Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Live Well Below Your Means

Thrift pays. Buying less and living under one’s means not only saves money but helps fight pollution (less to throw away) and makes us think consciously about consuming responsibly.

Here are some tips from author Jeff Yeager on living below one’s means:
– live green: buy and consume less
– use old-fashioned cleaning products: baking soda and vinegar can be used to wash most anything in your house
– drive less: carpool when possible, use public transport, walk or bicycle
– eat lower on the food chain: eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, poultry (eat less red meat and fewer dairy products)
– reduce the size of your lawn: mulch it over or replace it with ground cover (pachysandra or creeping thyme, for example)
– use things up and wear things out: then replace them
– spend less on clothes/make them last longer: launder less often, use cold water only, line dry clothing, keep shoes dry (dry them completely before wearing them again), turn clothing inside out before laundering, use baking soda instead of bleach
– save energy: insulate the attic, turn down your hot water heater, caulk gaps around the windows and doors

Jeff Yeager is the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches and The Cheapskate Next Door. His website is http://www.ultimatecheapskate.com/

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Global Good

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