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Here’s why you can afford to be green

By Meg | April 25, 2008

First off, I’d like to thank Green Me for featuring my post introducing FruWiki, The Frugal Wiki, in the Green It! carnival. My husband and I have both been trying to be more frugal and more green. Fortunately, we’ve found that many of the things we’ve started doing are both frugal and green.

That probably doesn’t come as a surprise to many who have been frugal and/or green for some time. However, as I touched on recently, many companies would have you believe that being green means spending more on special “green” products. Sure, there are things that you can buy that do help the environment if you use them — and I’m not against buying stuff in general. I love shopping and having nice things, perhaps even more now that I’ve cut back on shopping. However, I fear that the impression that many people get is that they can’t afford to be green, especially when they see the upfront costs of buying organic produce or replacing their old appliances with energy efficient ones. They may think that being green is a luxury that just doesn’t fit into their budget.

Yes, it’s easy to argue that the costs are worth it considering the impact on the environment and one’s health, and even point out how certain items like programmable thermostats pay for themselves quickly. (Speaking of, our programmable thermostat with all the bells and whistles paid for itself within a few months and now my husband and I are enjoying having extra money in our monthly budget.) However, when you live paycheck to paycheck as many people do, those upfront costs can still be prohibitive.

Nevertheless, everyone can afford to be green. And in fact, if you’re a fellow frugalite or tightwad, you may be greener than you think.

Being green and being frugal aren’t contradictory. In fact, both share a common tenet, the sage proverb “waste not, want not.”

Sure, the motivation may be a bit different. The environmentally-conscious avoid waste to avoid adding to landfills. The frugal avoid waste in order to get their money’s worth and avoid having to spend money buying more stuff. However, the effect is the same. Also, both types of people believe in buying less overall and buying smart when they do make purchases. What “buying smart” means can be a point for debate. Some people believe that the best choice is always the cheapest, but I believe that being frugal actually encourages people to think long term as well — and that it leaves plenty of room for spending with other values in mind.

Another tenet held in common is “Less is more”. For example, look at the following guide to browsing FruWiki, the frugal wiki that I launched recently:

Except for “spending less”, all the categories are also very green — though spending less can also be very green when it frees up money to spend more on those green choices that are more expensive.

So, if you’re looking for ways to save money, don’t forget to check out green blogs and sites for lots of tips that will save you money while saving the planet. A great place to start is the Green It! carnival, as well as other posts on Green Me. And whether you’re green or looking to save more green, please check out FruWiki and consider contributing your own tips there. Remember, we’re all in this together.


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