The Budget Ecoist- Eco Living on a Budget

We've resigned myself to the fact that natural and organic products are more expensive than their evil twins. Organic foods, biodegradable cleaning products, and hybrid vehicles are all pricier than their traditional counterparts. So whenever we find a natural/organic product that's cheaper than it's earth-killing alternative (or darn close), we're positively giddy. Price is the main barrier we face when trying to be greener, and we're sure many lower and middle class families feel the same way.

Needless to say, these guilt free, savings heavy items are few and far between. We've slowly incorporated green products without breaking my tiny bank. Of those items, cleaning products are a consistently green purchase. Seventh Generation makes a bevy of cleaning products, and all of the ones we've tried are excellent. The company's liquid dish soap is my favorite, and because it's earth-friendly, it will allow you to water your plants with used dishwater . It works as well as any traditional soap I've tried, and it seems more powerful than other biodegradable options I've purchased.

Now, typically, it is more expensive than most brands. At our local King Soopers, it runs just under $4 for a 25-ounce bottle. At Whole Foods and other natural markets, it's even more expensive. Let's say for the sake of argument that there's a great sale at King Soopers, and a bottle costs only $3.50. At $3.50, you're paying $.14/ounce. However, Amazon sells bulk packages (48-ounce bottles, six to a pack) for $27.99. This works out to almost half the price, just under $.10/ounce. You will still be able to find cheaper dish soaps, but you will not find this great a deal on this great a product made by this great a company. If you have found better deals, we'd love to know so that we can jump on that bandwagon.

Amazon provides an additional discount if you sign up to receive replacement shipments at timed intervals. Agree to a new package every one, two, three, or six months, and the price drops to just over $.8/ounce. It's an amazing deal and one you can feel great about.