VALDOSTA —
“It’s not easy being green,” once said Kermit the Frog. No offense to Kerm, but it is in fact quite easy being green. I know because I am incredibly green. OK, I’m not like dance around outside to Dave Mathews Band green, I’m more like if it will save me a dollar I will pretty much reuse anything green.
Being green is beneficial for two reasons. First, it never hurts to be environmentally conscious. It doesn’t take a genius to go to a beach in Georgia and Florida and deduce that the water probably really shouldn’t be brown. Second, being green saves you green! What better reason do you need than that?
Let me explain to you what I mean by “being green.” I’m talking about the normal kind of green, not the composting, reusable toilet-paper kind of green. God bless the people who do that. They are making a better world for all of us, but working the crazy schedule I do, I just don’t have time to make my own organic shampoo. I know that sounds incredibly selfish, but let’s face it, in today’s economy, it’s all for one or one for none!
So, here are a few ways for the average, everyday, working person to be green without going all Hulk and turning green (yes, I’m paying homage to the new “Avengers” movie, I’m green and geeky).
• Don’t throw out your old towels! They make great rags. I cut up my old, worn-out towels and use them for things such as dusting and general cleaning around the house. It’s so much more efficient than buying sponges every week or replacing a Swiffer duster. You can just throw them in the wash and poof! Good as new.
• When you go to the grocery store, get plastic over paper. I reuse my grocery bags as trash bags and you won’t believe how much money this saves because trash bags are a luxury in my house. I also use the bags to pick up my dog’s less than pleasant bodily excrement instead of using the poop bags they sell at stores. If you knew my dog Winnie, then you would know that I save a great deal of money not having to pay for poop bags.
• Car pooling is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and reduce the amount of money you spend on gas. When I make plans with friends to go out, I always try to get everyone to ride in one car. That way less gas is used and when you split gas, you’re only out a buck or two. I also like to walk instead of drive when possible. I live fairly close to a drug store and a few restaurants. When I go to those places, I just walk instead of wasting the gas.
• Don’t buy new books! Rediscover the library. Valdosta has a great library and the best part is, it’s free. When you buy a book, you’re murdering a tree. Wouldn’t you rather kill the same tree over and over again as opposed to slaughtering a new one every time you get an urge to read Nicholas Sparks. Here’s another tip (that is quite biased), don’t read Nicholas Sparks. If you’re going to kill a tree, don’t let it be in vain.
• Repurposing products is a great way to be green and save money. I like to get creative with my storage. I have an art room and I use old cans with the labels peeled off to store paint brushes. I use Mason jars to store cotton balls and Q-Tips in my bathrooms and I even use wine bottles to hold candles and flowers. Not only is it easy and cheap, to me, it just looks way cooler.
So as you see, Kermit is a punk who just likes to be emo and cry. Being green to save green is incredibly easy. Let me know what you think or share a tip of your own by writing me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Brittany’sBudgetDiary. While you’re there, don’t forget to “Like” me and join the budgeteer revolution!
Business
Brittany's Budget Diary: Be Green to Save Green
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