Keeping an eye on your family's budget can have more benefits then you know. By controlling how your family uses resources, you can control your expenses and reduce the amount of waste generated. The bottom line is that living economically also means living green.
It is actually easier than you may think to reduce your household's footprint. To get your family started on greener living, try these simple changes.
With the kids:
• Trade in disposables for cloth diapers and wipes. Not only will you save a bundle and make a healthier choice for your kids, you can significantly decrease your family's contribution to the nation's overflowing landfills.
• Swap disposable juice boxes for reusable containers instead. Any mom knows that traveling with kids requires a ready supply of drinks. While juice boxes are very convenient, they are costly and their packaging means greater trash accumulation. Invest in a collection of reusable beverage or water bottles instead. You'll save a bundle without sacrificing convenience.
• Forget the prepackaged snacks. Fill reusable containers instead. Just like disposable juice boxes, specially packaged individual servings of snacks are handy for kids, but not the best choice for the budget or the planet. You'll save a ton buying bulk or family-sized containers of snacks and then storing portions in reusable containers instead. Reusable containers are just as portable, require less packaging and generate less trash.
• Use your library for books, DVDs, CDs instead of buying new copies. Over time, kids can go through a number of favorite movies, music and books. Rather than clutter your home with items they outgrow, take advantage of your library's collection. Your family can still enjoy the same entertainment without less cost and less waste generated.
Around the house:
• Reuse worn out articles of clothing for dusting and cleaning. They are less expensive than disposable cleaning cloths and just as effective.
• Use non-toxic cleaning alternatives. The average family spends hundreds of dollars each year on toxic solutions for cleaning. Using common household items like vinegar, baking soda and borax, you can achieve the same results for a fraction of the cost and with less toxicity.
• Trade in disposable plastic storage bags for reusable containers. While handy for keeping food fresh, disposable bags are expensive and generate trash our planet does not need.
By taking steps to make better use of available resources, your budget and the planet both win. Living frugally really does go hand in hand with living green. Saving money and the earth really is a matter of using what we have wisely.
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