Sustainable Shopping Tips
Like a lot of people, you’re probably gearing up for some major shopping now in the coming festive season. And why not! But give a thought to minimizing your environmental impact as you shop this year by making use of these tips for sustainable shopping.
Shop Local – This is a good idea for several reasons: it gives a boost to the local economy and helps and encourages local craftsmen. Secondly, if you purchase stuff that is grown or made locally there is less resource expenditure on transportation, preservation, packaging and so on. And local handicrafts and artifacts may be greatly appreciated by the receiver as well.
Shop Seasonal – If its flowers or fruit that you want to gift, pick seasonal produce rather than exotic stuff that is either flown in from distant locales or is artificially grown and artificially ripened.
The Shop Savvy app allows you to easily compare the price of an item at every store it is available. To get the prices of an item, you must use the app to take a picture of the bar code. Shop Savvy uses the picture of the bar code to determine what item you are scanning. After the bar code picture is taken, Shop Savvy will display the price of that item all of the major stores in the area. Using Shop Savvy will allow you to never overpay for anything ever again.
Coupon Sherpa allows you to find if there are any coupons available for an item that you are about to buy. Coupon Sherpa lets you search for coupons at just about every major store. Once you find the appropriate store on Coupon Sherpa, the app will display all of the stores current coupons. The apps pulls coupons from several different sources and even has several coupons that are exclusive to Coupon Sherpa. All of the coupons on the app can be scanned at the cash register of every store. Using Coupon Sherpa allows you to take advantage of the deals at every store, without having to spend hours cutting coupons.
If you use the GasBuddy app, then you will never over pay for gas again. GasBuddy uses the GPS in your smart phone to determine your location. Once your location is determined, GasBuddy will display the price of gas at every gas station near you. This allows you to be able to find the cheapest gas in the area before you leave the house. If you are not sure where the gas station is located, GasBuddy will even give you directions to the gas station from your location. With the rising prices of gas, the ability to save a few cents is very important.
While the previous apps allowed you to save money on gas and retail items, Groupon allows you to save on just about everything else. Groupon displays all of the great deals on all of the various restaurants, hotels, spas and other services in your area. None of the deals featured on Groupon can be used as coupons, but they allow you to buy the services at a discounted price. Gift certificates to restaurants and hotel rooms can be purchased for over 50% the normal price. Groupon constantly updates with new deals, and the good deals can go quickly. Having Groupon on your smart phone allows you to constantly search for great deals to make sure that you never miss out on something special.
Kayak is one of the most popular travel reservation websites, and you can now get all of the deals from your phone. Kayak finds you the cheapest price on flights, hotels and car rentals for any destination. Kayak searches every travel site to find you the best deal possible, and everything can be booked on the phone through the app. If you plan on traveling, then Kayak will save you a lot of money. You can even track the status of your flight using the Kayak application.
Although more of a fall and winter item than spring and summer, this is something no serious outdoor entertainer should be without. This Fire Sense Stainless Steel Tabletop Heater runs off a small propane tank and puts out an impressive 10,000 BTUs, raising the temperature anywhere from 10 to 25 degrees. Value priced at $139, it’s perfect for enjoying your morning coffee or hosting guests on the patio in comfort during the cooler months.
Greenery is essential for any outdoor space, and with a few of these Austram Classix Hanging Planters you’ll have plenty! It’s made from a super strong polypropylene plastic, designed to withstand years of outdoor exposure, and the coco liner in it is a great bonus that will encourage your plants to thrive. And since they’re just $21, you can get a couple and have a beautiful, lush display of plant life around your patio. It is a great combo of form and function.
Solar fountains have exploded in popularity in the last few years, so if you don’t have on around your home then it’s time you get one! This Smart Solar Portsmouth Solar Birdbath uses a solar panel mounted in the basin, so there are no wires and nothing to plug in. Made from high grade resin, it’s light enough for one person to move easily but sturdy enough to stay in place in bad weather. At $139, it gives you all the style and class that comes with an elegant water feature for a fraction of the price.
Patio furniture sets are one of the most expensive items for the outdoor space, but a quality set is an investment that will last for years. With that said, you won’t find a much better deal than this EHO Studios Patio Conversation Set. Made from rattan, this set has a sofa, 2 chairs, and a table, all designed to hold up in all weather conditions. You even get your choice of free (yes, FREE) red, white, or black cushions! The best part is the price – just $969 for the whole set! It’s an obvious choice for saving money without sacrificing quality and style.
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