings: no more paper towels or disposable cleaning rags to purchase.
Green: no more paper towels or disposable rags in the landfill coming from your house!

2. Start recycling.
Savings: you can cut your trash pick-up down to one day, or perhaps every 2 weeks.
Green: saving thousands of items from the landfill & allowing new products to be created without using new natural resources to create them.

3. Start using cloth napkins.
Savings: no more paper napkins to buy, you will quickly recoup your investment in inexpensive cloth napkins - or you can sew your own.
Green: Less trees being used for paper products, less damage from processing, manufacturing, & shipping of paper napkins, less in the landfill.

4. Turn down the brightness on your computer monitor.
Savings: small savings on your electric bill - it all adds up, trust me!
Green: less energy being used (much of our energy supply is from non-renewable, eco-damaging supplies).

5. Switch lightbulbs to compact flourescents when old bulbs die.
Savings: on your light bill & these bulbs last longer - you get paid back for their slightly higher initial cost.
Green: less energy being used (be sure you are confirm with your recycling center that they will recycle these bulbs or ask them to point you to the correct location to recycle them).

6. Use Daylight! We're coming into the season of much more of it - turn off uneccessary lights when there is enough daylight outside to see around the house.
Savings: on your electric bill.
Green: less energy being used.

7. Purchase less. Before you go shopping next, try shopping in your own closet for that item or that something "new" that you may have forgotten about.
Savings: less money spent on clothing, etc.
Green: less polution from the manufacturing, shipping, and driving to purchase cycle.

8. Reduce your car travel. It's as easy as taking 2 extra minutes in the morning to plot out your day to minimize duplicative or unnecessary stops.
Next step: research carpooling & public transit in your area!
Savings: Gas & car maintenance add up QUICKLY!
Green: less polution from driving, as well as from the manufacture/refining process of oil.

9. Take a travel mug with you to your favorite coffee place.
Savings: ask them - most places offer a discount for not taking their paper cup.
Green: less manufacturing polution from the cups, less waste in the landfill.

10. Reuse! Glass jars that other foods come in (i.e. peanut butter) - wash them & use them in place of plastic storage containers.
Savings: no additional money spent on storage containers.
Green: two-fold - your glass jars won't be in a landfill or require any energy to be picked up & recycled; no more polution from manufacturing plastic containers.

11. I know - I said it would be 10, but I couldn't resist! Plug electronics & power cords into a power strip & turn the strip OFF when not in use.
Savings: most appliances continue to use energy even when in the off mode. Also, during warm months they contribute additional heat to the home which may cause additional energy cost to cool.
Green: less energy used= less polution making it!

My fav Simple.Eco.Get-Started-and-Save.Life.Tips!