I'm Nicole Lapin, the only financial expert you don't need a dictionary to understand.

It's time for some money rehab.

So fam, you know I'm all about trying to live in a way that hurts mama earth less, right?

I'm also all about trying to live in a way that hurts your wallet less too.

And those aren't always compatible.

They clothing, for example, some recycled materials are harder to process, which makes

them more expensive to manufacture and therefore drives the price point higher.

That's the reality, but I also think it's pretty overhyped.

There's actually a lot of overlap in the actions that protect your wallet and the environment.

And today I'm going to give you five tips to get you exploring that shaded part of the

vent diagram.

Number one, ask Uncle Sam for a discount.

I'll be the first to admit I spend very little time on the California's state government

website.

But don't let that probably outdated formatting fool you on your state and local sites.

You can find very useful information like a list of any and all financial incentives

your local government has around sustainability.

Some states partner with utility companies to provide rebates or discounts for installing

energy efficient appliances like solar panels or making home energy upgrades.

There's also tax breaks for making those upgrades, so it's a double win.

While you're on those sites, also look for rebates on water conservation programs like

rainwater harvesting programs.

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