25 Simple Ways To Live Sustainably And Save More Money
Living sustainably is becoming increasingly more necessary as the world is getting more polluted. Every year, about 8 million metric tons of plastic are found in our oceans, affecting nearly 700 species that call the ocean their home. Not only plastic but other areas such as energy and water needs to be conserved for a healthier planet. So that’s where we come in. We can treat the planet a little kinder by practicing sustainability. To craft a sustainable living plan, here are 25 simple ways to live sustainably without spending much extra.
1. Use a reusable water bottle
The first and easiest step to live sustainably is to use a reusable water bottle. By eliminating the use of single-use plastic water bottles, that already keeps a large amount of plastic out of the oceans. Reuse is almost always better than recycle.
This reusable water bottle by Takeya is constantly top rated because of its durability and insulation abilities. They’re currently having a 40% sale for a limited time. I prefer this Takeya water bottle over others because it’s easy to drink from and never ever leaks. I’ve gone through so many other ones that have leaked and it’s annoying!
2. Open your blinds
Try to open your blinds to get as much natural lighting as possible. Keep them open until it gets dark, then turn on your lights. This is easily one of the easiest habits to develop to live a green lifestyle.
3. Shop for sustainable clothing
Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Shopping for sustainable brands means that the materials use significantly less water to make, are made from recycled materials, or are derived from natural materials. Look for sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, bamboo, recycled polyester, recycled nylon, and organic linen.
Some popular sustainable clothing brands include Reformation, Patagonia, and Outdoor Voices.
[bctt tweet=”Some popular sustainable clothing brands include Reformation, Patagonia, and Outdoor Voices.”]
4. Use a reusable straw
Every time you go out and order coffee or boba, keep a reusable straw ready to use. It might not seem like a big deal, but single-use plastics are extremely hard to recycle and often end up in oceans, eventually affecting marine animals.
There are some really affordable reusable straws on Amazon that come in an eco-friendly pouch. I personally have these ones and I use them almost every single day to drink my lattes, smoothies, and even water.
5. Compost food waste
There are two ways to make compost. The first is cold composting and it is simply collecting organic materials from the trash such as fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds and filters, and eggshells and putting them in a pile. The second way is hot composting which requires you to add nitrogen, carbon, air, and water along with your food waste. Cold composting takes much longer to decompose than hot composting.
6. Use reusable pouches to store food
An easy switch to living more sustainably is instead of using Ziploc bags, try using reusable pouches. You can use this to store your sandwich, fruits, or snacks. This can reduce a lot of single-use plastic.
Stasher makes 100% silicone food storage bags. It comes in multiple colors and sizes. The bags are BPA free, microwave safe, freezer-friendly, dishwasher safe, and stove top safe. I’ve made the switch to use these Stasher bags instead of Ziploc bags because it’s much less wasteful and saves me money by not needing to buy single-use Ziploc bags anymore.
7. Minimize air conditioning and heat
During the winter, try putting on layers to keep yourself warm instead of turning on the heat throughout the day. During the summer when it’s hot, try to avoid turning on the AC but rather use a fan or open the window. Eco-living is actually saving you money.
8. Go thrifting
Thrifting is one of the best ways to live sustainably. That’s because you’re buying second-hand items that would probably otherwise go to waste. So instead of always shopping at your usual clothing stores, give thrifting a try and you might find yourself some really nice pieces. It’s also much cheaper. Sometimes, you can even find barely used brand name items for more than 70% off their original price.
9. Wash clothes less often
By washing your clothes less often, you can save so much more water. Try to wear clothes a few more times before you wash them. When you decide to wash them, be sure to wash them cold which saves a lot more energy.
To wear clothes longer, try purchasing pieces that have anti-bacterial finishes or are made out of wool. It will help the piece of clothing be as odor resistant as possible.
10. Eat seasonally
There’s a ton of environmental benefits to eating seasonally. The first is it helps reduce carbon footprint because seasonal food is likely to be grown nearby. The second is that there will be significantly less use of pesticides. Fruits and veggies grown off-season are more likely in need of chemicals and pesticides. Also, eating seasonally tastes better, has more nutrients, and saves you money.
Don’t know what’s in season? Check out this website to find out!
11. Take quicker showers
By taking quicker showers, you can save gallons of water. It’s recommended to shorten showers to five to fifteen minutes – the shorter the better. If you’re not sure how long you take showers for, try setting a timer next time. Living a more sustainable lifestyle isn’t as hard as you think!
12. Get a water-saving showerhead
Along with taking shorter showers, you could also install a water-saving showerhead to save even more water. This one by High Sierra is constantly the top-rated shower head and it saves on average 40% more water and energy to heat the water. It’s also really easy to install and very affordable. This is one easy switch to living a more sustainable lifestyle.
13. Buy items in bulk
One simple way to live sustainably is by buying items in bulk. By doing so, you are eliminating wasteful plastic packaging. It also limits our carbon footprint because the transportation of goods is simplified which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.
14. Use cloths instead of paper towels
Instead of paper towels, try using reusable cloths instead. These are great for drying your hands, or have one designated for wiping the table after dinner.
These microfiber cleaning cloths from Amazon are very affordable and are ultra-soft. I use these to clean my dinner table, clean spills, clean the bathroom – pretty much to clean everything.
15. Use biodegradable feminine products
Feminine products like pads and tampons take hundreds of years to decompose. That’s why you should use organic and biodegradable ones instead. Organic and biodegradable ones are often made without chemicals and have sustainable materials like organic cotton.
Give Rael pads a try if you’re looking for organic and biodegradable pads to use. It comes in many different sizes and offers pads for a variety of different absorbency levels.
[bctt tweet=”Feminine products like pads and tampons take hundreds of years to decompose. That’s why you should use organic and biodegradable ones instead.”]
16. Better yet, use reusable feminine products
What’s even better than using organic and biodegradable feminine products is using reusable ones such as a period underwear. Thinx makes some of the most popular period panties that can serve as a replacement for using pads, tampons, or other menstrual products. It comes in many different colors and styles so you’ll definitely find one that’s right for you.
17. Shop locally
To live sustainably, try going to your local farmer’s market instead of a large grocery store to shop for groceries. Local markets often sell organic items and fresher produce. It also reduces carbon footprint because the produce is transported in a smaller distance compared to those that are delivered to big grocery stores.
18. Unplug device when not in use
Did you know that even when your charger is unplugged from your laptop or phone, it’s still using energy? If you’re not using your charging cable, be sure to unplug it from the outlet as well.
19. Use eco-friendly cleaning products
Many cleaning products from conventional brands are made with toxic chemicals that are bad for the environment and humans. Eco-friendly cleaning products are non-toxic, use organic ingredients, and are biodegradable.
I personally use Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products because it is organic, biodegradable, are free from toxic ingredients, and are very affordable.
20. Reuse take-out boxes
Don’t throw out your takeout containers! Instead, keep them and reuse them to live sustainably. You could use them to store your future homemade lunches, store smaller items, or anything else you have.
21. Switch to paperless billing
Nowadays, almost every company has a paperless billing option. Try to opt-in for that option to avoid wasting paper. Many people still like keeping a paper copy to keep organized, but you can also keep organized on your computer. Try setting up a neat way of organizing those files on your computer.
22. Stop using produce bags
Those plastic bags that are provided in grocery stores are incredibly wasteful. They get thrown away right after you go home.
There are two options to go greener. The first is to stop using bags at all for produce. Simply place them in your basket or cart just as is. Honestly, cashiers don’t mind seeing them not in bags. The second way might make your life a little easier. That is to use reusable mesh produce bags. These ones on Amazon are incredibly affordable, made out of 100% bamboo (eco-friendly!), and look really great.
23. Try not to waste food
Try to avoid tossing uneaten food away. That’s because when food enters landfills, it breaks down in a way that emits greenhouse gases which affects the air quality. Additionally, wasting food also means wasting all the resources that went into making the food including water, soil, energy, packaging, and transportation.
24. Purchase items from Poshmark
If you’re not a fan of shopping in stores, try purchasing items from second-hand apps like Poshmark. The app offers items from clothing to home decor. Purchasing second-hand items help keep items out of the landfill and avoid the need to get brand new items.
Some other popular second-hand shopping apps include Mercari, Depop, and ThredUp.
25. Eat more plants
Plant-based diets are more sustainable creates a more eco-friendly lifestyle because plant-based foods produce 30-90% fewer greenhouse gases than conventional meat. It also uses over 70% less water, saves over 50% more land, and doesn’t require antibiotics like how meat does.
