How to Save Money AND help the planet

But first, a warning. Giggle.

This is one of my MOST favorite topics. I dunno why, maybe I was Scrooge in a former life, but nothing delights me more than saving money. So I'm going to go all out and share some of the wackiest tips I have, that not only will help you save some money, but will also help the planet.

The warning is: you might find one or two of these green moving saving suggestions a bit 'out there' but heck, they should give you a smile, even if you don't run out and do them yourself, right away, anyway.

Here we go...

Ten Ways to Save Money AND help the planet...

1. Give your hot water tank a blanket.

There's this neat thing called Reflectix, have you heard of it? Wow. It's basically insulation for your hot water tank...in the form of shiny aluminum foil, but slightly thicker. And just as easy to manipulate. Just roll out the amount needed, wrap your hot water tank, and secure it with a special shiny tape, almost like gift wrapping your tank.

Net result? You'll save a bunch off your heating bills! And by saving energy to heat your water, you help the planet enormously! (Reflectix can also be used to insulate heating ducts.) Buy it in rolls of all different sizes at your local hardware store and go nuts!! Very cool stuff.

2. Grow your hair long OR...shave it all off.

Okay, call me crazy, but what is it with the hair thing? Cutting it off, letting it grow, trying this style, that style...I don't know about you, but I'm a real no-nonsense kind of gal. And a while back, I decided to let my hair grow and go as long as I could without a cut. (About six months.) It was quite liberating! And by conservative estimates, I saved probably close to $100 dollars in those six months! ($30 dollar haircut every two months, plus tip.) Of course, I had a style that didn't grow out, so I looked fine (or at least no one TOLD me I didn't.)

How does this help the planet, you ask? Well, as with all the money saving tips in this issue, the more money you save, the less you have to work for it. The less you have to work for it, the less you have to commute, use your car/gasoline, eat out for lunch/dinner...etc. etc. Get what I mean?

Whether man or woman, let me ask you this. What if you were to decide to let your hair grow and forego haircuts for a period of time? Or, go the other route like my husband Mike and shave it all off, that way you can do it yourself, every time! I don't think Mike's spent a cent on cutting his hair for nearly five years, and of course, he looks fab as always...

Radical? Maybe. But it does save money AND helps the planet. Think about it and maybe it's for you...even if it's just for a few months.

3. Sit on your toilet paper roll.

Giggle. Yes, you can help the planet and save money...by squishing your toilet paper roll before you put it on its holder. How's that? Well, simple really. By flattening your roll, (sitting on it, stepping on it, whatever) you make it harder to take too much toilet paper at once. You know how sometimes you give it too much of a yank, and there you have it, toilet paper all over? No use trying to roll it back up, right? Well, that's wasted paper and money.

By flattening it first, the roll moves slower, and you can take just the right amount. A great money and planet saving tip for ANYONE to try, from die hard environmentalists to newbies, especially if you make a point of buying the toilet paper with recycled paper content in it!

Go on, this is one you can try right now! Go squish your toilet paper rolls, then come back and finish reading. Yay!

4. You scrub my back, I'll scrub yours.

After heating, one of the things that costs the most around the house is water. So naturally, conserving water wherever possible is a great way to save money while helping the planet. Sharing a shower was actually a government recommendation in parts of Australia last year during some severe drought conditions. I don't just make all these tips up you know!!

Anybody you'd like to share a shower with? Go on! Wink. It'll save you money...AND help the planet!

5. Eat one no-cook meal a week.

Hey, I told you today's issue had some semi 'way out there' ideas. Bear with me though, you might like this one...

It's all about raw foods! You know, a great big salad, with nuts of all sorts for protein, maybe a sliced avocado and a freshly squeezed juice on the side? Delish! So good for you! So good for the planet (no cooking means no energy expended) and...great for the pocketbook since you save electricity by not turning your stove on.

Yes, it takes getting used to. But it's worthwhile noting that in addition to all the above benefits of a no-cook meal, the most compelling is perhaps the fact that many cancer survivors swear that a raw food diet helped put their illnesses into lasting remission. Pow, eh?

Oh, and in case you prefer a baby step first, here's a hint: start with veggies at dinner. Instead of boiling your carrots, try them raw. For your health, your pocketbook and the planet, check out these links for more information: http://www.eatraw.com http://www.living-foods.com.

6. Have a potluck party.

Okay, I had to throw a not-so-radical tip in here. Inviting friends and family over to a potluck party is a great way to save money. You could set up a schedule like someone I know, and make Sunday nights regular potluck night. Pretty nice on the pocketbook right? Because you're sharing food, and sharing body heat, you save energy in the preparations, and, you can also likely turn the heat down before everyone arrives. Fun, frugal and environmentally friendly, potlucks are a boon all the way around. Spread the word to your non-green friends and I bet you convert them, just a teeny bit!

7. Make like a pirate.

Back to the shower! Giggle. Ever heard of a pirate's shower? I hadn't either, until Mike said it. It's something about washing only the essentials while at sea? Not exactly sure, and I don't recommend going to extremes, but suffice to say it means showering with the least amount of water possible.

One way you can help do this is by installing a low flow shower head. By combining water with air, the shower doesn't feel any different, and saves on water usage by 20-40%. Ours, pictured at right, also comes with a little knob which you can push back and forth, stopping the flow entirely until you push it back. This way you can turn the water off while washing your hair or what have you. Another great money and planet saving tip. Grab a low flow shower and maybe some reflectix too (see item #1, above) and you're really be making a difference.

8. Say NO to a lawn.

I put this item in for Mike. Mike detests lawns, mowing lawns, thinking about mowing lawns, everything about lawns. And I commiserate, you know, lawns are one of those inventions that really make you think like a conspiracy theorist. Why, especially in Calgary, Alberta, and so many other places where the heat is what it is, and water is scarce, would we try to keep these patches of green around our houses? It's unnatural isn't it? Kind of like trying to maintain an ice rink near the equator! Well okay, not quite, but you get the picture. So anyways, Mike and I agree, we say 'ditch the lawn.' Try a rock garden, indigenous plants, or something else that doesn't require you pour water onto it in the middle of summer. The planet will thank you and so will your water bill.

9. Wave the white flag.

This is an interesting one. Have you ever stopped to think how much extra effort (and cost) you go to in order to maintain white clothing? Bleach, stain remover, hot water for the wash, dry cleaning, etc.? And how much do you think all of that costs over the long term? Something right? And for what, I ask you! Giggle.

Well, obviously, so you can wear white clothes. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against them, but personally, I've decided I'm about done with white clothes. The amount of real, tangible pleasure I get from wearing white just isn't significant enough for me to pay extra for their care. Besides, when I think of the added damage to the planet in the form of chemicals used to make the clothes white in the first place, then keep them white...it's a no brainer; I'm waving the white flag! Is there anything in your closets you could switch away from white next time you shop?

Something you really wouldn't miss NOT being white?

10. Speak up.

I'll finish off with a REALLY easy one okay? It promises to save you money AND help the planet...and it's fun too. A true-blue Joy to the Planet tip. And that is...speak up! Meaning...when in doubt, have a conversation. You really want to do something great for the planet? Well, you heard me right. Start talking. Pick any of the ten items on this list and talk about...how cool, how easy, how hard, how crazy...each is.

It's simple really. By having a conversation instead of going to the movies, to the mall, or out for food, you inevitably, inexorably, save money, and probably enjoy yourself more too! Who doesn't like a hearty chest-pounding yack-fest with a friend? At the same time, just talking about how to help the planet is a really low-tech, sure fire way to get people thinking more about these things, and that is a great thing.

Heck, use each issue of Joy to the Planet! as conversation starter why doncha? I'd love it if you would.

Thanks for reading this issue of Joy to the Planet on one of my MOST favorite topics...how to help the planet, have fun, AND save money.

If you found it interesting, pass it along to a friend, and drop me a line about which items you chose to do, whether it be one or more of the above. Starting next month, I'll be dedicating special issues to questions I've been receiving from readers...thanks for your support, you make this writing a joy!

Signing off to enjoy life and help the planet...what about you?