With everyone shoving new eco-friendly and green products in your face it just feels like they cost you more money. I want to share 17 sustainability tips that will save you money. Saving money is great for many reasons, but for the wanderlust, it means more travel!
If you are new to sustainability and the series here you can start with How to Travel More Sustainably in 2020.
As mentioned there, sustainability isn’t easy or comfortable. It is a new way of understanding and interacting with the world around us. Sustainability is about making ethical choices about your actions.
There are three pillars of sustainability that are to be considered. What is the environmental impact? the social impact? and the economic impact? Are your daily needs (and wants) being met without negatively influencing the future?
The sustainability tips below range from small decisions you make in the kitchen to how you get to work in the morning. There is something on this list for everyone. After you are done saving some extra money in your travel jar check out Tips for Spending Less Money on Travel.
Table of Contents
1. Compost in your yard
Composting removes items that would have typically gone into the trash (and later landfill) and creates a better environment for plants growing in your yard. Composting improves the water retention of the soil, helps degrade some pollutants, reduces the need for fertilizers, and adds more microorganisms.
This tip works perfectly with planning your garden and making food at home to help you close the gap of waste going into the trash.
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2. Plant trees around your house
Shade can help reduce the cost of the air conditioning in the summer, and in the winter the trees can block the wind which reduces heating costs. Some estimates claim you can reduce your heating and cooling costs by 30% with this simple task. Do note that you should be mindful of which trees and where you plant them. Some trees have very aggressive roots which can cause problems years down the line.
3. Weigh your transportation options
This is a simple task and yes it involves more work. Instead of driving everywhere opt for walking or riding a bike to locations that are close by. This is better for the environment and your health. It is also far cheaper than paying for gas! This is also important when talking about travel. Some modes of transportation are not as environmentally friendly as others.
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4. Cut back on meat and dairy
I am not preaching for vegetarianism or veganism, but more mindful consumption of animal products. Cutting back on meat and dairy is a powerful way to reduce your impact. If this is just a hard no for you then I suggest to try and purchase these items locally. Local farmers often sell in shops, participate in CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), or farmers markets. Small local farms are less likely to have large scale operations that can be harmful to the animals, environment, and in the end, you.
5. Be mindful about food waste
Recently in our household, we have been trying to be more mindful of food waste. With this, we are shopping more consciously and opting to make a big pot of soup when we have random odds and ends than ordering take out. Spend the next week noting down every time you throw out leftovers or rotten produce. It can be an eye-opening experience!
6. Stoping idling in your car
This is a new one for me. I didn’t realize how bad it is to idle your car. In just 10 seconds of idling, you waste more gas than restarting the engine. Especially if you have a newer car, there is no need to let it run for 20 minutes in the morning. It can be warmed up by easing into the drive. Idling your car for just 10 minutes releases one pound of carbon dioxide in the air.
7. Start a garden
It is cheaper than you think and even with minimal work can provide you with a lot of produce! If you aren’t too comfortable with keeping plants alive opt for easy plants (potatoes, onions, lettuce). Sometimes growing by seed is very difficult, even after years of practice so for some plants, I buy them pre-grown and just put them in my garden. You can get a tomato plant for maybe a couple of dollars but then you have a lot of tomatoes which are not cheap in the store.
Did you know that maintaining a lawn can have negative effects on the local environment? Pesticides used on your lawn don’t just stay in one place, but rather seep into the ground and groundwater and have very detrimental effects.
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8. Buy from secondhand shops
There are some excellent finds in secondhand shops, thrift stores, charity shops, whatever you call them. If you have the patience to dig through you can get gently worn clothing items that are just as good as new. You can find unique vintage pieces that no one else you know has.
There is also the possibility of finding very valuable things that were overlooked by the previous owners (designer clothing, furniture, collectibles). If you are good at this and motivated, you can find things to sell and BAM more money for travel!