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Group.all.your.errands.together

Feel like you spend your whole week trying to catch up with the errands? Take a few moments once a week to make a list of all the errands that need to get done, and see if you can batch them into one trip. Not only will you be saving gasoline, but you might find yourself with much better time-management skills. [Organize your life]

Turn.off.the.lights

Always turn off incandescent bulbs when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You'll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room. [FLICK Off!] | [Killa Watt]

Turn.your.computers.off.at.night

Your computer uses power whether you're using it or not. Instead of leaving it in standby or sleep mode, you can save 40 watt-hours per day by turning it completely off. That adds up to 4 cents a day, or about $14 per year. If you don't want to wait for your computer to start up, set it to turn on automatically a few minutes before you start to work, turn it on and then do something else like tidy your desk. [Find out more]

Don't.rinse.off.your.dishes

When you rinse your dishes before you put them in the (duh!) dishwasher-- you can be wasting up to 20 gallons of water each load. Plus, you're saving time and the energy used to heat the additional water. That can translate into about $1 a load or over $300 a year [50 Ways to Save money]

When.you.move.-rent.boxes.instead

When it's time to move all your worldly belongings, why buy cardboard boxes that need to be recycled (read: high energy use) when you can rent bins for the day and return them. This could actually save you money in the process, but also reduce energy consumption and the need for new materials to make more boxes. [Top Green Moving Tips]

Adjust.your.thermostat.seasonally

Adjust your thermostat one degree higher in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter. Each degree celsius less will save about 10% on your energy use! In addition, invest in a programmable thermostat which allows you to regulate temperature based on the times you are at home or away. [More info]

Can.Freeze.&. dehydrate

Anything that you grow in your garden, or cook in your kitchen for that matter, should be able to last. You can save money by extending the life of certain foods, especially the ones you grew yourself. It can be as easy as getting some glass jars for a big pot of soup, but there are many little things you can do to save the cash. [Can or freeze or dehydrate]

Share.a. ride.to.work

The easiest way to save money while travelling is to carpool or ride-share whenever you can. For the morning commute, it basically halves the per capita fuel charge with two people in a car, and as long as you buy the driver their coffee, you can save money and the planet at the same time. [Rideshare or Car Pool]

Make.your.own .household.cleaning.products

Most modern synthetic cleaning products are based on age-old formulas using natural ingredients that were passed down through the generations because the chemistry was right. Going back to the original naturally derived ingredients is a way to make cleaning products that work, don’t pollute and save you money. Most are found in your kitchen cupboards. Mix and match with well-chosen and environmentally friendly green cleaning products found in health food stores, and you can easily and simply transform your home into a non-toxic and healthy haven. [Make your own cleaning supplies]

Kill.the.power.when.not.in.use

Things like computers, printers, and even some appliances have a constant, but small, draw of power even when they are completely turned off (or so you think...). Unplug, switch off, or reduce where possible, and you'll find your hydro bills on the decline. [Kill a Watt] or [What is Phantom Power?]

Buy.local

Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers' markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in. [More info]

Invest.in.your.own.insulated.coffee.mug

If you start every morning with a steamy cup, a quick tabulation can show you that the waste is piling up. Invest in a reusable cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time. Most coffee shops will happily fill your own cup, and many even offer you a discount in exchange! [Green Upgrader's Reuseable Mug Story]

Don't.pre-heat.your.oven

Ignore cookbooks! It is usually unnecessary to pre-heat your oven before cooking, except when baking bread or pastries. Just turn on the oven at the same time you put the dish in. During cooking, rather than opening the oven door to check on your food, just look at it through the oven window. Why? Opening the oven door results in a significant loss of energy. [Who says so?]

Double.side.your.documents

American businesses throw away 21 million tons of paper every year, equal to 175 pounds per office worker. For a quick and easy way to halve this, set your printer's default option to print double-sided (duplex printing). And when you're finished with your documents, don't forget to take them to the recycling bin. You can also save even more money by using PDFs, scanners, email, digital signatures,etc. [Where to get it]

Avoid.the.plastic.diapers

You can save thousands of dollars using cloth diapers over the course of three years, and even more if you use the same cloth diapers for a second child. Plus, you won't be spending money on expensive diaper rash creams, diaper pail liners or wasting gas running to the store each week to buy diapers. The savings really add up! [Where to get them]

Install.solar. panels

Solar panels are a great way to save money. Yes there is an upfront cost, and a small amount of regular maintenance that is required, but beyond that, the energy flows freely. Depending on your usage levels, you can actually sell power back into the grid and MAKE money by having solar panels. [Save More]

Use.public. transportation.

One of the simple ways to save money is to not spend money. The cost of a transit pass compared to that of owning a car is drastically smaller. When you include gas, insurance, the car itself (lease or finance), maintenance, car washes, (drive thru) -- it's a lot of money to own a car. Some don't have the luxury of a great public transit system, but for those that do, this is a big one. You could also be elegible for tax rebates for the purchase of transit passes. Look into it. [Ride the Rocket]

Hang.your.clothes.to.dry

We all know that if we don’t dry our clothes in the dryer we save on electricity, but many of us don’t think about how the dryer reduces the life of our clothes. The physicality of the tumble dry actually wears out clothes faster, and requires you to replace clothes much more frequently. [Further Reading]

Use.cheap.green.hosting

This one is pretty 'nerdy' but for those looking for an affordable AND green host for their domains, check out ThinkHost. "All our hosting plans are 100% wind/solar powered. Added to that, most of our team members "telecommute" - saving thousands of gallons of fuel annually that would have otherwise been consumed in commuting to a traditional work environment." [Green Hosting Services]

Change.your.Light.Bulbs

If every home in the North America replaced one regular lightbulb with one of those new compact fluorescent bulbs, or even better, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulb, the energy reduction would be equivalent to removing over one million cars from the road. These bulbs are available in many different 'temperatures' from cool blue white to warm yellow and orange whites. You can save about $600 a year in energy costs by making the switch [Find them]

Second.hand.goods.are.still.good

Consider buying items from a second-hand store. Toys, bicycles, roller blades, and other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown. Second hand stores often sell these items in excellent condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them. [eBay] [Craigslist][Kijiji.com] [Other Ideas for 2nds]

Use. your.car's.cruise.control

You paid for those extra buttons in your car, so put them to work! When using cruise control your vehicle could get up to 15% better mileage. Considering today's gasoline prices, this is a boon not only for the environment but your budget as well. [Keep on, keepin' on] [What is hypermiling?]

Install.a.digital .thermostat

Saving energy means saving money. In addition to adjusting your thermostat a little cooler in the winter and a little warmer in the summer, consider installing a digital thermostat with timers and time-of-day functionality. You can drop the temperature of the house a few degrees while nobody is home, and bring it back up right before everyone gets back. [Update your thermostat]

Recycle.all.your.glass.bottles.and.jars

The average household is estimated to use around 330 glass bottles and jars annually but only around 30% of these are currently recycled. Collecting and recycling all your bottles and jars used around the home can make a big impact on reducing this huge volume of waste. Make sure all your bottles and jars are empty, have their tops removed and are washed, sorted and sent to the curb. To save money, try saving the 'good' jars for stuff like soups, left-overs and other things that you would use plastic for. [What to do]

Once.a.week.be.a.vegetarian

Staples such as rice, corn and beans can make trips to a grocery store less expensive. But the biggest savings may come in health-care costs years later. In a world of $1 double cheeseburgers, it's no wonder that many people suspect that a vegetarian diet is more expensive than one that includes meat. But that's generally not true. And though it's difficult to tally the savings of illnesses or diseases avoided with a plant-based diet, the financial worth of good health is unquestionable.[Further Reading]

Wash.you.clothes.in.cold.water

How do you easily save 1% on national CO2 emissions as well as over $3 billion in energy costs? According to some studies, this could happen if we all simply wash our clothes in cold water. Most of us are unaware of the full extent of energy required to wash our clothes. A staggering 85-90% of this energy is used by the water heater. Only 10-15% actually goes to running the washing machine. A switch of all washers to cold water would mean a savings of about 30 million tons of CO2 per year and a bundle of cash. [Why do it?]

Use.less.paper.napkins.when.eating.out.AND.at.home

There’s no need to grab a huge stack of napkins from the concession stand when you know you’ll only use one or two. Each North American consumes an average of 2,200 standard two-ply napkins per year, or the equivalent of just over six of these napkins per day. If everyone used an average of one fewer napkin per day, more than a billion pounds of napkins could be saved from landfills each year. A stack of napkins this size could fill the entire Empire State Building. Use this philosophy for your home and use cloth over paper to save money.[Reuse to save]

Recycle.your.newspapers.and.magazines

Every day in the United States, about 65 million newspapers are printed. Of the newspapers printed and distributed (trucked, shipped, etc), 45 million, or about 70%, of them will be thrown in teh garbage instead of the recycling bin. Recycling just the Sunday papers would save more than half a million trees every week. Also-- all of the best papers have an online edition that is more current, and less 'made of trees'. Plus, much of the content is FREE![Read online]

Wrap.your.gifts.without.wrapping.paper

You can reuse gift bags, bows and event paper, but you can also make something unique by using old maps, cloth or even a newspaper. Flip a paper grocery bag inside out and give your child stamps or markers to create their own wrapping paper that's environmentally friendly and extra special for the recipient. Admit it- we mostly just rip it off and throw it away anyway? [Find an alternative]

Avoid.spending.money.on.bottled.water

Nearly 90% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, instead taking thousands of years to decompose. Buy a reusable container and fill it with tap water, a great choice for the environment, your wallet, and possibly your health. The EPA and other international governments' standards for tap water are always more stringent than the FDA's standards for bottled water. hard to believe, but Water is still more expensive that gasoline when bought by the litre. Go jump in the lake. [More in the tap]

Have.a.shower.instead.of.a.bath

Take short showers instead of baths. If you take hot showers, lower the temperature a little and take quicker showers. Don't forget - sometimes a cool or cold shower feels a lot better then a hot shower so don't get stuck in a routine and always take a hot shower. Families can save big bucks by limiting the length of the shower too. Put a timer in the bathroom for the kids. [Stand up and read more]

While.brushing.your.teeth.-turn.off.the.tap

There are so many ways to save water in and around your home, and some simply require a change of habit – like not running the tap while brushing your teeth and running the dishwasher only when it is full. Energy Star appliances are designed to be not only energy efficient but also water efficient. [More to read]

Shower.with.a.friend

This doesn't always lead to being clean, but it almost always results in less water used. Sneak in a shower with your loved one to start the day with some pizazz. Not only have you made a wise choice for the environment, but you may notice some financial benefits. The average family of four can save about $500 a year by limiting showers to 5 minutes each. [Can you dig it?]

Plant.a.tree

It's good for the air, the land, can shade your house and save on cooling (plant on the west side of your home), and they can also improve the value of your property. Make it meaningful for the whole family and plant a tree every year for each member. Also- when you need to buy a gift for someone, get them a tree. [Can you dig it?]

Make.time.for.greener.lawn.care

If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds? Spot treat them with vinegar. Not sure if you should rake? Normal clippings act as a natural fertilizer, let them be. If you've waited too long, rake by hand — it's excellent exercise.[More Info]

Picnic.with.a. marker

Some time in between the artichoke dip and the coleslaw, you lost track of your cup, and now there are a sea of matching cups on the table, one of which might be yours. The next time you picnic, set out permanent marker next to disposable dinnerware so guests can mark their cup and everyone will only use one. [More Info]

Recycle.your.old cell.phone.

Typically, when it's time to renew your cellphone plan, your phone is already out of date. Get an energy efficient phone, but also consider switching plans. With number portability, you can take your number with you, and leverage great deals on getting the best plan to save some money. If possible, try not to commit to more than 1 year, because there's always a better deal around the corner. [Recycle your phone]

Maintain.your. car.or.truck

Not only are you extending the life of your vehicle, but you are creating less pollution and saving gas. A properly maintained vehicle, clean air filters, and inflated tires can greatly improve your vehicle's performance. And it might not hurt to clean out the trunk—all that extra weight could be costing you at the pump. Maintain your vehicle

Buy.green.cosmetics. online

Buying cosmetics, lotions and other girly things online, instead of driving to the mall, can save you money and save the planet. Check out Upurea, Inc.

Recycle.your.wire. coat.hangers

Wire hangers are generally made of steel, which is often not accepted by some recycling programs. So what do you do with them? Most dry cleaners will accept them back to reuse or recycle. Some cleaners will even give you a discount for returned hangers. [recycle your hangers]

Return.your.bottles .for.a.refund

In most countries, the returning of glass bottles encourages a refund of 5 or 10 cents. THis is bound to be different all around the world, but I'm sure there's some kind of equivalent. In Canada, the bottles to return are Beer and Liquor bottles. They get you the deposit you paid int he first place AND encourage recycling. [Refund your bottles]

Telecommute. to.work

See if you can work out an arrangement with your employer that you work from home for some portion of the week. Not only will you save money and gasoline, and you get to work in your pajamas! [Telecommute and save]

Keep.your.fireplace. damper.closed

Keeping the damper open (when you're not using your fireplace) is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney. This can add up to hundreds of dollars each winter in energy loss. [Energy saving tips]

Cut.out.the. junk.mail

Feel like you need to lose a few pounds? It might be your junk mail that's weighing you down. The average American receives 40 pounds of junk mail each year, destroying 100 millions trees. There are many services that can help reduce the clutter in your mailbox, saving trees and the precious space on your countertops. Some companies will now give an incentive to switch to e-billing, as it saves operational costs for them. [Ecocycle]

Use.matches.instead. of.lighters.

Most lighters are made out of plastic and filled with butane fuel, both petroleum products. Since most lighters are considered "disposable," over 1.5 billion end up in landfills each year. When choosing matches, pick cardboard over wood. Wood matches come from trees, whereas most cardboard matches are made from recycled paper. [Matches instead]

Let.your.fingers.do. the.walking

Instead of a paper phone-book, which becomes out of date the second it's printed, opt out and choose to do your number finding online with Google or a local listings service like Canada411.com. [Google it]

Give.it. away.to.someone.else

Before you throw something away, think about if someone else might need it. Either donate to a charitable organization or post it on a web site designed to connect people and things, such as Freecycle.org. [Freecycle]

Go.to.a. car.wash

Professional car washes are often more efficient with water consumption. If everyone in the U.S. who washes their car themselves took just one visit to the car wash we could save nearly 8.7 billion gallons of water. [Car Washes are good]

Try.a.reuseable .shopping.bag

Each year the U.S. uses 84 billion plastic bags, a significant portion of the 500 billion used worldwide. They are not biodegradable, and are making their way into our oceans, and subsequently, the food chain. Stronger, reusable bags are an inexpensive and readily available option. [Reuseable Shopping Bags]

If.you.have.to.fly. use.an.E-Ticket

The cost of processing a paper ticket is approximately $10, while processing an e-ticket costs only $1. In the near future, e-tickets will be the only option, saving the airline industry $3 billion a year. In addition to financial savings, the sheer amount of paper eliminated by this process is commendable. [Fly with an e-ticket]

Download.your .software.and.music

Most software comes on a compact disc, and more than thirty billion compact discs of all types are sold annually. That's a huge amount of waste, not to mention the associated packaging. Another bonus to downloading your software is that it's often available for download at a later date when you upgrade to a new computer or are attempting to recover from a crash. With regards to Music, sites like itunes and puretracks allow you to get your music AND avoid the disc. They typically save you money because you are only buying what you want. Download your music

Turn.off.or.unplug .your.rarely.used.electronics

Answering machines use energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And when they break, they're just one more thing that goes into the landfill. If all answering machines in U.S. homes were eventually replaced by voice mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt-hours. [Energy Saving tips]

Opt.for.a.spoon.when. you.need.to.stir.the.coffee

Each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers. But skipping the stirrer doesn't mean drinking your coffee black. Simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee, and it should be well mixed.
Determined to stir? Break off a piece of pasta from the cupboard. You can nibble after using it, compost, or throw away with less guilt. [Stir with pasta]

Melt.ice.a.better. way

When a big winter storm heads our way, most of us use some sort of ice melter to treat steps and sidewalks. While this makes the sidewalks safer for people, it may pose a hazard for pets who might ingest these products. Rock salt and salt-based ice-melting products can cause health problems as well as contaminate wells and drinking water. Look for a pet-safe deicer, readily available in many stores. Vet bills are expensive. [Save on Vet bills]

Pay.your.bills .online

By some estimates, if all households in the U.S. paid their bills online and received electronic statements instead of paper, we'd save 18.5 million trees every year, 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and 1.7 billion pounds of solid waste. In addition, as mentioned above, many companies will give you an incentive to switch, because it actually saves THEM money to send you an e-bill, and have you pay electronically. [Pay bills online]

Stop.the.paper .bank.statements

Some banks will pay you a dollar or donate money on your behalf when you cancel the monthly paper statements you get in the mail. If every household took advantage of online bank statements, the money saved could send more than seventeen thousand recent high school graduates to a public university for a year. [Use s-Statements]

Use.rechargeable .batteries

Each year 15 billion batteries produced and sold and most of them are disposable alkaline batteries. Only a fraction of those are recycled. Buy a charger and a few sets of rechargeable batteries. Although it requires an upfront investment, it is one that should pay off in no time. And on Christmas morning when all the stores are closed? You'll be fully stocked. [Rechargeable Batteries]

Plant.your. own.garden

If you have the room to do it, there are many free resources that can help you plan tyour own veggie garden. This can save you money on groceries, but it also great for the planet. Less gas to get to the store for that tomato or cuke. [Plant a garden]

Fix.your. leaky.faucet

Walmart will be the first to tell you that waste=money lost. When you conserve by fixing problems, be it waste for your business or fixing that dripping sink, you save money on everything from water bills, to hydro, to shipping, to disposal charges. Being aware of waste can save you money. [Fix your faucet]

Buy.a. hybrid.car

Some people think that hybrids are more expensive than other cars. There are a lot of incentives to save. You can save $2000+ in incentives and rebates from the government (depending on your government). [Buy a Hybrid Car]

Get.organized. reduce.clutter

If we feel the need to buy something new at the store, let’s ask ourselves (1) “Do I really need this thing, or do I want it?”, and (2) “Why do I want this thing?” We should take some time to very honestly and thoughtfully consider the answers. If you do indeed feel you want the item, wait one week before purchasing it. Then ask yourself the questions again...[Sparkleize your life without clutter]

Spread.the.word!

The thing with good news is-- you want to share it. Tell your friends, your family, your colleagues, and contacts about Green My Wallet. At the top of this page there's a button to make it easy to share on all your favourite sites. But that's far, so how about another button:

DIGG! This Story Share on Facebook Give some points on Reddit Share with your Twitter followers... Bookmark this list on Del.icio.us