10 Easy Ways to Save Money by Going Green in 2009

We've all heard the saying, "money doesn't grow on trees," but did you know that becoming a tree hugger could save you money?

Here are 10 Ways to Save Some Green in 2009 by making your life more eco-friendly:

1. Borrow books, don't buy them. Borrow your books and your children's books from the library. This will save money, not to mention the ink and paper required to print new books. Extra points if you walk or ride your bike to the library to do so.

2. Shop at second hand stores for gently used baby gear. You'll come across some great finds, and you'll save a boatload of money on things that children quickly outgrow.

3. Share magazine subscriptions. Get together with five of your girlfriends and/or neighbors and come up with a list of all the magazines everyone wants to subscribe to. Assign one subscription purchase to each person, and then circulate them amongst yourselves. You'll get 5 magazines for the price of 1... and you'll save lots of trees too!

4. Make your own playdoh, crayons, finger paints. Instead of purchasing art and craft items, make them at home! This is much more economical, and you'll also know there are no toxic ingredients in your kid's artistic repertoire.

5. Visit Ecobunga! for discounts, contests, and giveaways from environmentally aware companies and sources.

6. Host a toy exchange. Are you in a playgroup? Have every mom or dad bring a gently used toy that their child has outgrown or tired of, and do a toy swap. Kids will revel in their "new" toy, and there is no waste via packaging or disposal and no expense!

7. Grow an organic vegetable garden. Plant the seeds, literally and figuratively, to encourage kids to eat their veggies. Tomatoes grown by your children will be much more enticing to eat if they get to nurture and pick them for the dinner table.

8. Have a "blackout" day once a month. Live by candlelight or solar powered flashlight, or sun or moon jars after dark. Pitch a tent in the living room and camp out with your kids!

9. Buy in bulk. Cut down on package disposal by purchasing items such as dish and laundry detergent in one large quantity... then be sure to recycle all of the packaging components when they are empty.

10. Stop using disposable paper products. Say goodbye to paper towels, paper napkins and tissues, in favor of using sponges, rags, cloth napkins, and handkerchiefs. Imagine the global impact this would have if we all banned paper products from our homes? One of my last dirty little anti-green vices is my use of paper towels. It's my personal resolution to stop using them! Re-visit my post on Fabkins napkins to get some adorable cloth napkins for your tots, and treat yourself and your loved ones to the earth friendly luxury of dabbing away food with cloth napkins.

Happy New Year!