Low-cost Ideas for Long-term Savings

People who are willing to spend just a few dollars toward the effort of saving energy can find that small investments toward “greening” your life can also go a long way in putting more green back into your wallet. Here’s how:

At home or at work, (or both if you’re ambitious) cut the amount of paper and ink that is wasted on printed pages that hardly have anything on them. The site www.printgreener.com offers a program that will help PC users print without images, and consolidate pages. There’s a free 14-day trial download, and if you like it, a $29 investment boasts a savings of up to $100 per year in paper and ink. 

For those of you without programmable thermostats, Walmart sells programmable register vents that can help shave heating and cooling costs by cutting off airflow to areas of your home or apartment based on a timer you control. They run on two AAA batteries, and will cost under $20 each.

The Grass is Now Greener...

I usually wince at spending money for things around the house, and that's why I used my old, beat up lawnmower until it basically had to be tied together in two places not to fall apart. But last Spring I decided that enough was enough, and that I was sick of wondering when it was going to cut its last lawn. I did some research, and eventually traded my sputtering, smelly, loud gas-powered mower in for a cordless, 24v battery-powered beauty by Black & Decker. 

I love the thing! It’s quieter than a gas mower, doesn’t smell, and starts and stops instantly with the flick of the handle. Best of all, I never have to check gas or oil levels --- I just plug it into a wall outlet to charge. It set me back $400, but it pays for itself in long-term maintenance ease and the sheer joy of making my life more pleasant while I'm “doing the right thing.” I highly recommend it. (Hint: now’s a good time to start shopping for deals on one for next year, too.)