It seems like no matter what you are doing there are always advertisements for being green. This "fad" has taken the world by storm and thousands of companies are making millions off of their so called "green" products. Do you really need to buy the $5.00 bottle of dish soap because it was made with less energy that the $2.00 bottle? Of course not. This is just that companies way of making you think that by buying their product you truly care about the environment. I am not saying that all companies advertising the green slogan are bad, I just think there are many other free ways to take advantage of the items you already have.

Here are a few ways to lower your water bill without buying a new product.

1. Probably the most obvious, be sure to completely turn off your faucets. A dripping faucet in time will cost hundreds.

2. For you couples out there, shower together! Instead of both of you taking two separate 10 minute showers each, take a 15 minute shower together. Not only will you save money but it could be fun?

3. Now this may sound gross but think about your wallets. How many people hate being woken up in the middle of the night by that annoying toilet flush? Instead of flushing each time, let it sit until morning (unless it is a #2 of course). Flushing the toilet is like flushing your money. If you can stand it wait until 2 or 3 uses before you flush.

4. Only wash full loads of laundry. Unless you need that shirt for tomorrow can't the laundry wait a few more days? Washing laundry in cold water saves energy also (unless you have those tough to dissolve stains that need hot water).

5. Same goes for dishes and dishwashers. Obviously using a dishwasher uses less water but for those who don't own one could wait until the sink is decently full before washing any. There are always exceptions such as baked on stains that require soaking.

This may be the worst waste of money out of all but of course we can fix that.

1. Unplug things you rarely use. There is no reason to have that dvd player plugged in until you are ready to watch a movie. Same goes for the toaster, coffee pot, video game console, CELL PHONE CHARGER!!! etc. I was shocked to find that even though something is turned off, as long as it is still plugged in it is still costing you money. Think about it.

2. If you are patient enough to wait for a reboot shut your computer off when you are done. If not most computer offer a "sleep" or "rest" that turns into a low power state that can quickly and easily be resumed. If none of these suit you, just turn off the monitor. No harm there.

3. Use sunlight to brighten your day.

4. Turn off lights when you leave a room.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to "go green" is by recycling. Don't get me wrong, you will not get rich off of aluminum cans but they do add up! There are approximately 24 cans in 1 pound which may not seem like a lot but stop and think about how many cans you have consumed in the last week. My local recycling center is currently paying .47 a pound for aluminum. It may not seem like much but 100 pounds = $47.00 you were previously throwing away. Get a 55 gallon drum and throw your cans in. When the drum gets full take it to a recycling center. Keep track of how much you make and you will be surprised to see how much it can add up in a years time. Aluminum is not the only item the centers take it just seems like the most prevalent. Stop buying those plastic bottles that take YEARS to decompose and you get nothing for!

On a side note, Betty Crocker and Banquet offer pretty good meals (they're cheap too). I buy these all the time because they are very easy to make. Everything you need comes in the box, just add water and a baking dish. I even save water while making these dinners! I know it may sound odd but the meals often come with a can of sauce or gravy and so forth. I rinse the can out with minimal water and mix the items they include with water right back into that can. Not only do you not dirty another mixing bowl (which will need washed) but you can recycle the can when you are done!

These are just a few of the tips I have for people who want to be green but don't want to pay for it.