Eco-Cheap is In - A Green Frugality is Sweeping the Country

    KIHEI, HI, October 29, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Eco-chic is out and Eco-cheap is in. Times are tough and people need to budget. But how do they do it? "Living a green lifestyle is the answer," says Larry Burke, Publisher of the greenmauiguide.com. Going green could save you 25 percent of your living cost or more.

"You lost half the value of your retirement fund. You can't borrow money and your credit cards are at their maximum. The experts say we are in the global recession of the century. It's time to get hardcore with your budget," explains Larry. What if you could take a few steps to financial freedom and environmentally sustainable lifestyle today? Some top recommendations from the writers at the greenmauiguide.com:

Buy a home or rent and downsize. Most Americans instinctively super size their home like they do their French fries. The average home is 2500 square feet, up from 1500 square feet in the 1970s. You don't always get what you want but you'll get what you need. Invest the savings in a green fund and ride the stock market back up and feel good about it.

Rather than buy that brand new 2008 Ford Explorer that gets 15 mpg for $30,000, buy a 2008 Ford Focus that gets 32mpg for a total cost of $12,000. It's as easy as shopping on the Internet for the best price and calling the dealer to ship it. Keep tires properly inflated, oil changed regularly and tuned-up. It will last at least 15 years. Use the savings to remodel your home.
Buy quality energy-star appliances and keep them at least 15 years. Install a solar water heater.
Purchase a slightly used TV on Craiglist and keep it so long your neighbors make fun of you.

Make espresso drinks at home for pennies versus two or three dollars at Starbucks. I know Starbucks is your little treat but if you cut it out of your life you'd save over $1200 year! Go with water filters and save over $1000 on bottled water and beverages.

Try buying a refurbished computer from Dell or HP. Skip a generation or two of technology and just upgrade components or software as necessary. Consider a laptop for lower energy consumption. Keep your computer over 5 years instead of replace it every year like the latest fashion.

Americans on average use 100 gallons of water per person even before they get out of the house in the morning. Try taking a shorter shower, turning off the faucet while shaving and brushing your teeth and installing low-flow toilets. In the yard, turn the sprinkler timer back a few minutes and think about reducing your lawn area by planting indigenous landscaping instead.

Buy quality antiques or used furniture, clothing and household goods and keep them a lifetime. That's a long time, but Americans need to change their mindset. We can no longer afford to be a throw away society.

For Further Information Contact:
Larry Burke
808-269-2883
[email protected]

About The Author:
Larry Burke is an award winning professor, and author. He has taught Internet Marketing at Seattle University and starting a Green Business at Maui College. Mr. Burke has an MBA from Harvard and a BA from Stanford University. He is publisher of the very popular Green Maui Guide website. http://www.greenmauiguide.com

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