How to Save on Bills by Going Green: Nature Made
Green living is all around us, from eco-friendly cars to sustainable buildings. Many people are worried about the environment and want to do what they can to protect it, as well as learn how to cut bills at the same time. If you are looking for details on how to save on bills, you should know that going green can mean saving money. Going green doesn’t have to mean you need to spend more money and instead, it can help you save money.
Going green can boil down to the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. These three words are applicable to every activity you do. Cut down on waste by reusing an item a couple of times before you throw it out. Think before you buy if there are cheaper alternatives, such as borrowing or renting.
Little choices can add up to big savings when it comes to learning how to save on bills by going green. No one can make the choices for you, just like no one will be able to fix environmental damage down the road.
How To Save On Bills From Utilities
Utility bills can take up a huge chunk of change every month. If you are looking for how to save on bills, especially your utility bills, there are a number of steps you can take that will also help you with the environment.
Unplug Your Appliances
Your appliances still use power when you aren't using them so if you keep them plugged in all the time, they will constantly be using power. Unplug your appliances until you are ready to use them. Don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave a room. Many people keep the lights on, even when not in that room. Teach your children these habits and not only will you notice savings on your electrical bills but you will also have less energy consumption, which is better for the environment.
Replace Appliances
Washing machines, refrigerators, dryers, and other appliances can take a lot of electricity to work. New energy-efficient appliances use less electricity, which means a smaller drag on coal-burning plants to save the environment and lower utility bills. A contractor can help you make the right decision with your appliances.
The water heater system that could seem like a good deal will likely come with hidden costs. An energy-efficient model may come with a higher price tag at first, but you could save on monthly costs. Sealing the space around your water heater could also make it work more efficiently. In addition to larger appliances, check out other appliances in your home. If you have some smaller appliances around the home, such as hair dryers, toasters, microwaves, or slow cookers, instead of getting new ones when they break down, look for a qualified repair shop.
This way, you can keep your equipment out of a landfill and support local businesses. In addition to energy-efficient appliances, look for water-efficient features on items such as toilets, faucets, and showerheads. If you look for products that have the WaterSense label, they are certified to be energy efficient and you don’t lose quality.
Replace Light Bulbs
Use energy-efficient light bulbs instead of the regular ones. Not only are they reasonably priced but also they will last longer and draw less electricity. This translates into better environmental protection and savings on electrical bills. LED bulbs are the most efficient lighting technology that is currently available. Some can last more than 20 years so you won’t even have to worry about stocking up on light bulbs.
Take Shorter Showers
Taking shorter showers can help you reduce your water bill. Too much water use can cause a drought in a lot of areas. With fresh water becoming scarcer, it’s important to save. Ideally, your shower should only be about five minutes and no longer than ten minutes. It’s enough time to get clean and you won’t use too much water.
You will save money on your water and also your electricity bill since power is needed to heat up the water. You may also want to spend some money upfront to purchase a low flow showerhead to get even more savings. In addition to taking shorter showers, you can also reduce the number of showers you take to have the same effect.
Put Weatherstrips around Windows and Doors
Heat leaks out in the cracks around your doors and windows. A weatherstrip will prevent the issue of heat leaking out and you can save money on air conditioning and heating and cut down on your energy use. You can also use caulk around the doors and windows since it’s more cost-efficient than weather stripping. Adding insulation to your house can also have the same effect.
Use Rain Barrels
If you want to reduce your water bill, you can put a rain barrel in your yard. Then attach a hose to it and water your garden, lawn, and indoor plants. You can also use the collected water to wash your car. Purchase a barrel from a hardware store or see if you can get one from your local environmental organization.
Make sure the barrel is placed underneath the downspout that routs water from a gutter. Another perk of having a rain barrel is reducing the amount of stormwater runoff that also pollutes any streams, lakes, and rivers and causes erosion.
Hang Dry Your Landry
You are able to cut down your energy bills by drying your clothes on a line or hang drying whenever possible. Hang a line out in the yard or add a drying rack to your laundry room. Not only does this save money and help the environment but you will also get fewer wrinkles and less wear and tear on your clothes. Those who do have pollen allergies should dry clothes inside.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat is a handy device that will allow you to program your heater or AC to come on before you get home and you can turn it down when you are gone or when asleep. This can save you a ton of money on your utility bill and help reduce your energy consumption.
Wash Clothes on Cold
You can save on your utility bills when you wash your laundry on cold. Over 85% of the energy used by washing machines comes from hot water. Newer detergents are strong enough to remove stains without the use of hot water. Cold water cycles can save you between $50 to $150 each year, depending on your washing machine. With your savings, you may be able to afford more eco-friendly detergents that will usually cost more than traditional brands.
Use a Power Strip
A power strip can make it easier for you to turn off electronics when not in use. A smart power strip may do the work for you and automatically shut off computer peripherals, such as scanners and printers, when not in use.
Plant Trees
The strategic planting of trees can help reduce your air conditioning costs by bringing more shade to your home. You may be able to get free trees through your utility company.
How To Save On Bills For Grocery Shopping
Food and groceries likely take up a large chunk of your monthly income. Go green and save money on the grocery store at the same time.
Bring Reusable Grocery Bags
Many grocery stores will give you a discount on your groceries when you bring your own reusable bags instead of using a plastic bag. Not only will you save money on your groceries but you will also cut down on your plastic waste. It’s easy to keep reusable bags in the trunk of your car so you don’t forget them when you head to the store.
Turn up the Temperature in Your Fridge
If your refrigerator is too cold then you use more electricity and make your food spoil faster. Excessive electrical use and food waste can be big environmental concerns and can cost you a lot of money.
Grow Your Own Herbs
Grow an herb garden indoors so you have fresh herbs all year long. There are many different do-it-yourself kits that make it easy to do. You can stop buying any dried herbs at the grocery store. Think about growing your own fruits and vegetables when possible. In order to grow fruits and vegetables, you may need to have more space but herbs don’t take up much room. Produce that you purchase at the grocery store can be expensive.
Buy Not-So-Fresh Food
Farmer’s market and even certain grocery stores have produce that isn’t quite perfect and can be sold at discounted prices. The food is still good, especially if you aren’t eating it fresh and instead you are using it in a recipe with other ingredients. Buy it and save money on groceries while helping cut down on your food waste.
Make Other Smart Food Choices
There are plenty of other smart food choices you can make when learning how to save on bills. Head to the farmer’s market and cut out the grocery store middleman. Shop in season and get fruits and vegetables when they are more abundant. You can also sign up for community-supported agriculture programs. Get fresh food delivered to the door and then you can also support your local farmers at the same time.
Eat Less Meat
The meat industry actually generates about one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. If your family skipped eating meat once a week, it can be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for about three months.
Cook from Scratch
Learning how to save on bills may also mean having to learn how to do some other things, such as cook from scratch. Eating at home helps you save large amounts of money because when you eat out, order takeout, or buy prepackaged meals, you are contributing to environmental waste from all the packaging. Not only will you save money but making your food from scratch is also healthier for you overall.
Other Ways To Save Money By Going Green
While your utility bills and groceries can take a big chunk of money out of your account each month, there are a number of things you can do in order to learn how to save on bills and be green at the same time.
Get a Reusable Water Bottle
Bottled water is a waste of money and is bad for the environment and expensive. Instead, find a reusable water bottle. If you don’t like the taste of your city’s water then get a water bottle with a built-in filter. Within a month, you will see that the bottle will pay for itself. There is also the option for water purifier pitchers you can keep in your fridge in order to always have cold filtered water at your disposal.
Buy Used
Yard sales and thrift stores can be a lot of fun and save you money. You can get some great bargains on things that are practically new or hardly used. When you buy used, you are cutting down on things that could end up in the landfill. At the same time, you aren’t supporting the water-intensive and energy industries like clothing manufacturers.
Upcycle Your Clothing
If you have found old clothes in your closet that are too worn or dated to wear again, you don’t have to throw them out and contribute to the landfill waste problem. Instead, upcycle your clothes into different things. A pair of jeans becomes a skirt and an old blouse can become a flowy tank top. Look online for different ideas, as well as sewing tutorials. This way, you can keep your closet new, fresh and in style without having to spend money and you can stop contributing to the landfill problem.
A Store to Reduce Your Bills
Reach Financial Freedom. Negotiate Your Bills and Save Money
Walk or Bike When You Can
This will help you save money on gas, as well as wear and tear on your vehicle. You may even be able to cancel your gym membership if you are walking enough. If you are able to, it helps to get rid of your car completely and rely on public transportation or bike to work. Not only are you helping the environment but then you are also saving on gas, car insurance, and car payments.
Skip Single-Use Products
Just like plastic water bottles are a single-use product, there are also other single-use products that you can skip using in order to save money. Some of these can be paper towels, facial wipes, paper napkins, and coffee cups. These are just small adjustments that can add up to big results.
Compost
You can get free fertilizer by composting grass clippings, leaves, vegetable scraps, and other organic waste. Composting can also divert about 30% of household waste from the garbage.
Fix Items
Today’s culture is a throwaway one that encourages users to throw items away the second they break. Not only is this expensive but it’s also bad for the environment. Next time your pants rip, take them to a tailor, and if your phone breaks, take it to a repair shop. Not only will this fix your items but you may also find that they will be better than before.
How To Save On Bills By Choosing Online Payments
Reducing the consumption and transportation of paper can make a huge impact so if you are trying to learn how to save on bills, consider online payments. There are some stats you should consider to understand how this simple choice could make a big difference.
One ton of recycled paper uses 24 trees. One tree only makes 16.67 reams of paper. Every ton of paper recovered will save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. If every household uses online bill pay, it could reduce the waste that takes up U.S. landfills by more than 800,000 tons a year. It also helps reduce the release of greenhouse gases by 31 million tons. When you turn off paper billing and do your part to go green, you can save up to 23 pounds of wood and six pounds of paper.
You may even get additional savings on your bills when you pay online. You also won’t have to pay for stamps to mail your bills. Some companies will offer discounts for automatic online billing. You can also save time with online billing. Paying bills can take up a large portion of your month but paying bills online can reduce this from hours to minutes and with the extra time you have, you can do other things for the environment.
Myths About Going Green
Going green comes with a lot of myths and it can make people feel like it's an all-or-nothing club. You don’t need to only buy organic food or start driving an electric car in order to make a difference and to save money. When learning how to save on bills by going green, you should keep these myths in mind.
Going Green Is Expensive
Going green isn’t actually about spending a lot of money. It can be about buying and throwing out fewer things. Instead of going clothes shopping every weekend or buying the latest electronics, you can use your clothes and electronics until they are worn and then recycle them. This means less money wasted and less trash in the world. Shopping for green products only costs as much as you want it to. Natural household cleaning products can cost the same as chemical-filled ones and you shouldn’t forget about cheap cleaning products, such as vinegar and water.
All Products That Carry "Eco-Friendly" on Labels Are Eco-Friendly
When going green, it helps to know that not all green products are actually good for the planet. Marketers try to make their products appeal to consumers' wants since customers want more natural products. It helps to pay attention to the label and read the ingredients you are buying.
For example, a recyclable label means it's up to you to put it in the recycling bin. Something that says made with recycled content means that someone recycled the plastic that makes up the packaging. A biodegradable label will mean the product naturally decays but it won’t specify how long it will take and what toxins it actually leaves behind. If a product is compostable then it means the product disintegrates in the same amount of time as other items that are compostable and there aren’t any toxins released.
There Is Only One-Way to Go Green
There is no perfect answer when it comes to going green. It’s not a single approach lifestyle or all or nothing. Instead, you can make better choices, buy less and throw out less, and make an effort to pay attention to where products come from.
How To Save On Bills In General
Going green can actually help you when it comes to learning how to save on bills but there are also some other things you can do in general to save on monthly bills:
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One of the best ways to learn how to save on bills is by negotiating them. Many people don’t consider this enough. Most of the time, they think it’s not possible to decrease what is owed but many times it is. It may seem surprising that you can negotiate your bills but you also need to remember that there is some skill to it.
You need to do some research on your account and know how long you have had the account and how long you have made on-time payments. Be honest about your situation. If they understand your need then they could be willing to work with you. You also need to know what you are trying to accomplish while negotiating. It helps to stay calm and know that this is not personal. These are business decisions and you should keep emotions out of it.
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Your car insurance may be high so if you want to learn how to save on bills, check your car insurance. Consider switching form full coverage to only the required liability coverage. This is especially true if you have an old car. You may end up paying more each year to insure it than it’s worth.
If you already have roadside coverage through AAA then you should cancel that from your insurance policy. If you haven’t compared rates in a few years, now is the time to do so. There may be something better for you and you also need to make sure you are getting all the eligible discounts.
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One way to learn how to save on bills is by focusing on technology, which includes your cable,Internet, and cell phone plans. Prices continue to increase and can be a big drain on your wallet.
The first thing to do is decide if you really need cable. You may be able to switch to streaming services and lower bills. If you decrease the amount of data you have on your phone then you can also save. There are apps that will monitor how much data you are using so you can have an idea of your needs. Once you know the information you can switch to a cheaper plan that is more in line with your usage.
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You may be signed up for a number of different things and not even realize how much you are paying on memberships. Take a look at monthly or quarterly memberships and then cut the ones that don’t add any more value to your life.
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If you are currently renting your home then you may need to consider some other options. Are you in a space that could be too large for you? Are you in a space that is far away from work so you have to spend more in transportation costs?
If you want to learn more on how to save on bills then you should take a look at your rent. Do some research to determine if you can find a place to rent that is more cost effective or could save you money in other ways. If you move closer to work, you could have to pay $50 more in rent but then you are saving $150 in transportation costs. Be sure to figure out the cost of the actual move so you aren’t paying more for the move than you are getting in return
To Sum Up
When figuring out how to save on bills, it’s important to remember that going green doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be spending more. In fact, when researching how to save on bills, you will find that going green helps you save money and you can rest easy knowing you are doing your part to help the environment. Don’t let the myths about going green stop you from exploring your options when it comes to saving money on your bills. If you have gone green and still are looking to save on bills, there are other things you can do.