Living cheap is the new green

If going green is making you go broke, you're doing it wrong. Saving resources and saving money go hand in hand. Here's how to get started.

By Chris BaskindMon, Mar 29 2010 at 6:23 AM EST 10 Comments

PENNY PINCHING: Going green should be cheaper than the alternative. (Photo: totalAldo/Flickr)

Haute green couture. Eco-mansions. Green gadgetry. In retrospect, 2008 was probably the high water mark for green retail marketing. And good riddance: overpriced luxury goods posing as green consumer products aren't serving the environment or our budgets. Nor is the inevitable backlash from shoppers jaded by dicey environmental claims and premium pricing.

There's nothing like an economic downturn to focus one's priorities. For most people, the sharp reality of tougher times bumps posh items such as $5 chocolate bars and $1,000 organic bedding sets right off the green radar. That's not necessarily a bad thing. While we all have a responsibility to make wise purchasing decisions, the idea that we can shop ourselves to a greener society is a lot like thinking we can lose weight by piling on the calories.

Green meets frugal

Economies are cyclical, and we suddenly find ourselves on the skinny side of an impressive — though ultimately unsustainable — period of growth. This has left even comparatively well-to-do families with difficult lifestyle decisions, including ways to stretch a paycheck. With tougher times ahead, some have been quick to proclaim the bursting of a green bubble.

This is, of course, not the case. The economic downturn is simply forcing us to confront a basic fact: a greener world won't come through eco-getaways, environmentally friendly products or clever marketing. It will come through reducing consumption.

Leaner is greener. While complex global issues won't be solved entirely through personal action, the recession means each of us has a pocketbook stake in the development of an economy which goes lighter on the planet's limited natural resources and our household budgets.

Where to start?

If you're reading this, you may already be well down the path of rethinking how you live, what you spend, and what you really want out of life. But if you're just getting started, a good place to begin is with a family meeting — even if it's just you, a notepad and a cup of coffee.

We've outlined five areas for you to think about as your evaluate your priorities. So jump right in!

1) Cut back at home. Food and shelter probably represent the lion's share of your budget and use of resources. They are also your most essential expenditures. Start with a basic question: are you in too much home? There's a direct relationship between your environmental footprint, monthly budget and the square footage of your living space. The point is probably moot for homeowners struggling to make a mortgage with property values in the tank. But if you happen to be renting, could you do with less? Take a hard look at the money you spend on food. Like most people, you're probably too dependent on eating out and convenient prepared foods from the grocery. Relearning the gentle art of meal planning and cooking at home is the fast track to saving money and healthier nutrition.

2) Reduce the amount of energy you use. Here's more low fruit as you trim your monthly expenses. Our site is stuffed with energy-saving ideas, and there's plenty more available from your power company and other websites. The obvious things include eliminating unnecessary lighting (particularly outdoors); refitting with CFL bulbs; installing water-saving shower heads and giving your water heater the once-over; and sealing energy-robbing leaks around doors and windows.

3) Trim your transportation. Thanks to the economic slowdown and reduced demand, gasoline prices have cooled off sharply since last summer. They're probably as low as they'll go, and seasonal increases should start kicking in around March. In the meantime, you can save a few dollars and reduce your overall footprint by leaving the car in the driveway whenever possible. If you're not already familiar with your community's public transportation, find a bus or train schedule and see how mass transit might fit into your weekly routine. Better yet, start walking or cycling your short errands. Bicycles are much cheaper to operate per mile than automobiles, and the health benefits of regular light exercise will save you money in the long term, too.

4) Ditch the disposables. The word disposable in a product description should be a red flag. Paper plates, plastic knives and forks, disposable pens, paper towels, throw-away food storage containers — opt for reusable items, instead. This will take some thought and discipline on your part, but giving up a little convenience can save hundreds of dollars a year. While you're at it, try to buy in bulk (as storage allows) and reduce the amount of packaging in your waste stream. Now that reduced demand has kicked the bottom out of the recycling sector, you'll also be doing your local sanitation department a favor.

5) Grow some food. During the Second World War, about 45 percent of all vegetables consumed at home came from victory gardens. It's time to revive this practice. Not only will you save money, you'll reduce the energy expended to bring food to the table. Obviously, not everyone is in a position to start a few rows of beans and tomatoes in the back yard. But consider at least growing your own herbs or a few small vines in pots and window boxes. Your community may also have a few shared urban gardens. The folks at local plant nurseries will know.

6) Talk, share and communicate. Perhaps the best thing you can be doing is talking to others. We've spent decades becoming a society of isolated consumers, slowly forgetting the skills which got previous generations through tough times. Do you know how to sew? Teach someone else. Cooking from scratch — not just warming up something frozen from the store — has been lost on the microwave generation. If you need a refresher, locate a cooking class or start helping an old hand in the kitchen. Learn to fix things: your local community college probably offers carpentry courses, and home improvement stores frequently host weekend classes on all kinds of useful skills.

Ask questions and share what you know with others. Together, we'll get by. And we'll help build greener and more sustainable communities for the future.

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Simple living

Posted By melissa - Tue, May 25 2010 at 2:12 AM EST

I am a stay at home Mom with 3 kids, my husband's 30K a year job is our only income, we decided last year to get a bigger house so that we could share it with my parents who are in poor health but also needed a financial break. We are limited as to what we can grow due to space issues but we grow as much of our own food as we can, we all shop used before buying new, thrift stores, freecycle and craigs list are fantastic resources for more than just clothing! We make all of our cleaners, laundry.... More

Window tints for your home and office buildings

Posted By Denise - Thu, May 13 2010 at 9:49 PM EST

Nice lists are mentioned above in order to live life on the green side. But one of my ways to save money is to use window tints for my windows at home. Making your windows energy efficient using window tint is certainly one of the best way to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. Likewise,
ENERGY STAR rates appliances with returns on investment of 4-5 years while window tint can offer much faster return while at the same time making you more comfortable. Trusted tint.... More

Bicycles and Cars

Posted By Denise - Thu, May 13 2010 at 12:05 PM EST

By using bicycles in order to continually support living green is a good choice and a good recommendation. However, our real means of transportation nowadays are really automobiles. In order to continuously promote living green even if using cars to travel one can install window tints to lessen fuel consumptions and the likes. Window tint could really give a lot of benefits for you and your car. Having your windows tinted, makes the temperature inside your car cooler requiring less from your.... More

remark

Posted By Better Panic - Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 5:23 PM EST

I find that frugality is much easier this year then last. I was laid off. It is also greener, I don't throw away near as many Starbucks cups. We were never big spenders and always used the thrift stores, which had even been cut back this year. Even laid off I feel it is the responsibilty of all to be clean and frugally green.

Better Panic
.... More

bulbs

Posted By Melissa - Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 5:21 PM EST

I love your tips, but, I will not use a CFL bulb. They contain Mercury. If one breaks in your home you are to evacuate the property for at least 15 minutes. Also they require special disposal. I will continue to use regular light bulbs until a new safer alternative is available. ( http://www.eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lightin... )

cfl bulbs

Posted By Melinda - Wed, Mar 31 2010 at 8:03 PM EST

The truth is that there is more mercury in tuna fish than in a cfl bulb. Here is more information from a letter my father-in-law wrote. He is a PhD Chemist.

When a compact fluorescent lamp replaces an ordinary incandescent lamp, electric power use is reduced 75%, and greenhouse gas emissions by a similar amount. The consumer saves money. Too bad that sales of these lamps have been slowed by excessive concern over toxicity of the tiny, 4milligrams of mercury they contain.
If a.... More

re: bulbs

Posted By Chris Baskin - Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 5:22 PM EST

Well, CFLs aren't an entirely free ride, and the mercury they contain is a well-known concern. But if your power is generated from coal, those incandescent lights are actually generating more mercury than is contained in a CFL. Worse, it's going straight into the atmosphere. At least there's the possibility of proper mercury recycling and sequestration with a CFL. We discussed some disposal options here: .... More

My Favorite

Posted By Green Bean - Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 5:20 PM EST

My favorite is the last one – reconnecting with others. Decades of consumerism have stripped away our relationships with one another, destroyed our downtowns and errected barriers between our neighbors. If we are going to make a difference, we need to rebuild those relationships. We can share resources, skills and knowledge with neighbors, friends and family.

Great article

Posted By Ron - Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 5:19 PM EST

Gardening has become obsolete in many urban areas. The move toward community gardens and container/window gardening is growing though and is much cheaper than buying everything organic. Local Farmers Markets can also save you money and support your local community at the same time.

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Posted By David Dunn - Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 5:18 PM EST

MONEY=ENERGY=CLIMATE CHANGE

simple but the truth about living cheap is not about buying lots of cheap products it is about buying the best value for money in terms of life and maintenance of the items or services rendered.
I also propose a carbon energy tax to replace all other taxes which would give tx collection dividend of some 30-40% of tax revenues which could be used for the transition of systems , a tax rebate equally to all citizens and also increase social and welfare.... More

Living cheap is the new green

Comments

Simple living

Window tints for your home and office buildings

Bicycles and Cars

remark

bulbs

cfl bulbs

re: bulbs

My Favorite

Great article

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