Questionnaire: Could Your Life Be Greener and Cost Less?

Being green is obviously good for the planet – but often, it’s good for your pocket too and you don’t need to make huge changes to your lifestyle to benefit financially.

Many people pride themselves on being green but unfortunately miss some of the most obvious solutions.

Try answering the following questions to check on your eco-finances now.

Once you've finished, you can check out our simple tips to be greener in the future !

1. Do you take your own bags to the supermarket or when you go shopping?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

2. Do you turn your heating off when no-one is home and at least an hour before bedtime? (If it is timed, then answer always.)

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

3. How often do you have a shower instead of taking a bath?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

4. How often do you turn the lights off when you leave a room?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

5. Do you use glossy magazines or re-use gift wrap for presents?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

6. Do you consider charity shops or pre-loved websites when buying furniture, books or music?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

7. Do you spend holidays in the UK rather than fly abroad each year?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

8. Do you turn off your television, computer and appliances instead of leaving them on stand-by?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

9. On short trips, how often do you walk, cycle or take public transport instead of using a car?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

10. Do you resist the temptation of “multi-buy offers” at the supermarket unless they are frozen or have a long shelf life?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

11. Do you cook large portions at meal times and freeze left-overs for another day?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

12. How often do you use a cool laundry wash instead of a high heat wash?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

13. Do you choose solar power or low energy-use products whenever possible?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

14. Do you use a tumbler for rinsing when brushing your teeth instead of leaving a tap running the whole time?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

15. Do you give unwanted goods and clothes to friends, a charity shop or sell them at a car boot sale/online rather than put them in the bin?

a.) Always

b.) Occasionally

c.) Hardly ever

d.) Never

Okay - so now add up your score to see how green your life is!

3 points for an Always answer2 points for an Occasionally answer1 point for a Hardly Ever answer0 points for a Never answer

If your score is lower than 15:

You’re definitely not green! Hopefully taking part in this questionnaire has helped you realise where you’re going wrong and what simple changes can be made to have a greener lifestyle and save money!

If your score is between 15-24:

Hmm… You could be trying a lot harder to be green. If you need extra incentive, just think about the extra money you could be saving! Look through the questions again to see which tips you could use more often.

If your score is between 25-34:

You are definitely trying hard to become greener, so keep up the good work and enjoy the money you’re saving each year!

If your score is between 35-45:

You’re a fantastic example of how your life could be greener! Congratulations - maybe you could spread the eco-financing word to your friends!

Top Tips

Most supermarkets now charge for plastic bags or offer a bonus point scheme to reward customers with points or money saving coupons if they re-use their own plastic bags.

Having regular baths uses a lot more water than showering. Help conserve water and keep your utility bills down by cutting down on baths!

Multi-buy or Buy-One-Get-One-Free offers are tempting but it’s a total waste rather than a saving if the product ends up being thrown out because you don’t use it before the Best Before date.

Many people still buy electrical items based solely on price – but if the product you buy doesn’t have a good rating for energy efficiency, it could end up costing you more in the long run.

Many people who consider themselves “green” still just dispose of unwanted goods when they could make a few pounds by selling them – or at least recycle them through charity shops or free-cycle websites.