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1. Pull the plug. Americans spend about $4 billion a year on electricity for things they’re not even using, according to David Bach, author of Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying). Even after charging is complete, computers, cell phones and battery chargers continue to consume electricity if you leave them plugged in. Other appliances, like the coffeemaker and TV, drain energy when not in use too. This phantom load accounts for 5 to 15 percent of your monthly electric bill. Solve the problem and save up to $94 a year by plugging electronics into power strips so you can flip the switch to turn off energy consumption of several things at once.

2. Watch the temperature. Adjusting your thermostat by three degrees (cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer) can save around $114 each year and prevent the release of 2,683 pounds of carbon emissions from your home, says Bach.

3. Change your lightbulbs. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs use 66 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and they last 10 times as long, according to Diane MacEachern, author of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World. The next time a bulb burns out, install a CFL—you’ll save up to $10 a year for each bulb.

4. Save in the shade. When trees cast shade over homes and buildings, they provide natural cooling in the summer. MacEachern suggests planting three deciduous trees on the south side of your home to reduce energy consumption and costs due to air conditioning by 25 percent.

Parenting

5. Choose breastfeeding. The decision of whether or not to breastfeed can be debated to no end, but when it comes to saving money and being green, the advantages of breastfeeding are clear. “Breastfeeding is easy, it’s free, and it’s as natural as you can get,” says Jenn Savedge, author of The Green Parent. Breast milk is a renewable resource and it doesn’t require energy to warm up, plastic bottles to serve, or any sort of manufacturing. Plus, you’ll save big in comparison to formula feeding: The average baby eats about 25 ounces of milk per day. At that rate, you can save $1,733.75 by breastfeeding for baby’s first year, according to Savedge.

6. Seek out gently used clothing. “Kids go through clothing faster than you can blink an eye, so it makes perfect sense to save cash by searching for gently used duds,” says Savedge. You’ll also be helping the planet since your secondhand purchases won’t require any new materials or energy for manufacturing. Visit local consignment shops, thrift stores and yard sales; consider sharing hand-me-downs with friends and family members; or search online at Swap Thing or eBay. You can also find local swapping events in your area through Swap-O-Rama-Rama.

7. Find fun in toy swaps. Toys don’t have to be brand-new to be fun. Clear out closet clutter and spare the earth from new plastic playthings by swapping toys instead. Toyswap.com and ToysToTrade.com both use a credit model to let you trade your old toys in for “new” ones. Or Savedge suggests hosting your own toy-swapping play dates to trade with friends and neighbors.

8. Make waste-free lunches. Prepackaged and single-serving foods are convenient for kids’ lunches, but they come at a high cost to both the environment and your bank account. According to Wastefreelunches.org, each school-age child who packs a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year while parents who make waste-free lunches can save over $1 per lunch or about $250 per school year. So stop buying prepackaged snacks, juice boxes and plastic baggies, and instead make your own single servings with reusable containers, says Savedge. Kid Konserve makes a handy lunch kit that you can use again and again to hold a sandwich as well as fresh veggies and other treats. It also includes a reusable napkin and stainless-steel beverage container.

Food

9. Eat in-season produce. When produce is out of season, it’s not harvested in your region at that time of year, so you’ll pay extra (in both cash and carbon) to have it transported from another region…or country, says dietitian Jackie Newgent, author of Big Green Cookbook. Plus, growers can charge a premium since there’s greater demand for a smaller supply. In-season picks are at their peak of ripeness, flavor and nutritional value, so visit the local farmers’ market to see what’s growing near you.

10. Choose planet-friendly proteins. “Replacing meat and dairy with chicken, fish or eggs just one day a week may reduce greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to driving over 750 miles in a year,” says Newgent. Beans, soy, eggs and chicken thighs provide budget-friendly, eco-friendly protein. At an average retail cost of 15 cents each, eggs are one of the most affordable sources of high-quality protein per serving in today’s marketplace, and an entire 14-ounce tub of tofu costs only around $2.29. Try finding a 14-ounce steak for that price!

11. Downsize your dinner prep. Cooking with small appliances can save energy and in turn reduce your energy bill. Toaster ovens use about half the energy of conventional ovens and opting to use a microwave oven can reduce energy use by two-thirds compared to a conventional oven, mainly due to faster cooking times, says Newgent.

12. Buy in bulk. You can save up to one-third on many groceries by buying in bulk, and in turn you’ll help reduce the 80 million tons of packaging that ends up in landfills each year, says Bach.

Style

13. Explore the clothing you already own. Constantly refreshing your wardrobe season after season hurts more than your credit card. Think of all the cotton that has to be farmed and all the pesticides that are used if you’re not choosing organic fabrics. Add to it chemical dyes and the energy used for manufacturing and shipping. Not to mention all of the outdated duds that end up in the landfill. “Chances are you have several items lurking in your closet that you wish you could wear but never have because something about it just isn’t right,” says Anna Mkhitarian, designer of eco-friendly line Annatarian. Get creative! Spend some time trying on different combinations, experiment with accessories, enlist the help of a tailor or ask friends to come over and play stylist—new eyes might see fabulous new outfits in your closet.
 
14. Give new life to tattered fashions. Stockings and tights have been a huge trend, but what can you do when holes and tiny tears take over? Mkhitarian says to keep them out of the landfill by cutting them horizontally in 1-inch strips to create round hair bands. Cut them wider and wear them as wristbands or longer and wear them as arm warmers with tee shirts or tanks. Similarly, you can turn old tee shirts or other pieces of clothing into cleaning rags or if you’re really DIY-savvy, pillowcases or handbags.

15. Find beauty in olive oil. Olive oil doesn’t just work wonders in the kitchen. Buy a large bottle of organic olive oil and it can double as a moisturizer for your face, body and hair, according to Mkhitarian. Use refillable glass containers for your beauty uses and think of all the product packaging—and product buying—you’re saving! For the face, apply a drop after you cleanse and tone. For the body, mix in essential oils like eucalyptus or rose oil to leave skin soft and smelling great. And for the hair, use a drop or two in damp hair for the ultimate in conditioning, says Mkhitarian.