From Guest Blogger Nina Simons: Five Ways To Save Money, Energy and Planet

With the start of the new year, everyone is striving to become better, to dream more, or complete new resolutions and make plans. When you’re already trying to be better then why don’t you also try to be more eco-friendly, save energy and the planet to create a better future for your children and yourself? Well, with these simple tips you can achieve your goals and fulfill your plans while being environmentally conscious and saving your money at the same time.

Pull a Van Helsing on vampire energy

How many times have you just taken your phone off the charger but left the charger plugged in? It is the simplest action that doesn’t take much time to do but we tend to forget about it. Well, you should know that there is something called vampire power or standby power that sucks your wallet dry. It refers to the usage of the electric power while electronic and electrical appliances are switched off or on a standby. If you really want to save money on your energy bill then make sure to unplug the appliances and gadgets you are not using. Replace your light bulbs with the LED ones since they also save energy and turn off everything before leaving your apartment for a few days.

Reduce and rely on second-hand stores

Make sure to reduce the amount of waste you are creating. Obviously, there is a positive correlation between reducing, reusing and recycling and the three combined, make the perfect solution to become more eco-friendly, keep the planet healthy and clean while saving your money. You should also consider borrowing stuff you need for just one occasion to avoid throwing it away after you move or if you don’t longer need it or even if you don’t have enough storage space. Buying used items such as furniture will give your home a unique look, help you develop a sense of style and reduce the amount of rubbish if you happen to change the furniture pieces often.

It is important to think about the environment all the time, about recycling and reducing, even when it comes to some small things. For example, if you are moving home, you can invest in eco-friendly plastic storage boxes like Boomerangbox ones and simply rent them for as long as you need them. That way you are cutting on the amount of the trash while moving your belongings and you don’t have to think about what you are going to do with the boxes after the process ends.

Find beauty in repurposing and reusing

Reusing certain items can be extremely helpful if you really want to save money, energy, and the planet. We all know how much harm the plastic is doing to the planet and the simplest solution is to reuse biodegradable bags for your daily grocery store shopping. Also you should glue all those broken items around your home and avoid creating more rubbish. The Japanese technique called Kintsugi refers to repairing broken pottery with a kind of a gold lacquer to emphasize the beauty of the item with all its flaws. To put it simply – the piece is more beautiful for having been broken. You can create art while trying to actually be eco-friendly! Also, repurposing can have a great impact on the health of our planet. Find a new purpose for all the items you wanted to get rid of – thanks, Pinterest, there are many DIY ideas that you can take as inspiration. You can even be creative while saving the planet!

Think green and recycle

Obviously, the most important thing is to recycle. There is not really much to discuss, just a quick reminder about the importance of the recycling process. So, separate your trash, never throw it away on the street and cut back on using nondegradable materials!

Replace your car with a bike

A smart way of saving the planet is opting for cycling or walking to work instead of driving. The exhaust fumes from cars are very dangerous and harmful to people. Not to mention the animals and nature itself. So be smart and choose the healthier way! You will keep the planet at least a bit gas-free (even though you’re just an individual) and it will be good for your own health at the same time.
These are all simple things that will have a great impact on your life, your health and the planet. They actually won’t take too much of your time, you will still be able to achieve all the tasks with a few minor changes. Following these tips, you will become more eco-conscious and save your money in the process. Think about your future and don’t forget about the three R’s – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!