Oftentimes “eco friendly” is thought as expensive because it’s associated with better quality, fair wages or new technology. Our biggest New Year resolution is to save money and we’ve actually found that being eco friendly is helping us do that!
Here are some eco friendly lifestyle tips that are actually saving us money.
What are we planning on doing with our newfound wealth? We’re hoping to buy our first house this year.
Buy Bulk Foods
I don’t mean go to Costco. Save your containers and by bulk foods! A good place for this is your local Sprouts. We purchase bulk foods like rice, beans, oatmeal, nuts and snacks and place them in our own containers when we get home. I use repurposed containers from old spaghetti sauce containers, kombucha bottles and mason jars. I look out for bulk foods that are on sale and I can usually save on average $2/lb on my usual purchases. According to the Bulk is Green Council, bulk foods can cost up to 89% less than packaged goods, so I guess we’re doing pretty good.
When repurposing containers I like to remove the labels. Learn how to do it here.
Go Thrift Shopping
I love shopping for the thrill of the hunt and oftentimes I get creatively inspired from shopping. Being more sustainable is about consuming less, so I’ve been second hand shopping or thrift shopping. It’s helped us save money and the thrill of the hunt is even better.
Grow Your Own Produce
Wherever you are, it’s possible to grow your own fruits and veggies. When Josh and I lived in a one-bedroom apartment we grew fruits and vegetables hydroponically. Today we have a tiny patio that we grow fruits and vegetables in, but since we don’t own our own house, we grow them in Root Pouches. That way we can easily transport our little fruit trees and veggies from rental to rental.
Try A Capsule Wardrobe
A fun challenge that I’d like to try is the 10×10 challenge created by another blogger. Essentially you pick 10 items from your closet, make 10 outfits from it and wear it over the course of 10 days. Click here if you want more information about the 10×10 challenge.
Cook Meals at Home
Ordering takeout usually produces quite a bit of waste in disposable containers and utensils, not to mention costs quite a bit. Cooking meals at home is the best way to save money and is an eco friendly option.
xo,
