Welcome to the latest installment of Blog Swap, which brings you a joint effort from the Yakezie Network, the most extensive global network of personal finance and lifestyle blogs. All bloggers dive into a shared theme. Today, we’re discussing: “Top Eco-friendly Methods to Save Money.” Once you’re done here, I invite you to visit my website, Retire By 40, to read Tushar’s insight on this topic!
Consider this – What’s your top strategy to adopt a green lifestyle while saving money? Challenging question, isn’t it? Let’s approach it from a different angle – where does the majority of your monthly expenditure go? The answer, for the majority, is housing.
In my view, the most efficient way to preserve both your finances and the environment simultaneously is to opt for a smaller living space. The eco-benefits of a smaller home are numerous.
Here’s how going green can save you money:
Building material: Less resources are needed for smaller homes, reducing your environmental footprint. By using less concrete, timber, drywall, insulation, PVC pipes, and more, we lessen our harm to the Earth.
Furniture: Fewer items are needed to fill a smaller space, saving you money and conserving resources. I know several individuals who own sizable homes and purchase unnecessary items just to fill space. Small luxuries like pool tables, arcade machines, or even gold-plated toilets quickly add up. To your amusement, most of these splurgers happen to be my immature male friends.
Energy efficient: Smaller homes require less energy for heating and cooling. To illustrate, our winter gas and electric bill dropped from $200/month to $60/month when we moved from a 2,000 sq ft house to a 1,000 sq ft condo. Reduced reliance on power-hungry appliances also accounts for lower energy consumption. Overuse of electronics in larger homes often results in wasted ‘vampire power.’
Eco-friendly upgrades: The money saved by opting for a smaller home can be used for green upgrades. For instance, renewable materials like bamboo and cork are both attractive and comfortable flooring options. You could swap a regular toilet for a water-efficient model, or even install a green roof to grow your own veggies.
Thoughts from Everything Finance: The idea of switching to a smaller home is appealing, if practical. However, in the current property market, selling a large home is a challenge while buying is comparatively easier, leading to a potential roadblock.
Choosing to live in a smaller home continuously cuts down our environmental impact, and remains a stellar money-saving option. What’s your take? Downsizing is a significant decision but can pay off in years to come. Could you envision yourself in a compact space or a home as small as 1,000 sq ft?
As always, we welcome your thoughts!
Photo courtesy – Nicolas Boullosa (Flickr)
