Thriftopedia.com » Living Green Thrift-opedia

Go Green with a Reel Mower!

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:04:30 +0000

My husband and I recently invested in a Reel Mower. He was really skeptical about how well it would work. He is now convinced it is one of the best “green” investments we have made. We LOVE it!!

If you have a small to medium yard or area to cut, we highly recommend switching from a gas or electric mower to an Environmental Elements Reel Mower.

This is a FANTASTIC way to save gas AND reduce your carbon footprint.

TIP: Make sure you rake your yard before mowing to remove sticks (especially the first time). LOL

Rechargable Batteries

admin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:16:43 +0000

Have a device that you use often that requires batteries? Get some rechargeable batteries! Instead of buying a pack of batteries that you use once and throw away try using the same ones over and over. This saves you tons of cash in the long run for a small initial investment.

Using rechargeable, also helps keep old batteries out of landfills and is much better for our planet! =)

If you’re looking for a good rechargeable battery system, try La Crosse Technology BC-900 AlphaPower Battery Charger.

Attend Clothing Swaps!

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:02:59 +0000

Thank you Jamie, from Pittsburgh Clothing Swap for this GREAT tip!

Attend clothing swaps! It is a great way to clear out your unwanted clothes and receive new items for a very low cost! Not only is it thrifty, but a great way to recycle and help the environment!

http://www.pittsburghclothingswap.org

Laundry Tip

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:24:49 +0000

When washing and drying your clothing, make sure you are using full loads if at all possible. Remember, you not only save on soap but on water and electricity also. In the long run, keeping full loads will save you more money then doing a bunch of smaller ones.

Recycled Art

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:03:46 +0000

When living green, what we buy is just as important as how much we are spending/saving.

So lets say you are looking for some new art. Instead of heading to your nearest department store, head on over to artsy.etsy.com, and check out Cat Bishop’s amazing Recycled Art! Her original one of a kind designs are created using recycled vintage items, such as clocks, cameras, toys, kitchenware…you name it!

What an incredible way to live green with art!

Change Your Driving Style

admin — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:28:22 +0000

If you stop braking and accelerating rapidly, you can lower your gas mileage by about 7% around town and about 35% driving on the freeway. Also, remember that the speed limits are there not only for your safety but to help conserve gasoline (which also reduces harmful emissions), and thus money at the same time!

Back to Cloth Diapers

admin — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:22:37 +0000

Remember, disposable diapers are expensive. One of the things a lot of our frugal friends are doing is returning to cloth diapers. These save you money in the long run but require a bit of daily washing to keep them clean.

Get a small diaper pail with a lid, fill it half way with a solution of water, bleach, and Dreft detergent. After each diaper change add the cloth diaper into the solution. That way, the diapers are sanitized until you can wash them next time (it cuts down on odors as well). That’s a tip from the wife.

For other baby care tips, check here.

Get into Gardening

admin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:06:36 +0000

To become self sufficient one must plant a garden. The easiest way to do this is to simply grab a shovel, a hoe, some seeds and a hose. Make some rows yourself, which is great exercise, and search the net for tips on growing and what to grow. You can greatly supplement your diet with items you grow yourself even if you have just a small parcel of land to work with. If you have a large one you can grow all you need for yourself and your family (this is very time consuming however).

Check out the Local Farmer’s Market

admin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:55:12 +0000

If you have one of these in your neighborhood they’re great places to visit. Take your whole family, you’d be surprised at how much the kids will enjoy this. If you buy your produce locally you’ll leave a smaller carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide created doing something) since the produce doesn’t have to be shipped great distances. A plus is you’re also supporting the local economy!

Recycle Those Cans

admin — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:44:24 +0000

A great way to start living green and make some extra cash at the same time is to start recycling all of those aluminum cans instead of throwing them away. The wife and I invested in a small, hand operated, wall-mounted can crusher. We now store our aluminum cans and bring them in to a recycling center. Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying

Not only are we helping the environment, we get paid to do it!