Shocked by gas prices, he's gone green
When my summer started, gas prices made the unceremonious rise to $4 a gallon. At first it was hard to believe, almost surreal. Soon simple trips to parties and the beach would become difficult. My bank account was set to run dry. My summer was poised to be ruined before it began.
I could spend an average of $100 a week on gas, and $400 a month - $1,600 for the summer. That's a lot for a cost-conscious college student, which is what I am.
Or there was the alternative. I could join the "going green" trend, something I had never tried. The environment would benefit, as would my bank account. There was nothing to lose. There were thousands to gain.
The first move I made was procuring a bike. Initially I was going to buy a used road bike from a friend for just 25 bucks, but I was even more frugal and borrowed one from my uncle. Bikes are key for "going green."
My mode of transportation has completely changed this summer. I bike all around Brockton and neighboring towns. If I want to go to the beach, I bike there. If I want to go into Boston, I bike there. To the mall, to visit my grandparents, everywhere. If I can, I avoid driving at all costs.
I would estimate that since May I've biked well over 1,000 miles. That's more than a few tanks of gas.
And I have enjoyed the health benefits - toned muscles and an improved cardiovascular system.
Where I don't bike, I walk. I might walk between 4 and 8 miles per day.
When the weather is bad, I tend to rely on public transportation. A number of bus routes serve the area for just $1.25 per ride using a Charlie Card. Subway trips cost $1.70. And the commuter rail will run you between $1.70 and $7.75, depending on how far you're traveling. As an added bonus, they let you take your bike with you at certain times of the day.
There are other ways I have "gone green" and saved money.
Consider bottles and cans. They accumulate in garages, hundreds at a time. They sit on the side of the road. Yet each one is worth five cents. A hundred cans, which you can easily have after one party, nets you $5. Ask friends, ask neighbors, ask relatives. Ask anyone who doesn't take their cans to redemption centers. There are hundreds of bottles and cans out there that could be redeemed each week.
And if you walk or ride a bike, pick up every can and bottle you see.
If you go around the neighborhood on a daily basis, you could easily find 10 or 15 cans. And if you know enough people, you can net an extra $100 or $150 each month.
When it comes to spending time at home, I try to cut down on using electricity. Until nightfall, I use natural light and avoid watching television. Most of the time I get my writing done in the dark. Before I go to sleep, I use a flashlight instead of the lamp so I can read. Saving on electricity can certainly save on your summer expenses, especially during these sweltering months when air conditioners are critical.
Biking and walking. Collecting cans and turning off lights. Before my summer started, these were simple tasks I seldom performed and took for granted. Now they've become an essential part of my life - and kept my bottom line more green than red this summer. 