environmentweb guide to beating the credit crunch (the green way!)
We're all tightening our purse strings at the moment, but that's no excuse for letting ourselves forget about the environment - in fact it's about the best excuse to go green that there is! The money saving benefits have always been one of the biggest incentives to be more sustainable, so here are our top tips on how greener living can save you money.
Put on a jumper!
The nights are drawing in an cooling down, and it's so tempting to turn the thermostat up another degree or two. But think what it's costing! Remember - not being able to walk round the house in your t-shirt and shorts isn't a bad thing, it's winter after all. So air out the woolens and you'll be snug in no time, and with no added cost.
Get creative!
Christmas is coming and the thought of all those presents you need to buy is starting to make you sweat (especially now you're wearing that nice thick jumper). Fear not! Did you really think you spent your childhood watching Blue Peter for nothing? There are so many great gifts that can be made using things around the home, with maybe a few extra ingredients from your local craft shop. You'll save a fortune and reuse some unwanted odds and ends in to the bargain. The same goes for cards too - you don't have to spend a fortune on bits to stick on, just get creative! Check out these sites for a few ideas - or just search around, there's hundreds of sites out there to help inspire you!
Home made christmas presents
Homemade Christmas gift ideas
Home made card articles on WikiHow
Get Swapping!
It's the latest fashion craze, made even more popular by the recent BBC series 'Twiggy's Frock Exchange'. Frock swaps, also known as 'swishing' offer a great way to spruce up your wardrobe while keeping your wallet in good shape too-plus a good excuse for a bit of a party on the side. For info on how to organise your own frock swap, or find one near you, check out the links below. But swapping doesn't have to be limited to clothing, websites like swapz.co.uk let you swap practically anything you want to. And don't forget food swapping: have you had a glut of potatoes but need some chutney? The chances are there's someone out there who could help you out..
Swishing.org
Twiggy's Frock Exchange
Swapz.co.uk
Check our our other guides!
There are so many ways that going green can help save you money, so take a look at some of our other guides.
If you're thinking of buying any new appliances our guide to energy labels could help make sure they aren't costing more than you think. Our guide to green driving has some useful tips and advice for everyone who relies on their car to get around and our guide to carbon footprints offers advice on how you can reduce yours, saving energy and money in to the bargain.
Let us know your tips
Have you got any useful pieces of advice that can help to save money and the environment? Let us know by sending an email to environmentweb@googlemail.com. We'd love to hear from you!
