5 Easy And Cheap Ways To Go Green At Home

There are plenty of ways to save energy and go green at home that will also save you money in the long run as long as you make an initial investment, such as rechargeable batteries and CFL bulbs. If you can't afford to spend more now to save money later, or just want a few simple ideas for living more sustainably, there are easy ways to live greener that may also help you spend less, starting now.

We live in a technologically advanced society that helps us save time, improve our health and keeps us informed, but the inspiration for these ideas comes from the past. Our grandparents and great-grandparents lived in simpler times that, despite the low level of technology, offer plenty of lessons we can use today. If you're in any doubt, a YouTube video series on Great Depression Cooking that features 94 year old Clara sharing basic recipes, is viewed by millions of people. The website has garnered millions of loyal fans and there's even a DVD out now. Clara teaches us how to make do with less, and that's the foundation of sustainable living.

Line dry your clothes. Some clothes benefit from a tumble in the dryer, but whenever possible, line dry your clothes to save on your electric bill.

Make your own household cleaners with simple, inexpensive ingredients, such as white vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda. Not only will you rid your house of toxic chemicals, you'll save money.

Reuse grocery store bags. Let's face it, we don't always remember to bring our reusable shopping bags to the grocery store. That's okay, because you can reuse the paper or plastic bags for your garbage, rather than buying plastic garbage bags.

Re-use jars. Some products at the grocery store still come in glass jars rather than plastic, and while you can recycle them, it makes more sense to wash them out and save them. Use them to store leftovers in the refrigerator. Small jars make good spice containers, while large ones are good for storing bulk rice, legumes and nuts. Wrap a ribbon around a jar and use it to hold cooking utensils on your counter or craft supplies.

Make your own reusable dryer sheets. A bottle of liquid fabric softener and some fabric scraps are all you need for those clothes that you can't or don't want to line dry.