It may seem counterintuitive to say that going green will save you money in the long run, when right now a green option can be two or three times more expensive than the carbon fueled alternative, but in the long run a green alternative serves to insulate your wallet. Stopping short of providing you phone numbers for various insulation installers in East Anglia, here is a list of plenty of green moves you can make that will save money and the planet.
Re-use your cup and water bottle
Are you guilty of buying a take away coffee and a disposable bottle of water almost every day? It’s time to change your ways and invest in a reusable coffee cup or water bottle. Though this is a slightly more expensive purchase at first, you will save more than you spent in the long run, by taking your reusable item with you, rather than buying new every time you’re out. At Costa for example, you save 25p everytime you order a barista drink with a reusable cup. If you drink 5 cups of coffee a week, you could save around £60 a year!
Buy second hand
According to a survey conducted by Censuswide, over 7 million adults plan to buy a new piece of clothing for the Christmas party season. Why not change your habits this year, and consider buying something second hand, or reusing something you already own?
Buying second hand is a double win, as not only will it allow you to save money, it will also mean that you’re producing less waste and sending less products to landfill. These days, you don’t just get second hand belongings at the charity shop or the car boot sale, you can take yourself online to websites and apps such as Vinted and Gumtree, that are dedicated to selling people’s second hand clothes and accessories.
Work from home
Working from home can save you around £300 a month on transport, petrol and other work related costs, according to Confused.com. You will also be eligible for work from home tax relief, worth up to £420, which will help with the cost of your bills. On top of this, you’ll be saving the planet thousands in carbon emissions, but not using your car for your commute.
If you do find yourself heading back to the office, or hybrid working, why not consider an alternate method of travel? Taking the bus or the train is much better for the environment, and while it will mean spending a bit longer on your commute, the benefits it will have for the planet are completely unmatched.
Hopefully, one or two of these fantastic methods of saving money will have caught your eye, and will have the added benefit of saving the planet, too. Be sure to consider making a long term change, to make sure the planet is habitable for future generations, for many years to come.