Perhaps you have seen commercials about doing your part to save the environment. You may have been wanting to help, but for some reason haven't yet. Then one day something changes that. It could be that the commercial gets through, or maybe it's a school project that your child has to complete.

Regardless of the how or why, you find yourself ready to do your part and become more eco-friendly. You may think that 'going green' is hard, but small steps can make a difference. Here are 5 tips to help you on your way.

Switch from a plastic bag to a canvas or cloth one.

One of the easiest things you can do is stop using plastic bags and start using cloth or canvas ones. Some stores sell them with their logo printed on it. They are low cost and easy to maintain.

Next time you head to a store that sells cloth bags, buy at least two. Use them to carry your items out to your car. The next time you go to the store, take your old cloth bags and buy two more. Keep repeating this until you have enough to carry out any size order. These bags can be used anywhere and are washable.

Change out your light bulbs.

The old light bulbs in your lamp or ceiling fan may be cheaper when you buy them, but they don't last very long. Switching out those light bulbs to CFL bulbs will not only save you money in the long run but last longer and are better for the environment.

(CFL stands for compact fluorescent. These are the bulbs that look like swirls. They also typically last 8 times longer than standard bulbs, though the length varies with the type and manufacturer.)

Turn off the lights

When you leave a room, turn off the lights. Again this not only saves money for you, it also saves energy. This means a better impact on the environment as well.

Create recycling bins.

One great way to 'go green' is to recycle. Buying 3 rubber or plastic bins is a great place to start. Label each one for a different type of material that will be recycled. The most common are metal, paper, and plastic. Be sure to check with the company that picks up the trash to see if they have recycling bins they can provide to you.

Start a compost pile.

Gardeners know the value of compost. It's a great way to return valuable nutrients to the soul and help your garden grow. It also reduces the amount of waste that goes into the landfill. Some typical items in a compost pile are food scraps, peels, and sawdust. You can find out more information on creating a compost pile and what should and should not go into it.

Helping to save the environment doesn't have to be an overwhelming experience. Small changes in our daily lives can make a big impact. The tips I've shared are just a few that you can start using today.