In the current cash crunch, it's easy to think one might have to give up the green ideal in order to make ends meet. In fact in a supermarket today, I saw a pack of two organic free-range chicken breasts with a tag that said £119. I asked what that meant (presuming a typo) and the assistant said 'That's the price per kilo'. I hope that chicken had a fabulous life (with bells on), but let's just say chicken is not on tonight's menu.

Despite that, the truth is that going green can often save you money. From resisting that extra pair of shoes to growing your own veg, many green principles can also help you save cash, especially with all the newfangled energy- and water-saving products on the market to help reduce heating and electricity bills. "During the credit crunch, consumers can reduce their household bills by up to £367 if they use environmentally sound products," says Nigel Berman, MD of Nigel's Eco Store. He suggests energy-saving light bulbs, a Radiator BoosterTM , EcoballsTM (which can save you over £70 a year on washing powder) and an EcobuttonTM (shown, which powers down computers at a touch of a button and can save you around £50 a year). Take a closer look at Nigel's Eco Store.