How to Save Money AND help the planet

Don't all of us love to have the money to do the fun things that bring us joy? Not that all fun things require money, mind you, on the contrary! But have you ever wanted to read that awesome-looking new book, eat at that new green restaurant in town or throw a party for friends and family...only to be short a little cash?

Here are few tips:

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.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.

Andrea J. Lee is an award-winning author, speaker, entrepreneur and coach.
She is a rabid advocate for the planet who coaches online business owners in
the environmental niche market to be financially successful. For more tips
on how you can help the planet and enjoy life at the same time, visit
www.joytotheplanet.com.

---

No Artificial Ingredients Indeed

Back from our family's vacation to Costa Rica, I am... Read More

Visiting the Last Paradise on Earth ? Costa Rica

I've been traveling and writing about places I believe others... Read More

Boondocking America

Boondocking is fun! Boondockers go anywhere they want, at any... Read More

Disneyland for Hikers: A Walk to Mt. Whitney

Base camp sits at 12,000 feet - stark, windy, unshaded... Read More

Bird Watching Journals ? Preserve Your Bird Watching Experiences

Bird Watching is a great way to escape the rat... Read More

Ten Skills - A Backpacking List

Have you ever had a backpacking trip that was a... Read More

Mammoth Cave: One of the Most Beautiful in Our National Park System

Directly south of Louisville, just off Interstate 65 and not... Read More

Bird Watching Mecca ? 338 Species At Acadia National Park

When it comes to birding, Acadia National Park is a... Read More

Wal-Mart Camping And Other Free Places

"Do you know about Wal-Mart camping?" We didn't know, but... Read More

The Benefits of Inflatable Fishing Boats

Inflatable fishing boats are great yacht tenders/camping boats that are... Read More

Lake Jipe straddling Tanzania and Kenya

So unknown is this treasure of Lake Jipe not many... Read More

Discover Eaton Canyon In Pasadena California

Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More

Bird Watching Life Lists ? Keeping A Record

If you're a birder, you want to keep a list... Read More

Improving Your Aim

If your aim is not good, or is not quite... Read More

Top Five Honeymoon Safari Destinations In Africa

An African honeymoon safari is the perfect way to celebrate... Read More

Bird Watching in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania

The Usamabara Mountains are very special mountains, often that tired... Read More

River Rafting on the Salmon River

The beautiful Salmon River stretches through over 400 miles of... Read More

Topographic Maps 101

The intricate details on a topographic map can be befuddling,... Read More

Join the American Hiking Society

Have you taken up hiking as a new form of... Read More

A Holiday in Rajasthan

Romancing History ? A Holiday in RajasthanRajasthan, the name evokes... Read More

Backpacking Journals ? Preserve Your Backpacking Experiences

Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race... Read More

Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park

If anyplace on earth is a natural paradise, Plitvice Lakes... Read More

The Kuan Yin Shrine, Bangkok ? the Goddess of Mercy on the Chao Phraya

The Kuan Yin Shrine in Bangkok is in an old... Read More

Dont Forget that Camping Gear Checklist Before You Leave on that Family Camping Adventure

A camping gear checklist is an important tool to help... Read More

Backpacking Trips - Ten Essential Items

I've had backpacking trips that included rain, snow, lightning, rockslides,... Read More

Old Barney -- A Visit to Barnegat Light, New Jersey

Barnegat Light, NJ is the home to "Old Barney" a... Read More

What Do Cowboys-n-Campfires Have in Common?

I bet you're wondering where the heck this articles going.... Read More

Solo Backpacking

Have you ever gone solo backpacking? If you have, you'll... Read More

Santa Cruz Church ? the Portuguese Legacy in Bangkok

Santa Cruz Church, the church of the holy cross, was... Read More

Ultralight Backpacking Versus Traditional Backpacking

Contrary to what many think, ultralight backpacking is not just... Read More

Scotland - The New White Water Rafting Capital of Europe

Scotland has taken its place as the new Mecca for... Read More

Hiking Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park is the most popular park in... Read More

Visiting Croatia

Croatia has quickly become Europe's hottest destination, and for good... Read More