Great Green Idea: Green Cars: 5 Things You Can Do Instead Of Driving

5 Things You Can Do Instead Of Driving

Don't touch that ignition! Unless it is urgent, you may be able to avoid driving today. If you do, you'll save gas, and in this economy, that will save you tons of money, too. The less you drive your car, the less wear and tear you'll put on it, which is a great way to save on repairs and maintenance. Here are 5 ways you can cut down on your driving, and make your carbon footprint a bit smaller:

1. Walk: Unless it's really miserable out, you'll enjoy the exercise. Your bones will be stronger, and your heart will be healthier if you leave your car at home. If it is raining, wait until it stops, or take an umbrella with you. The more you walk, the easier it will get. The easier it gets, the stronger your body will be, so you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

2. Is it too far to walk? Ride your bike. You'll still get the same exercise benefits, and you can go even further without contributing to air pollution. You can even strap a safety seat on for your baby so you won't have to spend money on a sitter. Your baskets or saddlebags should hold enough groceries for a couple of days. Once you run out, you can always just get back on and pedal back for more.

3. Go with a friend or neighbor: Everyone has to eat, go to the dry cleaners and run errands. If you and your neighbor do these things together, you will have someone to talk to while you accomplish tasks, which otherwise are boring. Maybe your kids need to be in the same places at the same times. Maybe your neighbor's church is in the same direction as yours. If you work together, you may be surprised at how much transportation you can share. You'll both benefit from the financial savings. We all will benefit from the cleaner air.

4. Plan any trips you do take ahead of time. Don't go to the grocery store 5 times. . Make a list and save yourself 4 trips. Pick up your dry cleaning and go to the bank while you're out. Do your errands after you drop the kids off for their activities. You should be able to squeeze a few things in instead of waiting for them, or going home and coming back, and doing your other running later.

5. Do as much of your shopping as you can online. The Internet is a wonderful resource for getting what you need without leaving home. Let the delivery people brave the stress and frustration of traffic. While they're listening to honking horns and explicatives from other drivers that should be deleted, you can be home reading a book or taking a nice relaxing bath. That is a lot less stressful!