Good Deeds That Save You Money

If you still haven't been convinced to jump on the "go green" bandwagon, a little persuasion in the form of another green - like dollar bills - just might do the trick. We've discovered a few painless ways to take on eco-friendly habits, but we're not asking you to shell out cash. Instead, you could actually find more of it in your bank account. Here are a few of our favorites, but you can check out all our painless ways to save the planet here.

  • Invest in a programmable thermostat. Using one can save $150 a year on energy costs. Or simply set your thermostat 1 degree higher for air-conditioning and 1 degree lower for heating. You won't feel the difference - but you will notice a lower utility bill.

  • Set your wash cycle to cold. Environmental advocates say a cold wash will clean your laundry just as well as a hot one - and you'll save up to $63 a year.

  • "Switch to CFLs (Compact Florescent Bulbs), unplug computers, and turn out lights when leaving the room: That reduces electricity usage by one third." -Laura Canton, Sandwich MA

  • Grow a vegetable garden: It saves $300 a month on summertime groceries. -Damali Ayo, Portland, OR

  • Buy perishable groceries only as needed: It saves $50 a week and eliminates wasting produce and dairy products. -Laura Canton, Sandwich MA

  • "I started bringing my own bags to the grocery store. Because I have a limited number of bags to carry stuff home in, it makes it easy to skip over the family-size bag of chips. Not only am I helping the planet, but I'm also saving money and doing my waistline some good!" -Liz Kores, Chicago

Will you be adopting any of these habits or are some already part of your routine? Have you discovered other eco-friendly habits that save cash?

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