Save the planet - and some money!
Today, saving money and saving the environment are the two of the world’s top priorities. Victoria Bischoff explains five ways you can do your bit for the planet – and pinch a few pennies while you’re at it.
A few years ago, you could have been forgiven for thinking that a ‘carbon footprint’ was just that: a dusty, black foot mark. Nowadays, however, green equals good, recycling is almost routine and you’re made to pay 5p for a plastic bag in Marks and Sparks.
According to recent research by Charities Aid Foundation, nearly a quarter of UK adults are now thinking more about the environment and green issues.
And with the recession still biting, recycling can be a great way to earn some extra cash. Here, I explain five ways to be kind to the environment – and to your pocket.
1. Recycle your old phone
Mobile phone fashion is a fickle business. Just when you think you’ve got your mitts on the latest model, in the blink of an eye it’s old news.
Luckily, your old, embarrassing bricks could be a brilliant source of income.
There’s a whole host of websites that offer cash in return for old mobile phones. The amount you receive will depend on the make of your phone and what condition it is in.
I recently recycled two ancient handsets with the website Simplydrop. I registered with the site, found out how much my phones were worth and jotted down the correct codes. I then popped my phone into a freepost envelope provided by the company and sent them on their way.
A couple of weeks later, and bingo! I was sent a delightful cheque for my efforts.
Many websites also recycle other electronic gadgets such as digital cameras and iPods. Some will even pay you for your old household batteries.
Remember, your mobile’s rechargeable battery and LCD display have toxic components which can be harmful to the environment. For this reason, it’s important to recycle them.
2. Bid for a bargain on eBay
If you’ve got old books, clothes, DVDs or even a dinosaur collection that you no longer want, why not flog them for a few quid on eBay instead of throwing them out? After all, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
All you have to do is register online, write a brief description of your item, upload a photo and then sit back and wait for the buyers start bidding. It’s the perfect way to make some extra cash and de-clutter your home at the same time.
If you’re buying rather than selling, the beauty of eBay is that you only pay as much as you’re happy to. If your final bid is higher than your competitors’, you’ll win the item you’re interested in.
Even if you’re willing to fork out £100 for something, if you start the auction for it at £5 and no one else bids, you’ll get it for a lowly fiver!
Remember, always check a seller’s rating before you buy as this gives a good indication of how they’ve dealt with people in the past. Also, never give your credit or debit card details to anyone over the internet. Often, it’s safest to pay eBay sellers using a service like PayPal.
3. Cut your costs by conserving energy
Being more energy efficient is an excellent way to shave pounds of your energy bills, while also reducing your greenhouse gas emissions.
Check out these five top tips from Energywatch.
• Don’t leave electrical devices on standby.
• Turn the lights off when you leave a room.
• Only boil as much water as you really need in your kettle.
• Turn your thermostat down by one degree centigrade. Believe it or not, this could cut your heating bills by 10%!
• Use energy saving light bulbs wherever possible. These use less energy than regular bulbs, and will therefore save you money in the long run. They also last up 15 times longer than ordinary bulbs, which means you won’t have to spend money on replace them as regularly.
4. Get something for nothing on Freecycle
Someone once told me that the best things in life are free – and now I’m grown up, I wholeheartedly agree. I can’t remember a happier day than when I got my lovely two-seater sofa for nothing from Freecycle!
Freecycle works as a free mailing list, where anyone can leave details of the things they want rid of.
If someone wants an item, all they have to do is collect it; whatever it is, it will be completely free of charge. The idea is to recycle reusable items that people don’t want anymore and keep them out of landfills.
There is now another community site which works in a similar way: Snaffleup. You search for items based on your postcode, and this useful site allows you to view items online before arranging collection.
5. Follow frugal fashion trends
Unfortunately, fashions often change so quickly that a look is ‘out’ before you even get a chance to wear it! This means many of my ‘must buys’ have been worn only once, and then shoved to the back of my cupboard to make room for my next fashion phase.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, why not find a way to swap the clothes you don’t wear for ones you actually want?
One way to do this is through websites such as BigWardrobe and What’sMineIsYours which allow you to buy and swap clothes with fellow fashion fiends.
Alternatively, you could organise a swapping party with friends and raid your mates’ wardrobes over a glass of wine.
You can also pick up brilliant bargains at charity shops and second hand thrift stores. I’ve always bought books for couple of quid from my local charity shop, but lots of my friends frequently bag themselves a designer dress or two for a fraction of the full price.
We can all do our bit for the environment by reducing waste, re-using where possible and recycling what we can.
So I say go green, save the world… And make some money!
**Articles featured on BeatThatQuote.com are for information purposes only and reflect the views of individual writers. Articles are not, and should not be considered as, financial advice. BeatThatQuote.com strongly encourages our readers not to rely solely on information contained within this article/our website, but to conduct their own research and seek independent advice about the financial products they purchase.**
Categories
