Did you know there are many ways to save money by living a sustainable lifestyle? If you look at the mainstream sustainability movement, you may believe that living sustainably is going to be a costly endeavor, but in reality, switching to a sustainable lifestyle can actually save you lots of money in the long run. Here are 5 examples of how to save money by living a sustainable lifestyle.
1. Use what you have
One of the best ways to be sustainable is to use what you already have, rather than buying something new. You can find new uses for items you already own, upcycle items to give them a new life, or just appreciate the items as they are. This is a great way to save money because you donโt have to spend anything. Just fall back in love with your current items at zero cost.
2. Shop Secondhand
Buying items secondhand is a great sustainable option because youโre diverting items from ending up in landfills. Shopping secondhand is also a great way to purchase items you want or need when youโre on a budget. Items that may normally be outside of your budget, can cost up to 90% less when shopping secondhand.
3. Sign up for Aspiration
Aspiration is a digital banking alternative that provides extra cashback when shopping with select sustainable brands through Aspirationโs Conscience Coalition. When you sign up with Aspiration Plus, you get 10% cashback every time you shop.
They also have a #PlantYourChange initiative that allows you to opt in to plant a tree every time you swipe your card. How awesome is that?!
(Disclosure: Aspiration sponsored the YouTube video featured in this post.)
4. Sustainable Swaps allow you to save money in the long run.
Making sustainable swaps can actually save you money in the long run. Swaps like switching your plastic razor to a stainless steel razor can save a ton of money. For example, plastic razors cost approximately $20 a month. Safety razors + 100 razor blades cost approximately $54 for a one-time purchase. Thatโs $240 in savings for the year!
Another sustainable swap that saves money is switching to a water dispenser. For example, you may spend $5 a week on a 24 pack of plastic water bottles, which comes out to be $260 a year. After switching to a water dispenser, youโll spend approximately $1.50 a week for 5 gallons of water, which comes out to $78 a year. Meaning you get way more water, create less waste, and spend a lot less.
Some other sustainable swaps to consider are switching from cotton balls to cotton rounds and switching from tampons to a menstrual cup.
5. Grow Your Own Herbs
Why buy herbs every week, when you can grow your own? Instead of paying $4 for a bunch of basil each week, you can literally grow your own even in a small apartment!
You can even take food scraps from produce youโve purchased to grow your own. Some vegetables you can regrow from food scraps are green onions, celery, herbs, and more! Just place the chopped veggie in water, let it grow roots, then plant it! Such a great way to make sure you get the most out of your money.
Okay, so those were my suggestions for how to save money while living a sustainable lifestyle.
Do you have any additional tips for saving money by living a sustainable lifestyle?
