At a time when our natural resources seem to be facing depletion, and our earthly environment seems to be deteriorating, it is important to do whatever we can to contribute to the health of our planet. Simple household changes can help in this effort, and help save you money too! Some examples include:

• Buy a hybrid car! This has been a huge cost savings in my own household given the price of gas in recent years. If you have a long commute to work, as my husband does, this is an option worth considering. It's economical to take on road trips too!
  
• Carpool or ride the train when possible - less cars on the road, less smog, less traffic, less gas needed, etc.
• Walk or ride a bike to your destination when possible
• Rinse and/or recycle glass jars, plastic bottles, plastic food containers, soda cans, cereal boxes, cardboard boxes (including pizza and shoe boxes), mail, paper, etc.
• Use a refillable water bottle (aluminum or stainless steel are good choices) rather than buying bottled water
• Purchase reusable grocery bags and use when shopping at grocery stores
• Reuse plastic bags to line waste baskets
• Reuse paper bags to wrap or hold gifts; recycle gift bags too
  
• Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs
• Use dishes instead of plastic or paper plates for meals; run the dishwasher only when fully-loaded
  
• Use cold or warm water when doing laundry; do full loads of laundry or adjust the washer setting to the appropriate load size; hang blankets and bulkier garments out to dry
  
• Use cleaning cloths that can be washed and reused after each use; cuts down on use of paper towels
  
• Buy environmentally-friendly and organic products as much as possible
  
• Place plants and anything needing "cleaning" outside during rainy weather. Doormats and bulky toys are perfect for this. Also remember to turn off sprinklers during rainy weather.
  
• Turn the lights off when leaving a room
  
• Re-purpose or re-upholster furniture
• If decorating a home, consider eco-friendly options like bamboo, jute, sisal, and other natural materials.
• Place televisions, DVD players, and other electronic devices on extension cords. Turn off the extension cord each night - you can save money on electricity!
• Recycle, recycle, recycle whatever you can! My husband and son make trips to the recycling center as needed. My son gets to keep whatever money they get from recycling, and puts it in his piggy bank! It's a good way to teach children about recycling and saving money.

Here's to a better earth!