Tips for a Greener Apartment

I absolutely hate moving.

The packing. The unpacking. The lifting. The moving. All of it.

Moving into a new apartment is particularly challenging for college students.

I moved into my new apartment with about two boxes and two bags in tow and absolutely no furniture and thought of going out and buying all new furniture was not appealing to me, especially on my limited budget.

While my roommates and I did take a trip to get some low-budget essentials, we also utilized some other cheap and green options!

1) USE WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN. The previous tenants of our apartment left behind a lot of furniture. This was sort of a pain in the ass because we expected the apartment to be clean. On the other hand, it also was helpful because we decided to keep some of the furniture. My roommate practically got all her furniture from what was left in her room; she just cleaned it up with a fresh coat of paint.

2) CRAIG’S LIST. Craig’s list is a great resource for furniture or whatever and it is super cheap. I bought a full bed with box spring and frame for $50 (the only pain was I had to find a way to pick it up, which I spent $45 on a U-Haul– so under $100)! Some people may think that is a bit sketchy, but it’s like sleeping in a hotel bed, maybe? Whatever, it was in my price range and I am very happy with my purchase.

3) THRIFT SHOPS. Another great source for second-hand knick-knacks and furniture. I bought to chairs for our kitchen table. Even though they don’t match, I think they give the place a bit of quirk and personality.

4) FRIENDS. I am a receptacle for friends who are looking to get rid of stuff. This way, you know where the stuff has been plus it usually comes at the right price.

Reusing furniture is a great way to be a little kinder to the earth and save money at the same time!

What I also find interesting is furniture MADE from reused items… Check out this post on Design Blog if you’re interested!

What things do you do in your apartment that are both budget-conscious and eco-friendly?? Let me know!

Oh Oh, We also use POM glasses as toothbrush holders.

tehee!

It’s (not) easy being green…

Kermit zee frog might have had trouble being green, but I have found little ways to be eco-friendly, even being a college student in an urban setting such as Boston.

I hope to share some of my green tips and tricks and get some of yours as well. I have enough on my mind with college coming to a close and worrying about entering the really world, but if I can find easy ways to save money and help the environment along the way I am all for that!

I have found that being green can actually save money, which is something every broke student cares about. After returning from a semester in London and moving back to Boston with rent and bills to pay, earning and saving money were on my priority lists.

So, most of my post will offer tips on saving money and being green! In addition, being a PR major, i will probably throw in some of that junk too because it has become habit and I think Green PR and Marketing are really interesting.