How Being Frugal & Being Green are Similar
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I’ve written a fair amount of posts (considering I’ve only been blogging for a little over a month) that deal with concepts that could be considered Green (for example this post on saving energy, this post on making homemade essential oils, this post on homemade pest prevention techniques, and this post on making homemade cleaning products). But, this is a blog on Frugal Living, not on Green Living. So, the reason that I’ve written all these posts is that I think that being Green and Being Frugal often overlap.
- Both are about avoiding over-consumption
Being frugal is about buying those things you need or highly value, as opposed to buying for the sake of buying (or for other wrong reasons). Being green is about buying those things that you need, and using only as much as you need. Throwing out uneaten food is a waste not just of the money you spent on it, but also of the resources needed to produce the food (or in some cases the animal who gave his life to create it). Buying a huge house for 2 people is just as much a waste of money as it is of resources.
- Both are about avoiding waste
Being frugal involves not squandering your resources. Being green emphasizes not wasting the limited resources of the planet. Whether you turn off your light to avoid paying a high electricity bill, or you do so to reduce your carbon foot print, the effect is the same.
- Both are about simplifying your life & going back to basics
Being frugal is about eliminating unnecessary expenses from your life, so you can use your money more wisely. Being green is about eliminating unnecessary costs on the planet. Both deal with going back to basics, living life without all these “wants” that we have turned into needs. Not that long ago, we didn’t need Lysol and Clorox and Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaners. We cleaned with vinegar and water and real old fashioned soap. We didn’t live in 3500 square foot castles, or drive around in Army-like tanks. People also didn’t have credit card debt, there was no foreclosure crisis, and we didn’t have to fight wars for oil.
