In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is considered "the world tree." (Photo: ThinkStock)

Earth Day AND activities for kids? That’s a win-win situation for environmentalist parents. But for kids to truly appreciate the fun that can be had on Earth Day (April 22), it helps if mom and dad understand where Earth Day comes from and what it’s about. According to USA Today, this is the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day. Back in 1970, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was an environmentalist at heart, proposed that April 22 be set aside as a day to honor the planet and efforts to protect its precious resources. The idea caught on, and later that year, Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to police environmental pollution.

Earth Day activities for kids should be achievable

Earth Day activities for kids should mirror the call the EPA has issued to all Americans to commit to five actions that will keep our environment safe. Whether one of yours is applying for payday loans online rather than creating paperwork in a store is up to you.  Five actions may not seem like much at first, but think about what would happen if everyone followed their five actions diligently. The world would be a cleaner place, for Earth Day and every other day. It’s easier to focus on a few actions rather than a long list, which makes similarly targeted Earth Day activities for kids much less overwhelming. It also makes it much cheaper for parents, to the point that low interest loans are unnecessary.

Speaking of activities, here are your five actions for the kids

Thanks to Main Street, here are your “five actions,” your Earth Day activities for kids:

1. Sort recyclables. Ideally, you live in an area with curbside recycling pickup. Even if you don’t, there are likely places where you can take your recycling products. Separate plastic bottles from aluminum cans and show kids the recycling symbols on the bottom so they know what it means to be green. Teach them young so that it becomes a way of life — not a sometimes project.
2. Don’t throw away jars. Glass or plastic, those jars can be used to hold pencils, your favorite beverage, flowers, pennies, small toys or even that kind of sticky goo kids get out of vending machines. Kids can even decorate the jars!
3. Join the energy patrol. At home, at school or anywhere else, saving water and electricity go a long way toward saving the environment and saving money. Formulating good ideas is great to include in your Earth Day activities for kids.
4. Spring cleaning – make it a game! Cleaning up the house and garage doesn’t sound like fun at first, but if you challenge your kids to find new ways to use old products, it gets them more involved and thinking green. Here are some ideas to get kids started with household recycling, courtesy of the UK site Recycle This.
5. Make an Earth Day crossword. If your child loves solving puzzles, make an Earth Day activities for kids-themed crossword to help them flex their language muscles. Or use this one, courtesy of the EPA.

Have a Happy Earth Day on April 22!

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Fast cash is hard to come by, and people looking to go green may think they won’t be able to save themselves and the environment simultaneously. The environment is a top concern these days with the focus on global warming and recycling. Many consumers are laboring under the daunting task of installing solar panels on their roofs, building green homes from the ground up, and buying hybrid vehicles. Experts are saying that it isn’t that big a task and consumers are thinking too big when it comes to the environment.

Change is in the small things

Michael Silvers, of GoGreen.com, said, “Going green doesn’t have to mean changing the whole house from the top down. By far it’s the little things consumers do in mass numbers that are going to change the world.” Silvers is referring to focusing on homes and making small consistent changes. Here are some of the changes he suggests.

• Light bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs are one of the simplest ways to cut back on energy. It will cost more up-front to make the purchase, but over time it will save. Using a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulk instead of a standard 60-watt light bulb can save $30 over a bulb’s lifetime. Considering most consumers have numerous bulbs in their home, it can add up to substantial savings and cut back on energy costs.

• Insulation. Another simple way to go green is to close up energy drains in a house, and insulation is the primary way to do it. Whether that’s using weather stripping, caulking or insulation in an attic, any way consumers can cut back on loses of cold air in the summer or hot air in winter, they can save energy. It also will reduce monthly energy costs. The local government normally offers some low or no-cost programs that help consumers insulate their homes. A representative will come out and give tips on where the energy leaks are and how to seal them up. The savings can be put into an emergency money fund for fast cash needs.

• Appliances. There is a double advantage here. First of all, the government is offering a tax deduction on Energy-star rated appliances of up to $1,500. Second, buying efficient appliances can save energy and money. Recent studies showed that the top-notch Energy-star rated appliances saved consumers 10 to 50% monthly in bills. Over the course of a machine’s lifespan, that adds up to a considerable amount of savings.

• Water. Low-flow models of shower heads, faucets and toilets can all add up to savings. Just like appliances have their Energy-star rating, plumbing products have a WaterSense label that assures they are efficient models. Plumbing and hardware stores can lead consumers to the most efficient products, and manufacturers are continuously expanding the choices now that going green is a priority.

Going green doesn’t have to break the bank

Many consumers think that going green will never produce fast cash due to the large investment in change. Experts are saying that this isn’t true because it’s the small changes that make the biggest difference. Consumers looking to go green should take the everyday things in their lives and revamp them by upgrading the Energy-star rated and WaterSense labeled items. They can also close up energy drains and look at lighting and plumbing for added savings. As Silvers added, “You don’t have to invest hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in a home to go green. You’d be surprised how small changes can bring change much quicker.”

Need Fast Cash? Apply HERE!

Reducing debt is at the forefront of most people’s minds, as is saving money. Anyone who has ever needed emergency cash or a short-term personal loan, knows the importance of both of these. In order to reduce debt, budgeting is necessary and so is reducing the amount of money spent on household costs. If people are able to save money while, at the same time, save the environment, shouldn’t everyone do so?

Five Green Debt Reduction Tips:

Green Debt Reduction Tip Number One – Change Household Lighting

Most people have heard of energy-efficient light bulbs and are using them. However, not everyone has considered the high cost of chandeliers and other multi-bulb lighting fixtures, which are common in most homes. Each bulb in these fixtures costs money every time they are lit. Instead, those who are serious about debt reduction and going green may want to consider changing to single-light fixtures. If style is an issue, shop around for pendulum lighting designs, which offer single-bulb solutions without sacrificing style.

Green Debt Reduction Tip Number Two – Waterless or Composting Toilets

While this debt reduction suggestion may sound a bit odd, those who are using waterless or composting toilets to save on their home water bills swear that they are worth it. These type of toilet fixtures are affordable, easy to install, require very little maintenance, do not require water and are actually quite sanitary to use. They are mostly available online or at chain home remodeling stores.

Green Debt Reduction Tip Number Three – Unplug Unused Appliances

Believe it or not, microwave ovens, water coolers, DVD players, computers and other electrical gadgets all continue to use energy even when they are not turned on. Therefore, money-conscious individuals looking to reduce debt while going green have found that unplugging unused equipment saves big on monthly utility debt and helps to save the environment.

Green Debt Reduction Tip Number Four – Redo Insulation

The insulation in most homes allow carbon emissions into the earth’s atmosphere at a very high rate. This is because insulation that was installed years ago was not created with a large focus on saving the environment. However, alternatives now exist, which will reduce home energy costs while allowing far fewer harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Green Debt Reduction Tip Number Five – Downsize

Those with spare bedrooms, bathrooms and other space not regularly used may want to consider moving to a smaller residence. Doing so will significantly lower heating and cooling costs, as there is less space needing temperature control. Of course, downsizing will also most probably lower monthly rent or mortgage payments, as well. Debt reduction often means sacrifice and if several hundred dollars per month can be saved, just by living in a smaller space, most people find this advice to be worthwhile.

You can help–right in  your own home!

Debt reduction strategies like these have proven to be very helpful for individuals who are determined to save money while saving the environment. While most debt reduction strategies stress the importance of cutting excessive spending on luxuries, few people realize the savings to be found right inside of their own homes. As well, saving money generally tends to be for personal motives, but as more people realize the importance of efforts to save the earth, the strategies shared here will become more commonplace in homes all over the world.