This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. Read our disclaimer for more info.
44 Shares
Sustainable living doesn’t require dramatic lifestyle changes or expensive investments! In fact, embracing sustainable living and switching to eco friendly products can help you SAVE MONEY!
Everybody cares about the environment but they feel that their contribution would be too small. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Imagine that you decide to make 2-3 changes from the list below. Think about the impact of your change 5 or 10 years from now.
Over 5 years, your sustainable swaps could stop huge amounts of plastic and waste from polluting our soil and water. Now multiply that impact by the number of readers of this article! Drops make the ocean. Don’t let yourself feel that your sustainable living efforts are in vain.
Today, I’m sharing effortless, eco friendly ways to save money that will also help you live sustainably! 😃 Do check out the part 1 for more eco friendly money saving tips!
21 ECO FRIENDLY WAYS TO SAVE MONEY
1. Dryer sheets
Unlike dryer sheets which produce waste with every laundry cycle, dryer balls are reusable and last for 1000+ loads, that’s 2-3 years! They are also great for sensitive skin as they are a natural alternative and don’t contain any chemicals like dryer sheets.
If you’d like a mild fragrance, simply add a few drops of essential oils to the dryer balls before tossing them into the dryer. I just love the smell of lavender on fresh laundry! 🥰
2. Repair instead of buying new
When something breaks around the house, google for a solution or take help. You could use apps like TaskRabbit to hire people for repairs. Personally, I take great joy in fixing things that are broken because I get to learn something new and save the poor item from the landfill!
It might be tempting to buy a new printer rather than replace the toner because it’s cheaper. With such decisions, it’s important to think of the environmental impact of our actions and not just about the money!
So whether it’s a failed zipper on a handbag, a broken dishwasher or a dying phone battery, whip out your lab coat and look for solutions! 🤓
3. Multipurpose cleaners
Shops would love for us to buy a separate cleaner for each part of our homes. The truth is that a simple, homemade multipurpose cleaner will work for most of the tasks. All you need is some baking soda and vinegar, those are your superheroes! Check out these sustainable spring cleaning tips.
4. Cling wrap
Instead of cling film or saran wrap, switch to using beeswax wraps. They are totally biodegradable and you can reuse them after a quick wash. It’s perfect for sealing leftover food in bowls, they are bendy and it’s easy to wrap it to the shape of your bowl. I won’t lie, the biggest reason I love them is for their colorful patterns! 😊
5. Disposable razors
Ditch disposable razors and try switching to safety razors. They provide a much better and closer shave than multi-blade razors. They cause less irritation too because you only need to go over an area once!
Safety razors require a one time investment in a quality razor which will last you a lifetime. Apart from that, the replacement blades are dirt cheap, you can get a 100 blades for $15. Overall, safety razors are a lot cheaper than disposable razors in the long run and it saves all that wasteful plastic.
6. Plan your errands
Plan your errands ahead of time and bundle your trips together to save fuel and time. For example, instead of heading to the post office today and doing a grocery run tomorrow, plan to do it all in one trip if possible. Also, try using public transport or going for a walk if your errands are nearby.
7. Reuse glass jars
Save up the glass jars that you get with jams, pasta sauces etc. Instead of buying brand new mason jars, you can just reuse these for storage purposes. You could also use them for pickling, making jams, gifting or even as planters!
8. Shower gels and shampoo
Switch to using soap bars and shampoo bars instead of buying bottled soap. Bars last a lot longer and are one of the best ways to save money. Most zero waste soap brands also make their products with natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin.
If you are a fan of shower gels and can’t give that up, don’t worry, I’ve got a suggestion for you as well! Castile soap is all-natural, non-toxic, bio-degradable, vegan and it’s gentle on the skin! Buy castile soap in bulk, it is super versatile and can be used to make body wash, hand soap, multipurpose cleaning sprays, dish soaps and so much more!
Create your own amazing shower gel by taking 1 cup of castile soap, 3-4 tsp of oil (almond, jojoba, coconut) and add 20-25 drops of your favorite essentials oils. You’ll never get bored with your shower gel!
9. Kitchen gadgets
Avoid buying gadgets that serve a single purpose only. I’m referring to kitchen appliances like sandwich makers, deep fryers and juicers. Also stay away from prep tools that can be used for a single vegetable or fruit. Eg: apple slicer, egg yolk separator, garlic crusher, banana slicer, herb scissors, omelette shaper, peach pitter. Literally all of them can be cut with a knife!
10. Reduce soap wastage
Use only the required amount of soaps like shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothpaste and detergent. Most of us tend to use way more than required and it is a total waste of the product, the plastic packaging and money.
11. Gifts
Meaningful gifts are always more cherished than thoughtless, expensive ones. No matter who you’re gifting, there are amazing DIY gift ideas to suit everybody’s needs, even if that person only craves luxury products!
Try DIY marble coasters, jewelry tray, homemade desserts like macarons, chocolate truffles and cookies, bath products like scented bath salts, bath bombs, candles and handmade soaps! They’ll remember these gifts much longer.
12. Avoid fast fashion
Fast fashion clothes are just poor-quality clothes with an undeniably low price tag. Your closet is just a short pit-stop for these clothes before they head to the landfill.
Here are the best ways to save money and make a positive impact on the environment:
- Shop less. Nobody needs 10 winter jackets, even if they are only for $30.
- Don’t settle for poor quality clothes made with cheap fabric and questionable stitching. Your clothes should last you years, not just 10 trips in the dryer cycle.
- Everyone splurges on expensive brand names once in a while to maintain their image. But branded clothes are not necessarily better quality nor are they sustainable. So let’s use that money instead on sustainable slow fashion brands.
- Sell your used party wear clothes, give them a second life! If you can’t sell them, donate or recycle them at an appropriate location.
Lastly, try the No Shopping money saving challenge to save hundreds. I’m also sharing my free printables to help you stay on track and stay motivated!
13. Foaming hand soap
Foaming hand wash and its refill packets are just regular hand soap mixed with water. Don’t waste money and all that plastic packaging just to buy watered down soap. Instead, make your own foaming hand soap!
In your foaming soap dispenser, mix castile soap and water in a 1:4 ratio, add your choice of essential oils for fragrance and give it a shake. That’s it! If you don’t have castile soap, you can also make this with regular hand soap but since it is far less concentrated, use a 1:1 ratio of water and soap.
14. Library card
Use your public libraries! Depending on the city, public libraries can be a thing of beauty and wonder! You have an immense collection of books, magazines, music, movies and even video games at your disposal! What’s not to like?
15. Lunch bag
Invest in a reusable and washable lunch bag. And more importantly, carry lunches from home! It saves you tons on your budget and you’d also save all those takeout containers, plastic utensils and bags from the landfill.
16. Toilet Paper
This is a controversial topic but here goes! Using a bidet spray is better for your personal hygiene, it is undoubtedly more eco friendly than using paper. It saves water because manufacturing toilet paper requires more water than what you’d use with a bidet. It is worth trying! The installation is super simple and takes just 5 minutes. But of course, it’s not for everyone.
So the other environment friendly alternative would be to switch to bamboo toilet paper. This switch wouldn’t save you any money because it is roughly the same price as regular toilet paper but the planet will thank you for it!
17. Facial tissues (Kleenex)
This is one of the easiest ways to save money! Get yourself a pack of soft, cotton handkerchiefs and ditch Kleenex! They are so absorbent and I find that they irritate my skin less than tissues. I purchased a 12-pack of white, cotton handkerchiefs and they have served me wonderfully so far. I must have easily saved 10 boxes of Kleenex so far!
18. Meat
No, you don’t need to turn vegan! But you can choose to consume sustainable meat. Did you know that substituting beef with chicken, pork or eggs will reduce your carbon footprint by half?! Also consider including a couple of meatless days in your meal plan.
19. Bamboo toothbrushes
Billions of plastic toothbrushes are trashed every year and they could take a 1000 years to decompose. A simple switch would be to use bamboo toothbrushes. They have bristles made of Nylon just like the regular toothbrushes but the bamboo part at least is biodegradable.
Companies like Goodwell are also creating toothbrushes with a replaceable head which creates far less waste than throwing away the whole toothbrush.
20. Period products
If you’re ready to make the switch, there are plenty of natural, eco-friendly period products to choose from. Menstrual cups, reusable pads and period panties are the top favorites.
Not only are disposable pads and tampons made of plastic and synthetic materials, but they also have chemicals that affect our bodies.
21. Personal hygiene products
Our bathroom cabinets are unknowingly filled with disposable, single-use items like makeup wipes, cotton pads, cotton swabs, floss etc. Avoid these disposable products and switch to natural, reusable products for your personal hygiene needs.
Natural solutions like aloe vera and oil or witch hazel are gentle makeup removers. You could use these solutions with a soft washcloth or reusable cotton rounds to remove makeup. Switch to dental floss made of natural plant fibers and reusable cotton swabs for cleaning your ears.
Parting thoughts
Lastly, support your local small businesses whenever possible, especially when you’re purchasing eco friendly goods. Remember that perfection is never the goal of sustainable living, just do your personal best. Whether your goal is sustainability or saving money, you can achieve it by switching your mindset to consume less.
Be mindful of your buying habits and the rest will fall into place! I hope that you found at least a few good eco-friendly ways to save money. Share your favorite picks that you’d like to try in the comments below!
Related post: 25 Eco Friendly Tips to Save Money!
44 Shares
