Save Your Wallet While Helping Save The Earth Tip #1

Hi all!
  I haven't been posting very often lately.  Been waiting for some inspiration.  I've got some great posts planned and hope you will be sure to come back to see what I've come up with. :)

  While we are definitely not the greenest family....I have been trying to slowly find ways to help reduce our carbon footprint.  In doing so, I have found that I am also increasing the green in our wallet.  Woo Hoo!!  In discovering this revelation, it has inspired some great ideas for blog posts.  Yipee!  This is just a win, win, win situation! :)

Hence was born...."Save Your Wallet While Helping Save The Earth" tips.  For those of you who are super green heroes, bare with me and don't laugh to hard at this newbie, as we are just easing our way in.  For those of you who are new to this whole idea, wait until you see the discoveries I've made! ;)

Save Your Wallet While Helping Save The Earth Tip #1:

Recycling!  Duh! Duh! Duuuuuuhhhh!  (Insert low piano key tune here!)  Don't worry...great tips coming up here:

 Our garbage pick up service did not offer recyling, so for years everything has been tossed in the garbage. I mean who has time to:
1)Buy containers to sort, then
2)Find space for all the containers
3)Actually sort them, and finally
4)Make a trip to the recycle center, that is not convenient?

Not me!  I found a solution!  Another trash service left an advertisement on our mailbox.  I called, they offer recycling AND were a couple dollars cheaper per quarter. Save Your Wallet part 1.  Hurray!!!  No brainer there.  I just switched services and well ah....

Nice big recycling can!

  No sorting, just rinse, and all the newspapers (ahem...couponers, myself included!!), junk mail, cardboard (cereal boxes), plastic, and cans (not just soda, but veggie too!)  I was SHOCKED at how fast that recycle can filled up!  I am utterly embarrassed and ashamed to think of all the things that we have just tossed that could have been recycled.  Lesson learned, so I guess that's the whole point.  

  Now onto the Save Your Wallet part 2....I'm not using as many garbage bags.  We all no how expensive those can be!  Not to mention, less bags in the landfill.  Yes, I know there are biodegradable bags, and that I can buy products with less waste...baby steps here! ;)  

  So call around, see if other garbage services offer recycling in your area.  If they are not cheaper or the same price, don't be afraid to ask if they will match your current service price.  If you have no luck, then maybe you could just recycle a little at a time, by filling up your plastic grocery bags and taking them back to the grocery store.  I've noticed most of them have recycle bins there.  You know you are in that store at least twice a week! ;)  Even that small baby step will make a difference in how often you have to buy more garbage bags.  

I hope you found this post helpful and will check back for more posts on how to, "Save Your Wallet While Helping Save The Earth."

If you have tips or a blog post on this subject to share (especially for those who don't have a garbage pick up that offers recycling), please share in the comments.  I'd love to hear ways to improve. 

Happy Recycling!

Jennifer