Save $1000-1500/month just by making simple changes in your daily life.
Mother Nature understands climate change doesn’t keep you up at night. Inflation does. It can cost a family of 4 an extra $400/month just to keep up. And people who don’t have children or who live alone also deal with inflationary prices.
That’s why we created Mama Nature’s Inflation Busters. Just by making simple changes in your daily activities, you’ll save money for years to come and give children and future generations a cleaner, healthier, safer planet.
Remember, start small and do what you can. Every little thing you do gets multiplied by millions of others who understand that when it comes to climate change, everyone a role to play. Especially you!
“Remember, only one thing can slow climate change. Human change.”
Kitchen
Over 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used each year in the U.S. Most paper towel waste ends up in landfills where they generate methane, a toxic greenhouse gas 23 times more harmful than carbon dioxide.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a roll of paper towels in the U. S, was $1.48 in 2021. If a family uses two rolls of paper towels per week, the annual cost would be approximately $153.92.
Spend approximately $24 on cloth towels or rags and your savings will be over $10/month. Throw cloth towels in the washing machine and reuse.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average annual energy cost for a refrigerator is between $65 and $150, depending on the size and efficiency of the appliance. However, the actual energy cost of your refrigerator can vary significantly depending on its size, age, and usage patterns.
Set your refrigerator at about 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees. A refrigerator set 10 degrees too low will use up to 25% more energy. Depending on several factors, you might save $30, but it’s just an estimate.
For example, if you use 10 zippered plastic bags per week and they cost $.10 each, your weekly expense would be $1.00. Multiplying this by 52 weeks in a year, your yearly expense for zippered plastic bags would be $52.00.
Buy reusable plastic containers and re-use zippered bags when they aren’t wet or contaminated with raw meat, eggs, or seafood and your savings could be $25.
And your family would save a lot of money, too Some estimates suggest an average family of four in the U.S. spends about $1,800 to $2,000 per year on meat and poultry. So, eating 25% less meat, yet still eating healthy meatless meals, might save the family $200. Just an estimate, of course.
- Energy Star certified refrigerators can save you about $65 per year on your energy bills.
- Energy Star certified washers can save you about $40 per year on your energy bills.
- Energy Star certified dryers can save you about $30 per year on your energy bills.
- Energy Star certified dishwashers can save you about $35 per year on your energy bills.
Bathroom
Expect to save about 3-5% on your energy bill for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature of your water heater. So, turning down your water heater by 20 degrees could save you 6-10% on your energy bill.
If you have a 40-gallon electric water heater and you use about 40 gallons of hot water per day, turning the temperature down from 140 degrees to 120 degrees could save you about $35 per year.
If you have a 75-gallon electric water heater and you use about 80 gallons of hot water per day, turning the temperature down from 140 degrees to 120 degrees could save you about $70 per year.
Living Room
Laundry
As a rough estimate, if you wash all your clothes in cold water, you could potentially save anywhere from $30 to $100 per year. However, it's important to note that the exact amount of money you save will depend on your specific circumstances.
In addition to saving money, using cold water for your laundry also has environmental benefits, as it requires less energy to heat the water, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Whole House
LED bulbs use about 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last about 25 times longer. So, you can save money on your monthly energy bill and also save on replacement bulbs.
Let's say you use 20 LED bulbs in your home, and you pay $0.12 per kilowatt-hour for electricity. If each LED bulb uses about 8 watts of power and you use each bulb for about 3 hours per day, you could save about $120 per year. This means that over the lifetime of the bulbs (which is about 25 years for LED bulbs), you could save around $3,000.
Keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and your actual savings may be different.
To maximize energy savings, it's important to properly program your thermostat and make sure it's set to the most energy-efficient temperature when you're not home or when you're asleep.
On average, homeowners can save between 15% and 30% on their energy bills by properly insulating their homes. For example, if your energy bills total $2,000 per year, insulating your home could save you between $300 and $600 per year.
In addition, a dirty filter can cause the system to wear out more quickly, leading to the need for more frequent repairs and maintenance, which can also be costly. Finally, dirty filters can contribute to poor indoor air quality, which can be detrimental to your health and well-being. It is important to regularly replace or clean your HVAC filters.
Fashion
Shop secondhand: Another way to save money on clothing is to shop secondhand. You can find gently used clothing at thrift stores, consignment shops, and online marketplaces like Poshmark and Depop.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in the United States, the average American household spent $1,800 on clothing and footwear in 2020. However, this amount can vary widely depending on the income and spending habits of the household. But on average spend just 10% less and you’ll save $180.