17 ways to save both the environment and your money

1. Help complete the recycling loop by buying products that are made of recycled materials.
2. Buy quality products that you can use and keep for a lifetime.
3. Instead of individual serving sizes, why not buy dry food like cereals or raisins in a large box.
4. Buy concentrated juice in reusable containers.
5. Buy bottled water in a large plastic jug you can have refilled instead of buying a number of small bottles.
6. Use rechargeable batteries if you can. With one CD player used two hours a day, you can save about $200 a year if you use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
7. Using cloth diapers instead of disposables will save you an average of $500 a year per child. Switch back to cloth napkins, sponges, towels, and wipes.
8. Instead of disposables, use washable plates, cups, and utensils for picnics and parties.
9. Instead of disposable razors, use tweezers or an electric or hand razor with replaceable blades.
10. Buy quality, long-lasting tires. They cost less per kilometer traveled and reduce the problem of having to dispose of used tires.
11. Go back to a good old washable mug for your coffee so you don’t use a Styrofoam cup every day.
12. When you go to the market, bring your own bags (cloth, paper, or plastic will do). Tell the clerk, ‘Thanks, but I don’t need the plastic.”
13. Regularly clean appliances, computers, cars, and tools. Have them serviced if need be so they last longer. Before replacing them, see if they can still be repaired. Equipment not frequently used can be shared.
14. Upgrade your computer instead of getting a new one. Or donate your old one to a public school or a nonprofit organization.
15. Turn off nonessential lights and appliances. The electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two regular cars.
16. Save gas by carpooling, walking, riding a bicycle, shopping by phone or mail, taking public transportation, or telecommuting.
17. When driving, accelerate gradually, use cruise control on the highway, do many errands in one trip, replace car’s air filter, and keep tires properly inflated.