In the current economic climate there aren't many of us who aren't trying to tighten our belts at least a little in order to make it easier to weather the storm.
Whether this is out of necessity or caution, there are numerous ways we can all save money and, as an added bonus, being frugal can often also mean being green, thus giving the environment a boost too.
This article looks at a few simple ways to get you started on saving money and going green, all of which are easy to implement as well as being free or very cheap in the first place.
There are undoubtedly many more ways to try and beat the credit crunch depending on your circumstances, and it is important to make sure that your finances are in order.
Within the home, one of the first things you can do is to find out whether you are paying over the odds for your gas and electricity.
This is now so simple with the choice of energy switch marketplaces available which offer free, no-obligation price comparisons with other utilities' suppliers.
Make sure you then use these resources wisely by switching appliances off standby, using energy efficient light bulbs and turning down your heating thermostat(s).
Also recycle where you can including larger household items, which you may also be able to replace with second-hand products, saving you money and helping the environment.
If you are deciding where to go on holiday this year, why not think closer to home if you normally jump on a plane? You may well save money (house swapping can be a great option for this) and will almost certainly reduce your carbon footprint.
If you do want to escape the country for a little while, there are plenty of options for visiting the continent by train making the journey itself into an adventure too! On the transport front, do you really need to use the car for all your journeys? Could you walk, cycle or car share, saving money and carbon emissions? However you decide to save money it is also worth bearing the environment in mind.
The credit crunch is a pressing issue for many but climate change has not been put on hold so by implementing measures such as those above you can save some money without forgetting the planet.
Whether this is out of necessity or caution, there are numerous ways we can all save money and, as an added bonus, being frugal can often also mean being green, thus giving the environment a boost too.
This article looks at a few simple ways to get you started on saving money and going green, all of which are easy to implement as well as being free or very cheap in the first place.
There are undoubtedly many more ways to try and beat the credit crunch depending on your circumstances, and it is important to make sure that your finances are in order.
Within the home, one of the first things you can do is to find out whether you are paying over the odds for your gas and electricity.
This is now so simple with the choice of energy switch marketplaces available which offer free, no-obligation price comparisons with other utilities' suppliers.
Make sure you then use these resources wisely by switching appliances off standby, using energy efficient light bulbs and turning down your heating thermostat(s).
Also recycle where you can including larger household items, which you may also be able to replace with second-hand products, saving you money and helping the environment.
If you are deciding where to go on holiday this year, why not think closer to home if you normally jump on a plane? You may well save money (house swapping can be a great option for this) and will almost certainly reduce your carbon footprint.
If you do want to escape the country for a little while, there are plenty of options for visiting the continent by train making the journey itself into an adventure too! On the transport front, do you really need to use the car for all your journeys? Could you walk, cycle or car share, saving money and carbon emissions? However you decide to save money it is also worth bearing the environment in mind.
The credit crunch is a pressing issue for many but climate change has not been put on hold so by implementing measures such as those above you can save some money without forgetting the planet.