A few years ago, I started to get more serious about making environmentally sound decisions. Subsequently, I’ve found that it has also saved me money. I thought I’d share some tips with my frugal and eco-conscious friends:
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Do more with less: Most people use WAY too much product than is necessary to get the job done. Chances are you are using 2-3 times the amount of toothpaste, shampoo, hand soap, detergent, lotion, dish soap, etc. that you actually need to use. By using less, you buy less, creating less waste and saving you money.
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Quality over quantity: for a long time, I would buy the cheapest version of whatever I needed. For example, if I needed laundry detergent, I’d buy the crappy $2 giant jug thinking I was saving money. In actuality, that detergent was mostly water and even when using the full suggested amount, my clothes didn’t get clean. They also had a terrible chemical smell. After I started couponing, I learned that there is a reason why name brands cost more. The ingredients are better and less watered down. A small name brand bottle will last much longer than a giant cheap no name bottle, actually saving you money. Plus, you can buy less, which leads to producing less waste. I also know that a lot of people make their own detergent, which saves money and cuts down waste even more!
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Reusables vs. disposables: I am utterly shocked by how many people still use disposable plates, cups, utensils, etc. Besides being a landfill-clogging nightmare, they are crazy expensive. Think of it this way: why are you spending so much money for something you’ll use once and then throw away? Get some cheapies at ikea or dollar tree and save yourself some money and the environment a pile of barely used plastic. The only paper products I buy are toilet paper and paper towels, but I only use the paper towels for really gross cleanups. Otherwise, I use dish towels.
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Green your period: I used to use disposable tampons and pads, and I’d get so annoyed by how often I would have to throw out the garbage when I had my period. Then one day it hit me: all of that garbage has to end up somewhere. I imagined all of those period products making a giant mountain in a land fill and I realized there had to be a better alternative. That’s when I started using cloth pads and a menstrual disc (like a cup but shaped differently). I can’t imagine how much money it’s saved me over the past few years, plus it’s lessened my overall environmental impact. I will say that this one is easier because I have a washing machine for the pads, but even just using a menstrual cup will make a big difference.
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Be thrifty: if you aren’t shopping at thrift stores, you should be. I have gotten so many name brand items with the tags still on for a fraction of their original cost. If there aren’t any thrift stores in your area, try online consignment stores like Thredup. The stuff is cheaper than buying new (for the most part... watch those prices and be a savvy shopper!) and you are saving items from being tossed in a landfill. My suggestion is to find a store in a high cost of living area. The items tend to be of a higher quality and more gently used, if at all. They might cost a tiny bit more, but see “quality over quantity” above!
Do you have any more environmentally friendly frugal tips? I’d love to hear them!
October 16, 2020 at 08:47PM
