Going green is all the rage lately. People want to help the environment and protect their families’ health – but the cost of organic foods, hybrid cars, and solar power are prohibitive for most people. Many blogs and articles about going green promote making changes that people with very little discretionary income just can’t afford.

Natural products do tend to be more expensive, but avoiding unnecessary chemicals can improve your long-term health dramatically. That is little consolation, however, for people living on a tight budget. The cost of these products is likely to come down as their popularity grows, but in the meantime, there are still some changes you can make now that won’t break the bank.

1. Stop buying bottles of water. Bottled water is wasteful and expensive, and in most cases, it is the same water that comes out of your tap. If you drink bottled water at work, for example, take a water glass or Mason jar to leave at the office. Wash and refill it there.

2. Buy secondhand clothes. Thrift shopping is fun and giving used clothes in good condition another life is earth-friendly – and saves you money.

3. Open your windows. Open windows improve the air quality in your home, keeping you and your family healthier. When the weather is nice, this has the added benefit of helping out your energy bill.

4. Leave your shoes at the door. Designate a spot for family members and guests to leave their shoes right beside the front door so that pollutants, dirt, and chemicals are not tracked through your house. This not only reduces your contact with these substances, but also keeps your home cleaner.

5. Dust your house often. The dust in your home is partially made up of chemicals from products in the house or the house itself: heavy metals, flame retardants, pesticides, and more.

6. Turn things off. This may sound simplistic, but many people don’t realize how often they leave things running when they exit a room. Lights, TVs, fans, and radios should all be off is no one is in the room; turn your computer off at night or any time you aren’t going to using it for several hours.

7. Make your own cleaning products. Scour the web for simple and cheap recipes for healthy cleaning products made of ingredients you probably already have: vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide, for starters. If you do buy cleaning products, avoid ingredients like chlorine, parabens, BPA, dyes, and perfumes.

8. Stop losing your pens. Choose a chic fountain pen to keep at your desk, and buy inexpensive refills for it – a move that can actually save you money while saving countless pens from ending up in landfills.

9. Try your local farmers’ market. Less expensive than organic, local produce helps the environment by not having to travel as far to get to you.

Not everyone can afford to switch to organic foods or buy new energy-efficient appliances, but virtually anyone can take these steps to live a greener lifestyle. In fact, everyone can take advantage of the above tips offered by Embassy Loans to help the earth, their health, and their pocketbooks.