Be Green, Get Rich: Money-Saving Tips Good for the Planet, Too
October 19, 2008 · Print This Article
There’s a definite upside to this whole mess with the economy. It’s simple: nearly all of the tips we’re getting from experts on how to save money also benefit the planet. It’s a matter of consuming less. We’re reigning in our big-spending habits and instead reusing things, cutting back and doing without. In the process, we’re reducing the amount of junk that’s piling up in landfills, using less energy and consuming fewer resources.
Grist noticed this when checking out budget-saving tips from TheStreet.com. Among the tips were:
You care what your car looks like: A car is a means of transportation to get from one place to another, but many people don’t view it that way. Instead, they consider it a reflection of themselves and spend money every two years or so to impress others instead of driving the car for its entire useful life and investing the money saved.
You buy things you don’t use: Take a look around your house, in the closets, basement, attic and garage and see if there are a lot of things you haven’t used in the past year. If there are, chances are that all those things you purchased were wasted money that could have been used to increase your net worth.
Your house is too big: When you buy a house that is bigger than you can afford or need, you end up spending extra money on longer debt payments, increased taxes, higher upkeep and more things to fill it. Some people will try to argue that the increased value of the house makes it a good investment, but the truth is that unless you are willing to downgrade your living standards, which most people are not, it will never be a liquid asset or money that you can ever use and enjoy.
After so many decades of pointless, debt-amassing excess, we’re finally learning that small is beautiful, and less is more. Perhaps this shift toward a simpler way of living will help people detach themselves from the obsession with image that has gripped our society for too long. I won’t hold my breath, but it’s a nice thought.
Link [The Street] via [Grist]
Photo credit: Flickr user Refracted Moments
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You do save money by going green and reusing, but getting rich I am not sure. I was reflecting my own life in reading it. Cutting back on spending , my car which normally would be traded in we are going to keep another year to save money. I buy less clothes and go through my closet and try to update outfits with jewlery. We are saving money but unfortunately it is going into the higher cost of gas, food, amd salaries being frozen or lost. I feel it is an uphill battle that alot of people are facing to keep their head above water in this economy, but going green is a good first step.
I’ve been working on becoming more green and also significantly downsized about 4 years ago. In addition to the benefits you mentioned, there has been a boost to my psychological health. I’ve reduced clutter because I have limited storage and so I only have room for things that I love and have meaning to me…My 1,500 square foot home is cleaner, brighter and more beautiful than my 6,000 square foot home ever was or could be.
It is a shame that it has taken this long for society to realize how wasteful (most) people are. If the current economic crisis has people taking a look into their lifestyles and how they can save money AND it’s beneficial for the environment I’m all for it. I certainly hope it is a trend that is here to stay….at least long enough to make an impact. Thanks for sharing the article!