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David Bach The Automatic Millionaire

David Bach, The Automatic Millionaire

This Holiday Season, It's Easy Being Green

by David Bach

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Posted on Monday, December 3, 2007, 12:00AM

Last year, I wrote a column about saving money over the holidays. While many of the tips I shared then stand the test of time, this year I thought it would be appropriate to write not just about ways to save some green, but also going green for the holiday season.

Pick up any newspaper or go to any news web site and you're bound to see stories about going green. Is it just a fad? No way. Our planet is in danger, and all the talk about being green is a good sign that we're finally realizing we need to start making changes to protect not only the earth, but the very future of our existence.

The time to start is now. This holiday season, start green traditions with your family and friends -- traditions in which lavish gifts, mountains of wrapping paper, and big post-holiday bills are out, and recycled decorations, gifts from the heart, and money in the bank are in.

Here are nine ways to make it happen:

1. Deck the halls with LEDs.

Keep your January utility bill from skyrocketing while doing the right thing for the environment. LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights use the same computer-chip technology that lights calculators and watches, making them super energy-efficient. In fact, they use up to 96 percent less energy than standard holiday lights.

LED lights can last an amazing 20 years, and check out the cost comparison: To use 10 sets of 100 conventional lights for 5 hours a day for a month, over 5 seasons, you can expect to pay $761.25. For the same number of LED lights over the same time period, you would spend only $7.61 in electricity. They cost slightly more than conventional lights, but you'll save a bundle on your utility bill.

Pick them up at your local home improvement store, or shop online and pay around $20 for two sets.

2. Give green gifts.

Pull out your holiday list and check it twice. Which gifts can you replace with a greener version? Think cashmere sweaters, natural beauty products, soy candles, and green jewelry made from recycled gold and silver. Skip a trip to the mall and shop online to save gas. Then save up to 25 percent with coupon codes for a variety of green gift stores posted on one of my favorite green sites, Ideal Bite.

For that person who has everything, many conservation groups have sponsorship programs, where you can "adopt" a particular species to help protect. These make excellent gifts, and help spread the word about protecting our planet's diversity. At the World Wildlife Fund's adoption center, you can choose from 80 different vulnerable species, including polar bears, sea turtles, wolves, and penguins.

Whenever you donate to a charity, be sure it's legitimate. Check them out first at Guidestar.org or Give.org. And save your receipt for your tax deduction!

3. Wrap with recyclables.

Over the holidays the amount of household garbage we generate increases 25 percent, from 4 million tons to 5 million tons per week. Saving and reusing gift-wrapping paper cuts down on waste and saves money. Be creative and wrap presents in the Sunday comics, maps, or brown paper grocery bags -- all at no additional cost.

If you must wrap your gifts with holiday paper, buy recycled at sites like Smith & Hawken, or buy reusable cloth bags at Lucky Crow, where you'll get more for your money since you can use gift bags again and again.

4. Make your greetings green.

The U.S. Postal Service will deliver 20 billion cards, letters, and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve this year. Nearly 300,000 trees will need to be harvested to produce all the holiday cards sold this season -- enough to fill a football field 10 stories high! That's not just a lot of paper, either -- think of all the resources used to move all that mail.

Save money, time, and trees by sending e-cards instead. There are dozens of web sites where you can send virtual cards for free. Check out Hallmark and American Greetings for starters.

If you're determined to mail traditional cards, opt for 100-percent recycled, which you can find at sites like Holiday Classics and Doodle Greetings. Better yet, order from a site like Cards for Causes, where the cards are made from recycled paper and 20 percent of the purchase price goes to the charity of your choice.

5. Decorate with nature.

The most beautiful, authentic, and eco-friendly decorations are right outside your front door -- for free.

Take the kids on a treasure hunt for pinecones, acorns, evergreen branches, and real holly. Visit craft sites for great ideas on how to turn your finds into some great "green" holiday trimmings.

6. Host an organic potluck dinner.

An organic potluck dinner party provides the perfect setting for an evening of food, fun, and celebration -- and it's easy on the wallet and environment, too. Ask each guest to bring a dish, but give them a challenge: Use as many locally grown organic ingredients as possible. Buying locally grown foods means that fewer resources were used to transport it to the market -- and it's fresher and healthier for you.

Let the green theme flow to your table setting by using sustainable tableware and serving plates, and decorating with your all-natural Christmas decorations from outdoors.

Don't throw away the leftovers, either. Instead, donate what you don't eat to your local food bank or homeless shelter. Special E is a unique green event-planning resource that "rescues" leftovers for a small fee. Visit them online.

7. Travel green.

The American Automobile Association estimates that 65 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles over the holidays. Ninety-one percent of the travel will be done by car.

If you're among the travelers, it's critical to make sure your car is tuned before you leave. A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires burns less gas, which means you'll get more miles for your money and emit less pollution into the air.

Try to pack lightly as well, since unnecessary cargo will create drag and lower your miles-per-gallon usage.

8. Go shopping in your closet.

Extend the green theme of "reduce, reuse, recycle" to your wardrobe this year. Do a holiday sweep of your closet to find the perfect outfit for the holiday office party. I'll bet you'll be surprised by what you find, and you can always dress it up with a new holiday scarf or tie.

If you really feel you have "nothing to wear," why not borrow or swap party clothes with a like-minded friend? Your colleagues will be none the wiser, and you'll get a new outfit that doesn't cost a dime.

9. Spend time, not money.

According to the National Retail Federation, the average American plans to spend $817 on holiday-related purchases this year. I can't help but think that much of that spending will be on things people don't need and can't afford. It doesn't have to be this way.

You don't have to fill your holidays with stuff. Instead, make the conscious decision to spend quality time with family and friends. Create meaningful experiences and memories to last a lifetime. And, of course, don't take for granted what makes it all possible -- this amazing planet we live on.

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86 Comments

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  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, December 7, 2007, 4:39PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    Going green is has stupid and Al Gore with his false enviremental trash false stories

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, December 7, 2007, 12:08PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    If I hear another reference to being green, I am going to puke green! These companies contributing to this idiocy with their commercials and these idiotic articles make me sick! I'm going brown!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, December 7, 2007, 9:07AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    You have used the word "Christmas" twice in your article, infidel.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, December 6, 2007, 4:28PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    If LED Christmas lights use 1/100 the electricity ($761 vs $7.61), why do the manufacturers claim 1/10 or 1/20 the electricity? LED (glowing lights) and LCD (black on gray used in watches and calculators) are different technology. And I forgot about the huge environmental problem of gold and silver being thrown out ; let's be sure to buy recycled gold and silver, not freshly mined gold and silver! That's as far as I got in the article. :)

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 5:40PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    1-LED's makes sense, the difference between bulb watts, and LED milliwatts is the factor of 1000. 2- Green Gifts "Old Gold"...send me your old gold, I'd be glad to recycle it into "Cold Cash" 3- Wrap for Christmas Getting a gift in pretty paper and bows is somehow more appealing than yesterday's plastic bread wrapper. 4- Email Cards Again less appealing, as a human being than getting a snail mail greeting from friends and family. 5- Decorate Pick your poison, I always say. It is more important to express yourself once a year, than adhere to somebody else's philosophy. 6- Organic Potluck Look. It is hard enough to travel to GrandMa's ontime these days, then to carry a covered dish on the plane or in the car. Plus she looks forward all year to cook for the family, why should I spoil her fun for the "Greenies" ideas. 7- If you factor in the lLEAD and MERCURY that needs to be dug and subseqently DISPOSED OF. These cars a far from Enviromentaly Neutral. A horse would be more enviro friendly and recyclable, so who trades their car for one? 8- swap clothes? Yeah. Just what we should do. Swap clothes with some other sweaty smelly anonymous human being. Is this smart? 9- Time. This is the one commodity we are all short of. Should it not be spent with friends and family? 10- One one thing not mentioned. Just write a check to your favorite charity. They all would suffer oblivion if you did not. Aren't they more important than this list, anyway?

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 3:16PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    Uh. I understand wanting to save energy because the costs are so high, but this "Go Green" junk is everywhere I turn and its a total falsehood. Dont worry ya'll us humans arent hurting the planet as much as the planet "hurts" itself. (Nature doing what nature does) As for cyring about cutting down trees for cards and cutting Christams trees down that is some wacked out leftists thinking. How you ask? Well out in Cali, enviromentalist wackos sue so forest scannot be cleared of dead and decaying trees and underbrush. So instead of clearing out those overgrown areas they die, dont get recycled(used), they die, then every fall the Santa Anta winds come in from the desert and burn it all down. Including people homes and business's. As of Global Warming its a hoax. Its designed to spread fear and force people to live "green". Leftists us Gobal Warming as a fear tactict just like the rights use the threat of terrorism. If it hadnt been Al Gore (a politician wanting to make a power move) making that movie it might be believable. The mvoie is designed to provoke little thought and only outright 100% acceptance to his theories. Unfortunetly, his science is flawed, read the book "State of Fear" and you will understand waht is really goin on behind this global warming "debate" Merry freakin' Christmas everyone!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 2:38PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    You really know what is going on outside.Some one star raters need to look past their computers.Keep it up ! Your comments have truth and insight! I have no fear that people want their green planet.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 10:44AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    Useless.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 9:17AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    To the lefties- Be more concern about the Earth's Magnetic poles reversals. It happens on average every 240,000years and we are way over due. This is going to kill us way faster than greenhouse. To the righties- Do you really need to commute to your office in a gas gulping SUV? A smaller car will take you there a lot cheaper, just the savings justify it. I could see it if you're in construction and need the payload.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 1:02AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I bought the ultimate green christmas present for my wife this year. A 2008 Toyota Prius. For all the one star raters out there...bah humbug!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 12:58AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    thanks for the coupon codes from ideabite! Useful.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 11:03PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    I don't know where to start. First Mr. Nobel Prize, Al Gore, won't even discuss his evidence surrounding his global warming claims. Strange that so many people believe "no evidence" Gore. Second, even the most famous global warming scientist, Hansen I believe, was convinced in the 70's that we were on the verge of a mini ice age so even the scientists don't know. Third, even if there is global warming, we still don't know the reason. What if the sun is getting warmer? Are we really going to win a battle against the sun? All the Prius' in the world won't win in a battle against the sun...Finally I have yet to see anyone afraid of global warming, say they are not going to have a Christmas tree at all. A few people seem very proud of themselves that they are buying a real tree. Is it really that fantastic that millions of tree are being cut down to "save the environment"? What's wrong with this picture?

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 10:04PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I was shocked to see the number of trees (300K) harvested just so we can send holiday cards that get thrown away right after the holidays. Very sad. But on a positive note, I'm glad to see you promoting Ideal Bite! Their Daily Bites (eco tips via email) are great.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 8:13PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    I've used comics for gift wrap for a number of years. Glad to know that my miserly ways are green too! Do I dare double dip by gifting LED displays and florescent light bulbs that I buy at Target?

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 7:52PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    A very forgetable article that provides mediocre entertainment value. Try saying something outrageous or sensationalistic and you'll get more hits. Do you think people read Penelope Trunk's articles because she has something relevant to say? NO! People read P. Trunk because she is a clown-show. Her career advise is poison. She's fun to bash. I feel infinitely more intelligent than she is. Hope this helps you. I would hate to see your column cancelled because you don't generate enough traffic.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 6:52PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    This is really cool stuff. Simple and with links that are useful.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 5:47PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    I actually enjoyed the article in it's suggestion that there are cost effective ways to be green if you are a consumer. Saving trees might also be achieved by the use of more digital media, carrying cloth bags to the grocery store and the like. But most important was the thought provoking inspiration and while I too am amused by the many ideas to avoid ozone related issues suggested by overzealous activists, I am more amused by pious commentary by conservative twist facts to serve their political agenda name callers. Tax incentives to create environmentally sound alternatives and investment is a sane, practical approach which hopefully both parties will embrace!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 5:45PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    Really want to save the planet? Give a gift of sterilization or birth control. With the world population expected to double again in 65 years or so, how much good do you think tuning up your car and using LED Christmas lights is going to do?

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 5:22PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    Ok, I am all for cutting back and avoiding waste. But to actually say we are "saving" the world is a tad dramatic. While I agree that driving an SUV may increase my own personal carbon footprint, greenies think they can feel superior to everyone else by driving a prius while still living in their 3000 plus square foot house. If you REALLY want to SAVE the planet, it is very simple. Stop breeding. Less people equals less pollution, and a truly low global carbon footprint. Any other way you try to dice it, your just delaying the inevitable as recycling never stops the growing carbon footprint from being there in the first place. All you can do is slow it down, you can't STOP it, so get over yourselves if you have ANY kids and try to act superior on this site.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 4:57PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    I usually like David's articles, but this one is just plain silly. Does he really believe that buying new sets of light bulbs is better than keeping what I have or simply reducing a bit? That's like buying a new car to save the environment (or to pay off my credit card with the cash back). However, the user comments really take the cake. The best was the guy that wants to dress his kids up in some sort of armor for fear of UV rays. There is nothing in the global warming theory that suggests that we are killing off the ozone (in general, it is recovering). In fact, UV ray intensity might actually decrease. The best thing that can happen is the federal government hiking energy taxes and use the revenue to reduce the income tax. Then people can vote with their wallets. In the meantime, the only legal way to beat the income tax is to stop earning money. Giving me a choice seems like a republican thing to do. If it helps the environment, it ought to please the democrats too.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 4:47PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    What a load of crap from most of the negative bloggers who obviously spent more time reading the other negative blogs instead of the article! Even the ones who did either misread or read between the lines. 1st) Bach did not say one word about global warming. Apparently the term GREEN was enough to send those people into a rant. The article was about saving money, saving energy and reducing waste, all which are good things. 2nd) at least a couple need to check their eyes and own math instead of criticizing Bach's. One user said Bach claimed 100 X efficiency which he didn't. Another came up with a figure of 10,000 watts usage based on Bach's dollar figures. Last I checked, 2/3 of my electric bill was from fees and charges tacked on to my usage charges. Those charges go up and down with the amount used, so obviously the wattage figure that writer came up with is bogus. 3rd) Yet another writer claims that the economy would collapse if the country went green. Helloooo... instead of spending money on oil, we'd be spending money on hydrogen fuel cells, instead of money on coal, money would go to wind farms, solar panels, etc. In other words, no one is going to go broke, going green. There are a few good critical comments, but by far, most don't have a clue, they're just ranting.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 4:35PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Goodness. There surely a lot of self proclamed anti-global warming experts beating their drums. Irregardless of their pinhead "thoughts" I have converted my home to 100% fluorescent ligths and have saved in electric bills the cost of the bulbs in the first year. I expect the bulbs to last on average bout 5 years, for a total savings of over $1000. The pinheads can continue to pay for electricity for all I care. And as for the person who cannot see the cost saving benefit of tuning up his car ocassionally and perhaps even perfroming the arduous task of checking his tire inflations, again, keep right on paying for gas for all I care. Underinflated tires cost 1-2 miles per gallon, not to mention being dangerous at high speeds In summary, I can say the following; I am a bona fide millionaire and they are not. As for the guy who thinks there is no beneift to conservation unless the government is doing it...well, what can I say. Some people always look to some big daddy to take care of things for them? I take care of my own affairs. Just bought my son an adoption for a tiger on one of the web sites listed. A nice gift, but perhaps tiger extinction is inevitable. Perhaps if we fed the tigers a few unpleasant pinheads, they would last longer?

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 4:05PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    For any long islanders, LIPA offers a printable coupon for LED lights on their website at: http://www.lipower.org/pdfs/cei/led_rebate.pdf Good article.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 3:37PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    Wow, pandering.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 3:33PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    David your comments and sugestions are good ideas and a bit different also. Stressing saving and going green all in one article is a unique approach. I plan to limit the use of outside lights in decorating this year and plug my lights into the neighbors outside electrical outlets, ( they are never home ) My family and I will eat at the homeless shelter this year for the third year in a row. We usally dress down for this occasion and avoid using the car. We are not planning on buying new clothes this year either. We will be using our bikes more this winter. My wife and kids are good sports and usally go along with my sugestions. Pedalling thru the snow is a lot easier then most people think as long as you do not hit a patch of ice and fall and break your arm ,like my daughter did last year. Keep of the articles, we love to reading your column.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 3:33PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    Well, the ideas are good, but the real story is the government is not 100% behind all these and once again us average Joe is being asked to sacrifice this and that for the good of the environment. If you think that by doing these little things that we can save the environment, then good for you. But I believe unless the big corporations are on board with this idea, you can recycle these newspaper for a million years and it will not make any difference.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 3:04PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    Actually I only got throught the first paragraqph, but that was enough. Must be a hell of a set of lights - in fact 10,000 watts, to eat up $761.25 in 750 hours of use at the average national rate of 0.0986 per kwh.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 2:36PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    I won't argue if global warming exists or not. That could go on forever. What I will argue is that I'm sick of people telling me to stupid things like "make sure my car is in tune before I drive and properly inflate my tires". How could that possibly make a difference when ONE typical commerical jet will burn 2000 lbs of fuel taxing BEFORE EVEN TAKING OFF!!!!! This is embarassing.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 2:36PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    Mr. Bach, please check your math. Your cost estimate for conventional lights is 10 times higher! The LED lights are only 10 times (not 100 times) more efficient than the conventional lights. How can you use only 1/100 the electricity? Besides, what do you think about the environmental cost of disposing all the conventional Christmas lights?

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 2:20PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    The article has many good ideas. I am glad to see this kind of information on a site not aimed only at people who are already trying to act on behalf of the planet and the future of humanity and life for all beings. Please drive more slowly, more carefully and less often - to save money, avoid costly accidents, be safe and be there for your friends and family - and eat less meat for your health. These things will reduce your carbon footprint - a lot!

Showing comments 6-35 of 86<< PreviousNext >>

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