Do you care about the environment but find that most eco friendly brands are too expensive? Or maybe you are just looking for unique tips to save money! Either way, I got you!
Sustainable living has a PR problem. Many people are under the impression that going green is too pricey for them. And it doesn’t help that majority of the eco friendly, organic, sustainable or cruelty-free brands have a much higher cost than their regular counterparts.
So most of us are left in a dilemma where we want to do our part in saving our planet but also can’t afford to break our budget.
Another common problem with sustainable living is that people feel like they either have to go all in or do nothing. But that’s not true! Every little change that you can make helps.
So you don’t need to become an electric-car-driving vegan who just built a compost bin at home and installed solar panels. You can start small! Pick a few things off this list and give it a go!
In fact, I’m here to share SIMPLE environment-friendly changes you can make to save the planet AND save hundreds of dollars while you’re at it!
1. Meal plan
Food waste is one of the biggest environment issues and this is one of the most impactful changes that you can make. Spend 15-30 minutes to make a meal plan for the week before you go grocery shopping.
Make a list of the exact ingredients you’ll need for these dishes and stick to the list when you shop. This is one of the easiest tips to save money. I save at least $200 a month with this habit. You’ll never have to throw away produce again.
2. Phantom electricity
Electronic devices and household appliances use electricity even when they are turned off or on standby. This is called phantom or standby electricity.
According to Hydro One, about 10% of your energy usage could be just Phantom Load.
Make sure to unplug your devices, chargers and appliances when not in use. This includes toasters, coffee makers, hair dryers, TV, sound systems, monitor, laptops, printers etc. You can connect multiple devices to a power bar and turn them off at once.
This could save $150 a year in electricity bills AND save energy!
3. Dish scrubber
Bamboo dish scrubber is one of my favorite swaps. I’ve had my dish brush for over a year now and it still looks and works great! Whereas dish sponges get gross in a few weeks and end up in a landfill.
This dish brush looks great styled in a tray by your sink and bamboo is compostable! 😃
4. Reusable straws
“It’s just one straw,” said 8 billion people! – Anon
There are so many reusable straw options available. You could choose metal, glass or even bamboo straws. I prefer this glass straw because it’s dishwasher safe and I can see if it’s clean!
Billions of plastic straws get trashed every year. Carrying a straw with you is a small inconvenience to bear. Or just opt out of a straw!
5. Single-use plastics
Ditch single-use plastics like disposable cutlery and plates. Switch to using bio-degradable bamboo ones instead.
If you are hosting a party, use your regular cutlery and plates. You could borrow some table settings from a friend too. Running multiple dishwasher loads at the end of your party is better than adding to the plastic pollution.
It’s haunting to realize that every plastic item that was EVER MADE still exists today. 😱
6. Reusable water bottles
Bottled water has an insane 4000% markup! One of the easiest tips to save money is to pack a water bottle and carry it with you whenever you head out.
This way you never have to pay for bottled water and you’d be doing your bit to stop the plastic pollution.
7. Mist showerhead
Your water usage can be significantly affected by the shower head you use. Switching to a low-flow shower head can easily reduce your water bill and save a precious resource.
Not only that, high pressure showerheads could also increase hair fall. 😯
We’ve been using this mist shower head for 6 months now, it’s truly spa-like and relaxing! The soft pressure from the mist is perfect and gentle on my hair.
8. Reuse
Declutter your home or garage and sell the items that you no longer need. Instead of throwing them away, give them another life.
You’d be surprised by how much you can get for items around your house that you no longer use like old phones, laptops, décor items or furniture. I made $450 in just 2 days!
9. Kitchen napkins
Ditch single-use paper towels and make this eco friendly switch.
An average family apparently spends about $140 on paper towels in a year. That is quite an unnecessary expense.
Just buy a pack of absorbent, cotton dish cloths. I maintain separate towels for drying produce, cleaning up spills, wiping down the countertops and drying dishes.
10. Pre-cut fruits and vegetables
Pre-cut produce comes with a crazy 350% markup! The excessive plastic packaging and the price make them an unnecessary convenience.
11. Water filter
Invest in a water filter like a Brita jug or other filtration systems.
According to the NRDC, about 25% of bottled water is just tap water filled in a bottle. And it doesn’t help that bottled water has a 4000% markup.
12. LED light bulbs
LED light bulbs are the most energy-efficient lights and they last about 10 years. They are better than CFL bulbs too.
If your pot lights are equipped with halogen bulbs, it’s worth replacing them right away. This is one of the simplest tips to save money on your electricity bill since LED lights consume 80% less energy than halogens!
13. Reusable zip lock bags
Staying with the theme of reducing single-use plastics, make the switch to reusable zip lock storage bags.
You need not worry about hand-washing them, they make dishwasher-safe storage bags now! 😃
Although they are a bit pricey, I love the Stasher bags because you even cook in them! How cool is that?!
14. Seasonal produce
Off-season produce can get quite pricey because they have to be shipped from countries far away, leading to increased greenhouse emissions.
Buying local, in-season food means reduced pollution and you get to eat fresher, healthier food.
15. Reusable shopping bags
This one is well-known by now but just to re-iterate, carry your reusable shopping bags with you when you go grocery shopping.
We love our blue Ikea shopping bags! They are huge and fit so much in one bag, that means a single trip from the car to the house!
You could also carry these reusable produce bags for bagging your groceries.
16. Rethink before you purchase
Next-day shipping has made instant gratification even more instantaneous. This leads to an accumulation of junk gadgets in our homes that are destined for a landfill.
Before dropping your hard-earned money on a big purchase, give yourself a month and rethink the utility and necessity of your purchase. More often than not, you’d forget about it or realize that you can live just fine without it.
If you still think you need it, you can confidently make the purchase with no chance of buyer’s remorse.
17. Soda / carbonated drinks
Coca-Cola has ranked as the world’s biggest plastic polluter again. The cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles are all adding to the pollution. In fact glass bottles’ carbon footprint is twice as much because of the fuel spent in transporting their heavy load.
Not only is their purchase terrible for the environment, but soft drinks are harmful for your health too. They increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
18. Run full loads
When doing laundry or dishes, run your washing machine and dishwasher only once they are fully loaded.
Also experiment with running them on shorter cycles. I’ve found that my dishwasher does a great job even on the 1-hour cycle so I don’t find the need to run a full 3-hour cycle.
19. Upgrading your devices
E-waste is an increasingly large problem and it pollutes pretty much every resource on our planet.
This year, instead of upgrading your phones, tablets and other gadgets to the latest model, consider using them for just a year longer.
Most phones start showing battery issues after a year of use, but a replacement battery just costs about $60 to $100 for Apple and Android phones. It’s a lot cheaper and less wasteful than replacing your whole device.
Also, whenever it is time to dispose electronic devices, make sure to drop it off at an appropriate recycling center.
20. Coffee
If you are big on coffee, buy your favorite coffee beans in bulk and brew your own fresh cup in the morning.
But if going to the coffee shop is more your thing, grab your own reusable travel mug!
Look for Fair Trade, eco friendly coffee brands when you shop. This will help coffee farmers get a fair price and it will stop the support for massive corporations who use forced labor and child workers.
21. Rechargeable batteries
Invest in some rechargeable batteries. This will reduce battery waste which is filled with heavy metals and toxic chemicals.
They can be reused about 500 times and it costs far lesser to recharge batteries than to buy new ones.
22. Borrow instead of buying
Do you really need to buy a ladder just for replacing that one outdoor light that’s out of reach? If you’re using LED lights, it wouldn’t need a replacement for another decade!
Wouldn’t it be better to just borrow from a friend or a neighbor? You could even rent them for cheap from stores like Home Depot.
Look for rental options in your area on Craigslist or similar apps. You could also make some money by putting up your tools up for rent!
23. Eating out
Packed lunches are one of the healthiest tips to save money AND it eliminates the plastic packaging that comes with a take-out.
Spending 15 minutes in the morning or the night before to pack a lunch can save you $300 a month!
Dhruv shares quick and delicious “better than take-out” recipes every week that anyone can cook! 😋
24. Buy pre-owned
Shop pre-owned whenever possible. You can get great furniture, books, home-improvement tools and of course cars!
This is one of the most mindful tips to save money and the environment! You could easily save hundreds of dollars and save these things from a landfill.
25. Commuting
Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 had majorly decreased emissions and the world saw a short-lived but significant improvement in the air we breathe.
We can do our bit toward achieving cleaner skies! Try carpooling or public transport for your commute or whenever possible.
If your destination is less than 20 minutes away, just walk! Walking to a restaurant with your partner is just so romantic, it gives you a chance to slow down and enjoy your evening! ❤️
Parting thoughts
As you’ve seen, you don’t need to give up on your comforts in order to go green. Some swaps may sound slightly inconvenient but that’s the small price we pay to save our planet!
Start small! Pick a few changes that resonate with you and start incorporating them into your daily life.
Which ones will you start with first? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! 😃