Stove Top Cleaner

I have been experimenting with homemade cleaners for my glass stove top and have finally found a winner! The best part about this cleaner is it uses supplies I already had in my pantry. Here's the recipe:

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds
20 drops of tea tree oil

Combine the ingredients into a paste. Store in an airtight jar.

You can't beat how easy it is to make and it works great! A note about Sal Suds - it is a cruelty-free biodegradable cleaner and is super concentrated so it lasts forever. I buy mine locally at a herb store, but it is also available on Amazon (is there anything you can't get on Amazon?)

Driving Log

Now that gas prices have fallen drastically, have you changed your driving habits back to your gas-guzzling ways? A lot of people reduced their driving when gas was hovering around the $4 mark, now that it has dropped continue with those changes and save money and the planet. A great way to track your driving habits is to keep a driving log. It’s a great way to track where you're driving and for what purpose. Try to keep a log for one week where you note your destination, mileage, and purpose of the trip. At the end of the week, look to see if there are any trips you can combine. By planning your routes ahead of time you can run your errands more efficiently - saving gas and time.

More Green Money Saving Tips

During the current economic crisis, you probably won't be looking at many large scale green changes such as buying a hybrid car, installing solar panels, or replacing all your old appliances with Energy Star ones. However you can make significant green changes that will actually save you money.

1. Bring your lunch in reusable packaging. Packing a lunch at home is always cheaper than eating out. You will also reduce the amount of waste you generate in the form of Styrofoam containers, plastic cutlery, paper napkins, etc. By packing your lunch in a reusable container you also save the money you would spend on sandwich baggies while reducing your waste.

2. Plan your week's meals before going shopping. By planning ahead you can research what's on sale, check for coupons, plan meals that will use up items in your pantry, and avoid waste from items that you buy and don't use up by planning multiple meals that will use the ingredients. You will also spend less at the store if you make a list and only buy items on the list to avoid impulse buys.

3. Become a smart shopper. Shopping online will save you money on gas and may help you stick to your gift list better. Buying in bulk will save you money and reduce the amount of packaging you dispose of, just make sure not to overbuy or buy an item just because it seems like a good deal. Buying items used from thrift stores, ebay, or craigslist keeps items out of landfills and reduces the production of new items while saving you money in the process.

4. Over the past few months when gas prices were at an all time high, many people changed their driving habits in order to save money. As frustrating as high gas prices are, they are actually good for the environment as people reduce their driving. Now that gas prices are thankfully lower, keep in place the changes you made and save even more money.

5 Minute Earth-Friendly Changes

There is so much info out there about going green, at times it can be a little overwhelming. Start small with some simple changes that will make a difference for the environment and your bank account.

1. Lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer.

2.Turn off lights when you leave the room.

3.Unplug appliances, cell phone chargers, DVD players and other "phantom loads" when you are not using them. Phantom loads are items that use energy while in the instant-on mode - if it has a clock or a glowing light it is using energy. It is estimated that, 75% of the electricity used to run home electronics is consumed while the products are off.

4. Switch your old incandescent bulbs to compact flourescent lamps (CFLs). CFLs last 10 times longer, use a quarter less energy, and give off 90% less heat.

5. Improve your indoor air quality - the EPA states that indoor air quality can be more polluted than outdoor air. Furniture, flooring, paints, and adhesives offgas VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Look for low or no VOC choices which are now widely available.

6. Weatherproof your home - attach rubber sweeps to the bottom of doors, apply low-VOC caulk to cracks in window and doorframes, insulate outlets and light switches with inexpensive foam gaskets.

7. Conserve water. Install a low-flow showerhead and shorten your shower time. Check toilets for leaks, only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full, install aerators on your faucets.

8. Replace your air conditioner or furnace filter monthly. Also look for reusable filters that can be cleaned which reduces waste.

9. Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees and insulate your hot-water storage tank.

10. Switch from using hot water in your washing machine to cold water and use half the energy.

What to buy organic

As food prices continue to climb, you may be wondering which organic products are worth splurging on. The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit association that tracks pesticide residue levels has a list to help you on your next shopping trip.

1. Fruits: Buy organic when buying apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, blueberries, imported grapes and other fruits without a peel. Save money, and opt for conventional bananas, oranges, lemon and other fruits with thick peels.


2. Vegetables: Buy organic when you're buying spinach, lettuce and leafy greens, bell peppers, potatoes, and carrots. Buy conventional broccoli, asparagus, frozen corn, sweet peas, avocados, and onions as these tend to have lower levels of pesticide residue.

3. Milk & Dairy: Buy organic milk and other dairy products. Organic milk comes from cows that are given pesticide-free organic feed or graze on pesticide-free land.

4. Meat & Poultry: If you can afford it, splurge on organic meat. Buying organic poultry may not be worth it, because the USDA requires that chickens must have access to the outdoors, but doesn't control how much access is necessary for each bird.

5. Seafood. Never spend extra for organic seafood, as there are no standards for organic seafood.

6. Grains: Save some money by buying conventional grains, breads, pastas, chips and similar products. The real benefits of organic products come from fresh foods, since grains are processed they lose much of their organic value anyway.

Eat Green & Save Some Green

With the price of fuel and food skyrocketing it's time to find ways to make every dollar count. Sometimes it's hard to eat well on a budget as organic items can be expensive. I have gathered some tricks and tips to help you stretch your food dollars while still keeping the environment and your health in mind:

1. Eat locally. Shop your local farmer's market for fresh, in season produce. The markets are always cheaper than grocery stores, you can find unique varieties not found on supermarket shelves, you reduce packaging on your food, you help support farmers in your community, and you will enjoy the freshest most flavorful fruits and veggies money can buy.

2. Cook from scratch. Preparing most items from basic staples, will save you money and will reduce the amount of packaging that your family disposes. By making items like, pancakes, tortillas, bread, treats, etc. you can also eliminate excessive preservatives, fats, and chemical in your family's diet.

3. Plan your meals. Reading sales circulars and buying sales items helps you save money while still making your family's favorite meals.

4. Buy and cook in bulk and then remember to eat the leftovers. By cutting down on the amount of meals you have to cook from scratch you save time and electricity. Bringing leftovers in your brown bag lunch will save money when compared to eating lunch out.

5. Don’t buy too much food. Buying food that goes bad before you'll use it doesn't save money and impacts the planet with extra waste. Plan your meals carefully and use what ingredients are fresh in the fridge. Shop your pantry for items that you already have on hand and plan meals around these items.

6. Quit eating meat. Buying meat can really break the bank and is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. By replacing meat with plant-based protein sources, such as beans and lentils you can save money and lighten your footprint. If you can't give up meat completely, decreasing your meat-based meals will help the planet and your pocketbook.

7. Use coupons. Now that organic foods are growing in popularity, so are coupons for these foods. Check your Sunday newspaper for coupons, check your local store for coupon books like Mambo Sprouts, or check the websites of your favorite companies for coupon offers. When using coupons, don't just buy an item because you have a coupon, if your family won't eat the food you've wasted money not saved money.

8. Grow your own food. My family is getting ready to prepare a bed for planting in the fall and we are researching which fruits and veggies will grow best in our area. We have been composting for a year and have some great materials to feed our soil with. Organic seeds are inexpensive and can be found at most garden stores or online.