There are many things that can save on your overall yearly bills, that are simple, and easy to do.

• Use cloth napkins. They are easy to find at used stores, and are most often unused. You can also make them quite easily, if you are a DIY type. Be sure to buy or make them from 100% natural materials, to insure absorbability..
• Only buy paper towels for draining foods, and other tasks you must have sterile material for. If draining fried foods, layer the paper towels on old newspaper, instead of relying only on paper towels. This will will give the newspaper a second use, and prevent having to buy paper towels more often. I use about 3 rolls of paper towels in a 8-12 month period.
• Collect up small containers, and use instead of plastic bags to store food for lunches, etc. This also will prevent the use of foil, and plastic wrap.
• Go to the National Do Not Mail List, and opt out of your junk mail that is driving you up the wall. You can even opt out of only specific kinds of junk mail, if you still want to get the weekly grocery store ads for example. This service is now free.
• Add a bidet to your bathroom. You will use much less toilet paper, and will only have to use the toilet for defecation. Save old growth trees this way.
• Whenever possible, buy in bulk. This way there is less packaging, and you get a better price.
• Use natural substances like baking soda, vinegar, etc., for your cleaning products. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you will prevent toxicity problems in your home, that can lower your immune system, and negatively affect health.
• Eat a healthy diet, of home made foods. This will lower the amount of packaging you use, and lower your food cost.
• Buy/get used items whenever possible. When you get the items home, clean them immediately. Do not bring used cardboard boxes into your home, as they can be the hosts of cockroaches. Do not bring home used items made of cloth, foam, etc., that are too large to throw into a washing machine.
• Try to repair what you own, before you decide to buy another. Make things last, as long as possible.
• Do not impulse buy, or buy useless things. Useless things such as nic nac’s only take up your time maintaining them, and waste resources.
• Mend or repair clothes before getting rid of them. Be sure to donate all clothes, even if they are falling apart. Check with the used store you donate your stuff to, to be sure they ship bad conditioned items for sale to foreign countries, etc. Some used stores sell trashed clothing to rag companies. Try not to donate to stores that throw trashed items in the garbage.
• Do not buy software, movies, or music in a package, if you can download it off of the Internet. Often times the online version is cheaper, and you do not have to drive to the store.
• Do not buy books, and use the library instead. My library system will buy most items that are requested, though I know this is unusual. If your book is not in the system, and you are able to do this, you will be able to share your book with many others. If you really need to own a book, get it used.
• Do not throw something out merely because it is out of style. Reinvent the style if you can. Fashion trends are for sheeple, try having your own sense of style.

There are many more ways to save on resources, just be creative! Be sure to recycle, and only throw away what cannot be reused. Making a conscious effort to conserve, will greatly lower your bills! Just remember, being green, saves green!

[tags]environment, saving money, fashion, clothes, books, library, software, movies, music, CD’s, downloads, cloth naphins, paper towels, repair, diy, used stores, thrift stores, craig’s list, plastic wrap, foil, conservation, shadowmyth, lockergnome[/tags]

Technorati Tags: environment, saving money, fashion, clothes, books, library, software, movies, music, CD’s, downloads, cloth naphins, paper towels, repair, diy, used stores, thrift stores, craig’s list, plastic wrap, foil, conservation, shadowmyth,

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