You may be thinking: what does Earth Day have to do with finances? You might be surprised to realize that some of the same things that cause financial problems damage the environment as well.

Our cultural desire for rampant consumption — at the lowest possible price — leads to manufacturing processes that strip natural resources and pollute the land, water, and air. The cheap goods created end up in landfills, adding to their pollution toll.

We throw away way too much food, typically purchasing more than we can eat before it goes bad. This both wastes money and adds to our trash problem.

Instead of buying local produce and cooking at home, we drive to get takeout or to a restaurant.

Earth day is a good time to look at your patterns of consumption. How do they help or hurt the environment? Can you make do with less and focus your purchases on things that are ethically sourced and environmentally responsible? How could changing the way you shop help the environment and your bank account?