Saving the world is cool and all but sometimes it seems like a lot of work. To make real changes, you have to figure out why they make sense for your life. Being a Green Bum is all about figuring out how to save both kinds of green (money and the environment, duh) long term. Here are suggestions for reducing waste and cost in a room you use every day: the kitchen.

1. Use real cutlery and plates. It be convenient to toss that plate immediately after use, but buying paper goods really adds up. If you do your dishes regularly, they won't stack up and stick up the place. Just imagine, you can make your kitchen sparkle in about 10 minutes, but if you create a mound of garbage it will stink up the world for a whole lot longer.

2. Use a real towel. Paper towels can be great for certain types of messes, but you don't need to hack down a tree every time you want to dry your hands. By having a couple of towels in the kitchen, you can cut down on expense and waste. There are many plenty of towels designed for the kitchen, but you can make the switch just by snagging a couple from the bathroom. They may not have fat chefs or frolicking kittens on them, but they will certainly get the job done.

3. Use a rag. When your ratty t-shirt is truly unwearable and your bath towels grow holes, keep them and use them to wipe up kitchen spills. Cloth is more absorbent than paper, and you can wash and re-use a rag infinitely. Free and more effective than paper towels--how can you go wrong?

4. Use a refillable water bottle. It's hard to get around buying overpriced water in the airport, but there's one trick that usually works. Bring an empty bottle and fill it up at one of the free water fountains after you clear security. And, if you can do it at the airport, you can do it anywhere in the US. We are lucky enough to have free potable water literally on tap all around LA. By refilling your bottle, you're preventing waste of environmental and financial resources.

5. Wash smart. This one applies to multiple daily activities. Get your dishes wet. Shut off the water. Soap them up. Turn water on. Rinse. Turn water off. Repeat. Similarly, get toothbrush wet. Turn off water. Brush teeth. Turn water on. Rinse. Repeat. You get the idea. Try to minimize your water consumption. Although it's easy to forget, LA is in a desert and water is in limited supply. You can reduce your water bill and be more desert-friendly simply by making minor changes.

6. Turn off your lights. No, we're not suggesting that you cook in the dark. But when you leave the room, turn the light off. Save energy, save money on your PG&E bill. Sounds like a win-win to us.