How to Cut Your Household Budget by Going Green

Living green means reducing consumption and waste. These two things are also essential to saving money. When you adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle, you can begin to fortify your finances.

The good news is that you don’t have to make dramatic changes that completely alter the way your family lives. Instead, you can start doing small things that cut utility expenses and allow you to live comfortably within your budget. What steps can you take to live greener and lower your household expenses?

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Plan Your Meals and Grocery Shopping Trips

Instead of winging it every week, plan daily meals. Figure out portion sizes and number of servings needed. Use this information to buy quantities that you’ll use during the week. This is especially important for perishable items like produce. When you don’t overbuy, you’ll be less likely to throw food away.

Schedule grocery shopping trips so you get everything all at once.  Multiple trips can add to the temptation to buy things you don’t need and will increase your fuel costs.

Upgrade to Renewable Technology

If you are already doing everything you can to lower your consumption and costs, then it may be time to try renewable energy. A residential solar system can significantly decrease your utility expenses. You may be able to use net metering to earn credit by feeding energy back into the grid.

You could reduce or even eliminate your monthly electricity bill, depending on how much you rely on solar panels. If you have questions about living greener talk to your local electrician.Only use reputable installers like Connect Electric who offer lifetime guarantees on their work.Solar panels can save money while protecting the environment.

Use Nature to Warm or Cool Your Home

Let natural sunlight in or keep it out to control the temperature inside your home. On cool days, open blinds and curtains so that the sun can shine inside. This will heat up the area even before your furnace kicks on. On hot days, keep the blinds or curtains closed to shield your interior rooms from the heat of the sun.

Rent, Borrow or Buy Used

Rent, borrow or buy used items as much as possible. This is especially helpful for non-essential things like entertainment. When you buy second hand, you prevent those items from going to landfills. You’ll also pay a lot less than you would when buying new.

Unplug Devices and Appliances

Unplug as many electronic devices and appliances as you can when not in use. This includes things like televisions, computers, microwaves, and gaming systems.

These devices continue to consume electricity, even when they are turned off or in standby mode. That’s energy that is completely wasted. Even though it wasn’t used for anything productive, you’ll still have to pay for it. Pulling the plug is good for your budget and the environment.

Wash Full Loads of Dishes and Laundry

If you use a dishwasher or washing machine, only run them when you have a full load. This reduces the number of loads done each week which cuts down on water and electricity consumption. You still get clean clothes and dishes but at a lower operational cost.