As a mother, I know all too well the difficulties of trying to save the earth and cash at the same time. It shouldn’t be so expensive for the entire family to be eco-friendly. So here are five helpful hints to keep in mind that will assist you in learning how to live green without spending so much of it.
1. So it is almost back to school time, and kids are excited to go back to school shopping. This year try something different. Prior to shopping, go through all the kids' wardrobes. Do a family purge. Sometimes we buy multiple items because we think the kids have outgrown their things or we forget that they actually already own something similar.
After you remove the items that are too small, damaged or unwanted, take them to Goodwill, Salvation Army or your local thrift store. Afterwards, instead of a costly trip to the mall, encourage your kids to find items in the thrift store that fit them and their style too. Thrift store items are extremely affordable with current styles. Even if your kid wears uniforms, more than likely a thrift store that stocks childrenwear has something your child can use. This way you aren’t buying more new clothes and contributing to the overwhelming amount of wasted material.
2. Eating fresh and local is one of the easiest ways to go green. Visiting the farmers market weekly gives you options that some grocery stores don’t carry. Instead of buying in bulk, buy just enough for a few days of meals. Learning how to eat seasonally saves loads of cash and can be really tasty too.
3. If you have an area in your yard that is prone to flooding, consider a rain garden. These gardens are a perfect and essential way to beautify your yard and relieve problem flood areas. Rain gardens have wildflowers that are common to your area and are not only water tolerant but drought tolerant too, requiring less watering. When your yard floods the rain garden retains that water and slowly releases it back into the soil. This also means mo more standing water with mosquitoes and mud.
4. Practice meditation and natural remedies. Going green isn’t just about products and services, it is also a state of mind. Being able to connect to your inner self is essential in being able to connect your family to this new way of life. Slow down your days, and focus on your well being and place in life. Find those dreams and fulfill yourself. If you feel as though you are following your path in life it is much easier to be open to trying new and different things. Recreate yourself, find that friendly you and shake those city blues off. Smile.
5. Work from home if at all possible. Cars and our dependence on fossil fuels are a major contributor to global warming. If you and your co-workers are dedicated to saving the earth, create a work from home initiative that encourages employees to have access to remote work. Some people are more productive in a familiar and comfortable environment. Some people enjoy petting their dogs while working. Others like the flexibility of enjoying their families without the rush of commuting. Take the initiative and discuss it with management. Everyone is trying to go green and it is important that we encourage companies to allow employees the flexibility of saving gas, energy and resources and saving the environment.
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