Be Green And Save Money

Sometimes it seems that the entire world is facing bankruptcy. Every day, the news regarding the economy seems worse than ever, and it appears that few people are unaffected by financial issues, or free of the fear that they will lose their savings, job or house. As bills continue to rise, and you need a mortgage to fill your car up with petrol, we all need to find ways of reducing our expenses.

One of the best ways of doing this is by using ‘green’ methods, which will not only save you money, but help the environment as well.

Here are my top ten tips:

1: Transport - One of the best and greenest ways of travelling about a city is by bike. In Barcelona, where I live, the council’s bike rental scheme is hugely popular, and allows you to pick up a bike in one location, and leave it at another. All for the bargain price of €24 per year, with no worries about theft, and without the expense of running a car or parking.

2: Health - Walking is another excellent way of travelling around a city, allowing you to see more of your surroundings. The only energy it uses is your own, with the added bonus of benefiting your health.

3: Food - For those with a garden, growing your own vegetables is great exercise and you can enjoy pesticide-free food. Even in a city, with only a balcony, you can use containers to provide yourself with some tasty fresh food.

4: Energy Saving - Turn off lights when you´re not in a room, with bills so exorbitant why pay more than you have to?

5: Move to a warm country - No need for heating In Spain!

6: Buy second-hand clothes - eBay shopping allows you to change your wardrobe frequently and cheaply. No need to get bored. A good rummage in charity shops can turn up some great bargains, and helps charities at the same time.

7: Re-use everything you can - We are so accustomed to throwing unwanted items away, and yet many things can serve a different purpose. Use plastic food containers for storage, old clothes for cleaning cloths.

8: Make your own cleaning products - There is no need for the vast array of products that fill our cupboards. Simple ingredients such as bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar and lemon juice cover most cleaning needs, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals in the home, which damage the environment. You can even buy chemical-free ´washing balls´ for laundry, saving on detergent.

9: Look after your possessions - Keep your shoes in good condition, repair clothes, and you won´t need to buy new ones.

10: Join Freecycle - Donors and recipients can feel a glow of self-congratulation at keeping items out of landfill, and all kinds of goods can be acquired with only transport costs to pick them up.