Now that winter is closing in on us (it’s freezing here in Oregon!) it’ll pay to save energy in areas other than heating, which is likely going to be the bulk of your energy bill during the cold season. The good news is that heat is not your only energy drain. So many items in our homes run on energy that it’s easy to save all over the place. For example…

If computers are on your holiday shopping list go for a laptop not a desktop. Laptops use about half the energy of desktops and if you snag an Energy Star …read more

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 …read more

Ok, I’ll admit that my first love is green living; yes, even over (gulp) saving money). However, I do also love a good saving money session and as we’ve talked about before here at Thrifty Mommy, green living and budgeting and saving money are all totally interconnected. Living green is cheap by default.

Energy Star Amana 3.5 Cu. Ft. Super Capacity Front Load Washer shown above
Low impact laundry is an excellent example of one green living choice that not only saves the planet but saves you loads of green as well. Here’s how.

Cold water costs less: Washing on cold – …read more

As a long time green advocate I’m a huge fan of homemade beauty products and body care products. But homemade beauty products and body care items are also an excellent thrifty habit.

Why make homemade beauty and body care products?

To avoid toxins – Skin Deep reports that many companies who make beauty care and body care products use known human carcinogens or developmental toxins in the products (as many as one third). Homemade products allow you to avoid this completely.
To save money. All that packaging and fancy advertising will cost you. It’s cheaper to make your own.
To let your creativity …read more

There is an awesome series at Telegraph.co.uk about growing your own wedding. From the flowers to the food, if you’ve already got a small plot of land, you can grow it all and you can save BIG bucks. This is also a super choice for an organic green wedding.  The series looks at the possibilities of growing your own wedding – is it possible, what you could serve, and how to manage it all.

Some of the cool ideas offered include:

Peach or raspberry Bellinis for guests, made with some fruit picked from the garden.
For canapés with the early drinks, lots of …read more

Today, yet another way that green can save you money and in just two words no less…
Rechargeable batteries.

Gaiam NiMH Batteries & Chargers – shown above

If you haven’t jumped on board with rechargeable batteries, you really should. The benefits are huge, both on a planet and money saving level. According to the Daily Green, “More than 15 billion batteries are thrown away each year.” WOW. Batteries not only NEVER biodegrade but they contain toxic gunk that can leak out of said batteries and contaminate soil and water. Now, if the planet is your only concern, you can recycle batteries – …read more

We all want to plan healthy meals, but some of us (ahem, me) aren’t born cooking geniuses. Some of us need some recipe help.
That said, healthy cookbooks can cost a bundle, both for our budgets and the planet. Very few cookbooks are made with recycled content, so each new cookbook you buy wastes money and trees. However, you can make a cookbook of your very own with very little cash, and save some trees in the process.

MAKE YOUR HOMEMADE COOKBOOK:
First grab a basic three ring binder – I actually have a few; basic meals, baking, and desserts, holidays, & treats. …read more

I don’t usually like to post sales; I’m more of a tips sort of person. However, being that it’s Earth Day, and being that I mainly write in the green genre, you would not believe the sales hitting my inbox. That said, I figured I’d share the love.
One of my favorite green shops on the web, Night Owl Paper Goods, is having a massive Earth Day sale today. I LOVE this shop because not only are their products totally sweet and beautiful but they’re sustainable and useful as well. See ad below for details:

Origins, king of natural body care, is …read more

Now that spring has arrived you might be planning your spring and summer gardens. Gardening is overall a budget deal because it saves you money on fresh veggies and fruits (seeds cost way less than store-bought produce). That said, the cost of starting a garden can add up. Here are some ways to save.
Only use reusable or recyclable  planting gear:  Old egg cartons can be used to start seeds or you can make your own growing pots with recycled materials you’ve got laying around the house. If you’ve already got plastic seed starter posts make sure to reuse them (just …read more

Coffee (good coffee; people) can be expensive. You can buy cheaper coffee to save money OR to make your coffee purchases work harder use the grounds up – all the way.

After brewing a pot, set aside the grounds and try one of the following applications…
Place them in your compost bin where they will enrich your compost content. Coffee grounds naturally release nitrogen which plants adore all to pieces. Flowers like azaleas and rhododendrons are especially huge fans of the acid content in coffee. In fact, even if you don’t have a compost bin, you can still use coffee grounds in …read more