You Can Save Money and Help Save the Planet

Is it possible to be environmentally conscious if you are not rich? Yes! There are many ways to save money and the planet at the same time.

“Being Eco-friendly is too expensive” is a refrain commonly heard. Somehow, even environmentalism has been taken over by capitalisms. The powers that be (AKA, marketing, manufacturing, retail) have convinced us that if we care about the environment then we must drive a Tesla, install Solar Panels, and shop at Whole Foods.

If you can afford an electric vehicle or solar panels they are certainly a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Whole Foods…well, now that it’s owned by Amazon, we can probably remove that from our “ways to help the environment” list.

There is no shortage of “green” products with a hefty price tag. These may be beyond the financial capacity of many people. We must all decide for ourselves which products and services are legitimately making a difference in battling the climate crisis. We must also decide how shopping green fits in with our values and our budgets.

Eco-Friendly and Inexpensive

But, what if we consider some inexpensive ways you can be environmentally friendly? I am fortunate enough to live in a city with a comprehensive recycling and composting program. But, even 20 years when I lived ago in Florida I was able to store up all of my recycling and drop it off at a recycling center for free. Recycling and composting can be both affordable and impactful.

Other cheap/free ways to help the planet are:

• Consider the amount of packaging involved when making a purchase
• Use reusable rather than single use items (ex: replace zip lock bags with Tupperware)
• Keep your garden or greenspace chemical free
• Buy local and seasonal foods

Frequently, you can actually save money while saving the planet. Here are a few ways that you can help your planet and your wallet at the same time.

Keep it Longer

Do you really need a new wardrobe each season or the latest iPhone? I am not saying you need to wear threadbare clothing or use a cracked phone. But, this idea that we all have to have the newest version of everything becomes more ingrained in us each year, as manufacturers and retailers push the idea to increase their revenue. If you can push out the purchase of a new phone from every two years to every three years, then in just six years you are decreasing your phone purchase by 33%.

Also, purchasing high quality products that last for a long time is a great way to practice environmental responsibility. We are constantly surrounded by disposable goods and fast fashion and it can be quite tempting to save money through these inexpensive purchases. The problem with such items is that they are rarely durable and must be replaced more frequently. Ultimately, disposable products wind up costing us more, both in money and in environmental impact. Instead, try making purchases with longevity in mind.

I recognize that buying quality items requires a greater initial outlay of funds. This is not possible for everyone. If you cannot afford to purchase goods that will last, then another option is to…

Buy Used Items

Believe me, as a child who grew up wearing hand-me-downs, I understand the attraction of getting something new. But, often, we can get higher quality items for less money buy purchasing pre-owned. The price of everything from autos to furniture drops drastically when it is being resold. Buy purchasing used items we can save our money and save our planet.

You may want to avoid some used items like car seats and mattresses. But, you can save money by buying second-hand furniture, clothing, tools, autos, and kitchen items. My partner and I love to shop at antique stores for gardening tools because they are much sturdier than anything we can buy at a home store. Additionally, you are keeping items out of the landfill while eliminating the carbon emissions and the consumption of resources necessary to manufacturer and transport new goods.

Curb the Impulse Buys

We are all guilty of surfing online or see something in a store and making the purchase without giving it too much thought. Or, maybe you see that your friend has something really cool and you immediately go out and buy one for yourself. One trick to avoid impulse purchases is to give yourself a set period to wait before buying An items.

A “cool down” period can help you to decide how badly you actually want/need the item. If you still want it after a set timeframe, make the purchase. If not, then you saved money and reduced waste.

Obviously this does not work for necessities. When my kid got a hole in the sole of his only sneakers we didn’t wait to assess the need. But, when I’m eyeing a new blouse or thinking of upgrading my computer, waiting helps me to make only the purchases that truly matter to me.

Give and Receive

Giving away items and receiving free items is a great way to save money, be environmentally conscious, and build Community. Whether it is toys and clothes for kids or housewares for young adults, gifting goods we no longer need is a great way for some folks to clear out their closets while helping to meet the needs of others

I have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the past five years since becoming a member of my local Buy Nothing Group. In fact, I am typing this post on a desk I received from buy nothing, with a lamp I received from buy nothing. Downstairs is a pile of too small Halloween costumes I am sorting and posting to give to my neighbors. According to the mission of the Buy Nothing Project, “Local groups form gift economies that are complementary and parallel to local cash economies.”

Walk/Bike/Bus/Carpool

Obviously this does not apply to everyone. Many of us have physical or circumstantial limitations that require driving. When my child was in daycare I drove to work because busing to daycare, and then to the office, would have added an extra two hours to my day. But when it was just me going in I was able to take the bus, thereby saving money and reducing my carbon footprint, while only adding a few minutes to my commute.

Whenever possible, think about walking, biking, or taking public transit rather than automatically hopping in a car is a great option for both the budget and the planet. We often think of the cost of driving in terms of gas, but we also need to consider the wear and tear on the car. Additionally, if you are in an urban area, parking costs may make driving very expensive. Carpooling is another great option for reducing cost and environmental impact.

Avoid Individually Packaged Servings

As someone who packs a daily school lunch, the temptation to buy everything pre-packaged is strong. But, individually packaged items have a lot of wasteful wrapping. Most of the the packaging will not even be recycled. Furthermore, the per unit/ounce/gram cost of these single servings is significantly more than for the larger package. You can save money and waste buy buying the large bag of chips and parceling it.

Make Bulk Purchases with Care

This may seem counter intuitive and contrary to my previous point. But, actually, these are just two sides of the same coin. If you can buy what you need, and only what you need, you will save money and reduce waste.

I have learned this lesson the hard way, many times over, in my yogurt purchases. I feel so guilty buying a single serving yogurt for $1 and then recycling the single cup. But, when I purchase the larger tub, I generally eat one serving and then forget about it until the yogurt spoils. This results in me tossing a larger plastic container and have spent an extra $2 on something I didn’t eat.

If you will consume the entire amount then, by all means, buy in bulk. But, if you are buying food that will turn or items that will collect dust, then bulk purchases are disadvantageous.

Utilities: Save Money and Reduce Waste

Reducing your utility usage is both an ecologically and financially sound. A few ways to do that are:

• Turn Down the Heat or AC a few degrees to save on gas or electricity bills.
• Insulate your home.
• Collect Water in a water barrel during the wet season to use during the dry seasons, rather than paying for water.
• Buy a water filter rather than drinking bottled water. (Assuming your tap water is potable)
• Wash clothes in cold water.

Beware of Sales

I love a good sale and rarely buy things at full price. There is a big difference, though, between waiting to buy something until it goes on sale and buying something because it is on sale. If we buy things that we don’t need or that are not exactly what we want, just because they are on sale, there is a high likelihood that we will never actually use them. That espresso maker marked down from $299 to $199 is not a bargain if you don’t drink coffee. Uncomfortable shoes are unlikely to be worn. Purchasing things we neither need nor use is bad for the environment.

You just need to google “psychology of discounts” to see all of the articles instructing retailers on how to get people to buy more. Seeing a sale creates a (false) feeling of urgency and scarcity. Receiving a discount increases our oxytocin levels. Retailers know this and play into it in order to increase sales. As customers we also must be aware of these influences to avoid falling victim to these tactics.

This post could continue on, but I think you get my point. Let’s not use cost as an excuse for destroying the planet. Do not let marketers and retailers tell you that you must spend money to save the planet. This is capitalisms co-opting environmentalism.

Instead we can follow some basic practices to reduce our carbon footprint. And often these same practices will benefit our pocketbook. Only buy what you need. Be intentional in your purchases. Always consider both the financial and environmental impact of your actions. Reducing our consumption benefits our personal finances and our planet.