Implementing green living habits into your daily routine is not only good for the environment, but good for your budget. Yes, it is possible to have both! By following a few eco-friendly tips we can start making a bigger and better environmental impact.
Going green can be an overwhelming project to take on. There’s a ton of information out there and influencers on Instagram telling you that you need to completely change your life. I’m here to tell you there is no need to take drastic measures! All you gotta do is start small.
Pick a few things to start implementing into your daily habits and then keep going from there. From making more sustainable swaps in the kitchen to changing up your shopping habits, there are some great eco-friendly tips here for you to try!
1. Swap The Ziploc Bags for Reusable Storage Bags
Ditch the Ziploc bags. By investing in reusable storage bags you can stop throwing all that plastic in the garbage while also spending less. I’ve tried a few different brands, and these reusable storage bags are by far the best ones I have found. They are super secure and easy to clean!
You can stop buying Ziploc bags every month using reusable storage bags and make a small step in going green. If you’re into saving money then you might like this post on 10 ways to save on groceries next.
2. Buy Reusable Shopping Bags
This one should come as no surprise, but seriously, stop with the plastic bags. I know it’s easy to forget your bags at home, in the car, or wherever you are storing them, but it’s an easy eco-friendly habit that’s good to keep.
As a former cashier, I have my opinions on which reusable shopping bags are the best because I feel like some just truly suck. I’m a fan of the ones with a solid bottom so it’s easy to bag your groceries. If you’re worried about forgetting your shopping bags, one that fits in your purse or car might be a good option.
Not to brag buuuut… I’ve actually gotten pretty good at remembering my shopping bags 😏 which is why I know you can do it too! It’s an easy eco-friendly habit to incorporate into your next shopping trip.
3. Don’t Recycle Your Yogurt Container Just Yet
One of my favorite ways to give leftovers to friends and family is in an old yogurt or sour cream container. I don’t have to worry about getting Tupperware back and it provides a second or third life for the containers.
Simply clean out the container and reuse it. I recommend taking a Sharpie and crossing out the label so you don’t end up thinking you have the sour cream for taco night that’s really leftover lasagna.
4. The Best Overnight Oats Jars Ever
Don’t let Pinterest and Instagram convince you that you need fancy glass containers with the little spoons for your favorite overnight oats recipe. Just use that old pickle jar! It does the job just fine 😅 I keep all glass jars from pesto, pasta sauce, pickles, jam, and even the glass lemonade bottles. And yes, I have an entire collection now.
Glass jars are great for storing homemade dressings, sauces, oatmeal, homemade trail mix, crackers, berries, and plenty of things outside of the kitchen too. Seriously, you never know when this eco-friendly tip will come in handy, but I can promise you it will!
5. Turn Off The Water
When my boyfriend and I travel in our converted van one thing we absolutely have to do is conserve water. We have a limited capacity of fresh water and a very limited capacity of grey water (the water left after you use it). This experience has made me super aware of how much water we as humans use daily. Hint: it’s a lot.
Thankfully, this eco-friendly habit is an easy one to implement, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do it. Turn off the running water while you are not using it. This includes while you are brushing your teeth, washing your face, scrubbing dishes, etc.
When I am washing dishes by hand, I do my best to avoid running the water on full blast. Also, make sure you clean as much food as possible off the plates before washing. And if you’re feeling really wreckless, I bet there are times when a simple wipe-down with a clean towel will do the job too! 😉
Implementing this green living practice will lower your water bill and save you some extra cash every month.
6. Use Beeswax Wrap Instead of Plastic Wrap
When my boyfriend and I were building our van, I was reading all the van blogs out there to get as much information as possible. I remember finding a blog post on items to buy for your van kitchen and I found these cool things called beeswax wraps. They are great for storing produce, covering bowls, and pretty much work anywhere in place of plastic wrap.
This is a great eco-friendly kitchen swap that is good for the environment and good for your grocery budget. Purchase beeswax wraps once and reuse them instead of adding plastic wrap to your grocery list all of the time.
7. Stop Using Plastic Water Bottles
I’ll admit, this one is one of the more frustrating ones for me. I get it. Plastic water bottles are convenient, but stop freaking buying them. There’s plenty of information out there telling us how bad plastic is, yet our plastic water bottle usage is increasing somehow 🤯. And you wanna know how long it takes for a single plastic bottle to decompose? 1,000 years. Let that sink in.
Plastic water bottles are cheap, but the money will add up. If you want to be kind to the environment then invest in a nice reusable water bottle. There are usually plenty of places nearby where you can fill it up without spending a penny.
And hey, maybe you’ll get lucky and end up drinking more water because you invested in a cute water bottle that’s easy to carry around! Or there’s always that friend with an excessive amount of water bottles who would be thrilled to give you a bottle from their enormous collection.
Do what you gotta do but plastic water bottles are bad for the environment and there is a perfectly good solution to your bad plastic water bottle buying habits.
8. Sorry, Starbucks… But I’m Coming For You
I know this is one that many people do not want to hear, but if you’re trying to save some extra cash, cut out the coffee trips. A trip to Starbucks can cost you around $10 and no amount of girl math will ever make it actually free. And imagine the total cost if you’re buying coffee every single day 😬 Yikes.
But what does quitting your Starbucks addiction have to do with the environment? Disposal to-go cups. And yes, this applies to more than just coffee shops. A great alternative if you still want to enjoy your coffee runs (I get it, me too) is to bring your own coffee mug! This is a great eco-friendly option and some coffee shops even offer a discount for doing so.
Along the same lines is… coffee makers. We all love the single-use coffee pods that brands like Keurig and Nespresso use, but unfortunately, those pods just end up in landfills. Next time you’re shopping for coffee makers, consider an eco-friendly alternative like a French press or drip coffee maker.
9. Say No To Paper Towels… When You Can
Ah, the convenience of paper towels. Spilled milk? Just wipe it up with a paper towel and throw it away. No fuss, it’s great. BUT paper towels can run you around $10 for 6 rolls, so while it’s not like you’re dropping hundreds the cost does add up.
I will be honest, in my transition to becoming more sustainable I have had a hard time completely doing away with paper towels. However, what I have done is gotten much better at not using them when I don’t need to. Whenever possible use a dish rag instead and if you have to use a paper towel then only rip off what you need.
This is an easy eco-friendly habit that might take work to get used to in the beginning, but will propel you towards saving money and going green.
10. Stop Buying Disposable Mop Pads
Okay, not gonna lie, this one drives me kinda bonkers. I stopped using disposable mop pads before I even became environmentally conscious because I got tired of spending the money every couple of months. Not to be too harsh, but they’re a total waste of your money and it’s a super easy swap.
Most mops or steamers have reusable options and I just love how convenient it is. I throw mine in when I wash my towels and BAM, almost like a new mop pad. I’ve also found the reusable ones to be better at cleaning for some reason. The disposable ones feel like I’m trying to clean my whole floor with a single paper towel… just doesn’t quite get the job done.
This eco-friendly tip also goes for more than just your mop. Any single-use cleaning product such as disposable toilet bowl cleaners or wipes will usually have an eco-friendly alternative and will save you money in the long run.
11. Buy It In Bulk
I think most people understand that if they buy something in bulk they will pay more upfront, but save money in the long run. Buying in bulk is not convenient all the time, but when I can, and when I know for sure it’s something I will use, like toilet paper, you bet your ass I’m buying it in bulk.
How is buying in bulk environmentally friendly though? It’s the packaging! Using the toilet paper example… if you’re constantly buying the four-pack every week or month or however often, not only are you throwing your money away, but you’re throwing away a lot of plastic packaging.
Get into the eco-friendly habit of buying household items in bulk so you can go green while also saving that cash!
12. Save Money Washing Your Clothes
It’s something everybody has to do and hates to do… the never-ending cycle of washing clothes. Growing up, we had a system for washing clothes. There were the darks, the lights, and the whites. I’m sure many can relate. When I became an adult and moved out of the house I thought something really bad would happen if I ever strayed from the system.
But one day I finally took the leap of faith and threw all the darks, the lights, and the whites in together… and nothing bad happened. Except for realizing how much water I was wasting before. I don’t know, maybe someone has a good reason for doing this, but until I hear one, I’m gonna continue being reckless and save my money and my time.
Another clothes-washing tip for saving money and being eco-friendly is to hang dry whenever you can, especially things like bedspreads and large blankets. If it’s too cold outside, you can get a foldable laundry rack, or my go-to is usually the dining room chairs.
Bonus tip: Don’t use hot water! It’ll cost you extra. Using cold or warm water is better for the environment and your wallet.
13. Drive Less, Save More
I’m sure this one is gonna cause some eye rolls. I know it’s not always possible to just.. not drive, like you gotta get to work somehow, I get it. BUT, it’s about being more conscious of how much you’re driving and if it’s possible to walk or carpool. It’s no secret that gas prices are ridiculous right now, so I’d say it’s worth it to start paying more attention to your driving habits.
As I already said, a big one is carpooling or walking. Planning ahead is another great way to save less. My boyfriend is a contractor and I swear that man is at Home Depot every single day, and sometimes I wonder how much he’d save on gas if he just planned a little better. Also, if you’re in a household with multiple vehicles, try to take the vehicle with the best MPG when possible.
To save even more money on gas, there are plenty of apps and stores that offer fuel points or fuel rewards. When I shop at our local grocery store I get fuel points that can save me anywhere from $0.15 to $0.75 per gallon when filling up. To find the cheapest gas in town check out apps like Gas Buddy that will show you exactly where to go.
14. Fill That Dishwasher Up!
Okay, I think this one might drive my boyfriend a little insane, but I will not start the dishwasher until that baby is packed full. It’s definitely one of my pet peeves when I see someone start the dishwasher and there are like 5 dishes in it. Why? Please tell me… why? Makes no sense to me.
Depending on what year and brand your dishwasher is, it can use anywhere from 4 gallons to 9 gallons for every load. Since it uses the same amount regardless of how many dishes are in there, fill that bitch up and get your money’s worth!
But let’s get something clear, I’m not recommending hand washing all your dishes, because guess what? For most households that actually takes MORE water. Crazy right??
15. Let’s Go Shopping… At The Thrift Store!
There’s been a rise in the popularity of shopping at thrift stores and I’m down for it! I think it’s a great way to save money and to help the environment by giving items a second (or third or fourth) life.
Did you know that the fashion industry has a larger carbon footprint than the aviation industry? That’s wild. Next time you need some new clothes, check out a thrift store! Plus, I’m sure there will be some great finds that leave you laughing hysterically. IFYK.
Thrift stores are great for more than just clothes too. When my boyfriend and I moved back into a house after living in our van, we didn’t have much. No dresser, no nightstand, no dining table. We kept some furniture items, but other than that we were starting over. Thanks to thrift stores, we didn’t have to drop thousands of dollars to do it.
Thrift stores are good for your wallet and even better for the environment.
Final Thoughts
Going green can feel intimidating, but by implementing these eco-friendly tips here and there it can start to make a difference. While saving money might be a motivating factor for you, it’s always good to give yourself a pat on the back for making a positive environmental impact as well.
Change doesn’t have to happen overnight. It’s okay if it’s gradual. It’s okay if it’s small. It’s all about taking the first step and making an effort. I still use paper towels, I still buy new clothes sometimes, and I don’t walk or ride a bike everywhere. But I can look back to five or ten years ago and see how far I’ve come. I can also look forward to five or ten years and know there are still things I want to change.
We’re not perfect, but we sure as hell are doing our best. I hope these tips are helpful and that you learned more ways to save money by going green.
Talk again soon! –Annie