I don’t know why it takes one special day or week in April to remind us to be kind to the Earth, but it seems to happen every year.

The truth is, there are plenty of ways to live greener every day.  And many of them will save you money, too.

 40 Ways to Live Greener Every Day

1. Switch to more energy efficient lighting.
2. Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth.
3. Take shorter showers.  Install a timer switch for your bathroom fan.  You’ll get out of the shower quicker AND you won’t forget to turn off the bathroom fan when you’re done.
4. Plant a garden.
5. Fix your leaking toilet and drippy faucets.
6. Figure out which appliances use the most electricity and replace them with more energy efficient models.
7. Stop using all those chemicals on your hands and feet.  Learn how to make your next mani/pedi more green.
8. Use your slowcooker to save energy, time and money when it comes to making dinner.
9. Buy in bulk.   Less packaging means less waste.
10. Remember to unplug every once in awhile.
11. Make your own household cleaners for a fraction of the price of name brand ones. Use a little good ol’ fashioned elbow grease to clean.
12. Stop buying toys that need batteries and buy gifts for kids that last.  The best toys don’t have so many bells and whistles.
13. Switch to more natural beauty products or make your own dry skin treatments.
14. Make your own haircare treatments that cost just pennies and are kinder to the planet.
15. Bring your own shopping bags to the store.  (Some stores even give you a discount for using your own bags!)
16. Make your own dryer sheets.  Or better yet: Give up the dryer and use a clothesline instead.
17. Make your own eco-friendly DIY dishwasher detergent.
18. Make your own homemade wrinkle releaser.
19. Make homemade fabric refresher.
20. Avoid disposable products.  Get a reusable water bottle and coffee mug.  Stop buying paper plates. Switch to cloth rags instead of paper towels.
21. Don’t toss those vegetable scraps! Start a compost pile instead.
22. Learn to make your shoes last longer.
23. Green up your gift wrap and remember you can use kraft paper year round!
24. Start menu planning to avoid the drive thru or pricey convenience foods.
25. Consider telecommuting if your job allows it.
26. Eat less processed foods and try to eat organic.
27. Learn 24 ways to reduce your heating bill.
28. Look for secondhand items instead of buying new.  Thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales are great places to get deals.  Use Freecycle and get things for FREE!
29. Keep cool in the summer without constantly running the air conditioner.
30. Use what you have to get organized.
31. Recycle, recycle, recycle.
32. Discover a greener way to clean your toilet.
33. Reduce your gas consumption and exercise eco-friendly driving habits.
34. Headed out of town on vacation?  Turn off your hot water heater.
35. Reduce the amount of trash you toss, and you’ll reduce your trash bill, too.
36. Learn how to make your car last forever.
37. Save money when printing from your computer.
38. Use a Kill-a-Watt to determine the big energy users in your house.
39. Get outside.  Nothing gives you a better appreciation for the planet than a little fresh air.
40. Focus on experiences instead of stuff.  Instead of spending money on stuff that clutters up your home, spend it on experiences instead.  You’ll have fond memories and you’ll be much kinder to Earth.

These are just some of the things that you can do every day to live a more green, more healthy, and more frugal life.

If you follow the mantra, “Reduce, reuse, recycle,” it will serve you (and the planet) well.

What things do you do every day that are good for the planet?