# 10 Ways To Go Green With Your Finances

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/08/finance-10-ways-to-go-green/
- Published: 2022-08-24T06:09:34-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

Once you start earning money or have access to money / finances legitimately that
you can spend. So the way you go about expending it can have an impact on the [environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/03/go-green-this-spring-with-feng-shui/),
whether positively or negatively. Is it a great idea to buy more cars for yourself
just for the fancy? Would it have been better if you got more bicycles and just 
a car instead? It is possible to be wealthy enough that you could pay for just about
anything and not know how much harm you are inflicting on your immediate environment.
[Going green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/05/ways-to-green-the-food-supply-chain/)
with your finances is necessary for the [well-being](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/04/bank-of-america-updates-environmental-policy-acknowledges-yet-fails-to-act-on-climate-crisis/)
of the environment, and here are some ways to do it.

![Let's talk about green finances](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/
uploads/2022/08/alexander-grey-8a5eJ1-mmQ-unsplash.jpg?resize=420%2C280&quality=
52&ssl=1)

## **Know the type of businesses your bank invests in**

You can actually hurt the environment with your money just by it sitting in your
account. You need to know what your [bank’s](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/10/9-easy-ways-to-save-money-on-business-energy-expenses/)
climate change policy is all about. Make sure to stay away from banks that love 
investing in the fossil fuel sector because the business of fossil fuels is one 
that harms the [environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2006/06/greenlands-ice-sheet-is-slip-sliding-away/).
Instead, go with an ethical bank whose climate standards fit your decision to [go green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/07/technology-beliefs-merge-to-help-standing-rock-go-green/)
with your finances. People like to invest a lot these days, and all you need to 
do is to make sure you are responsible for your environment getting better. Just
go [green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/04/cool-greening-weather-channel-style/)
with it.

### **Buy more bicycles instead of cars**

It is said that most wealthy people love to have different types of cars in their
garages. While it is good to have a backup plan for when your car is due for service
or has some fault, it is also better to reduce the weight on the environment. Going
for [bicycles which you can sometimes ride](https://greenlivingguy.com/2026/03/adaptive-tricycles-and-where-to-ride-them/)
even if your car is available for use, will help reduce the pollution that comes
from using a car. This carbon monoxide [pollution hurts the environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/05/school-air-quality-green-schools-report/),
and more bicycle riding can guide against that.

### **Go for sustainable products**

[Products](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/06/you-might-be-greener-than-you-think/)
with lower carbon footprints over their lifetime will still do their jobs well. 
You can go for these products and other energy-efficient products that can easily
be fixed. This will not just keep your carbon footprint to a minimum but will also
help you [save a lot of money](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/12/tenant-star-could-save-landlords-and-tenants-money/)
from getting replacements.

#### **Go eco-friendly with electronic gadgets purchases**

When you buy fairly used electronics or phones, it is more sustainable than buying
a new one. It may not be about not being able to get a new one but just for the 
sake of helping the environment. The advantage here is that you get to [save some money going green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/06/6-proven-ways-businesses-can-save-money-and-go-green/)
when you don’t buy a new one. You could also buy a more sophisticated phone that
is refurbished instead of a new, less-sophisticated phone probably with the same
amount of money. Go for sim-only deals too. Sim-only deals are eco-friendly since
you could use several of such SIM cards on the same phone. Buying a refurbished 
product helps prolong its lifespan, thereby keeping it in use for longer instead
of it becoming some electronic waste.

#### **Go for a green broadband deal**

For most employees that are working from home, you will need very strong internet
connections for your zoom calls. If you operate a smart home and also want to keep
your smart home data private, you would be consuming a lot of internet data. Switching
to a greener broadband deal will be a good move to help your environment get better.
Check which providers cover your area to see whether they are green or not. If they
aren’t, some options from [green companies](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/09/ribbon-cut-on-energy-efficient-and-earth-friendly-geothermal-hvac-system/)
are available for you to try out. GreenNet and Green ISP are some examples.

#### **Make use of online banks**

Online banks are the best if you really want to go green with your savings and view
your [personal](https://www.modestmoney.com/personal-finance-statistics/) finance
statistics at a glance. Online depository institutions maintain a smaller overhead
and [carbon footprint](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/03/reducing-your-carbon-footprint/).
They don’t operate individual branches, and that is a very green move. Online banks
will even offer higher yields on your savings.

### **Go green when investing in real estate**

In 2021, there were about 7 million home sales in the U.S., and more people are 
buying every year. The sad fact is that as more homes are built every year, the 
environment suffers. If you are already in one that isn’t green, you can go green
by refurbishing it. If you are buying one soon, consider a green mortgage. It will
get you a lower rate for buying a more energy-efficient home.

#### **Order less food and cook more**

Single-use plastics contribute to the predicament of the environment and need to
be reduced. However, this can not be possible unless, of course, people reduce their
food orders and cook more. Even if you need to have food from an eatery, you should
consider going there to eat your food. Cooking more of the food you consume will
help you save money apart from the fact that you are also embracing the [green culture and protecting the environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/02/10-simple-ways-to-make-your-home-green-2/).

### **Switch to green energy**

Another way to protect the [environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/01/5-chemical-free-ways-to-reduce-dust-mites-in-your-household/)
is by making your energy usage eco-friendly. There are so many [forms of green energy](https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-green-energy)
that you could adopt instead of the regular electricity used almost everywhere on
the planet. [Solar power is the most common green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/10/green-options-to-include-in-your-house/)
energy. If you go green with your energy consumption, it will reduce your carbon
emissions and even [save you some money in the long run](https://www.inspectionsupport.com/resources/how-your-home-impacts-your-utility-bill/).

#### **Final word**

If everyone knew the impact of our actions on our ecosystem, there would be a lot
of individual changes to the way daily activities are carried out. You need to cultivate
discipline also to abide by [going green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/02/cutting-coastal-wetlands-restoration-needs-immediate-attention/),
especially if you have the financial power to get the basic needs that you want.
This is because it may not look comfortable at first, and there is a tendency to
want to switch to old ways. No matter how much you have to spend and spare, start
going green henceforth with your finances.

_**Author: Bella Clarks**_