By Summer Bowen

Don’t have two dimes to rub together during this brutal economy? Recessions certainly suck, but they can bring out the dark green in Americans. Not the electric-sports-car-buying, bamboo-flooring-throughout-the-solar-powered-McMansion type of green, but the old school environmentalist: the resourceful conservationist. Here are four frugal ways to turn economic blues into some green.

High cost of food gnawing on your wallet? Try eating closer to home, lower on the food chain, and less processed. Head to the bulk food aisle to reduce unnecessary packaging and save cash. Purchase whole chickens, cook big meals, and freeze for future quick and inexpensive meals.

Be a cheap date. Up entertainment value by checking out inexpensive indie rock shows, art openings, or an eco-conscious lecture series. On date night enjoy store-bought organic wine and cheese on a picnic blanket, and then take public transportation to your fave restaurant and split an entree.

Sick of sending seed money to energy companies? As it gets cooler, sew up a few draft snakes out of fabric scraps to put under breezy doors and windows (craftycrafty.tv). Take 15 minutes to install a programmable thermostat for around $30 (video instructions at thisoldhouse.com). For major energy saving changes, get a free web-based home energy audit (hes.lbl.gov).

Find good green household products on the cheap! Retail genius Amazon has become a frugal friend with its “Subscribe and Save” option. The program gives online shoppers 15 percent off and free shipping when setting up automatic recurring deliveries. Look for your favorite Seventh Generation cleaning products and even G Diapers.