Is the whole green thing just a way to get more of my money?

Question

i went to pay my bill online today and they said "use papreless billing help the enviroment but get this it cost an extra 5 bucks to pay online or buy phone (as aposed to a 50 cent stamp) multiply that buy the 5 or 6 bills the avg. joe has and thats 30 dollers. Then you got these knew lightbulbs the cfls they cost like 5 dollers a piece to as apposed to a doller for a normal one. They dont pay for recycling half the time anymore in fact at my moms she pays them to pick it up. They want me to spend 10 grand more or so for a hybrid car thats not realy any better then the standerd model. Im not even gonna get started on solar panels or heat pumps or blazy blah. Dont get me wrong I support all of this we need to be more effecent lest wastefull and all that it just seems like its become more of a buisness and how can they profit off of it. I think all fores just sitting in hes "carbon offsettin" heated pool and laphing at me while my paperless billing pays for it. am i alone?

Answer 1

Well...sure there are loads of folk out there who treat the green movement as just another way to make some cash - but true green living is surely about all of us trying to turn our backs on the consumer age and living in a simpler way that costs less?

If we mend and re-use old stuff we would once have chucked away and replaced, and if we turn down our central heating to reduce our carbon footprint, and if we grow our own fruit and veg, we end up saving money - and that's got to be a good thing, I reckon!

Answer 2

Glad to see someone else has seen the light.

Answer 3

We should not want  the money, they should help.....technology ...for......other countries.....

Answer 4

*claps* oh! now you've figured it out!

Answer 5

No I do not think it is Just a way to get money

from what I have read about it several places and seen the big buildings that were built to green standards.

  But as with anything some try and rip you off.

What I don't understand is why organic foods cost so much more when they don't have to pay for fertilizers.

Answer 6

It certainly looks that way, brov.

Answer 7

change your bank.. I dont pay a cent to pay a bill over the phone..

the new lightbulbs will save you money in the long run... and their price is going down..

same with Hybird Cars...

if you want to SAVE money by being MORE GREEN here is a great link to follow with some ideas you will not have thought of.. and some the governemtn doesnt want you to think about..

http://www.gomestic.com/Personal-Finance...

Answer 8

Score ten points for yourself, you nailed it right on the head!

Answer 9

In a word......YES!

Answer 10

Sure, some people are trying to profit from people going green.  But, those are generally all scams.  But, in the long run, it's smarter for you and you will save money.  Let me give you examples:

bill pay:  I don't pay anything to pay my bills online. I don't know who you use or who's charging you, but it's wrong.  I save roughly 10-20 stamps a month paying bills online.  Plus, think of all the paper i'm saving.

cfl bulbs: each bulb costs more.  but, each bulb will last you way longer than incandescant bulbs.  fewer incandescants to buy saves you money.  plus, it'll lower your electric bill, again putting more money into YOUR pocket.  You don't have to pay to recycle them either.  Drop them off at Home Depot.  

hybrid cars: nobody said you have to buy a hybrid.  I don't own a hybrid, nor do I intend to buy one.  I do have a small car that gets more than 32 mpg however.  And I've cut way down on my driving.  I walk wherever I can, and I combine my errands so I don't have to run around as much.  Look, more money into my pocket in gas savings, and time savings for that matter.  

Going green is a responsible thing to do, but educate yourself so you don't fall into the "money-making traps" you're talking about.  You'd be surprised that the people making money, are those of us who are cutting back on what we use and being smarter about energy conservation.  Check into it.  You'll see.