How to live efficiently?

Question

Lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about the cost of living, and human waste (not excretions!:) It seems like I just throw a lot of stuff away, my bills are too high, and making a living is just way harder than it should be. It seems like there has to be a solution, and I think green living might be it... so I'm asking for resources. If anyone knows good websites let me know.

I'm thinking along the lines of cost of living per day... If my electricity bill is $90 a month then it's costing me $3 a day to power devices. Vice versa as well, if I'm spending $1 a day to buy a soda out of a machine that's $30 a month. Right now I spend $13 a month for a large trash container, if I recycled I could get a smaller container that's $7. Certainly there's probably bigger ways to save, but I'm just demostrating my line of thinking. I already have improved insulation, CFL bulbs everywhere, energy star appliances.

If you know good books I'm interested too!

Answer 1

Frugal living is all about buying only that which you need, and reusing.  Do you need the cell phone (I pay $8 per month for pre-pay) I also make my phone calls from home landline.  Do you need the cable TV, if so can you get by with a lesser expensive "package".  Shop food and clothing "outlet" stores.  I found a vacuum sealer quickly paid for itself.  I purchase food only on sale (I also know what price I will pay and what is not really a "sale") and freeze everything.  Do we need to buy bottled water, or is a filter O.K.  Do we need the super sized gas guzzling SUV or will a sub-compact be enough.  Shop at re-use stores, amazing how many new items are donated.  Brown bag your lunch, avoid eating out as much as possible.  Minimize gifting at holidays.  Make more meals from "scratch" (lower costs and less packaging).  I never shop without a list, and never purchase anything not on the list.  If I see something I want (called impulse purchasing) I wait till another shopping trip.  If I really need or want an item, it will be on my next shopping list.  Will a washable towel or napkin work as opposed to paper.  The following sites have lots of ideas, and are added to daily.

http://frugalliving.about.com/

http://www.frugalvillage.net/

http://www.everydaycheapskate.com/

Answer 2

Here are some great blogs that teach you how to go green in different areas of your life:

http://www.greenstudentu.com/eco_lifesty...

http://www.greenstudentu.com/green_campu...

http://www.greenstudentu.com/eco_lifesty...

http://www.greenstudentu.com/stories_and...

http://www.greenstudentu.com/eco_lifesty...

http://www.greenstudentu.com/eco_lifesty...

http://www.greenstudentu.com/eco_lifesty...

Hope these help!

Answer 3

It's great that you're aware of this and you've already started conserving. Saks has a brand called Green House. They make organic clothing.

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/gree...

I haven't read this book, but from the tips on the Green House page, it seems very good.

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/Prod...