In this day and age, we all have a moral obligation to look after the environment we live in - but that's not the only reason. Going green could also save you money - and that could be especially helpful if you're one of the many people trying to repay debt.
There are many approaches to tackling your debts. One is by rearranging the way you repay them - with a debt consolidation loan perhaps. But another approach is to try and cut down on your other costs to make more room for your debts.
Here are a few things you can do to help the environment, save money and make repaying your debts that little bit easier.
Heating room-by-room
Many of us have seen our energy bills soar in recent years, so taking steps to reduce the impact on your finances is important. Most people switch on their heating when they need it, or run it on a timer - but are you heating rooms that aren't even being used?
Most modern radiators are fitted with thermostatic valves, which enable you to turn them off completely when they're not in use. If you know you're not going to use a certain room when your heating is on, set the valve to 'off' - and see your bills drop over time.
Green driving
We all know that cars are one of the biggest polluters in the world today, yet most of us use them in one way or another. So what can you do to minimise the impact on the environment, and on your wallet?
One thing to consider is the car you drive. In general, smaller cars tend to be cheaper, use less petrol per mile and don't cost as much in tax (because they tend to emit less greenhouse gas).
If you drive a lot, it may be worth considering a car that runs on diesel - they can cost more to buy, but fuel efficiency can be much higher, even though diesel isn't much more expensive than petrol. And modern diesel vehicles tend to emit less CO2 than petrol vehicles.
Also think about how you drive. Sharp braking, late gear changes and high speeds are just a few of the things that can have an impact on fuel efficiency, so take things a little more slowly and you could see your costs falling.
Re-use packaging
Most food and drink today comes in some kind of 'disposable' packaging, which can harm the environment if it isn't recycled. However, a lot of it can also be re-used. Water bottles are a good example: once you have one, you can re-fill it for a few weeks without any problems (as long as you wash it!).
Another example might be the plastic tubs takeaway food sometimes comes in - they may be flimsy, but they're waterproof and can be used again and again.
Work from home
Not everyone has the option, but if you can work from home - even if it's just for a couple of days a week - your transport costs could fall significantly, and so could your impact on the environment.
What's more, being able to get up later and work to your own timescale could really help with your productivity.