Put another nail in the coffin of the ‘green costs too much money’ myth. At least when it comes to nail polish (the kind on your fingers and toes, not in your tool box), buying the most eco-friendly brands costs you far less than the conventional — and more polluting — options. Plus: Not only […]
ZipCar Comes to the Rescue (and Saves Me a Lot of Money)!
My 2002 Prius can’t be beat for everyday driving. I regularly get 40-45 mpg, saving me hundreds of dollars every year on gas. It’s got a lot of pep, so highway driving is a snap. And its terrific turning radius and compact size make it a dream to park, whether at the mall or on […]
Organic Chocolate from Seeds of Change
Today begins a new feature on Diane’s Big Green Purse: the Environmental In-Box product review. Every Monday morning, I’ll review at least one of the products I’ve been sent during the previous week. I’ll award three green purses to products that merit your consideration, two purses that are almost there, one purse to a product that’s on the […]
Don’t Buy Plants. Swap! (I did, and saved $50.)
One of the most economical gardening moves I ever made was to join my local horticulture club. For just $12 a year, I get access to great gardening advice, some lovely garden tours, and a list-serv of other gardeners who are not only willing but eager to swap plants with me so we can all […]
What’s the best way to keep your hands clean?
345viewsNote: I said “clean,” not “disinfected.” What’s the diff? The mechanical action of handwashing – rubbing your hands together with soap and water – is what’s important because that’s what breaks down the tiny bits of grease, fat and dirt on your hands that germs cling to. Soap doesn’t actually kill the bad germs. It’s the […]
What’s in YOUR body, Mom?
In 1974, an environmental scandal rocked my world. I and millions of other people living in the state of Michigan were informed that the milk we’d been drinking had come from cows that had accidentally been fed fire retardant instead of cow feed. I don’t remember how much milk we’d all drunk before the mistake was discovered. […]
Here’s How You Can Afford to Spend 30% More on Organic Food
Clean out your fridge. But before you toss all the expired or rotted food you find into the trash can, put it on your counter. Now do a rough calculation of how much that ‘trash’ cost you. Don’t be surprised if it amounts to as much as 30% of your weekly household budget. According to the U.S. […]
Are there any “good” paper towels?
Making paper is one of the most polluting industries on the planet. It uses huge amounts of water and energy. It may use chlorine to bleach the paper white, and that chlorine may create dioxin, one of the deadliest toxins on earth. Some paper manufacturers discharge dirty water, often laden with dangerous chemicals, back into rivers and lakes. […]
