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We all know the importance of recycling and how beneficial it is to our environment. But many may not think about the financial impact the “three Rs” — reduce, reuse and recycle — can have on their budget as well. When my daughter came home from kindergarten last year worried that we weren’t doing our part to save the earth, we discussed with her how we have been taking many green steps to benefit the environment and our budget. Here are some of our tips.
Reduce
Reuse
Reduce
- Purchasing toys at yard sales and consignment stores helps reduce the trash and packaging that eventually ends up in a dump.
- Keeping the windows open as long as possible into each season and adjusting the thermostat to recommended settings will reduce electricity bills and usage.
- Get as many things done as possible on each errand trip, reducing the amount of gas needed and resulting in fewer late-night trips to the store.
- Print on the fastest option on a computer, reducing ink used and extending the life of each cartridge. Also, when printing coupons, use the bottom half of the paper for grocery lists or scrap paper, eliminating the need for notepads. Junk mail envelopes also make great grocery list paper.
- Carry a grocery bag on quick trips to the store, reducing that overflowing stash of plastic bags. While maybe not practical for the big weekly shopping trips, a plastic bag isn’t needed if all we are buying is one or two items.
Reuse
- Reuse holiday decorations from one season to the next. Also, wait to buy new decorations until after the holiday, making sure not to buy something already stored away.
- Pass clothes down from one child to another, share with a family member, friend or sell them at a consignment shop or yard sale.
- Don’t spend money on rags or absorbant cloths to clean up spills or wash the car. Worn out T-shirts and other clothing can be reused as rags.
