Saving money for a green home is a top priority for many people interested in being eco-friendly. But how do you do it, exactly?
That’s what you’re about to find out. We take a look at some of the sustainable ways you can save money and get the house of your dreams. Here’s what you need to do:
Shop Secondhand
First, you’ll want to change your consumption habits. If you’re the sort of person who likes to buy new, you’ll want to make a switch.
Shopping second-hand is all about emphasizing the “reuse” of the three Rs. Unlike recycling, it hardly requires any energy use at all, and it could save you a lot of money. Second-hand clothes often sell for a considerable discount.
Grow A Home Garden
You can also save money for a house by growing a home garden. Instead of going to the store to buy groceries shipped in from across the world, you can grow them in your backyard. Try growing the most expensive items, like berries and salad vegetables, and see how much money you could save.
Go For Brown Bagging
Another option is to take a packed lunch with you to work or on your adventures instead of buying food out of the home. The “brown bag” approach is eco-friendly and it can also save you a lot of money compared to buying food on the go. A packed lunch can cost as little as a dollar while eating out often costs in excess of $10, especially in a big city.
Set Savings Goals
You should also consider setting savings goals if you want to save for a green home. Find out how much it will cost you to borrow on a site like Mortgage Quote and then begin the work of actually putting your money away. Think about how much you’ll need for the home and any work you need to do to it, such as landscaping or adding solar panels.
Shop around too, it’s not just big highstreet banks that can offer mortgages. Check out places like Evolve Bank & Trust too and see what rates you can get for your green home.
Automate Saving Deposits
You’ll also want to automate saving deposits. This way, you can adopt a “set and forget” approach to your finances (instead of having to manually move money to your savings account every month). While this approach might sound simple, it is one of the most effective ways to ensure you deposit enough money every month and meet your savings goals. You are much more likely to hit your targets if you let the process unfold automatically instead of having to remember to do everything yourself all the time.
Reduce Your Unnecessary Expenses
Another pro tip for saving for a green home is to reduce your unnecessary expenses. Not only is it more eco-friendly to avoid this type of consumption, but it also leaves you with more money in your account at the end of the month.
Reducing unnecessary expenses is actually simpler than you might think. Many times, it just means avoiding some of the places and people who drain your bank account. For example, going to the bar or expensive mall shopping trips.