THAT ASSUMPTION IS WRONG.

We–each and every one of us–CAN make a difference, and the good news is that making a difference is EASY. Here is a list of eight simple changes that each one of us can easily make to help ensure a better world for the generations that follow us. These changes are small but they can have a BIG impact. Read through the list and decide which changes you can implement immediately, then come back in six months and pick a few more to start on. Our beautiful earth will thank you.

8 Fab-YOU-lously Simply Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

1.) Make the switch to cold water. Sure, you’ll still want to wash your bed linens and clothes with greasy stains in warmer water, but did you know that your other laundry will get just as clean in a cold water wash as it will with hot water? Yep it’s true. With this being the case, there is no reason to keep using hot water for your regular laundry because it is estimated that approximately 90 percent of the energy used to operate your washing machine comes from heating the water. It’s time to chill out and make the switch to cold water for most of your laundry needs.

2.) Don’t dilly-dally in the shower. Did you realize that the average person uses about two and a half gallons of water per minute when they shower. Rather than just letting the water needlessly run, try shutting it off while you apply your conditioner or set a timer for five minutes and try to be out of the shower before it goes off. Another fun suggestion is to try to finish your shower in the time that it takes for your radio to play two songs–just make sure those songs aren’t “Stairway to Heaven” and “Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida”. Not only will speeding up your shower save water–it will also save you money on your utility bills. It’s a win-win!

3.) Do your computing on a laptop. Laptop computers use between 50 and 80 percent less energy than traditional desktop computers. So–if you have both a laptop and a desktop, try using your laptop more often. If you are in the market for a new computer, consider purchasing a laptop (they’re more versatile anyhow!). At the very least–make sure that you power down your computer (or put it into sleep mode) whenever it is not in use so that it isn’t unnecessarily draining energy resources.

4.) Use your dishwasher–but only when it is FULL. Typically, using a built in dishwasher uses a lot less water than hand washing your dishes (that’s the good news) However, this is only the case if your dishwasher is full when you run it. Running your dishwasher with a full load can save a whopping 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and save you money.

5.) Upgrade your throne. Do you have an older toilet? If so, chances are good that you’re using up to seven gallons of water per flush. Newer toilet models only use 1.6 gallons per flush and over time, that savings can really add up. Even if you don’t have the budget right now to replace your toilet(s), it is still a good idea to make sure that your toilet is working correctly. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day.

6.) BYOB–Bring Your Own Bag. A plastic shopping bag can take up to ONE THOUSAND years to decompose. In fact, they don’t biodegrade–they photodegrade (which means that they just break down into smaller and smaller chemical pieces). To save our environment and  cut down on clutter in your house, take your own reusable shopping bag to the market with you.

7.) Change your lightbulbs. We all know to turn off our lights when we leave a room (you do know that right?) but you can also reduce energy use by replacing your old incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs which last longer. Start small–maybe replace the five lightbulbs that you use the most. Just a small step like that can make a real difference and save you up to $70 a year on your energy bill.

8.) Layer up. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save up to 15 percent on your heating bill just by lowering your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees while you are out of the house. This can easily be done by installing a programmable thermostat to modulate heat and air conditioning. You can also save energy by lowering your thermostat by a few degrees when you are home. Throw on a sweater or sweatshirt if you are chilly–it’ll warm you up without expending unnecessary energy.

These eight steps really are simple, but if implemented by each and every one of us–they would make a huge positive impact on sustainability. I’m committing to do my part–will you join me? Let’s make sure that we leave a beautiful earth for our children and children’s children. They deserve it.

You guys!!!  I HAVE to share this FabYOUlous app with you because IT REALLY WORKS.

Now, let me assure you that I am NOT someone who signs up for everything under the sun, but this app came highly recommended by a smart & savvy friend of mine so I thought I’d try it out. The app is called ibotta and it rewards you with honest to goodness MONEY simply for

buying stuff that you buy all the time anyhow. Seriously–do you buy milk? Bread? Eggs? Cereal? Of course you do–we all do. Well, with ibotta you can now earn cash back on those things that you buy every week anyhow. In fact, if you buy these things and don’t use ibotta, you’re throwing away good money.

I’m always a little skeptical when it comes to apps but this one is so easy. I started using it in March and I have already racked up nearly $40 in rebates and I (honest to GOD!) haven’t purchased anything that I wouldn’t normally purchase on an average shopping trip. My plan is to let my earnings continue to accumulate throughout the year and then cash out when it is time for Christmas shopping.

To download the app just click here. This will allow you to sign up through my referral link which will reward you with a $2 sign up bonus. It will also make you a part of my team which just means that my purchases will also benefit you and vice-versa.  

The app is super simple to use (otherwise I wouldn’t be using it!) but here are the step-by-step instructions for those of you who might be a little app challenged.

How to Earn Real Money on ibotta

–First of all, I want to point out that you don’t have to choose cash as your ibotta reward. They also offer things like Redbox movie rentals, gift cards to Starbucks and iTunes etc. I just happen to really like cash so that’s the reward that I am choosing for myself.

–Secondly, you don’t necessarily need to have a smartphone to use ibotta. You will however need a device that will allow you to download the app and that has a camera that the app can access. The friend who told me about ibotta uses her iPod.

1.)  To start off with an automatic $2.00 in your account, you will need to sign up with this link and then download the app. Once the app is downloaded to your device you will have 10 days to redeem an offer (it’s super easy–just keep reading.) If you redeem an offer within your first 10 days, your account will be credited with the $2.00 bonus.

2.)  Choose your rebate. Once you’ve downloaded the app, open the app up and you will see (at the bottom of the screen) a padlock icon with the word “rebates” below it. When you click on that icon, you will be able to pick which type of rebate you want to use. I use the “grocery” option the most but you can also choose form several other options including electronics, restaurants, apparel, home & office etc.

3.)  Choose the store/restaurant/movie theater. Simply pick the establishment that you plan to visit for a full list of available rebates at that location.

4.)  Pick the item or items that you’d like to receive a rebate for. As I am scrolling through the rebates that are available at my grocery store right now, I see several that I could use–eggs, milk, cream cheese, bananas, shredded cheese and spaghetti sauce. Simply click on the rebate(s) that you wish to redeem.

5.)  Once you have clicked on a rebate that interests you, you’ll go to the rebate screen where you will be able to unlock the rebate. Simply click on the circle or circles underneath your item to unlock your rebate so that you can claim it once your purchase has been made.

6.)  Purchase the item. Some rebates require that you purchase a specific brand (for example, in order to get my spaghetti sauce rebate, I need to purchase Ragu) but many do not. I can purchase any milk, bananas, eggs, cream cheese etc. that I want. Once you purchase your item(s) BE SURE THAT YOU SAVE YOUR RECEIPT.

7.)  Verify your purchases. Simply click on the redeem icon at the bottom of your screen (it is a circle with a check mark in it). Your rebates should be there waiting for you to verify. Simply click the circle next to the items that you purchased and want to verify.

8.) Capture the receipt. Once you have verified your purchases, simply click on the “capture receipt” box and follow the instructions to submit a photo of your receipt. For grocery receipts I often have to take a couple of photos in order to capture an entire receipt but the app shows you how to do that.

9.) Once you’ve captured your receipt you simply click “submit” and you’re done.

10.)  Wait up to 24 hours to receive your rebate. Sometimes I receive my rebates within a few minutes but other times it has taken a few hours. The ibotta app says that it could take up to 24 hours for your rebate to post but I have yet to have one take that long.

11.) Share the app with friends. After you’ve had a chance to get the hang of ibotta you’ll want to start sharing it with friends so that you can take advantage of the “teamwork” function. This function allows you earn more rebates faster by working as a team.

Don’t let these instructions overwhelm you. I downloaded the ibotta app and figured it out without any instruction whatsoever. The app is quick and easy to use and I’m sure that you’ll have the hang of it after about 5 minutes of playing with it.

You might not get rich using ibotta, but you certainly can accumulate a decent amount of rebates simply by doing your normal grocery shopping. It’s FREE money, therefore it is absolutely FabYOUlous.