With global warming and pollution continuously in the news today, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to making a difference. Here are some easy tips to help your household stay green; it turns out helping the environment can help give your family budget a boost as well!
Recycle & Reuse
Whenever possible cans, paper and plastics should be recycled. Some cities even offer a compost program as well that helps divert food scraps and yard trimmings from landfills.
Before recyclables like cardboard goes into the recycling bin, why not turn it into a craft for younger children? Big boxes especially, can provide hours of endless fun and creative playtime. For older children, try reusing clothes and books by sharing with friends and family. Organize a clothing swap to avoid throwing away old clothes, keep their wardrobes fresh and save some money that would have been spent buying brand new clothes.
Reduce!
Although pre-packaged foods are very convenient, aim to pack garbage free lunches for your child at least once a week. Using plastic or glass containers instead of plastic bags is a great way to do this. Plus, buying food in greater quantities and then dividing it up into daily portions in containers is cheaper in the long run! Drinking from reusable stainless steel water bottles instead of disposable plastic ones helps the environment as well. If you do use plastic water bottles, make sure to recycle them when you’re done.
A tip for conserving energy at home is to turn down your thermostat at night and encourage your children to make sure lights and electronics are always turned off if there is nobody in the room using them. In addition to helping the environment, this can help out your heating and electricity bills as well.
Walking to school or taking the bus to decrease emissions of toxic substances into the atmosphere can also put a few dollars of your gas budget back into your pocket. In addition, this is a great way to get your family active! If walking is a bit too far for your little one, you can also try setting up a carpool with other parents in your neighborhood.
Remember to keep these tips in mind and pass them on to your child to help keep our planet healthy for the future!
