77 Ways to Live Green on a Budget

Being green shouldn’t be hard!  Here are 77 super-easy ways to live greener on a budget:

1. wash clothes in cold water — uses less energy and clothes last longer
2. use less laundry and dishwasher soap than the package calls for — experiment to see how little you can use and still get clean dishes/clothes
3. use vinegar and baking soda as much as possible for cleaning — I do keep a few commercial green cleaners on hand, but use a lot of vinegar and baking soda
4. open your curtains and shades to keep rooms warm and light, and close them to keep rooms cool—simple, but makes a big difference; my in-laws have a passive solar home and taught me the ritual of opening and closing windows to maintain the temperature in the house
5. install a programmable thermostat and keep heat/AC off when you’re not home or at night
6. open your windows to cool your house when you can
7. let your lawn go natural/die/replace it with low-water plants
8. shop for secondhand goods
9. start a garden, even if it is just a pot of herbs
10. store your own organic produce when it’s cheapest
11. wash your hair less; wash your kids less
12. switch to cloth napkins from paper
13. switch to rags, washcloths and towels (from paper towels) — I still keep a roll of paper towels on hand for those jobs when nothing else will do (like cooking bacon in the microwave!) but I use them a lot less
14. switch to handkerchiefs from kleenex (except when you’re sick!)
15. bake your own bread
16. pick your own organic produce at local farms
17. make your own fruit and veggie wash
18. learn simple sewing to repair clothes
19. buy baby supplies and kids’ clothes and toys second hand
20. make your own chicken broth
21. landscape your yard with edible plants (like fruit and nut trees)—then use the food, of course
22. learn how and where to recycle everything in your town
23. cloth diaper your kids as much as possible
24. use reusable cleaning pads for your Swiffer-style sweeper; even better if you get the spray mop you can refill with your own, homemade solution
25. make or buy reusable sandwich and snack bags
26. invest in experiences instead of things for special gifts
27. switch off lights and use daylight as much as possible
28. figure out how to run some errands on foot or by bike—makes a HUGE difference (and you’ll get fitter!)
29. put in a low-flow shower head
30. add a brick to your toilet tank for a DIY low-flow “hack”
31. use a water filter on your faucet or a water filter pitcher instead of buying bottled water; and you already have a reusable water bottle, right??
32. go meatless at least once a week
33. trade in your lawn mower for a push mower
34. start a compost pile and use the compost on your yard instead of chemical fertilizers
35. drive slowly and defensively; it saves gas and wear on your car
36. start shopping at thrift stores, consignment stores and garage sales
37. learn how to use your town’s public transportation system
38. figure out how to car pool if you commute to work
39. make your own dryer balls from old socks instead of using dryer sheets; you can add essential oils to make your clothes smell nice
40. organize a clothing swap with your friends; you can also do swaps for kids’ toys or Halloween costumes
41. plan your meals to avoid waste and overbuying
42. if you want to eat out, go to local restaurants instead of chains
43. save the cloth bags that sheet sets come in to wrap presents
44. use real fabric ribbon to wrap presents and use it over and over
45. buy a big roll of brown paper to wrap gifts and spice it up with pretty ribbons (regular wrapping paper mostly can’t be recycled, but brown paper can)
46. switch to soap that is NOT anti-bacterial and ditch any shower soaps with microbeads (REALLY bad for the environment)
47. cook with cast iron instead of non-stick pans
48. ditch your vinyl shower curtain (it gives off TONS of chemicals) and go with cloth or PVC-free plastic
49. use vinegar and dish soap to kill weeds instead of chemicals
50. use your dishwasher!  It uses less water than hand-washing in the sink, especially if it’s full.
51. air-dry as many of your clothes as possible
52. water your lawn, plants, etc. in the morning or evening so less of the water evaporates
53. use drip irrigation for gardens so less of the water evaporates
54. mulch your plants to help retain water—you can even just use leaves and grass clippings from your yard
55. don’t buy or eat microwave popcorn — make your own!
56. use soapy water instead of bug spray; it’s just as effective and a lot less toxic
57. use coconut oil in place of skin moisturizers, hair conditioner, shaving cream, and more
58. put the Dirty Dozen app on your phone
59. put the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app on your phone
60. upgrade your appliances to Energy Star
61. get off junk mail lists with CatalogChoice.org, 41pounds.org, andDMAChoice.org.
62. install a low-flow shower head
63. instead of idling your car, turn off your engine whenever possible
64. air-dry your hair (better for your hair and the environment!)
65. bring some plants indoors to help clear the air
66. turn your heater down 2 degrees
67. turn your air conditioner up 2 degrees
68. ditch frozen dinners: they have way too much packaging, use too much energy to cook, and WAY more expensive!
69. get your coffee in a reusable mug: less waste and fewer chemicals for you
70. mow your lawn less (yay!)
71. and don’t bag the clippings
72. reuse glass jars to store leftovers (no chemicals from plastic—plus, recycling!)
73. clean with microfiber cloths that don’t require chemical cleaners
74. don’t use air fresheners—they’re nothing but chemicals (try opening a window or using essential oils in a pinch)
75. invest in tomato products that come in glass to terra-packs—not cans (or can your own)
76. give up disposable straws
77. switch to a steel or aluminum water bottle

What else did we miss?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!!
(Photo Credit: frankieleon via Compfight cc)