How to save money by slowing down
(Photo: Getty Images)
We're heading into a super busy time of year for most people. As to do lists get longer and calendars fill up it's hard to resist the temptation to race around. Slowing down may be counterintuitive, but it's good for your sanity, your wallet, and the planet.
Want to give it a try? Here are some ways to get started.
Drive the speed limit
You'll save gas, which translates into money, without having to sacrifice all that much time. Consider this scenario. If you slow down from 70 mph to 60 mph, you can reduce your fuel consumption by 20 percent. How much time will you waste? A whopping four minutes (for a 30-minute commute).
Eat slow food
The slow food movement is all about eating food that's good for people and the planet. Think of it as the antithesis of fast food. No time to make meals at home? Make a big batch of food on the weekends that you can eat during the week. The obvious place you'll save money is on take-out food, but eating healthy food is a great way to cut back on visits to the doctor and prescription medicines.
Plan ahead
Shop for holiday and birthday gifts in advance to avoid last minute pressure, which often results in spending more money than you intended. You'll also save on overnight shipping charges. Sending a package by plane emits eight times more carbon dioxide than sending by truck. Planning ahead also allows you to craft DIY gifts if you're so inclined.
Ban impulse buys
Think twice before you buy something you don't need. Resist impulse purchases by literally leaving the credit cards at home, or if you shop online, freeze the credit car in a block of ice. That'll slow down shopping! Some less radical ideas include keeping a list of what you need and telling yourself that you'll go back and buy something you covet if you're still thinking about it 48 hours later. Here are some tips for avoiding impulse buying at the grocery store.
De-stress
Try yoga, meditation, and other stress-reduction techniques for better health, and you'll reduce chances of disease, doctor visits, and expensive prescriptions. Stress management is one of the three main components in the Cleveland Clinic's Lifestyle 180 program, which seeks to give people the tools for maintaining good health.
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.
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