Three Ways To Be Green And Save Green

When many Americans first hear about “going green,” they may think this means they’ll be dropping a lot more cash for everyday needs and wants. But not so!  There are simple ways to SAVE money by going green! Here are a few ways to be green and save your green.

1.   Don’t drive, walk  Is the grocery store just down the road? Walk. Is work just a bit too far to walk? Ride your bike.  Not only will you be saving money on gas and vehicle maintenance, you’ll also be saving the atmosphere from those harsh emissions. Taking many short driving trips which could just as easily be walked is a severe drain on your pocketbook which also contributes to the degradation of our natural environment.

2.   Shop green  From diapers to cleaning products to food, there are so many ways to shop green and save money. There are a multitude of green-centered companies out there, like The Honest Company  and Seventh Generation. Companies like these specialize in providing quality green products at an affordable price.  You’ll save a bundle on pricey, non-biodegradable products, and you’ll refrain from filling up your local landfill.

3.   Turn off the lights  Electricity usage is another environmental threat that also costs the average person a large sum of money every year. Keep the lights off if you’re not in the room or using them. Unplug appliances or electronics when not in use. Turn off the TV and go outside! These simple steps will keep your utility bills lower, and your electricity usage down. Win-win!

Like any endeavor, the prospect of going green will be as financially beneficial as you make it, and through a combination of thorough research, innovation and open mindedness you can save the environment and save money at the same time!

To listen to 97.5 Y-Country’s Wild Bill and Honor’s Scott McFarland talk about how to go green and save green, listen to the Mason Jar Monday episode below.

"Go Green" With Your Banking!

Being conscious of the environment is more than just a trend, and is something that everyone should make a part of their daily life.  There are so many little things that you can do in your daily routine to make a positive impact on the environment.  Honor is taking the next steps to go paperless, and here are three easy tips to help you “go green” with your banking, as well:

• E-Statements!  Not only is this a more secure and environmentally conscious method of receiving your statement, but it is a faster and more convenient way to receive your statement as well.  Almost 50% of Honor members take advantage of this free service, but that still leaves the other 50% that could take the next step to “going green!”

• Online banking!  Utilizing online banking can not only save you the gas of coming into the credit union to do transactions, but also the time.  We love to see our members, of course, but taking advantage of online banking options is an easy way for members to go paperless with their daily transactions.

• Recycle!  Whether you are still one of the members that haven’t made the switch to e-statements, or you just have other sensitive documents (i.e..tax forms) that have been accumulating, recycle them! 

• One easy way to start recycling is through one of the seven community shred days Honor planned for 2014 where anyone in the community can bring their old paper statements or sensitive documents and have it securely recycled.  The first one is actually at our Stevensville branch location on April 5!

You can listen to the full Mason Jar Monday episode on real estate below.  Join Honor’s initiative to go paperless, and start adopting a few of these tips into your banking routine!  Don't forget to follow Honor on twitter @honorcu before Friday 3/28 for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!  

Comment on this post, or follow us on twitter @honorcu and use #askhonorcu to get involved! You can also comment with the topic you want to see discussed next week! It's your money, and we want to talk about things you care about!