Save Your Money. Go Green.

Global warming is occuring whether we like it or not. It’s a fact we all have to face, and a problem we have to combat the world over. It’s commonly believed that in order to reduce our carbon footprint we’ll have to give things up, or make drastic changes to our lifestyle. Some big changes do need to occur, but there are many minor changes we can make. On their own they might not save the planet, but done as part of scheme of changes we can reduce our emissions and in the process save some money.

Step 1 - Get some exercise

For many people their car is an absolute necessity. The truth for a lot of us is that we could do without it. Think to yourself, is work within biking or walking distance? If it is then absolutely do it. You’ll save money on petrol and parking, and have the added bonus of improving your health. Don’t forget about public transport as well. Buses and trains are great ways to cut the cost of commuting.

Step 2 - No more bottled water

Bottled water is currently more than expensive than fuel. Why waste your money on the bottled stuff when it’s virtually free from a tap? Not only are you saving yourself money, but if we all get involved we can lower the number of plastic bottles currently being dumped in land fills across the world. If your tap water isn’t that great, get yourself a filter.

Step 3 - Saving money around the house

Here’s a good habbit to get in to. Always switch your electrical equipment off at the plug. The whole time products are on standby they’re actually using power and costing you money. Switch them off and you can cut your carbon footprint and your electric bill. Do other things such as wash your clothes at a lower temperature, and get yourself a drying rack too. Also look in to changing your current bulbs to energy saving bulbs. You’ll be surprised at how much money you save.

Step 4 - Recycle your phone

The best thing about recycling your old phones is the money incentive. I’m sure we’ve all got a couple of old cell phones around the house. Instead of throwing them away, make sure they’re recycled properly. Sell it to a friend, put it on ebay or check out http://www.mopay.co.uk/

There are tons of ways to save money by going green, and I’ve barely scratched the surface here. Don’t fear though, more articles are to follow so get signed up to our mailing list and be the first to find out! Just put your email in the form to the right, or sign up to our RSS feed.

Buying Text Books Cheap

With a new term upon you, one of the things new students are going to need is text books. It can be a very expensive process, so try following these tips on how to buy and sell your student text books.

Make no mistake about it, publishers do not aid students very much and your text books will be a hefty sum from your beer money if you are not careful; college bookstores are often overpriced too! Be thankful that we now live in the age of the internet and, with a little time spent researching, you can save yourself a bundle.

Step 1 - Research

Many students rush into purchasing text books as they leave things to the last minute. Try finding out in advance what your course reading involves. Emailing your professor is worth the time and effort in the long run as they will usually have your reading prepared. Failing that try the secretary at the department. Getting ahead is one step closer to saving your student cash.

Step 2 - Buying Cheap Student Text Books

The first place I would recommend looking is Amazon.com. Using your advance knowledge, look for used copies of the books. You will find that a lot of students are now selling their books at the end of the semester in order to regain some of their spending. Don’t forget to factor in the shipping costs too!

Check student notice boards, or online classifieds like gumtree.com and you might find that you can strike a deal with a private seller from the same course as the one you are about to embark on.

If all this fails to meet your budget then you could also try buying an older edition of the book. If you intend to do this then do be careful. Check the table of contents (usually available on amazon) to see if there are any dramatic changes. You can sometimes get away with this as every couple of years the professors bring out a new edition and the University bookstores stop selling the older version - a good racket if you ask me - but whatever you do, NEVER buy an edition more than one edition out of date.  So if the latest edition is number six, do not bother with anything other than edition five.

Step 3 - Selling

Ok, so you will not have to do this for a while, but by keeping the books in as good a condition as possible you will be able to recoup some money when it comes to your turn to sell. Wherever possible, try to avoid marking the books - use pencil and avoid highlighters. Don’t use them as doorstops and keep the cover and binding in good condition.

Sell your books at the beginning of the semester when there are more people looking to buy, but don’t wait too long as you will be stuck with them. Try selling them back as used books on amazon, it is easy to set up an account and you will find that if you have stocked up on enough reading you should come out with enough money for a good night out to celebrate you passing your exams!

Free Money Saving Ebook

Here is a brilliant and free ebook, detailing 66 money saving tips. ‘66 Ways To Save Money’ has been created by the Consumer Literacy Consortium. Included in this pdf are 12 pages of fabulously easy ways to keep your money in your pocket. If you’re new to money saving then you really should take a look, it makes for interesting reading.

Download the PDF