Many people attempt to go green in their home life; whether they try to recycle more or reduce the amount of food they waste, going green in the home is a popular lifestyle change to make. Although being more eco-friendly in the home is a huge step forward, for many people these practices are left as soon as they leave their humble abode. The truth is, going green and saving money go hand-in-hand, as you minimise waste you reduce outgoings as well as minimising your carbon footprint.

Although going to work provides you with your primary source of income it can also be a place of excessive expenditure and waste. If you find that your income isn’t as high as it should be it could be time to tighten your belt in your working life, as well as your home life.

Commuting

Commuting is arguably one of the most expensive aspects of working life. With petrol costs, car insurance and parking permits, getting to and from work can be more costly than you ever anticipated. Cars are also notorious for contributing to global warming and climate change due to their CO2 emissions.

Car sharing is one of the most effective methods of reducing your fuel costs and carbon footprint. Car share with colleagues who live nearby, alternate “designated driver” days so you have a fair rota and you should see a huge reduction in your fuel costs. In addition to the financial benefits, car sharing can also reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion due to fewer cars being on the road.

Green cars can also help to reduce fuel costs as renewable energy resources supplement the fuel tank, meaning fewer trips to the petrol station! Although electric cars aren’t the most popular type of automobile they are zero emission vehicles, making them very eco-friendly and definitely worth considering.

Eating

On-the-go lunches are another common culprit for eating up your weekday allowance. If you work in a built-up area or city centre you’re surrounded by convenience food options and eateries advertising cheap lunchtime deals. Although these can be a pleasant treat on occasion, dining out every day or even buying ready-made sandwiches can really take a bite out of your finances.

Preparing your lunch at home and taking it to work can really save you money, if you make something tasty you probably won’t want the greasy canteen food anyway! Try to use any spare meat or vegetables and incorporate them into a meal to take to work – that reduces your food waste and saves you money!

Before Leaving for Work

Another money eater is leaving electrical appliances plugged in and switched on throughout the day whilst the house is unoccupied. Not only is this severely wasteful, some appliances carry the risk of catching fire if left on and unattended. In particular, always unplug appliances which operate at a high temperature such as irons and hair straighteners.