How to green your budget
September 22, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Eco Simplicity
Odds are if you’re thrifty, you’re also already pretty darn green. Eco-friendly living and thrifty living go hand in hand in so many ways. However, there’s always a few more things you can do to green your budget situation.
Bank responsibly: Banks are not all the same shade of green. Some banks offer special green incentives and ways you can socially invest your money as well. The Socially Responsible Investing Basics for Individuals guide from the Social Investment Forum is a great way to find a green bank. To learn more about investing your money in green causes and businesses you can order Green America’s Green America’s Guide to Socially Responsible Investing.
Go green with rebates and credits: There are a number of tax credits you’re entitled to simply for greening your home. Learn to take advantage of these tax credits. Furthermore, you can easily locate killer rebates on green appliances and other energy saving products.
Stop and think: The best rule of thumb to save money if you’re green or not is to stop and think before you buy. This accomplishes two major things; one, you save money on stuff you wouldn’t buy if you really stop and think, and two, it’s super green to own less junk. Never make a purchase without stopping and asking yourself if you really need the item, or just kind of want it. Flexing your green purchasing power helps the planet and your wallet.
Use a green budget guide: Big Green Purse is an excellent green and budget friendly book that can teach you to shop wise and green. My personal green budget bible is Your Money or Your Life, which isn’t exactly a green book, but it is about simple living, mindful living, and saving your time and money, which to me translates into more time and resources for green efforts.
Green your day to day budgeting routine: Use recycled content budgeting books, file folders, and envelopes for keeping track of bills or better yet go paperless. It’s easy to set up a budget on the computer. You can budget, bank, pay bills, and do almost everything you need to on a computer which save money on stamps and saves trees used for paper as well.
How are you saving money and going green?
[image via stock.xchng]
