4 Ways to Save Money and Mother Nature

August 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In today’s world, most if not all of us are looking for ways to save money. In addition, many people are concerned with our environment. Many people think that “going green” is an expensive proposition, so they are hesitant to work toward being environmentally friendly.

Is it possible to actually save money while protecting the environment? There are many simple ways that people can save money and help Mother Nature, as well.

Transportation

With today’s high gas prices, consider alternative forms of transportation. If possible, walk or ride your bike to work. Not only will this save you money on your automobile expenses, but you will not be adding to air pollution. You will also be adding to your healthy lifestyle by walking or biking to work. Another transportation alternative is mass transit. You will still be saving money by using trains or buses for your commute. Carpooling is another great transportation alternative.

Whether you decide to bike or carpool to work, choosing alternative transportation means you drive your car less. This in turn means that you may have the chance to lower your premium the next time you are shopping for auto insurance.

Save on Utilities

When you’re at home, turn off those lights, appliances, and other devices when you are not using them. Replace old appliances with new more energy-efficient models. Use energy-efficient light bulbs. In addition, adjust your air conditioner and heater to temperatures that may be a little higher or lower (depending on the season). These activities will lower your utility bills, and, because you are not using those utilities as much, the energy companies will be using fewer natural resources to produce their services.

Saving on the Job

There are many ways to save money and protect the environment while you are at work. First, try to go paperless. Don’t print anything that you don’t absolutely have to keep in hard copy. Use online services and email for your communication needs. If it is possible, communicate online rather than traveling to face-to-face meetings. Utilize online web conference services such as Skype and other videoconferencing services. If you can, telecommute. This will allow you to drive less and still remain productive at your job.

Recycle

In addition to recycling your waste (bottles, papers, boxes, etc.), consider buying used products, if you can. These products can include electronics, furniture, cars, and more.

It is easy to save money and help the environment. When you put these simple tips into practice, you’ll find yourself feeling satisfied that you are doing good things, not only for yourself, but for the world in general.

Filed Under: Environmental Awareness, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: , ,

How to Throw Your Teen their Dream Sweet 16 Party

August 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sweet 16 parties used to simply consist of cake, gifts and maybe a giggly sleepover complete with chick flicks and prank calls to cute high school boys. But thanks to reality television and our celebrity-obsessed culture, today’s Sweet 16 parties look more like miniature, alcohol-free wedding celebrations, right down to costly party preparations, dress fittings and celebrity-inspired DJs and live performances.

All those added expenses are enough to keep a cash-conscious parent awake at night, especially in our currently shaky economic environment. Fortunately, there are plenty of budget-savvy ways to throw your little prince or princess his or her dream Sweet 16 party without dipping into your retirement account, or you child’s hard-earned college fund. To generate some extra cash in a pinch, visit plaingreenloans.com to avoid a potentially dangerous loan from a family member or friend. Once you’ve safely secured a party fund, follow these money-saving steps to throw your baby the best birthday on a smart budget!

Utilize Your Friendors

When your child gets married, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to drop huge chunks of cash on everything from a world-famous catering company to a celebrity cake baker, so why spend big on their birthday?
Save the budget for their future wedding, and utilize your favorite friendors! A friendor is a friend or family member that will happily cook, bake or snap photos pro bono. Always loved Aunt Kathy’s cupcakes? Commission her to create the perfect birthday cake in lieu of a pricey venue-provided one. Never see Cousin Anthony without his camera? Ask if he’d like to serve as official paparazzi for your child’s big day, and let him bring a friend as payment instead of dropping tons of money on a professional.

Let the Birthday Boy or Girl Shine

We’ve all seen examples of parents chasing down the hottest R&B artist or celebrity DJ to perform at their child’s extravagant Sweet 16. But A-list acts are a surefire budget buster, so leave the famous talent to the celebrities, and let your son or daughter take center stage!
Does your daughter love to sing? Hand her the mic during her party and let her belt out her best Lady Gaga. Is your son the best break-dancer in town? Let him showcase his talent on stage in front of all his friends!

Forgo Transportation

Instead of a lavish stretch limo or fancy party bus, drive the shuttle yourself in your trusty Dodge Grand Caravan or Honda CR-V. Decorate the windows in the birthday boy or girl’s favorite colors, and save big on transportation.
Keep these ideas in mind when planning that big birthday bash. You’ll be relieved to still have money in the bank, and your son or daughter will never know you managed such a great event on a wallet-friendly budget! Do you think we left anything off the list?


Filed Under: Best Green Practices for Kids, Environmental Awareness, Green Parenting Tagged With: , , ,

How Your Child Can Be Eco Friendly

July 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Earth flag is not an official flag, since ...

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Preparing your child to head off to school is a big step. However, throughout his school years, he can take steps to improve the overall health of his surroundings. By teaching your daughter to be eco friendly, you teach others to do the same. How can kids make a difference in the world? It may be easier than you think.

Tips for Getting Kids Involved

Finding ways for kids to become more environmentally friendly is important. Take a look around in their world. Chances are good you will find numerous ways that kids are exposed to unhealthy environments. They can make a change.

  • Encourage healthy eating from the start. Other kids will fall into line. Allow your kids to help you to plant an organic garden and to work with you to raise it.
  • Recycling is a big deal. Make it your child’s job to recycle. You can do this in various ways, including with plastics and glasses. Kids understand this concept sometimes better than adults do.
  • Reusing items is also important. For kids, this means using up those crayons and using the same backpack until it cannot be useful anymore. Encourage your children to find ways to reuse items throughout their lives.

By taking steps to teach your child, you are able to create a situation in which they are helping you to be eco friendly. Many kids love this type of experience. For those who are just new to it, consider a few helpful books from the library to help you to explain why you do it.

 

Filed Under: Best Green Practices for Kids, Environmental Awareness Tagged With: , ,

What It Means for a Family to Volunteer

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you: helping others brings you closer to everyone, especially those you’re helping and those helping with you! That’s the essence of what a volunteer is. You’re doing it not for any kind of personal gain; you’re simply doing something for the sake of service, for the sake of helping out. In the long run, it benefits someone else out there. More importantly, though, if you’re thinking of something that can mean something important to just you, know this: when you help somebody in need and you involve others, you’re much close to those others than ever before. Almost kindred.

That’s why it’s important to volunteer from time to time with your family—your brothers, sisters, wife, husband, sons, daughters. Volunteering brings families together. Take the non-profit Kars for Kids, for instance; it’s an organization dedicated to the donation of vehicles ranging from your everyday car to buses, boats, and even jet skis, for the purposes of funding several institutions serving children’s needs, such as schools, churches, youth programs, and other such missions. What a family can do is participate in car washes for all vehicles donated.

Think of how fun it would be to play some music, work with soap and water, use a hose, clean, drink some lemonade, and enjoy a warm, sunny day. A family does that sort of thing, originally thinking that it’s for the sake of volunteering, and all they’re simply doing is having fun! That’s because they’re doing it together, and deep in their hearts they know they’re doing it for a good reason. It’s a good feeling.

If you have questions about volunteering for any non-profit organization and you want to get your family involved, think about what matters to you in the world and then contact the appropriate organization through a director of volunteers or volunteer coordinator from within the organization. Bring your family together and enjoy helping the world out.

Filed Under: Environmental Awareness Tagged With: , ,

4 Leaders Who Are Changing the World and What They Know

March 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Official presidential portrait of Barack Obama...

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We often hear of leaders of countries who are known for their despotism or heavy-handedness in running their country. In fact, it may seem that the worse they are, the more attention they get.

But, what about those leaders who are taking positive steps in changing the world, like those in countries that form the G8. Representatives from these countries come together once a year for the purpose of discussing issues and providing their unique insight and thoughts on them. Four of them are discussed below.

1. Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Canada)

Canada is represented in the G8 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Mr. Harper is an example of someone who realized the value of a post-secondary education and returned to college after having previously dropped out. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Calgary, and later returned to earn a master’s degree, also in economics. Mr. Harper is only the second Prime Minister in Canada not to possess a law degree.

2. Chancellor Angela Merkel (Germany)

Chancellor Merkel has the distinction of being Germany’s first female Chancellor. Her 2007 appointment as chair person of the G8 made her the second woman to hold this prestigious position.

Perhaps it is Chancellor Merkel’s willingness to take on challenges that makes her such a noteworthy member of the G8. One project in particular was implemented when she was a student at the University of Liepzig (from which she earned a doctorate in physics) and consisted of reconstructing the ruin of the Moritzbastei, the only remaining part of the bastion of Leipzig.

3. Prime Minister Naoto Kan (Japan)

Prime Minister Kan became a licensed benrishi, which is a patent agent as well as an attorney in 1971, after his graduation the previous year from Tokyo Institute of Technology. He combined his knowledge with a love for one of his hobbies—mahjong—by building a machine which would perform the calculations necessary to tally the points one earns in mahjong.

This system can become quite complicated, but Prime Minister Kan’s machine does the work for the players; it is not necessary to have someone try to concentrate on his or her mahjong tiles and keep up with scoring, only to have to try to figure out the points afterward. Innovative ideas such as this are what can change the world. It sounds as though Prime Minister Kan is up to the challenge.

4. President Barack Obama (United States)

Representing the United States in the G8 is President Barack Obama. Although his greatest claim to fame is the fact that he is the first African American ever elected president, there is much more to this leader. Mr. Obama is a graduate of Columbia and Harvard Law School. During his time at Harvard Law School, he served as president of the Harvard Law Review. Before Mr. Obama earned his degree, however, he was already giving back to Chicago by working as a community organizer.

CONCLUSION

When it comes to leading the world, having strong leaders makes a difference. It’s no surprise that all have substantial educational backgrounds – sometimes having advanced degrees; but it takes more than book smarts to be a real leader. It takes character. And these leaders have shown great strength of character and are working every day to change the world for the better.

Filed Under: Environmental Awareness Tagged With: , ,
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