Difficulties aside, a growing number of Americans have found ways to power their home with renewable energy sources, solar being foremost among them. These people have installed solar panels on their roofs, hooked up their renewable energy production to their municipality’s electric grid, and have tried to harness as much sunlight as possible during the daytime hours so as to power their nighttime electricity uses in an eco-friendly manner.

There’s no doubt that solar panels are good for the environment, and many people install them more as a lifestyle statement than as an investment. But the fact remains that an investment in personal solar power is an incredibly considerable one – one that may take decades to break even.

How can you determine whether solar power is worthwhile from a financial perspective? Here are a few key questions to ask yourself:

-Do I live in a region that gets substantial amounts of sunlight?

-Does my municipality buy back surplus power production at attractive (ie full) rates?

-Does my home contain Duro Last Roofing or some other brand of green roofing?

-Will my solar power use qualify for federal tax rebates or credits?

-Can your average power consumption be reduced to close to 100 watts?

-Do you plan to stay in your home for the long-term (more than 15 years)?

If you answered “yes” to all or most of the above questions, then solar power may be a worthwhile investment for your family. If not, you may still be able to reduce your carbon footprint by using solar for some – but not all – of your regular energy needs. Ultimately, even though it may not be financially feasible to switch over completely to solar power, many families can still make a difference for using a renewable energy source whenever possible – and to whatever degree makes financial sense.

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Start with seeds. It takes a better sense of timing and a little more work, but growing directly from seeds rather than buying full grown plants or even sprouts. The seeds are a fraction of the price of a full plant and youíll have extra plants in case one of them dies off. You get to choose the strongest plants and cut back to just those few rather than rushing back to the nursery to try and get a plant in time for the planting season.

Buy your plants locally, rather than from home improvement stores and chain nurseries. You are going to get healthier plants while supporting local farmers. You may even make some friends that can help you with any gardening troubles that you may come up against.

If you are going to light your garden, don’t worry about running any cables and just get yourself some solar lights. By using solar path lights, you don’t have to worry about the cost of cables or the added cost of electricity for running those lights. Because solar lights run off solar cells and batteries, you really just have to set them where you want them and forget that they are there.

For area lighting, you are going to want to use high efficiency bulbs to reduce your power consumption. LED lights and CFL bulbs are your best bet. Don’t even consider using incandescent bulbs. They are terrible for the environment and your power bill.

Avoid chemical fertilizers and start a compost pile. This takes a little practice to get right, but once you do it provides an amazing amount of nutrition for your plants. Itís also a great way to make use of food scraps that would otherwise be thrown away.

This is a guest post by Robert for Solar Lights Central

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First things first. If it is alive in any way, it needs to go. This includes a model of the universe made with real fruit, a model of the human brain made from cabbage or flowers and vegetables growing in a milk carton. With the later, you can let your child keep it on their windowsill or even transplant it to a regular garden pot to get more life out of it before it has to go. If you have a huge project that takes up a lot of storage space, it may be best to just toss it. Take a picture of it before you do to save the memory of your child’s hard work. You could even collect photos of your child’s school projects and put them on a DVD or make a little video collection of each project. In today’s electronic age, there are many ways to preserve memories without holding onto the real thing.

What to Keep

Smaller, non-edible projects are usually ones you can keep. Even some more elaborate projects may be worth keeping, especially if you have other school age children. They may be able to use parts of the project for a new one. More on this later. Usually, projects with some sentimental value are worth keeping. A family tree or family heritage project, for example, is probably something you want to keep. You may not want to keep every single picture or construction paper-based project your child makes, but hanging onto one or two from each grade can come in handy in making a scrapbook or collage once they head off to college. Projects that aren’t too cumbersome can go right in their room. Projects that are simply stored away tend to become forgotten.

What to Recycle

You can carry the concept of going green to your child’s school projects. Depending on what they are made of, you might find other uses for the parts. Getting back to using parts of school projects to help your other children, parts of old projects may be able to be reused to create new ones. A model of the solar system, for example, can serve as a backdrop for a new project on the importance of recycling. You can also recycle your child’s projects by using them for other purposes. Art projects can be turned into collages or even placed in a frame and used to spruce up a bare wall. Add a little magnetic tape to the back of some smaller projects and place them on the fridge or reuse items in creative ways. A decorated wooden box, for example, can become a footstool or small stand.

When it comes to actually creating a school project, the most important thing is doing what’s best for the project. There’s no need to encourage your kids to make the project easier for you to store. Projects are supposed to encourage creativity and be a fun experience. Once a project is completed, ask your child what they want to do with it. If they seem indifferent, take a photo to save the memory and toss it or keep what can be saved. If they’re proud of their work and want to hang onto it, come to an agreement. Agree to keep it at least until the school year is over. Another option is to let your child use it as part of their room decor. This way they can decide when they no longer want to keep it.

Becky Harris blogs about moving companies like ABF’s U-Pack.

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But the fact is, some of the most effective ways to impress a woman don’t require a fortune. In fact, expensive gifts are often a sign of a lazy bum – it’s the easy way out that doesn’t require effort and thinking. To really stand out of the crowd, all you need is a bit of creativity to show that you care.

How do you do that? Let’s find out.

1. Strategic Compliment

How many times do you think a professional pianist have heard her audience praise her skills with the piano? How many times do you think a vocalist heard her friends praise her voice?

Now think about this: how many times do you think a beautiful woman heard a man praise her looks? You’re right: more than she cares to count.

As such, these kinds of compliments mean little to nothing. Does that mean you shouldn’t compliment at all? Of course not. You do, however, need to compliment strategically. Here is an example:

Let’s say you like a beautiful dancer. Complimenting her for her looks or a dancing skills won’t make you stand out from the crowd, so what do you do? You find out what her other hobbies are. Perhaps she likes rock-climbing – and is very average at the sport. How many times do you think she’s heard people complimenting her for her rock-climbing skills?

That’s right: few, if any.

2. Being great with her kids

This is one of the most effective ways into a woman’s heart. Here’s the hard truth: men are seldom good with kids, especially kids that are not theirs. So if you are, you can be sure you’ll be the odd one out – and that’s a good thing.

It’ll show her that you are a family guy, not just out to take advantage of her.

3. Having a passion

Nothing turns a woman off more than a man without a passion. And by passion, I don’t mean putting her on a pedestal or throwing her on a table and make love right then and there.

By passion, I mean do you have a purpose in life, something that keeps you going on a day to day basis. A man who dedicates his life fighting against sex-trafficking is a great example, but you don’t have to go that far if you don’t want to.

Raising your children on your own or volunteering at the local orphanage still counts so don’t hide it, thinking that she might accuse you of being pretentious!

4. Taking care of yourself, physically

It may not be politically correct, but we all judge a book by its cover. And one of the tell-tale signs of a loser is someone who doesn’t take care of himself physically – and that includes personal hygiene, your weight and how you dress.

Want to impress a woman? The first step is to keep your nails short, your hair well-combed and dress decently – whatever that means to the woman of your dream (this one varies). Second, start exercising and keep yourself fit.

5. Doing the unexpected

Strategic compliments work, in large part, because of its unexpectedness. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to stop there. You can also DO the unexpected. Here’s a simple example: calling to say I love you.

Not at that stage? Perhaps plan a surprise weekend-getaway? Remember, however, not to cross the line between unexpected and just plain creepy.

6. Listening

Have you ever listened to what the woman of your dreams is saying? No, I don’t mean hear, I mean listen. When a man listens, he is interested – engrossed even. He leans forward, he nods and he maintains eye contact. If you’re a third-party observing the conversation, he looks like a child listening to a story.

And he’s not there to offer solutions either – most of what you have in mind she probably thought of anyway. He’s there to understand.

Most men make the mistake of trying to be interesting, when all he has to do to impress a woman is be interested.

7. Humor

Here’s the best investment you’ll ever make in your quest to impress women: a joke book. Spend your money learning to be funny instead of all those protein powder to bulk up. Why? Because laughter causes a surge of good hormones, not unlike sex, and if you can make a woman laugh enough times, she’ll associate that feeling with your very presence.

8. Being romantic

And last but not least, step out of your comfort zone and be a little bit of a romantic. A couple of candles and the ability to cook are all that you need to make yet another night-out eating in a fancy restaurant into a romantic dinner – even if what you cook turns out badly.

Similarly, a simple picnic over the weekend is all you need to turn yet another movie-filled Saturday into something unforgettable.

The choice is yours.

Ally is part of  a team managing  personal finance blogs in Sydney, Australia. They provide tips about Budget Planning and How to Save Money Fast . Previously she was a Media Planner working on famous campaigns including the Levi’s 501 “Live Unbuttoned” global campaign.

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A Real Tree

This green mobile app costs only $.99, but you can help to plan trees throughout the world by purchasing it. While the app itself does little except offer a beautiful picture of a tree that you can pull up when you open the app, the company behind A Real Tree plants trees in Central America, Africa, and the South Pacific with money earned through downloads. While most smartphone users won’t think much of the cost, the money can mean a new source of income or improved farming in impoverished communities.

True Food Network

GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are problematic to many people trying to go green. Genetically altered foods create “super” strands that may be resistant to some pests but cannot reproduce on their own. Many people who are going green try to stay away from genetically engineered foods. This mobile app from True Food Network will help shoppers determine what foods are the best to get at each grocery store. Using the app, users can look up brands and specific ingredients to find out whether they are genetically modified or what other foods may work instead.

iRecycle

When Earth911.com debuted, years before most people were plugged into smartphones for hours a day, the site’s goal was to gather information about recycling and share it in one central location. Earth911.com grew to include a wide range of recycling information, including where and what can be recycled in your area. The iRecycle app, now available for both iPhone and Droid, is a free green mobile app that provides this information in a more succinct format. Users can open the app to find out where they can recycle cardboard in their area and what restrictions there may be. Using this app can help improve your recycling habits.

Good Guide

You’re in the store, and you see Seventh Generation cleaning products. As you’re reaching for them, you see a new item that claims to be “the most environmentally-friendly” cleaner on the market. Which product is better? That’s where Good Guide comes in handy. This green mobile app allows users to scan the barcode of any product and receive a score. Scaled from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best products, Good Guide scores evaluate how eco-friendly a product’s ingredients are and how toxic the product can be to humans and animals who come into contact with it. This free app also allows users to create personalized lists based on previously scanned barcodes, which makes shopping more efficient.

Bridget Sandorford is a grant researcher and writer for CulinarySchools.org. Along with her passion for whipping up recipes that incorporate “superfoods”, she recently finished research on culinary schools in Washington.

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In essence, the term frugal emphasizes the act of saving, sometimes excessively, especially in controversial matters such as food. Why is food so controversial an issue? It’s a good question. The World Hunger Education Service estimates that there were 925 million hungry people in the world in 2010, yet author Jonathan Bloom in his book, American Wasteland, found that Americans throw away roughly a quarter of the food they buy. It’s a shocking statistic, especially when you consider that almost three million children die every year as a direct result of hunger and malnutrition, many before their fifth birthday. What if that was your child? Would you feel differently about sending so much food to the landfills? If tugging at your heart strings isn’t enough to convince you to change, maybe the prospect of saving money will. Bloom estimates that a family of four throws away over $2000 a year in food. There must be a better way to spend your money.

Living frugally can be as big or as little a challenge as you want it to be. There will always be stories about how particularly eco-conscious people have made the decision to live entirely off the land. Mark Boyle, Britain’s so-called Moneyless Man gave up using cash and moved into a caravan on organic farm lands, feeding himself entirely from the results of foraging for wild food and dumpster diving. He reports that it’s been an entirely positive experience. Of course, not everyone can be a full-blown eco-warrior. Let’s face it, rummaging through trash for food and living off the land is frugality in the extreme sense of the word and requires a serious amount of commitment that is not entirely practical, especially if you have children. All respect to those who can pull it off, but there are some slightly easier ways to make a difference.

Steve and Annette Economides have made a name for themselves as America’s cheapest family. Since 1982, they’ve shown the nation how living frugally can get you through the toughest of economic climates. They’ve found a way to feed a family of seven on a budget of just $350 a month. Credit and past-due bills are not words that feature in their landscape of thriftiness. Do they suffer for it? Of course not, their kids probably eat healthier than most.

So how can you change your ways? There are a number of simple actions everyone can take to reduce the astonishing amount of food waste.

* Check what you already have in your store cupboard and plan your meals for the week ahead before you shop. You’ll save both time and money.

* Keep an eye on dates. If a use-by date is coming up and you won’t have chance to use an item, pop it in the freezer and save it until when you can. Best before dates are exactly that. With the exception of eggs, there’s no need to throw something away if it’s a day or two past its best.

* Be storage savvy. Make the most of your food by knowing how to store it properly. Most fruit and vegetables will stay fresher for longer when stored in the fridge. Fresh foods should be stored in air tight containers once they’ve been opened.

* Portion size should not be guesswork. Invest in some kitchen scales to make portions the perfect size. It may be hard to believe but a single mug of uncooked rice will feed four adults.

* Get creative with leftovers. Use up everything you’ve got. The remnants of a Sunday roast can be used to make many tempting dishes.

Living frugally need not be an ordeal. It will save you money and encourage you to eat better. At the same time, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment. What’s not to like?

Kathy Tims writes about finance and personal saving. She is a writer for DegreeJungle.com and enjoys helping students save money when going back to school.

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1. Take a Nature Hike

A great way to spend some time with your loved one during the day and help save the environment is to appreciate the wildlife that surrounds you—no matter if it’s simply taking a walk in the park, having an “outdoorsy” adventure can be really romantic. If you happen to live in an area that gets particularly cold in February, just make sure to bundle up and wear warm, comfortable clothing. Indulge in a cup of hot coco made with free-trade chocolate or some organic herbal tea stored in a thermos to help keep the two of you warm on your journey. After a short hike or stroll, pick a spot where the two of you can enjoy a picnic that is made with nothing but organic and free-range products—sandwiches and soups are easy to pack.  If the two of you happen be free the following day, you might also consider camping in the woods under the starry night. Make sure to only use reusable containers and cloth products if this idea seems plausible.

2. Prepare a Home Cooked Dinner

Going to a fancy restaurant on Valentine’s Day is a pretty generic date idea—but unless you plan on eating at a sustainable restaurant and taking a bike or bus to get to your desired location, you’ll most likely be better off cooking a romantic dinner for two at home—not to mention that it’ll save you a few bucks and reduce your carbon footprint in the process.  Go to your local farmer’s market to pick out some of the freshest ingredients and prepare your meal (and dessert) using seasonal ingredients. Set the mood by dimming the lights and lighting some candles made of beeswax, vegetable oil, or organic soy since these are the best kind of candles for the environment. Playing some soothing music in the background is also another great idea. You can even create a “theme”—for example, you could make an Italian dish and play traditional Italian music in the background or make a Parisian dish and play French music.

3. Register for Sustainable Classes

If you don’t want to cook at home because you don’t know how to, a really neat idea is to register for sustainable cooking classes—most are offered through your local farmer’s market, culinary school or an organic grocer like Whole Foods. The two of you can brush up on your cooking skills and enjoy a meal the two of you prepared under the supervision of a professional while learning a whole bunch of vital eco-information along the way.

4. Have an Organic Spa Night

A great date for the two of you to enjoy is to book a massage and or facial at an organic spa—there are several located around the United States that use non-toxic organic lotions, scrubs, and oils and are quickly growing in popularity. While typically a couple’s massage will run you about $100 or more, if this isn’t in your price range you can easily do one at home—buy your own natural organic oils and lotions and convert your home to a relaxing and tranquil environment.

5. Create a Garden, Plant a Tree

Lastly but certainly not least, a fun “green” experience the two of you can enjoy together is planting an herb garden or tree—either by volunteering for an organization or doing so in your very own backyard. You can start off by planting your own flowers in a pot and presenting them to your date—these will live longer than a bouquet of flowers anyway.

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.

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Using Fair trade certified food and other goods is better for the environment and for the overall economy of the world. Here are some of the best ways you can support fair trade as you simply go about the business of your life:

Shop at Fair Trade Stores

Many stores around the nation and the world specialize in selling fair trade goods. While not everything these stores sell will be fair trade certified, a good portion of the items they carry often is, which means you don’t have to hunt too hard to find products that are fair trade certified. Stores that carry many fair trade certified goods include obvious options like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Starbuck’s, but you can even find fair trade certified products in more surprising locations like Safeway, Costco, Sam’s Club, and Target.

While you’re shopping, look for the label that certifies products as fair trade. While some companies will try to say their products meet the fair trade certification guidelines, the actual certification and label is the only way you can be sure. Fair trade certification ensures that workers are paid adequately, that children are not forced to work in dangerous environments, that farmers use sustainable farming practices, and that the producers of the goods you’re using actually have a say in what happens to their industry.

Ask for Fair Trade Products at Your Local Stores

As a consumer, you have the power to ensure that fair trade products are introduced wherever you shop or dine. You have the spending power, which means you have pull with suppliers, stores, and restaurants. Any time you are someplace that sells especially important fair trade products life coffee, tea, and chocolate—and you don’t see fair trade products on the shelves or the menu—ask when the store or restaurant will start using fair trade products.

You can also use your consumer’s pull by spending a little extra to get fair trade products whenever possible. The more consumers show businesspeople they’re willing to spend the extra money to ensure they are buying products that are socially and ecologically sustainable, the more vendors will start carrying and using fair trade products.

Know the Most Important Fair Trade Products

While it’s important to buy products that are produced sustainably and that are from companies that support their workers adequately whenever possible, there are certain products you should strive to always buy fair trade certified. These products include coffee, tea, cocoa, rice, bananas, flowers, and sugar. These products come from industries that are especially prone to harmful social and environmental practices, so buying fair trade when it comes to these items is certainly worth the time, money, and effort required.

Shop Online

If you’re in an area where fair trade hasn’t caught on yet or you want to buy fair trade items you can’t find in your hometown, shopping online is a great option. Many websites specialize in selling fair trade items of all sorts. Also, shopping online can net you good deals on fair trade products by purchasing in bulk. For instance, the Equal Exchange Coop (www.equalexchange.coop) offers fair trade coffee from all over the world in bulk five-pound packages that save you a bit of money and that also cut down on packaging.

When you shop online for fair trade goods, make sure to use a credit card to pay, since credit cards offer better protection than debit cards. If you don’t currently have a credit card, you can find the best credit card deals online. You can even look for a card that offers a charitable rewards program that allow the rewards from your fair trade spending to fund projects to help the environment or disadvantaged people groups. Even if you don’t typically use a credit card, using one for online purchases can be a good idea, and if you choose to pay off your balance each month, you won’t have to deal with interest payments.

Daniela Baker is a personal finance blogger at http://www.creditdonkey.com/ and eco-conscious mother of two.  She says, “If every consumer with money to burn would simply get behind fair trade products, the world would be an infinitely better place. By putting your hard-earned money towards fair trade products rather than those from companies that exploit the environment and their workers, you’ll make a much bigger difference than you ever thought possible.”

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Unfortunately, when they expire or need to be replaced, many people just chuck ‘em. However there are some crafty ways you can bring new life to your old credit card. Here are 5 ways you can re-use them for something else.

1. Jewelry

That may sound crazy, but do a Google search for “credit card jewelry” and you will see there are tons of pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that can be made from them. But more surprising is that many of them actually look pretty cool! Many make creative use of the person’s name that was embossed on the credit card. Meanwhile, others make a pop-culture statement on status by crafting American Express Gold and Platinum cards into chic accessories.

2. Ice Scraper

Have you ever been caught in a snowstorm without an ice scraper? As someone who grew up in Michigan, trust me, it’s not fun! Thankfully the time it happened to me, I had a couple credit cards in my pocket. Obviously they aren’t the ideal tool for the job, but I was successful nonetheless in using them to scrape ice from the windshield. You never know when your spouse, relative, or friend might borrow the scraper from your car and forget to put it back. So if you live somewhere it snows, you may want to shove a couple old Visa or MasterCards into that glovebox.

3. Artwork

At the Graphic Design Museum in the Netherlands, there’s an astonishing mosaic that’s completely made of credit cards. It takes up an entire wall and the cards are arranged by color. But if you think mosaics are the only thing you can make, think again. Check out the mosaic and more to see the dozens of different ways people have incorporated these pieces of plastic into their artwork.

4. Phone Stand

I love my iPhone, but what I don’t love is the fact that there’s no built-in stand. Fortunately it’s as simple as folding a credit card in two different places and voila! You have a fully adjustable stand. Best of all, this cheap and quick iPhone stand can be assembled in a matter of seconds, wherever you may be. The author on the aforementioned link notes that it’s the perfect stand for flying, since it’s so compact and portable.

5. Construction

This is another use I can personally vouch for, because I’ve used old credit and debit cards on a number of occasions. How so? Well it’s the perfect rounded edge for caulking and a straight edge for plastering (i.e. fixing nail holes in your wall with a dash of plaster). In fact, during the last occasion, I actually found my old Bank of America debit card to work better than my $6 edging tool from Home Depot.

So there you have it… 5 ways to give your old credit card new life. It’s worth pointing out that not only will these uses work for bank cards, but also just about any plastic card you can think of. Everything from an old Walmart gift card to an expired YMCA membership card. So next time you find yourself with one that’s no longer needed, save it for later use.

Mike owns and operates CreditCardForum, which is a message board for comparing credit card deals and what people are saying about them. His most recent review was of the Walmart Money Card, which he gives a big thumbs down to. Rather than paying the high fees on it, he recommends using it for any of the five purposes above!

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Solar energy, on the other hand, is a renewable resource which means that as long as it’s replaced, it will continue to provide. For example: trees. If someone cuts down a tree and then plants a new one to take the place of the tree which was cut down, then this is a renewable resource. Unfortunately, there’s no way to replace the coal and gas that we rely on now for power. There are ten advantages to using solar energy in your home.

First and for most, solar energy is renewable so you never have to worry that the sun will not produce light. As long as the sun shines there will be a source of energy. And if it ever stops shining, well, we’ve got much bigger problems!

• Solar energy is great for the environment. It doesn’t produce any nasty byproducts; solar cells will not emit any harmful gases that pollute the air.

• You can rely on renewable resource collectors such as solar panels. A panel can produce thousands of hours of solar power with minimal maintenance. Solar power panels and other supplies can be purchased direct at www.ploughcroftsolar.co.uk,  so you can create a self-sufficient home.

•  There is no hum or noise that comes from any type of solar cell; although there is a simple little noise, it is nothing like that which comes from a power plant in your back yard.

• You are able to control your cost more effectively with solar panels. You have an initial expense when purchasing the tools and equipment to set up your solar power system, but it will pay off over time. You won’t receive a monthly bill from the sun; simply flip on your switch and enjoy.

• There are many different types of Plough Croft solar panels to choose from, and there are also different prices so you can select the one that best suits your needs. Whether you have a small one bedroom cottage or a huge multi-level business building, you can find the right size and type of solar panels to purchase. Some of these panels cost just a few hundred pounds while others could be in the thousands, but you can control your own cost.

• When you use solar energy you are self-sufficient, so you never have to link up to the main power grid. This means that you no longer have service charges or other charges associated with your home.

• Consider selling your extra energy. When your panels are large enough and generate more than enough power, your energy meter will actually spin backwards and the power company can then buy the extra from you if you’re connected to the grid.

• In some places, you can receive a tax credit at the end of the year to help when you are able to provide proof of your purchase of solar energy equipment. You can expect to get back up to 30% of your total cost. This is a big saving that will help you to enjoy using the solar power panels.

• Solar energy is always changing as more and more is being discovered. There are several solar panel kits that you can purchase at www.ploughcroftsolar.co.uk  for any size of home. So now, you can create a self-sustaining home no matter where you live.

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