Earth Day is April 22^nd, and in honor of the special day, we’ve compiled a list of eight things you could stop doing to be more environmentally friendly while saving some cash.

1. Stop receiving paper statements

One of the simplest ways to reduce your climate impact is to switch to paperless statements. According to some sources, Americans individually throw out 13,000 pieces of paper annually. You can reduce your use and increase convenience by choosing paperless options for bank statements, bills, and other notices.

2. Stop rinsing dishes before the dishwasher

It may seem necessary to give your dinnerware a good soak after a hefty portion of homemade lasagna, but it’s not. In fact, rinsing dishes before the dishwasher wastes up to 20 gallons of water. Scrape off what you can with some cutlery, place in the dishwasher, and you’re bound to get sparkling clean dishes.

3. Stop drinking out of plastic water bottles

Plastic waste is a massive blight on our planet, and in the case of water bottles, wholly unnecessary. You can help the earth, and your wallet, by filling up a reusable bottle. You can even opt for a water filter if you don’t like the taste of tap.

4. Stop buying new

New stuff is nice, but it also requires energy to produce and is a future landfill candidate. Sure, some things are hard to find used, but the goal is to approach your purchases thoughtfully and look for areas where used may be the better option (e.g., clothing). The additional savings is the cherry on top of an Earth-friendly sundae.

5. Stop leaving your phone charger plugged in

Plugged-in electronics use energy even when they are off. Known as “phantom energy,” it results in up to 10 percent of a household’s overall energy loss. Reduce waste and unplug your phone charger, hairdryer, blender, and other appliances when not in use.

6. Stop wasting water

According to experts, the average person wastes 30 gallons of water per day. And while that’s an astounding figure for a resource as precious as water, it doesn’t have to be the case. You can reduce water loss by fixing leaky faucets, cutting down your shower time, and choosing water-friendly landscaping (e.g., xeriscaping). You’ll save money, time, and the planet.

7. Stop using old-fashioned bulbs

Let’s be honest; incandescent light bulbs are old-fashioned and inefficient. Switching to energy-efficient bulbs, such as LED and CFL bulbs, is an affordable DIY change that can help lessen your impact on the planet.

8. Stop eating so much meat

Meat production creates twice the pollution of plant-based foods and uses more water to produce. Meat reduction is worthwhile for these reasons alone, but if you’re still not convinced, consider that a British study found that plant-based meals cost 40 percent less than those containing meat products. Those are savings worth savoring. There you have it, eight simple adjustments sure to make you, your wallet, and the earth happy.

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